NATURE NOTES. 
daring — usually a nuthatch, great tit, or sparrow — makes a sudden dash, and carries 
oft some food, and is out of reach before the squirrel, which always makes a dash 
for the bird, can catch it. All the other birds, even the thrushes and blackbirds, 
seem afraid, and perch at a short distance, but never come near the window while 
the squirrel is there. 
Clyst St. Mary Rectory, Devon. J. A. Kerr. 
Birds Mobbing: a Squirrel. correspondent of the Reading Mercury 
writes: “On Sunday, December llth, at Earley, I observed a squirrel which 
had evidently strayed some distance from its native woods — (with which, how- 
ever, there was a connection by means of a hedge-row, with trees, and a water- 
course) — followed by a number of small birds, chiefly sparrows, chattering, 
wildly and almost venturing to the attack. The squirrel leaped nimbly, or 
rather flew from tree to tree, pursued by the feathery host. Why should there be 
this antipathv to the squirrel ? Had the birds mistaken it for a sandy cat or 
kitten?” 
Sparrow and Kingfisher. — The following occurrence, of which I was 
an eye-witness, may interest those who recently discussed the character of the 
sparrow so energetically in these pages. 
Shortly after nine o'clock on the morning of the i8th November last, a king- 
fisher flew out of the Royal Humane Society’s boat-house, in Hyde Park, and 
perched on the stern of a pleasure boat moored a few yards from the shore. A 
cock sparrow followed it and perched at the other end of the same boat. After a 
few moments’ rest, the kingfisher flew off towards the Paddington end of the 
water. The sparrow immediately set off in hot pursuit, quickly overtook “ the 
sea-blue bird,” and after making two ineffectual shots at it, on the third attempt 
knocked it down into the water. Luckily no harm was done, for the kingfisher 
recovered itself and flew on screaming loudly, and the sparrow, apparently well 
satisfied with the result of his expedition, abandoned the chase. This incident 
confirmed the opinion I have long held of the London sparrow, that he is an ill- 
behaved ruffian. 
Another point which struck me was the comparatively slow flight of the king- 
fisher. In books it is always spoken of as “darting” or “shooting” over the 
surface of the water, and when flying by itself it certainly does appear to go 
pretty fast. Possibly the metallic hues of its plumage give it the appearance of 
travelling at a greater pace than is actually the case ; at any rate, this kingfisher 
never had the slightest chance with the sparrow. 
A. Holte Macphersox. 
Domestication of Wood Pigeons.— When a boy I rescued two helpless 
young wood-pigeons from some village lads and reared them by hand, forcing 
soaked peas down their throats. I kept them in a roughly made cage some three 
feet square, which stood in an enclosed kitchen garden in summer and in a barn 
in winter. Their wings were not cut, and they were allowed to go where they 
liked. In the morning I threw open the cage door, when they came on to my 
arms and had a feed of barley, varied by wild fruits in season, viz., acorns, holly 
berries, &c. The number of the former they would swallow was appalling ; after 
that they took a digestive pill off the gravel path and then went for a fly, which 
I should think, often embraced a radius of half a mile or more. The shrubbery 
and well-planted grounds around the house covered about ten acres. Wild wood- 
pigeons nested close to the house, but my birds never fraternised with them, nor 
did they condescend to notice in any sort of way the house-pigeons in a dove cot 
a hundred yards off. They only settled in trees close to the house, and would 
always come to me when I whistled for them. 
During their flights, which took place from time to time during the day, they 
often recognised, me as far as half a mile from the house, and would dip down as 
they passed over my head. At first they wanted to alight on me, but I was 
afraid of their being shot by becoming too familiar with people in general, so I 
used to throw my cap at them and discharge my gun, &c., and they soon learned 
to know that I was not to be trifled with outside the premises. They were again 
fed in the evening, and were then put to bed. Their “ time-keepers” were far 
better than mine, for if I were early, they were handy, and if I were late, they 
were in their cage and ready for their evening meal. 
