73



Again we would draw the reader’s attention to the very

sound and sensible remarks on the destruction of birds by man.

The whole passage on page 85 is too long to quote, but the last

two lines contain the gist of the matter.—“ No Adt for the

protection of wild birds which does not prevent the wholesale

grubbing of woods and so-called ‘ waste land,’ will ever prevent

the diminution of bird-life in our Islands.” Of course it is

obvious that a certain amount of drainage of fen land must be

done, but there are many parts of England where the wholesale

lopping of hedges, or their substitution by a wire fence, might

with advantage be stopped. At the same time, we do not mean

to imply that no harm is done with net or gun ; as several

•species, notably the Hoopoe, would probably nest in England if

unmolested on their spring migration.


No mention is made of a good distinction between the

nests of the Chiffchaff and the Willow Wren : namely, the fact

that the nests of the former species are always placed on or

above the ground, but never in it, as is the case with the Willow

Wren. In the geographical distribution of this last, no mention

is made of its very northern range, nor of its Eastern repre¬

sentative ; and in dealing with this very confusing genus, a key

to the species might well have been added, especially as some of

its members are continually being found on our shores, this

season alone having added two, viz .,P. virida?ms and P.proregulus.


To describe the Reed Warbler’s song as poor is, perhaps,

hardly correct. It bears a family likeness to that of the Sedge

Warbler; but the bird always seems to be in such a hurry to get

it out that the notes become mixed and jumbled up together;

nevertheless, in its natural haunt, it sounds distinctly pleasing,

though somewhat harsher than that of the Sedge. Although it

may require a keen observer to tell the nest of the Sedge

Warbler, when suspended, from that of the Reed Warbler, that

of the former bird may always be distinguished by its being

much shallower.


With regard to Dr. Butler’s remarks on the Hedge

Sparrow, we cannot agree in any particular except as to their

pugnaciousness to their own species. They alwaj^s sing in a

most charming manner, and on being turned into a large aviary

always seem to settle down without, apparently, noticing their

altered circumstances. In one case, an attachment was formed

with a St. Helena Waxbill, the two birds were always about

together, and at roosting time the Waxbill would lie as close as

possible to his feathered friend.



