CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 769 
We find also that the opening of the box at the top instead of at the front 
does not disturb the birds if they happen to be sitting. A great deal more 
pleasure is therefore given to those who put up the boxes. The eggs and young 
can also be seen more easily, and quite good Nature-study observations can be 
made, in which case even the commonest birds are useful. 
We have not forgotten that birds like the woodpecker and the wryneck make 
no nest, and if their eggs are to be kept together for hatching a flat-bottomed 
box is useless. The bottoms of all the boxes are slightly curved, but special 
cup-shaped bases are put into thosé which are fastened high in the trees. 
We make special large openings for robins, and restrict the size where only 
birds useful to the gardener are to be encouraged. It is useful to bear in mind 
that the common sparrow and starling seldom build low down. 
I might call attention to the fact that a small series of boxes is on view in the 
Zoological collection arranged at this meeting of the British Association, 
Section D (Zoology). 
In addition to the birds that nest, we have a number that always seem to be 
present, but whose eggs we have not found. The list includes three species of 
woodpecker, and the brown owl, which up to the present has refused all the 
nesting sites put up for its benefit. The barn-owl is often to be seen, as is the 
golden-crested wren. The nightjar has been present during three seasons, the 
kingfisher is a common visitor, and jays and magpies occasionally appear. 
Snipe sometimes frequent the outskirts of the wood, and on one occasion I 
found a dead woodcock within its boundary. This bird my wife had apparently 
seen alive a few days previously. Recent records include the breeding of the 
goldfinch, redpoll, marsh-tit, and wryneck. 
It will be noted, however, that very few of these birds are really rare, but it 
is the object of the committee to protect those which occur near London. In the 
Brent Valley there are few crops that the birds are likely to damage, but in 
other localities it might have to be borne in mind when doing similar work that 
certain species should not be unduly encouraged, or, indeed, given protection. 
It is practically impossible to describe all the pleasure that can be obtained 
from such a reserve. It is a source of interest all the year round, and the 
mammals, reptiles, insects, and other creatures should be taken into considera- 
tion. The mice are somewhat destructive to eggs, but the way in which they 
utilise old birds’ nests is worthy of attention. The fungi may be mentioned, and 
a bird reserve also becomes a sanctuary for flowering plants. Steps will be taken 
to form committees in other parts of the country, and I should be very pleased 
to give any advice that I can to those who are thinking of protecting any 
definite areas in the way which has been outlined. 
Mr. A. Newlands (Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club) afterwards 
read a valuable technical paper, of which the following is an abstract :— 
Water Power and Industrial Development in the Scottish Highlands. 
Its high mountain ranges, its lochs fed from large drainage areas, its rainfall 
ranging from sixty to one hundred inches per annum on the high altitudes, and 
its steep and rapid rivers are the natural features of the Highlands of Scotland 
which give to that region a character unique in the British Isles. It is these 
characteristics which pre-eminently mark it out as possessing possibilities for 
hydro-electric development nowhere else available in Great Britain. 
Further, it has the advantage, from the standpoint of transport facilities, of 
possessing an indented and well-sheltered coastline, and it is well served by 
good roads and railways. Its climate is equable, and it has sturdy and indus- 
trious country populations available for any industrial development. <A start 
has been made at Kinlochleven and Foyers, where the British Aluminium Com- 
pany already generates 30,000 and 7,000 horse-power respectively, and there are 
many smaller installations. 
The accompanyilg map—in no sense complete—shows the processes available 
from certain drainage areas, it being contended that only by developing the 
energy available from each drainage drill, and generating current of the same 
1912. 3D 
