"A beautiful specimen of the Grosbeak was shot a few days since at Upper Nutwell, near Lympstone. This bird is frequently met with in Spain, Italy and France, and but rarely visits England. A specimen of the Black-toed Gull was caught last week in a singular way, at Lympstone - a floating bait was out for fish which the bird caught, and was effectively hooked. This bird also is very rarely seen in Britain.
"Both birds are now in the possession of Mr. Atkins, South-street, to be preserved."
I had often thought, when trailing a couple of inches of pipe-clay in the hope of catching a bass, that one or other of the tern might one day fall from the sky and swallow the hook. I'm pleased to say he never did.
This Black-toed Gull swallowed the bait and was not able to disgorge it. Hence it ended up being stuffed by Mr. Atkins of South Street.
I think the Black-toed Gull might now be rare to the point of extinction. The Grosbeak is but a finch and it seems shocking that it should have been considered fair game.
Somewhere the two stuffed birds are quite possibly still to be seen. The Victorian understanding of preservation was rather different to ours, One wonders what else was in Mr. Atkins' shop.
Source: The Western Times, 22nd January 1842.
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