198 
NATURE NOTES 
may be interested to know that photographs have been taken this season of the 
birds in the very act of ousting their fellows, as I have repeatedly seen it carried 
out. James Hiam, 
It may be of some interest to record that yesterday evening, September 2, I 
saw a cuckoo flying in the grounds of the Queen’s Cottage, Kew Gardens. The 
flight and the hawk-like tail are not easily mistaken ; and as my companion, who 
first saw the bird, was Mr. W. H. Hudson, there was no risk of error in the 
observation. 
Last year at Kew, in the early mornings of September i and 3, I heard the 
call of the cuckoo ; and in your October Nature Notes for last year you say 
that a Bideford correspondent tells of the cuckoo having been heard there on 
September 4. These facts show that there is not the imperativeness one used to 
fancy in the old lines : — 
“ In August 
Go he must.” Emma Hubbard. 
Swallow. — On August 18 I noticed a swallow, a young one, the tail 
feathers not fully grown. Its colour was that of a canary, pale yellow or soiled 
white and green. It seemed one of a family of three swallows, all not long 
flown. As It sat for some time on a ledge of a window I had a good view of it. 
It afterwards skimmed about on the lawn catching flies, and was in every other 
respect, colour excepted, a young swallow. I should be glad ;o know whether 
such a thing has been often seen before ? 
Castle Cary, Lotidonderry , Ireland, Aug. 25, 1899. Major. 
Birds and Fruit Buds. — “Verax” on page 151 refers to the damage 
done by birds taking the fruit buds, which I can quite understand from personal 
experience, and from the number of letters I annually receive asking for advice. 
I have no doubt the bulk of the damage is done by bullfinches in orchards, fruit 
plantations, and standard trees, but for bush fruits, gooseberries and red and 
white currants, house-sparrows are equally responsible. My observations are 
that innocent birds are often accused in the press. I have explained to “ Verax ” 
“ what kinds of birds are responsible for the damage.” Now, as to “ what is to be 
done,” I advise, as I have often done before, trapping bullfinches in cages, com- 
mencing at once, as I have done. Last season about seventy — within one, more 
or less — placed themselves in confinement in my garden. This means probably 
tons of fruit saved in the locality, and at same time prevented an enormous 
accumulation of birds being bred in the district. Better, in my opinion, to save 
the birds’ lives for pets than shooting — their usual fate. 
Astwood Bank, Redditch. James Hiam. 
Dropped Eggs. — Several dropped swans’ eggs were found about the park 
at my home this last spring (May). A pair of swans were nesting on an iskand 
in the lake. Swans being anything but timid birds, it could hardly have been 
sudden fright that made them drop their eggs. Is finding dropped swans’ eggs a 
common occurrence, and what is the explanation likely to be ? 
Grey Friars, Dttnwich, Suffolk. Mary Barne. 
The Viper in Berkshire. — Would any Berkshire reader of Nature 
Notes kindly inform me whether the viper, otherwise known as the adder, 
occurs commonly in any part of the Royal county ? I have never met with it 
in this part of North Berks. 
Fyfield, near Abingdon. W. II. Warner. 
Bees. — Hereabouts there has been a scarcity of swarms this year. Four 
out of my six hives have not swarmed at all, and so it is with my neighbours. 
What can be the reason ? Did the spring, by causing activity in the hives at an 
unduly early time, create an unusual demand upon their stores before the bees 
could replenish them, and reduce their numbers by starvation ? 
Edmund Tiios. Daubeny. 
Cabbage Butterflies.— Cabbage bullerflies, especially the small cabbage, 
are very plentiful, so much so as to be remarked ujjon by those who are not 
generally oliservant in such matters. Our c.abbagcs are sure to p.ay the piper. 
Few insect jrests, however, are abundant two years in succession. The great 
crop of these butterflies is sure to cause a corresponding increase of their enemies, 
ichneumon-flies especially, which will probably g.ain the upper hand and reduce 
their ranks next year. 
Market Ilkeston, Thetford, August i, 1899. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
