96 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
482. A Holiday Note. — Clear skies and bright sunshine contributed 
largely to the enjoyment of a country walk on Easter Monday. Through field- 
path and lane a very pleasant journey was made from Waltham Abbey to 
Copthall. Along the route it was noticed that the hawthorn hedges with their 
partial covering of new leaves were almost ready to open their buds of while 
blossom, and beneath the hedgerows patches of the pale wild violet flowered. 
Two .'mall tortoiseshell and a brimstone {Gonepteryx rJiatwii) butterfly were 
out enjoying the sunny day, but the latter is one of the common varieties usually 
seen in the woods at this time. In many places nests of the blackbird and 
thrush were ready for the eggs, and in close proximity to these were several of 
last year’s nests, some filled with dried leaves while others presented a very 
bedraggled appearance. The only sight one regretted to see was the drastic 
trimming which the hedgerows had received. 
37, Alwyne Villas, Canonbury . Chas. E. J. Hannett. 
April 2 . 
483. Do Dogs eat Carrion ?— In his “ Descent of Man ” Darwin says : 
“ It is well known that dogs, though they will not eat carrion, sniff and roll in 
it.” Does not this statement require qualification ? The dictionary defines 
carrion as dead and putrefying flesh.” My retriever often picks up and eats 
the remains of hares and rabbits that have been dead some time. One day he 
was very pleased with a lamb that was decidedly “high.” On another occasion 
one that was far “higher,” and reduced to a skeleton by decomposition, was 
eaten. Darwin, however, is far too accurate an observer to be easily caught trip- 
ping, and the solution may be this. There is carrion and carrion. A dog will eat 
a carcase in its first and last stages of decomposition, but not when it is given 
over to the larvae of the blow-fly. Most of us have had experience of our dogs 
rolling in any garbage they come across. Some dogs roll on toads and frogs 
whether alive or dead. 
South-acre, Swapphain, Edmund Thomas Daubeny. 
484. Goldfinches. — It may interest the Selborne Society to know the 
Goldfinches came back again this year at the beginning of March to their 
feeding ground. I noticed nine goldfinches resting on the tree before my window. 
They seemed to wait just long enough to see the place was clear for them, when 
off they flew to the piece of spare ground just opposite, where they fed for about 
two or three hours, then left altogether, as they came flying in the direction of 
Kensington Gardens, repeating their visit every morning about the same time ; 
but now I notice only four bircls are left, so suppose the food is getting scarce. 
I like to watch these pretty goldfinches. 
37, Iverna Gardens, Kensington, IV. F. Mackenzie. 
485. Birds and Wire Netting. — In many gardens a space is enclosed 
with wire netting to protect fruit trees from the attacks of birds. Some persons 
think that a portion of the netting should be removed at certain times of the year 
so as to admit birds to combat insect pests. This is not necessary for small fruit. 
It should be remembered that parasites, such as the diflerent ichneumon flies, keep 
down most insects far more effectually than any bird. Those that cause the 
greatest damage to currants and gooseberries are the gooseberry moth {Abraxas 
grossulariata), and a saw-fly {Nematus grossalaria), the larvx of which are so 
nauseous that few, if any, birds will touch them. It is, however, thought by some 
that Cuckoos eat the saw-fly caterpillar. Whether this be true or not I cannot 
positively say from my own observation. At times, these saw-fly larvx (which 
are easily seen) have stripped currants and gooseberry bushes unprotected by 
wire netting, in spite of the Cuckoos that were on my premises every day. 
.Strawberries and raspberries are not attacked by insects in a w.ay that requires 
the help of birds at any time. Plum trees are .seldom enclosed in wire netting 
owing to their height, and they are liable to the attacks of numerous insects that 
form a favouiite food for most little biids. In many gardens it is difficult to .save 
the buds of plum and greengage trees from Ilullfinches in winter and the early 
Spring ; and from lilackbirds when the fruit is lipe. If they are enclosed in wire 
netting, a mesh might be used that would admit only little insect-eating birds. 
