638 Recent Wiltshire Books, Pamphlets, Articles, &c. 



Of poachers, especially of deer poachers in the adjacent forest, before 

 the Deer Removal Act of 1851, there are many stories. Wren-baiting 

 was practised on Christmas Eve, and "Squoyling" for squirrels on the 

 day after Christmas. In this connection, by the way, the writer notes 

 that the squirrels in the New Forest have been greatly reduced in 

 numbers of late years by an epidemic disease, but that they are said to 

 be on the increase again now. [This disease has certainly extended 

 over North Wilts also — for in places where they were abundant twenty 

 years ago not a single squirrel has been seen for years past.] A good 

 deal of information as to the forest industries of the past and present is 

 given, and also as to the forest rights. There are some curious notes 

 on snakes, which, however, refer to Hampshire and the forest rather 

 than to Wilts. The woodmen stoutly affirm that the adder and the 

 viper are distinct, the viper being about 7|in. long, the adder being 

 16in. or 17in., and that their habits as well as their appearance differ, 

 and that throughout the forest occasional hybrids known as "Neither 

 Snakes," between the adder and the common grass snake, are found. 

 There is also recorded circumstantial evidence of the habit of young 

 adders taking refuge in their mother's mouth on the approach of danger. 

 Altogether an excellent and most readable series of articles, which are 

 apparently to be published in pamphlet form. 



The Militia Riot at Devizes in 1810. The story of the 



quelling of the mutiny of the 2nd Wilts Militia by the Wiltshire 

 Yeomanry is told in Wiltshire Times, Sept. 17th, 1910. 



The Cedars at Wilton House. Mr. J. Lanfear Lucas, writing 

 to the Sunday Times, reprinted in Salisbury Journal, April 16th, 1910, 

 says, on the Earl of Pembroke's authority, that the fourth Earl of 

 Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain of the Household of Charles I. and 

 Chancellor of Oxford University, in conjunction with the Bishop of 

 London, and the Earl of Devonshire, sent out two collectors to the Holy 

 Land. They returned in 1640 with— among other things— probably the 

 first cedars introduced into England, some of which are still in existence 

 at Wilton, 



A Shepherd's Life. Impressions of the South 

 Wiltshire Downs, by W. H. Hudson. Illustrated 



by Bernard C. Gotch. Methuen & Co., Ltd., 36, Essex Street, 

 W. O, London. 1910. 



8vo, linen, pp. xi. + 361. Price 7s. 6c?. net. Coloured view of Old 

 Sarum, and sixty-four small cuts from pen-and-ink sketches in the 

 text, including Broad Chalke, Old Wiltshire Horned Sheep, Salisbury 

 Cathedral, Salisbury Market House, Ebbesborne Wake, Tilshead, 

 Idmiston (curiously mis-spelt both on page 48 and in the list of illus- 

 trations " Idminster "), Harnham Bridge, Shrewton, Barford St. Martin, 

 Rollestone, Imber, Gomeldon, Coombe Bissett, Boscombe, Winter- 

 bourne Stoke, Allington, Upton Lovell, Ansty, Codford, Fisherton 

 Delamere, Titherington, Knook, Wishford, Chitterne, Stockton, Winter- 

 bourne Earls, Woodford, Fovant, Winterbourne Gunner, Fonthill 

 Bishop, Hindon, Swallowcliffe, Tisbury, Newton Tony, Burcombe, 





