LEGLESS BIRDS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sm,—Once only, and that ten years ago, I shot a pewit. To my surprise it had but one leg. That or the following day I mentioned the matter at a meeting of my school managers—all sheep masters—and I was informed it was of quite common occurrence, the birds feeding on the moors get wool entangled round their legs. A single strand not only has wonderful cutting power, but is of remarkable strength. Sometimes the filament eats into the flesh and cuts through the bone in the bird's vigorous attempts to get rid of it, and at other times, alas ! the poor creature is held prisoner by the wool catching in heather, and then only escapes with life at the cost of its leg.
When I came North twelve years ago I found that thousands of gulls nested on the moors in my parish. Many of their nesting-places have since been destroyed—the largest known to me through the extension of a quarry, but more particularly through the constant taking of eggs by gamekeepers (who do not love gulls) as well as other people. No doubt what applies to legless pewits also applies to all other birds nesting or feeding on sheep walks.—I am, Sir, &c.,
CHAS. H. WISTER
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