i8 
NATURE NOTES. 
solitary exception to the ordinary rule. I should add that the birds I saw showed 
no signs of immediate departure, and I have little doubt that the date of their 
actual disappearance was even later than the date which I have mentioned above. 
Isabel Fry. 
Scarcity of Swallows and Martins in Summer of 1891 .— Some 
idea of the scarcity of house martins may be gathered from the fact that on the 
19th July I was only able to see two or three new nests under the eaves of a large 
old-fashioned barn, which in the previous summer supported between twenty and 
thirty used nests ; none of the old nests had been repaired, or were in use this 
season. The unusual scarcity of both species was undoubtedly the consequence of 
the cold and wet weather in May. With snow on the i6th, 17th, and l8th. 
— laying three or four inches deep on the morning of the 18th — followed by a 
cruel fro.st which did much damage in the gardens, and thirteen consecutive days, 
with rain or snow from the 15th onwards, it is really a wonder that all, instead 
of a part of, our swallows and martins did not die of starvation. They arrived in 
considerable numbers ; indeed, upon the l8th April I saw a larger number of 
swallows together than I ever remendrer to have noticed before so early in the 
spring. But I must confess that I am one of those who believe that swallows and 
martins visit us now in diminished numbers as compared with years no longer ago 
even than when I began to notice birds. 
Bloxham, Oxon. O. V. Api.in. 
Strange Proceeding of a Kingfisber. — A short time since, while one 
of the railway porters was walking down the line (at about 7.30 p.m.) near Malton, 
Yorkshire, he was surprised to hear a great flapping of wings against the engine- 
shed window. On nearing, he found that it was a kingfisher struggling to get to 
the bright light within. He soon managed to catch it, and I am sorry to say that 
it was shortly after exhibited in a lady's bonnet. \V. R. Riley. 
V. J. W. (Edgworthstown). — It is the Great Tit (Pams major). 
Birds and Lentils. — What birds would eat lentils ? But outside a window, 
in trays, the sparrows, robins, and tits will not touch them ; but during one morn- 
ing a trayful was eaten by some bird. C. II. K. 
[Dr. Bowdler Sharoe, to whom we have referred your query, says: “The 
only way will be to watch and find out. There must be dozens of birds who 
would eat them — pigeons for choice.”] 
F. A. F. — The nearest B'ield Club would probably supply what you require, 
or you might join the British Ornithologists’ Union. 
THE MYLES MEMORIAL FUND, 
We have great pleasure in reporting that the Fund has 
reached the sum of ^429 7s. 6d., which will be invested in an 
annuity for Mrs. Myles. The Rev. G. Henslow sends us the 
following list of subscribers to the Fund : — 
Contributions from the Branches of the Selborne Society : — Atalanla. — Misses 
Gimson and Parmenter, 5s. ; Mrs. B. Smith, 2S. 6d. Bath. — Rev. L. Blomefield, 
£\ ; W. T. Braikenriilge, Esq., £,\ is. ; Miss Patterson, 2s. ; Miss Punnett, 
2s. 6d. ; Miss L. Sandford, 5s. ; ^Irs. E. A. Walker, ; E. H. Wiggett, Esq., £\. 
Bayswater. — Lord Justice Fry, ;^5 ; Misses Fry, los. ; Miss M. Lindley, 2s. 6d. 
Birmingham and Midland. — .Miss Archer, los. ; Mrs. E. Carter, lo=. ; Mrs. J. A. 
Chatwin, los. 6d. ; Miss Dadley, los. ; B. Gibbins, Esq., ;^l ; Miss Gibbins, 
los. fid. ; Mrs. Gibbins, £\ ; Mrs. W. Gibbins, £\ ; Mrs. W. Gladstone, los. fid. ; 
A. N. Hopkins, Esq., £\ is. ; W. Johnson, Esq., los. ; Dr. Kimbell, los. fid. ; 
Misses Martineou, los. fid. ; R. F. Martineau, Esq., £2 2s. ; Mrs. Nettlefold, £l ; 
Mrs. Peyton, 3s. ; Miss E. Russell, los. ; W. If. Ryland, Esq., £\ is. ; Mrs. 
Ryland, los. ; Mr. and Mrs. A. Smith, £2 2s. ; Mrs. H. .Smith, £l is. ; P. Smith, 
Esq., lOs. fid. ; Miss I. Southall, los. ; S. D. Williams, Esq., £l is. ; J. Willis, 
Es(|., ICS. fid. ; Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Wills, £2 2s. ; Prof. Windle, M.D., £1. 
Botlon-k-Moors Branch. — Miss Hardcastle, 5s. ; J. W. Heelis, Esq., 2S. fid. ; Miss 
Heelis, 2S. fid. Brighton. — Miss Gifford, 5s. ; If. Grove, Esq., los. ; Mrs. Kemp- 
son, £\ ; Dr. McKellar, 5s.; Mrs. Tayor, 2s. fid. ; Mrs. Wooldridge, 3s. Clapton 
