154 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Hewitt states that two specimens of the larva of a species of 
Diptera have been obtained from the larve of N. erichsont. As 
no mature insects of this parasite were obtained, it is extremely 
difficult, on account of our scanty knowledge of the larve of 
Diptera, to identify even the genus. He believes, however, that 
they are Tachinidae, belonging to the subfamily Sarcophagine. 
They appeared to be mature, and measured 10 mm. in length. 
A parasitic fungus (Cordiceps) also plays a part in reducing this 
Nematus. 
At Thirlmere the Manchester Corporation has adopted various 
means to encourage birds to frequent their woods. I visited 
one of their plantings in May, 1908, and saw only a small 
number of Golden-crested Wrens and Tits, other birds being 
conspicuous by their absence. This was not altogether sur- 
prising, for birds are not particularly partial to larch-woods, 
much preferring hard-woods, i.e. oak, ash, and similar trees. 
To encourage the birds to remain in their plantations throughout 
the winter, coconuts and bones have been suspended from the 
trees, more especially for the benefit of the Tits. Covered 
feeding-trays have also been provided ; this is a great improve- 
ment on the original method employed here, for the food was 
scattered on the ground. To keep the birds about the woods 
during summer nesting-boxes have been put up, for larches do 
not present suitable facilities for the nesting of Tits and Star- 
lings. The nesting-boxes are made by the estate forest work- 
men during bad weather, when outdoor work cannot readily be 
carried on. At first the boxes were made by boring out small 
logs and covering the ends; subsequently they were made from 
bark-covered slabs of waste wood from the saw-mill. The latter 
were much more appreciated by the birds, probably because in 
the first case the entrance hole was made near the top of the 
log, and the bird had to drop down to the level of the nest, 
instead of the hole being on nearly the same level as the nest, 
which is the case in the boxes made from slabs. The nesting- 
boxes are attached to the trees at a height of about 16-20 ft. 
The boxes were first provided in 1908; in that year 60 boxes 
were suspended, and of these 19, or 31°6 per cent., were occu- 
pied. In 1909 another 114 were added; of the total, 81, or 
46°5 per cent., were utilised by the birds. In 1910 a further 
