a1 [ Vol. xxxvill. 
able to obtain their food in the usual manner from the 
seeds of the Scotch pine, were better able to stand the 
severity of the weather. On the other hand, another typical 
Suffolk bird, the Wood-Lark, has I fear been almost exter- 
minated, and no nests were located where they were formerly 
plentiful. The Cirl Bunting was entirely absent from its 
usual haunts in Hampshire. 
From an ornithological point of view, I consider the 
apparent extermination of the Dartford Warbler the most 
serious loss we have sustained. I have purposely made the 
proviso apparently because, from a very long experience 
with these birds, I am convinced that it would be impossible, 
owing to their very seclusive and illusive habits, to say 
that there were no birds left, though I failed to hear or see 
a single bird after repeated visits to their strongholds, some 
of which were made with the express object of verifying my 
own notes, and when the birds should have been most in 
evidence, 7. e. when they had young. I may mention that 
previous to 1915 I had nearly 40 pairs of these interesting 
birds under observation. I am of the opinion that they 
had then only just regained their status of the period before 
the severe winter of 1880-1881, and that is also the opinion 
of a keeper who lives on the estate, and who has known the 
birds for 50 years. c 
From an economic point of view, the most serious loss 
has been that of the Tits. The eggs of the Winter Moth, 
etc., which form an important part of the food of these birds, 
remained untouched by the frosts, and many fruit-trees 
were stripped of their bloom and foliage by the larve of 
this pest. Many of the large growers, thinking that the 
winter had rendered the eggs of this moth infertile, did not 
band their trees as usual, some unfortunately being unable 
to find sufficient labour for this process, with the disastrous 
results mentioned. The considerable thinning out of the 
Bullfinch, previously far too numerous, will no doubt help 
to balance Nature’s account. 
