204



Reviews.



UPPINGHAM SCHOOL NATURAL SCIENCE

REPORT.


We have been favoured with a copy of the Uppingham

School Natural Science Report, and are pleased to notice that the

interest in Natural History is well maintained. The present

pamphlet contains notes and observations on the vertebrates met

with during the year. 1911 does not seem to have been particu¬

larly noteworthy in the way of rarities observed, but the short

notes on the commoner species are not without their interest.

We learn, for instance, that the Whitethroat was much scarcer

than usual and that although the usual numbers of adult

Cuckoos were seen very few young appear to have been reared.

Perhaps the most important note from the scientific point of

view is that of the Little Owl, which is now common in the

district. The contents of nesting holes and pellets were care¬

fully examined, and its chief food seemed to consist of beetles,

insects and mice, with very few small birds, Tits, Wrens,

occasionally a young Thrush, and one water rat. No remains of

game birds whatever were found. Mr. Constable, however,

noticed a growing scarcity of small birds, which he considers

may be partly due to the Little Owl, disturbing the birds and

causing them to seek “ fresh fields and pastures new.”



