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Correspondence.



we corresponded at intervals during the next year or so. Once I was able to tell

him of the coming of a solitary American robin, which made its home close to

Robin Hood Gate one spring, built a nest, and after some weeks disappeared. In

his reply, while admitting that the occurrence was interesting, he rather re¬

gretted it, for he explained that his object was to maintain Richmond Park as a

preserve for purely British birds and animals. For the same reason he resented

the introduction by some misguided enthusiast of the grey American squirrels,

which of late years have overrun the place; and he asked me to keep an eye on

them, since he strongly suspected that they were robbers of birds nests. On

the other hand, I believe it was he, in furtherance of his scheme of an all-

British preserve, who caused the badgers, which have since founded a flourishing

colony, to be turned down in Richmond Park. I never saw Sir Schomberg

McDonnell again, but I owe him a lasting debt of gratitude. During that pleasant

Sunday ramble he gave me a practical proof of his keen sympathy with a fellow-

enthusiast and of his readiness to help him, by offering spontaneously a boon

which has been of inestimable value to me, and has been the means of adding

tenfold to my knowledge of birds. J. R. H.



[We are indebted to “ Bird-Lore ” for these two cuttings].


THE CAROLINA PAROQUET IN FLORIDA.


Tin a letter by Mr. W. F. H. McCormick, to Mrs. Kirk Munroe, sent to

the Editor of Bird-Lore by Mrs. Munroe, mention was made of the occurrence

of the Carolina paroquet in southern Florida. A call for further information

brought the following response from Mr. McCormick. We omit his reference

to the locality in which the birds were seen. - F. M. C.]


In reply to your request to Mrs. Kirk Munroe in your letter of July 6,1

will say that there is very little to make “a detailed statement” of in regard to

my seeing the Carolina paroquet.


I was down in that country on a pleasure cruise during the last weeks of

March and early April, 1915, and first saw the birds while I was following a pan¬

ther through thick scrub. At that particular time I did not pay much attention

to them, as I was intent on the bigger game, but some days afterwards I visited

the same place and saw about a dozen of the birds flying about and eating the

berries of the mastic and rubber trees. This time 1 made sure that they were the

real paroquets. I am not sure that they were nesting, but supposed they had

young, for they carried berries away with them every time they left the trees.

On my last visit (the first work in May) I saw none.


I will also say that I made no mistake of identification, for I have been

familiar with the paroquet since childhood, and also have a speaking acquaint¬

ance with other parrots, gained in a two years residence in Central America.


Cocoanut Grove, Fla. W. F. J. MCCORMICK.



