NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
179 
these birds, more especially one big rook, come to the window, perch on the 
garden chair, and caw for food. They are undismayed by the lifted window, or 
the action of throwing food ; are very discriminating as to the merits of bacon 
versus bread ; and are so noisy if unheeded that it is impossible to breakfast in 
peace if they are not served first. The baby rooks are just beginning shyly to 
join the party, and have a curious grey tinge of feathers on the head. They 
never steal fruit nor garden produce either here or at home, and I think we may 
be justly proud of our rooks. 
Romsey, Hants. F. H. S. 
Night-Jar (p. 159). — This bird builds no nest, but lays its eggs on the 
ground ; only two eggs are laid about the beginning of June ; they are quite oval, 
of a whitish ground with delicate veins of bluish grey and pink, and rather more 
than an inch in length. The note of the male bird resembles the syllable 
“ jar-r-r-r-r-r-r,” and “ dec dec” when on the wing. It is one of the latest of our 
arrivals, seldom appearing until the middle of May and leaving in August. 
Sid?nouth. F. E, Coombs. 
The St. Kilda Wren. — Having just returned from the Outer Hebrides I 
am happy to be able to assure both Mr. Hudson and Mr. Aplin that the 6"/. Kilda 
■wren is not extinct, but that I have seen three specimens of it at least. I may 
also mention that I saw a pair of carrion crows this summer in the trees near 
Essex Villas, Kensington. 
George Williamson. 
Cunning Geese. — Whilst away for my holidays at a farm in Sussex, the 
farmer repeatedly drove the geese out of two meadows laid down for hay — some- 
times using his dog for the purpose — until at last, as soon as they saw him coming 
— if they happened to be in either meadow — they immediately made a rapid exit. 
One day I was up in my bedroom and saw the geese in one of the meadows about 
fifty yards from the house. I was whistling an air and noticed that when I 
whistled loud enough for them to hear me they raised their heads and looked 
about to see if they could see the farmer coming. I then whistled as though 
calling for the dog, loud enough for them to hear me ; and to see the way in which 
those geese scampered out of the field led me to conclude that they were “ not 
such fools as they looked.” 
F. J. Lansdell. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
A. H. — Yes, it is a sea-holly — Eryngiurn Oliverianus. 
R. M. W. — Many thanks ; it is analogous to the “ Hen and Chicken” daisy. 
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