Book Notices and Reviews. 171 



The increase in goldfinches was most striking-, there beings 

 pairs and small parties in every garden and orchard, and almost 

 rivalling the chaffinches in numbers. 



It was certainly delightful to see these lovely little birds 

 wherever one went, and, it will be good news indeed if these 

 l)irds should prove to be on the increase in other parts of 

 England. 



Anotlier bird that has increased largely in this ])art of 

 Hampshire is the jay. In my garden, where before the war a 

 jav was very seldom seen, 1 was surprised to see one morning 

 a partv of no less than eight. But this was earlier in the 

 spring, and the jays have now retired into the woods though 

 they will visit the gardens later for the fruit and peas which they 

 are so fond of. Biit the keepers are coming back now. and the 

 jays will soon be in for a bad time, together with their fellow 

 " vermin," the generally innocent and often useful span-ow- 

 liawk and kestrel, both of which have made the most of their 

 unwonted holiday from persecution. 



1 was told by a friend, who was demobilised just before 

 the close of the shooting season, that he and a friend went out 

 for a long day expecting to get ne.xt to nothing, as there was 

 so much " vermin " about, and he had reared no pheasants in 

 coops, nor put down any food, and had no keeper but one old 

 man. To his surprise and delight they got an excellent bag 

 and very strong birds; and this notwithstanding the absence of 

 keepers and the number of " vermin ! " 



-<>4-f^ 



Booh Notices and Reviews. 



A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK of BRITISH BIRDS: 

 By various authors, edited by H. F. Witherby, F.Z.S., 

 M.B.O.U., with numerous half-tone and coloured illustrations. 

 In i<S ])arts, price 4s. net each. London: Witherby and Co., 

 326, High Holborn, W.C., i. 



