214 BRITISH BIRDS. 



affected were comparatively few. In four of these places 

 the Wood-Pigeons were much above their usual numbers, 

 the acorn crop was heavier than the average, and the 

 numbers of birds affected were greatest. 



In the other four places there were fewer Wood-Pigeons 

 than usual, the acorn crop was a poor one, and the numbers 

 of birds affected were fewest. 



It is interesting to note that, though in many places 

 where the disease was prevalent in the winter 1907-8, 

 there is no record of any disease, yet in three districts (in 

 Surrey, Berkshire and Wiltshire) a few cases were again 

 recorded ; also that in two districts where the disease 

 occurred, apparently no migratory birds had put in an 

 appearance. 



The prevalence of disease was greatest in two districts 

 in Warwickshire and in a district in Montgomeryshire ; a 

 fair number of diseased birds was recorded from a district 

 of Northamptonshire, and there were a few cases from 

 Shropshire. As in the previous year, some districts of the 

 same county in which the disease was prevalent were 

 unaffected. 



As in many districts this winter (1909-10) there seems 

 to be an abundance of acorns and beech-mast, it seems 

 probable that there will be another invasion of Wood- 

 Pigeons ; in any case it would be interesting to have 

 another series of observations on this subject. 



[The importance of this enquiry cannot be too strongly 

 urged, and we would beg all our readers to keep accurate 

 record during the winter of the movements of W T ood- 

 Pigeons and of the prevalence or otherwise of the disease 

 and of the nature and quantity of the food-supply. 

 Negative as well as positive evidence is particularly 

 desired. A schedule is affixed to the inside of the cover 

 of each copy of this number, and it is most particularly 

 requested that these schedules shall be filled in with all 

 the observations made from now up to the middle of 

 March. The schedules should then be posted to us. — Eds.] 



