RODENTIA.
Bank Vole in Denbighshire.—As little appears to be known of the distribution of the Bank Vole in Wales, it may be well to record its occurrence at Colwyn Bay. Early in May last I trapped two in a roadside hedge on the borders of the Pwllycrochon Woods. Colwyn Bay is in an isolated portion of Carnarvonshire, but for distributional purposes should be considered as part of Denbighshire.—Chas. Oldham (Sale).
Black Rat in Bedfordshire.—I was recently shown, by Mr. Wright, taxidermist, of Clifton, two Black Rats, Mus rattus (male and female), which he received on Dec. 9th last. Mr. Bowman, to whom they belong, informs me that they were caught at Stotfold, near Shefford, and that he believes there are still a few left in that locality, one or two having been previously taken. I should be pleased to hear of any additional information respecting this Rat in that locality or other parts of the country.—J. Steele Elliott Dixon's Green, Dudley.
AVES.
Honey Buzzard in Staffordshire.— I should like to suggest, in the interests of our rapidly vanishing Accipitres, that idiotic and wanton massacres such as from time to time are recorded in the 'The Zoologist' and elsewhere as having taken place on this, that, or some other estate, should be promptly, when possible, brought to the notice of the proprietors of such estates. The present generation of country squires are not without an intelligent appreciation of what tends so immeasurably to the varied natural attractions of their woodlands, and a continuance of the senseless slaughter by ignorant and irresponsible keepers of Common and Honey Buzzards, Kites, and Hobbies—not to mention the more familiar Kestrels—would in many instances doubtless receive a very summary check could those in authority be made acquainted with the murderous proclivities of their underlings the moment they espy a rare and harmless bird upon their beat. To quote a case in point: in the October number of 'The Zoologist' for 1895 was recorded the attempt of a pair of Honey Buzzards to breed during the summer of that year at Bishopswood, in Herefordshire. The nest was found, the eggs taken, and both birds fell victims to an undiscerning keeper's gun. Mr. Harry M'Calmont, the owner of Bishopswood, happened to be a friend of mine, and I at once notified him of the occurrence, of which he knew nothing until the receipt of my letter. The upshot of my mediation resulted in the keepers at Bishopswood receiving strict injunctions to henceforward protect and preserve all the rarer Accipitres seeking to establish homes on the estate. The communication from Mr. E. Baylis in the May issue (p. 232) of 'The Zoologist' has reawakened my active sympathies for a beautiful, inoffensive, yet much persecuted
