XATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
189 
Wild Bird Protection Orders. — We have received 
from the Home Office an Order, dated March 4, applying to 
Lancashire, protecting all birds throughout the year on the 
Mersey between Liverpool and Warrington, and making 
numerous additions of birds and eggs to the schedule, either 
for the whole or for parts of the county. We have also received 
an Order, dated September 9, with reference to the County 
Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, protecting all birds on Sundays, 
and adding many species to the schedule ; and an Order of the 
same date referring to the City and County Borough of Cardiff, 
protecting many species of birds throughout the year, and eggs, 
but not containing the Sunday clause. 
Trees of London. — We would direct our readers’ attention 
to an excellent article — nearly two columns in length — on this 
subject in the Times for August 25. We wish we could reproduce 
it in extenso. 
National Testimonial to Mr. Francis George Heath. 
— A movement has been started for the presentation of a testi- 
monial to Mr. Francis George Heath in recognition of his 
labours — extending over more than thirty years — for the pre- 
servation of woods as open spaces. The purchase of Burnham 
Beeches by the Corporation of London in 1880 was the result 
of Mr. Heath’s initiative. His many popular books on ferns 
and trees are also well known. The Secretary of the fund is 
Mr. Eugene de Rutzen, 17, Lawford Road, N.W. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
654. Thrush Eating Mice. — The following remarkable incident is 
related bv a writer signing “ A. J. L. ” in the Standard of July 10 : 
“ Yesterday afternoon, while resting under the shade in my garden, I noticed 
a family of five little mice playing on the smooth surface of the lawn. The tiny 
creatures were popping in and out of their holes, and gambolling merrily on the 
smooth grass. 
“ Presently a fine song-thrush came swiftly running out from under some 
shrubs near by, halted within a foot of one of these little mice, made a sudden 
dash, struck the mouse with his beak, knocked him over, seized him, threw him 
once or twice in the air, then picked him up and carried him off to eat. The 
same thrush repeated this manoeuvre three times more in the course of an hour, 
till but one only of the five little mice was left. 
“ That the thrush ate them I know, for I saw him take the fourth victim on 
to a gravel path and peck away at the body till it was consumed. After watching 
this hour my duties called me elsewhere, but later, in the evening, I saw the 
solitary survivor of the five mice alone upon the lawn. This morning I looked 
for him in vain — so probably ere now he has shared the fate of his brothers. 
“ I have never seen song-thrushes attack mice before, but if it is their usual 
practice it is an additional reason for wishing to preserve the lives of these 
delightful songsters.” 
