Sf-JSK NATURE NEAR LONDON 



Swallows, again, were declared by many to be 

 fewer. It is not at all unlikely that they were 

 fewer. The wet season was unfavourable to them; 

 still a good deal of the supposed absence of swal- 

 lows may be through the observer not looking for 

 them in the right place. If not wheeling in the 

 sky, look for them over the water, the river, or 

 great ponds; if not there, look along the moist 

 fields or shady woodland meadows. They vary 

 their haunts with the state of the atmosphere, 

 which causes insects to be more numerous in one 

 place at one time, and presently in another. 



A very wet season is more fatal than the sharp- 

 est frost ; it acts by practically reducing the births, 

 leaving the ordinary death-rate to continue. Con- 

 sequently, as the old birds die, there are none (or 

 fewer) to supply their places. Once more let me 

 express the opinion that there are as many small 

 birds round London as in the country, and no 

 measure is needed to protect the species at large. 

 Protection, if needed, is required for the individual. 

 Sweep the roads and lanes clear of the birdcatchers, 

 but do not prevent a boy from taking a nest in the 

 open fields or commons. If it were made illegal 

 to sell full-grown birds, half the evil would be 

 stopped at once if the law were enforced. The 

 question is full of difficulties. To prevent or 

 attempt to prevent the owner of a garden from 



