210 Notes 



been so little east wind and that with so much southerly wind, they 

 should not strike the long south side of the house. It looks as if they 

 could only cross the channel at the Strait of Dover which lies east from 

 us ; also that they can fly "on a wind "^i.e. with a side Avind. 



Another migration note. Last November countless flocks of Wood 

 Pigeons flew over the great Kings Wood here. Some, perhaps all, 

 stopped to have a feed of acorns but nearly all flew on to the west to 

 become such a plague in Wilts and Dorset, that they have had armies 

 of men with guns to shoot them. Here I can say with confidence that I 

 have not seen a dozen since Christmas, though constantly in Kings Wood! 



Surely this is a blind migratory impulse like that of the Lemmings ! 



Westminster Hall Roof. 



The fine timber roof of Westminster Hall has suft'ered great damage 

 from the attack of the larger timber-boring beetle, Xestohium tesselatiun. 



A committee has been meeting to advise the Office of Works and an 

 investigation into the beetle has been commenced by Mr J. W. Munro 

 at the Imperial College of Science and Technology. We refer to this 

 since the preservation of this roof is really a matter of national interest 

 and because members of the Association may be able to materially assist 

 if they can help Mr Munro to get infested timber. Naturally the timber 

 in the roof cannot be cut to provide material for experiment and a large 

 supply of beetles and timber is an essential for testing the many possible 

 lines of treatment that have been proposed. It is curious how little is 

 known of this beetle and one very essential fact is not apparently de- 

 finitely known, whether the beetles emerge from the wood or whether 

 they can continue reproducing inside the large timbers, only emerging 

 if they wish to. It might be easy to prevent the re-entry of beetles 

 if they had to emerge, but, as it is, no treatment to the outside of the 

 wood only can be adopted for fear it might keep them inside and intensify 

 the damage. It is probable that a satisfactory treatment will be found. 



Notes. 



We shall be glad to receive notes on matters of current interest and 

 on investigations in progress for publication in these pages ; it is an 

 accident that the notes in this issue are mainly of entomological interest ; 

 all members of the editorial Committee will be glad of short contributions 

 which may be sent to them or to the General Editor direct. For the 

 notes in this issue the General Editor alone is responsible except where 

 stated. 



H. M. L. 



