The Scottish Naturalist. 1 05 



In these days of associations for all purposes under the sun, I think it 

 is high time there was an association for the protection of wild animals 

 useful to man. It will soon be too late. 



BOOKS. 

 By A. Nicol Simpson. 

 "\ 1 WITHIN the grounds of the Abbey here, there is yearly a small 



* * Colony of those birds. This season there are two nests on 

 one tree that call for special notice. It was early that two couples 

 erected their wooden dwellings and duly deposited eggs. 



A gentleman who lives within thirty yards of the birds' abode daily 

 observed them at their work. While thus watching, he discovered 

 that in place of four birds as formerly, there were now only three. 

 This has been confirmed by several gentlemen. I personally visited 

 the locality and remained for some time watching the birds. From 

 inquiries I made, it seems one of the cock birds has left or been killed 

 and the remaining cock attends in turns on the two hens. 



When I visited the spot a gentleman who is almost daily in the 

 grounds confirmed the truth of the above, and not only so, but likewise 

 drew my attention to another in the vicinity, which he stated was 

 similarly placed. Thus it seems there are three birds to two nests or 

 six birds to four nests. 



I conclude the absent ones have fallen victims to powder and lead. 

 Yet it appears a remarkable freak in Rook life that a cock should act 

 in such a friendly manner towards the hen when deprived of her mate. 



(For cases of three Rooks occupying one nest the notice of Mr. T. 

 Brown's List of the Birds ofTynron Parish, (p. 133 of this journal.) 



Ed. Scot. Nat.) 



Swift attacked on the wing" by a Sparrow. One morning, 



in the end of the month of May, I noticed two birds come tumbling to the 

 ground in one of the quadrangles of Marischal College, in Aberdeen. They 

 were struggling fiercely, with much screaming, the smaller of the two having 

 evidently the better of the struggle. On my going towards them, the struggle 

 continued till I was quite close, when the smaller bird flew away, and I then 

 saw that it was a sparrow. The larger bird proved to be a swift. It fluttered, 

 but was unable to rise from the level surface, so that it was easily captured. 

 It appeared little the worse ; and, on being thrown into the air, it flew away 

 quite strongly. There is no doubt that the contest was begun while the birds 

 were flying ; and yet it seems strange that a sparrow should be able to over- 

 take, and to assault on the wing, a bird of so powerful flight as a swift. That 

 the sparrow should have gained the mastery in the struggle is not to be 

 wondered at. The cause of quarrel was not noticed. 



J. W. II. TRAIL. 



