NATURE NOTES 
1 86 
train, found a blue-tit having a grand wash in his milk, and it 
had no intention of leaving just because he had arrived on the 
scene. Sometimes the birds have to be actually pushed on one 
side. The robins frequently pass the night in our rooms, and 
I have often noticed them come in, settle down near the hot 
pipes, tuck their heads under their wings and sleep for hours, 
this during the afternoon. One morning a robin came in very 
early ; I spoke to it quietly, and it came on to the pillow within 
an inch of my face. Viewed at so close a range it seemed huge, 
while its eyes seemed to stand “ yards ” out of its head. Last 
year a bullfinch nested on the lawn. Dozens of people fed it 
on its nest, and it was repeatedly photographed. Now that the 
snow, which was on the ground almost continuously for forty- 
three days, has at last gone, insect life has come into prominence. 
Bees fly into the room and enjoy the hyacinths and other flowers 
in vases, while at night moths are attracted by the electric light, 
and are such frequent visitors that my setting boards are quite 
busy. One night I got a C. flavicornis, the yellow horned ; last 
night a Hebrew character, T . gothica. And this in April in the 
“ cheerless north,” and in the room of an invalid who is not 
supposed to leave his bed yet. Owls are to be heard every 
night. They are calling as I write this. The birds here have a 
grand time, truly, for they seem to have no enemies but plenty 
of friends, and survive the hard weather surprisingly well. 
Neither are they haunted by the presence of a cat, for we have 
none here, only seven dogs and a mongoose. I have only once 
seen a sparrow since I came ; they are positively rare hereabouts. 
By far the most abundant bird is the chaffinch. Robins and 
blackbirds are also abundant, and I have seen several varieties 
of tit already. This country side is, I believe, a paradise for 
the botanist, and as soon as I get about again I hope to meet 
with that lovely little flower, the Trimtalis europaa, which I have 
often found at Braemar, and in other parts of Scotland, and 
many other interesting plants. 
R. C. Lowther, 
Nordrach-on-Dee Sanatorium, 
April, 1906. Banchory, Kmcardinshire. 
SELBORN I AN A. 
Our Frontispiece. — In this number we are able to include 
a portrait of our much valued President, Lord Avebury, who 
has occupied that position since the death of Lord Tennyson in 
1893, and may, we trust, retain it ad nmltos annos. This portrait 
is intended to be bound as a frontispiece to the year’s volume. 
Astronomical Notes.— A well-known astronomer has kindly 
promised to send us short notes on the principal celestial objects 
month by month, and his first contribution appears in the 
present number. 
