Correspondence. 161 



History as they do know, it shows Avhat a bloodthirsty bold 

 ruffian the cuckoo is and whv he is "mobbed" wherever he 

 goes. Talking about cuckoos reminds me that near a certain 

 lane I often go down 1 see a cuckoo or pair of cuckoos year 

 after yeai huntin,^■ a certain range of hedgerows. At no other 

 part CKf my district do" I have the same experience. My theory 

 is thai it is either the same pair of cuckoos or their progeny 

 that return to the same locality year after year. To add to 

 my point I may say that I habitually go into at least a 

 dozen different parishes and yet at no other place can I be 

 sure of seeing frequcntl}'* a pair of cuckoos hunting a given 

 set of hedgerows. I always .see them and on returning home, 

 remark to my wife " I have seen my cuckoos again this 

 year at Ripe " (the nam-;* of the village). There is, I think, 

 not the smallest doubt that birds of other species or their 

 progeny do return to t he same nesting place year after year, 

 and such birds as swallows will endeavour to gain admission 

 into an out-house, the door ol'' which is constantly kept shut 

 after having nested there the previous year, hut make no 

 attempt to enter another out-house in the same row. This 

 year I intend to make a pigeon hole over the door and next 

 year keep the door absolutely locked from April ist. to .A.pril 

 2isl. If they find their way through that pigeon hole I shall 

 consider that very strong evidence that the birds have been 

 there before. All of which is a dreadful digression and shows 

 what evil consequences may arise through writing about a 

 " Roadside Tragedy." 



Correspondence. 



LI.ST OF HIKD.S SEE.\ IN FLANDERS. 



Sir,— We are up in the trenches again and the sunsliine is remark- 

 able We arc getting known as lucky Chcshircs in the Division, as we 

 always seem to get good weather when our turn comes. It is really 

 hot to-day. 



