122 
NATURE NOTES 
in flocks, when thistles were abundant. Yellow hammers, bunting, and meadow 
pipits haunted the gorse. In spring and autumn came the wheatears on their 
migratory excursions. Often across the water came the green woodpecker, a 
golden plover, and occasionally a jack snipe. It would, however, occupy too 
much of your valuable space to enumerate the birds, the plants, the moths and 
butterflies that disappeared before the remorseless hands of the Downs Improve- 
ment Committee, men who have no eye for the beauty that lurks in every nook 
of our lovely Downs, and who are robbing Nature of her most precious jewels 
in the face of officialdom. All that can be done is to protest against such 
action. 
“One consolation, however, remains, for which we must be thankful. It is, 
indeed, a consolation to know that the free, pure air that comes bounding across 
the broad Atlantic, giving health and strength to all who seek it, cannot be 
improved upon, or handled by a Corporation.” 
Richmond Old Deer Park. — The decision of the Govern- 
ment to erect a physical laboratory in the Old Deer Park is 
arousing much protest. Part of the park is already given over 
to athletics, golf, motor-car exhibitions, &c. ; but the site 
selected for the proposed building is only 140 yards from the 
boundary of the Queen’s Cottage Grounds, which, it was ex- 
pressly stated in 1898, by the Office of Works, it was intended 
to preserve in its natural condition as a sanctuary of wild bird 
life. Are there not many less objectionable sites that might 
have been selected ? 
Animals’ Heads as Ornaments. — Mr. J. L. Williams 
writes : — 
“ Regarding ‘ A Member’s ’ enquiry in June Nature Notes, 
as to reasons against the wearing of animals’ heads as ornaments, 
these should be perfectly obvious to all who have the interests 
of the animal world at heart. To commence with, surely the 
fact of it being necessary to rob an unfortunate creature of its 
life before its head can be worn, is, of itself, sufficient reason 
against the revolting fashion. Again to purchase heads, wings, 
feathers, &c., of animals and birds for any purpose whatever, 
is to create a demand for them, which is sure to be met by 
continued slaughter. And even if not actually purchased, the 
example set is likely to encourage others to do so. It is un- 
necessary to take up any further valuable space in this instance, 
since the whole thing may be summed up and condemned upon 
grounds of common humanity, and ‘ A Member ’ should never 
be at a loss for arguments against this quite indefensible 
practice.” 
An Experiment to be Avoided. — A correspondent calls 
our attention to the following letter in Country Life for May 5, 
headed “ A Plague of Magpies.” “ It could do no harm trying” 
if “ H.” would squall or squawk if tied up by the leg. 
“Sir, — A few weeks ago I saw a letter under the above heading in your 
columns. The writer enquired how he could exterminate magpies. Now I do 
not know whether what is sauce for the jay would be sauce for the magpie too, 
but it might be worth trying. The way the keepers kill down the jays, which are 
more of a pest than the magpies in the districts I know best, is to get a young jay 
