NATURAL HISTORY NOTES, QUERIES, &c. 57 
Nature, and the Wild Flower Classes in particular.” The bound volumes of 
Nature Notes are especially suitable as prizes for classes of this kind. 
We regret to record the death of the Rev. F. O. Morris, of Nunburnholme, 
Yorkshire, at the age of eighty-two. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Daily Flight of Rooks. — I should much like to know why countless 
thousands of rooks should be attracted from this north side of London to some 
spot lying in a south or south-easterly direction. These birds may be seen every 
morning by daybreak, flying high up in the air in a steady stream, all in the same 
direction, and this goes on for an hour or more. Then in the evening, about 
dusk, they return in the same business-like fashion, having done their day’s work, 
and drop down to their respective rookeries on their way home. I have been 
told that they are attracted to the Thames Valley by some congenial food, to be 
found there at this wintry season. Can any of the members of our Thames Valley 
Branch throw any light upon what the attraction is, and whether the rooks are to 
be seen there in great numbers in any special locality ? 
Ei.iz.a Brightwex. 
Memory in Birds. — Six months ago I had a day boy who was happy only 
when in mischief, and it was not until a day or two after the escape of four foreign 
birds and an English greenfinch that he was found to be in the habit of opening 
a slide in one of my aviaries, and letting out a bird “ to see it fly.” A Virginian 
nightingale and an Indigo bird remained near for a few days, and then disappeared, 
but the greenfinch was never seen. A month ago, however, during the late severe 
weather, I was astonished to find one within an enclosed portion of an outdoor aviary 
occupied by a hand-reared starling ; he seemed very much at home, and evidently 
master both of the situation and starling, and as this was the home of my escaped 
greenfinch, I wonder if I am wrong in supposing he has voluntarily returned to 
captivity, and his old quarters. The starling’s drinking-water hangs outside his 
aviary, but has lately been removed at night, and it must have been during its 
absence that the greenfinch was able to find an opening large enough to force his 
way through. lie has still the same means of egress he had of ingress, but has no 
desire to avail himself of it. Ilis perfect contentment (like his appetite) is very 
great, and his old habits are to the fore, for the starling may not eat his own 
special food until the greenfinch allows him to do so. 
Watford. M. Osborn. 
Cockchafers (p. 39). — Though not nearly so plentiful as they were twenty 
years ago, cockchafers are still to be met with sparingly every year in this part of 
North Berks. Years ago the small species known as the “ summer dor ” literally 
swarmed round elms in some seasons. 
Fyfield, Abingdon. W. II. Warner. 
The cockchafer (locally called “humbuz”) is still to be found here, but is 
far less abundant than formerly. About thirty-five years ago it was rather 
unpleasantly plentiful on May evenings. 
.Malvern Link, Worcestershire. R. F. Towndrow. 
I met with cockchafers plentifully at Goring (Oxon) on July nth, 1892. The 
insects were swarming about trees and bushes, and lads were endeavouring to 
knock them down with their caps ; their successes enabled me to identify them. 
J. F. Cordon. 
I cannot remember having seen a cockchafer in this part of North Kent for 
several years, nor have I had the larva reported to me as destructive hereabout. 
Some ten years ago it was very plentiful near Gravesend, flying at night in swarms 
round elms and limes. Along one road they were to be seen lying by scores, crushed 
by foot-passengers or vehicles, for they strike themselves somehow against the 
branches, then drop, and when down, seem to have great difficulty in rising. 
The irregularity of the appearance of this species has been remarked upon in 
