NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 39 
fjardens, is wonderfully full of bird life. Jackdaws, titmice (three kinds), black- 
birds, thrushes, chaffinches, robins, linnets, and, of course, sparrows, abound in 
gardens within a few minutes’ walk of the sea front and the parade. For the last 
two summers, two pairs of wild doves have frequented the Archery Gardens near 
this house. It is curious to see how a little effort in the way of feeding birds will 
soon attract many varieties which otherwise would have escaped notice. 
The Mount, St. LeonarcT s-on-Sea. H. J. Graham. 
Starlings Chasing a Hawk. — As I was taking a walk on December 9, 
I saw a flock of starlings chase a hawk for a considerable distance. The hawk, 
evidently not enjoying the attack, made good its escape. Can any one inform me 
whether this is a rare occurrence ? 
Rogate, Sussex. F. Arnold. 
Stoat and Birds. — A stoat, or weasel, having ventured near the house, a 
large number of sparrows which were feeding there surrounded it, and drove it 
from shelter to shelter until it managed to reach a rough bank round a fir tree. 
Weybridge. STRATHMORE. 
Blackbirds, Thrushes, and Crumbs (Nature Notes, 1893, p. 224). 
— According to your contributor, “Miss Yonge mentions the fact that in hard 
winters blackbirds and thrushes do not care for crumbs.” I find, on the contrary, 
that they are always eager for dry crumbs or small crusts in hard winters, and 
come for them to the windows like robins. 
Buscot Rectory, Lechlade. Oswald Birchall. 
Birds’ Beaks. — Is there any disease which destroys the beaks of birds, or 
is it an accident? We have had a blackbird and a robin without beaks. 
F. C. M. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
J. T. B. — Your question is somewhat too comprehensive ; please say which 
work you want, and we will supply the information. 
F. J. L. — “The Gamekeeper’s Museum ” was a shilling volume, but we do 
not know who published it. 
C. R., S. B. , and others.— Kindly note our 5th rule (see below). 
M. — Birds will sometimes strip some holly trees, and leave others untouched. 
We are not aware that the reason for their selection has been ascertained. 
Erratum. — The Rev. I. E. Page informs us that he is not the “ vicar ” of 
Alston (see p. 15), but its resident Wesleyan minister. 
The Council of the Selborne Society has decided to reserve the last page of 
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and over this page the Editor will exercise no control. This still further lessens 
the space at our disposal, and we shall more than ever have to claim the indul- 
gence of our numerous contributors for the delay which may occur in inserting 
their communications. 
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