NATURE NOTES. 
13B 
close together almost as anywhere in the centre of London. Some passing interest 
in this locality has been forced upon the general public by the fact that nearly 
all those who met with their death or were injured in the recent sad railway acci- 
dent, at Bishopsgate were inhabitants of ^Yalthamstow. This forms the northern- 
most of these great working-class towns that stretch southward to the Thames, 
to the east of the river Lea. Thus Hackney Marsh will prove of lasting benefit, 
not only to east and north-east London proper, but to the vast population that 
has sprung up on its further side. Nothing but evil could result from building 
over the Marsh. The nature of the soil and the low elevation above sea level 
would make it unhealthy as a dwelling place for a large number of people, and 
the fine current of fresh air that passes over it between the densely crowded dis- 
tricts on either side would be gone for ever. If it has escaped building over 
during all these years the best wish we can express is that it may continue as it is, 
and that the project of the London County Council may be carried to a successful 
issue. Archibald Clarke. 
The New Forest Scheme. — Most of our readers will have learnt by this 
time that the report made by the Hon. T. W. H. Pelham on the advisability of 
employing the 800 acres of the New Forest as a rifle range, has practically decided 
against the outrageous proposals of the War Office. From a military point of 
view Mr. Pelham, finds the site suitable. Suitable of course it is ; if it had not 
been so the War Office would never have cast longing eyes at it. He states that 
there are serious drawbacks in the way of safety, and that local feeling is most 
strongly opposed to the establishment of the range ; at the same time recommend- 
ing that if another site can be found in the southern district outside the New 
Forest, the latter should be left alone. Having gone to the expense of authorising 
a report to be made, there can be no other alternative for the War Office than to 
abandon their obnoxious and unpopular scheme, and thus make some tardy amends 
for their attempts to tamper with the public and private rights of the fellow- 
countrymen whom they serve. ARCHIBALD Clarke. 
Crowded Out. — We regret that want of space compels us to defer several 
interesting communications, as w’ell as many notices of books. In addition to 
those mentioned on p. 97, we have received the following : The Foresters, by Lord 
Tennyson (Macmillan 8: Co., 4s. 6d.) ; Kahn's Visit to England (Macmillan & 
Co., I2S. net); Birds and Flowers, by Mary Howitt (Nelson & Sons); The 
Dewy A/orn, by Richard Jefferies (Bentley & Son, 6s.) ; Science Ladders (5), 
by N. D’Anvers (Philip & Son, is. each) ; Wood Notes Wild, by J. P. Cheney 
(Boston, Lee & .Shepard, 2 dollars). These we will notice as soon as possible. 
Several papers are also held over, including one, “Concerning Marl-pits,” by 
Mr. Robert Holland, which will be printed in our August number. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Squirrel Attacked by Birds. — From my window I saw a squirrel 
vigorously chased from the fir and pine trees by thrushes, blackbirds, and a wood 
pigeon. Would a squirrel molest birds’ eggs, or was this scrimmage merely to 
resent his g}’mnastics in their colony ? 
N'ewport-on- Tay, N. B. L. L. 
The Sparrow and the Sawfly. — In the article on the Sparrow (p. no), 
the writer remarks, “ Surely everyone ought to know that the sawfly cannot be 
swallowed by birds owing to a certain hairiness of its outside.” This statement 
is likely to mislead, as the hairy caterpillar is the special food of the cuckoo, the 
indigestible portions being thrown up in pellets. Here, where the gooseberry 
caterpillar is often numerous, a cuckoo is a welcome visitor. 
Swanky, Kent. Edward Laurie Fogo. 
Greenfinches. — For some years past a pair of greenfinches have had their 
nest in a box tree on our lawn. This year two pairs are building in the same tree 
apparently. They appeared the other day underneath the dining room window, 
ail four together, searching for materials for lining the nests, which seems to- 
consist of the fine fibre off a clematis on the wall. The two male birds kept 
