62



Correspondence



BRITISH BIRDS AND THE GREY SQUIRREL


Sirs,— In view of the controversy in the Press on the question of

taking stringent measures to repress or check the spread of the Grey

Squirrel, as an inveterate enemy of wild bird-life in Great Britain, it

would be both instructive and interesting if some of our country

members living in counties where this alien has been liberated or which

it has invaded from an original centre of dispersal, would give us their

experiences on the point under discussion.


In the Zoological Gardens I have repeatedly seen these squirrels in

the spring traversing bush-grown banks, glancing now and again

upwards as if in search of nests and ascending the bushes to investigate

and rob, unless prevented, any nest they may sight. Some summers

ago a pair of Wood Pigeons built in a tree near my house,

and passing beneath it one day I was startled by the fall of the

two nestlings at my feet. Looking up I discovered the cause to be a

Grey Squirrel, which had taken advantage of the temporary absence

of the parents to visit the nest and throw out the young. The old

birds would probably have proved capable defenders of the family,

for a few years later one of these Squirrels, bent upon raiding a Missel

Thrush’s nest, or coveting the hole in the hollow tree in which it was

built, was completely routed by the hen Missel Thrush, which fearlessly

assaulted the intruder and ultimately drove it into ignominous retreat

by the vigorous strokes of her wings.


_ R. I. Pocock.


FIRE-RED FINCH


Sirs, — I am taking the liberty of sending you a dead chocolate-

coloured Grossbeak, which I have not been able to identify, but which

you might be able to do. I received this bird alive a few days ago,

but in bad health, from Mr. Rogers, of Liverpool. At the same time

Mr. Rogers sent me a pair of so-called “ Batetivo ” Finches (Svermophila

plumbed ), but the chin and throat of the cock bird were not ashy grey

but pure-white, though it had a white spot at the base of each cheek ;

in fact, the cock bird was just like a specimen of S. albigularis, as

described in Dr. Butler’s book, and of which I have a living specimen

in my aviary.



Jas. Geo. Mylan.



