94 
NATURE NOTES. 
London’s accumulations, an old-world village modernized, and, 
most cruel blow of all, a spot of world-famous scenery irre- 
trievably ruined. 
Unhappil}', one can onl}^ see the crudest commercialism in 
this transaction, though locally the usual selfish appeals have 
been made to the trading and working class interests. More 
work, better trade, and as a sop to parochial minds, increased 
rating value. If the public interests were the predominant 
feature in the change one would accept the inevitable with a 
sigh, and leave the future to work out new features of beauty in 
place of the wooded charms sacrificed to present-da}'^ utility. 
But the history of Petersham forbids such a view. The present 
owner of Bute House has achieved the hitherto impossible task 
of getting the Dysart Trustees to dispose of land and houses for 
the purpose of rounding up the new estate to better develop the 
newly acquired property. When the local authorities, a few 
years since, wished to acquire a strip of land from the same 
estate for the purpose of putting some small property into good 
sanitary condition, they were met with a point-blank refusal : 
the poor people must face disease or go. But when the same 
adviser wishes to “ develop ” the estate, the embargo is taken 
off. No comment is necessary. It is gravely to be regretted 
that the conditions of civil life put it in the power of wealthy 
landholders to sacrifice to the narrowest self-interest those 
features of natural beauty which, as in this instance, afford de- 
light to a yearly procession of thousands of sightseers — delight 
of the purest and most satisfactory character, in days when 
doubtful spectacles are only too often put forward. 
So much importance is given to this “ development,” because 
it is feared that it is only the precursor of an avalanche of brick 
and mortar, which will shortly engulf the rolling woodland visible 
from the Richmond heights, and fatally change its entire charac- 
ter. The protest of two years ago saved Petersham Common 
and Wood, and the noble esplanade on the river side by Ham, 
because there was an invasion of public rights. Can the spoiler’s 
hand be stayed when he carries in it the formidable words 
“ private rights ” ? 
John Allen. 
Swallows at the Cape.— The following is an extract from a letter from the 
Komgha District, South Africa. “ Some swallows used to build over a door of one 
of the farm buildings, roofed with corrugated iron, but they never reared a brood 
because a strong wind shakes the iron, so that the nest came down. They used to 
build five or six times, and sometimes got as far as young birds. We tried many 
things and have at last succeeded by putting a handkerchief round the nest, and 
fastening it with wire. One strong wind loosened the nest, so it simply lay in the 
handkerchief with an inch between it and the roof, but the birds soon built it up 
again, and there are young birds now.” 
B. P- 
