From Far and Near. S9 



this advice I 



A Grasshopper-Warbler. On this same lucky day, while I was 

 plodding through the marsh, a little rich-brown creature raced away 

 from under the tussock I had stepped on. It seemed to run too fast, 

 ior a mouse, and in the base of the tussock were the perfect nest and 

 -six rich-coloured eggs of a grasshopper warbler— the first I had ever seen, 

 though there are many grasshopper warblers in this world who must 

 have cursed mc for my inquisitiveness about their homes. While writ- 

 ing this article I have come across what seem to me two cases of birds 

 lost on migration southwards On November S, at Paris-Plage there were 

 a pair of black redstarts on the sea front, and on November 9, near the 

 same place, I saw a flock of eight Norfolk plover who had, on the best 

 -a,uthority, been in the same locality for several days. The latter birds 

 breed on the downs by the Ancre in a few places. 



Some day, no doubt, in times of peace crowds of all nationalities 

 among them many who have fought, will visit the battlefields of the' 

 Western front, but if I come back I shall avoid the ruined towns and 

 battered trenches, and refresh pleasanter memories of birds that I have 

 known and trout that I have failed to catch. 



LORD LUCAS'S BIRD PRESERVE. 



The Eastern Daily I'reas states that the lands and premises in 

 Norfolk wihich, ^s reported in the Times on Wednesday^ are bequeathed to the 

 Hon. Ivo Grenfell under the will of Lord Lucas, include what is known 

 as the Whiteslea estate, in the parishes of Hickling and Catfield. 



This property, between 2,000 and 3,000 acres in extent, was ac- 

 quired about 10 years ago by Lord Lucas, Viscount Grey, the Hon. E. S. 

 Montagu, and Mr. B. Russell, all keenly interested in bird life, in order 

 to provide protection for rarer kinds of birds. Elaborate precautions were 

 once taken for months to preserve from disturbance some young birds of 

 a very rare species. Careful study is also made of the habits of birds 

 and a log-book is kept by the head-keeper in which he records his ob- 

 servations. The active management had been controlled by Lord Lucas 

 through his agents. He used to stay at Whiteslea Lodge, and was often 

 jomed there by Viscount Grey and his other friends. Many other distin- 

 guished people have also been there as guests, among them the late 

 Russian Ambassador. 







Correspondence. 



HYBRID HAWFINCH X BULLFINCH. 



.Sir,- In answer to your enquiry I fear I can give but little 

 evidence save a' few bare facts, owing to the storm disaster in my aviary^ 

 involving the escape of many birds, one of which was the hybrid hawfinch. 



Owing to being much occupied last year my birds were left very 

 much to themselves, proper feeding and cleaning being practically the only, 



