Vol. xxxviii.] , 82 
The CHairman said that he entirely disapproved of all 
acclimatization. He considered it undesirable for several 
‘ reasons. From the point of view of the systematic worker 
it was deplorable, for often when extraneous specimens were 
introduced they bred with the native races and destroyed 
their local characteristics, while often introduced species, 
through finding specially congenial conditions, increased in 
vast numbers and become a destructive pest. 
In the case of such birds as the Pheasant and Red-legged 
Partridge, introduced for sport, the dauger was not so great, 
as they were kept under control under more or less artificial 
conditions. 
Mr. Roserr H. Reap remarked that a Tawny Owl which 
nested in an old barrel in an oak-tree in the Selborne 
Society’s Bird Sanctuary contained three eggs in March 
Jast. He noticed that one of these eggs was slightly 
eracked, and a week later found this egg under the tree 
with a feather attached. The egg had evidently adhered 
to a feather on the body of the sitting bird and so had been 
carried outside. On May 12th he again examined the nest, 
and whilst on the limb of the oak immediately under the 
barrel was suddenly struck on the back of the head with 
considerable force and his hat sent spinning some ten yards 
away in front of him. On looking round he caught a 
glimpse of the Owl just disappearing amongst the trees 
behind him. The bird that struck him had not come out of 
the barrel but had evidently been watching its opportunity 
from some adjacent tree. He believed he was struck by 
the body of the bird, but as it was flying when he caught 
sight of it in an opposite direction to that in which he was 
struck and in which the hat was sent, the blow might have 
been given by a back stroke of its foot or wing. The nest 
contained one large young bird and one addled egg. 
Mr. Read noticed on the same. day in the Bird Sanctuary 
that ten or twelve of the nesting-boxes with moveable fronts 
for Tits, &c. had the fronts pulled or torn half open from 
the top. He felt certain this had been done by the Owl and 
‘ 
