NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
211 
erection of a nesting-box. It is intended to number all the 
boxes and keep a register with regard to them, so that members 
may hear of the success, or otherwise, of the boxes which they 
contribute. 
Bird Protection in Australia. — In addition to the Bill 
prohibiting the export of the plumes of lyre-birds and egrets 
from Australia, the Customs authorities of the Commonwealth 
are framing a regulation prohibiting the importation of such 
plumes and skins for ornamental purposes. 
Danger to Dartmoor Megaliths. — -We regret to hear 
that the famous avenues of prehistoric stones at Merrivale 
Bridge, near Princetown, are in some danger from the pro- 
posed construction of a light railway. It is apparently thought 
that an undertaking not to go within 200 ft. of the longstone 
or menhir is sufficient; but it ought certainly to be possible 
on an open moorland, such as Dartmoor, to make a detour 
which will avoid the whole of this English Carnac. One menhir 
has already disappeared and two cromlechs have fallen, but two 
stone circles and two fine parallel avenues, respectively about 
5 furlongs and k mile in length, remain. These should be 
jealously protected by the Devon County Council ; and we may 
hope that the newly-appointed Royal Historical Monuments 
Commission will lose no time in getting to work so as to pre- 
serve such priceless memorials of antiquity for those who come 
after us. 
Mr. George Nicholson. — In our last issue we erroneously 
described Mr. Nicholson as having entered the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, as a “young gardener.” He was trained in the nurseries 
of La Mouit, Paris; Messrs. Hugh Low, and Company, of 
Clapton; and Messrs. Fisher and Holmes, of Sheffield; entered 
the Curator's Office at Kew, after a Civil Service examination, 
in 1873, and was Curator from 1886 to 1901. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
663. The innocent Owls. — In the pages of the Standard, which always 
welcomes Natural History matter, there has recently been much correspondence, 
including several most sensible letters, on the destruction of birds of prey. 
Several correspondents defend the owls. Mr. G. A. B. Dewar writes : — 
“ It may chance that now and then the tawny owl takes a pheasant chick, but 
such chances would be quite rare. Our other owls are probably quite innocent. 
The barn owl, the long-eared owl — who has a true word to say against them ? 
One might as well accuse the little owl, which I have seen in Surrey lately. The 
tawny owl — and, I suspect, the long-eared owl — will now and then take a small 
bird from its perch ; the furious din the birds set up when these owds move in 
daylight or on the verge of dusk tells its own tale. But it would be absurd to kill 
owls because they take toll of small birds.” 
664. Kingfisher and Swallows alighting on Fishing-rod. — As 
my brother was fishing in the river Aide, on September 8, a kingfisher alighted 
upon his rod. Soon afterwards four young swallows also took to perching upon 
it, flying off and again returning to it at intervals. He was standing among and 
partly concealed by the reeds growing on the bank, the fishing-rod being pushed 
out over the water. 
Blaxhall, Suffolk. 
G. T. Rope. 
