NATURE NOTES 
which, perhaps, modern “ bird books ” have given us more than enough, it treats 
in a pleasantly discursive manner of many other most interesting topics, such as 
the protective shape and colours of eggs, the varying stages of development of 
young birds when hatched, the structure and uses of various feathers, and the 
calls and song-notes of many difterent British species. By the courtesy of the 
publishers we are able to give two specimens of the illustrations. 
The Wild Animal Play for Children. By Ernest Seton-Thompson. David 
Nutt. Price 2s. 
We are sorry this little book did not reach us before the Christmas holidays. 
It is a simple little play for seventeen boys and girls, and the rehearsals would 
give an admirable entertainment for winter children’s parties, especially where 
Wild Animals I have Known and the author’s other excellent works are already 
favourites. All the dramatis persona are illustrated by the author. 
The Journal of the Keiv Guild. 1900. No. 8. 
This is an exceptionally interesting and well illustrated annual part of what 
is, we believe, a privately-printed journal for past and present members of the 
Kew staff. It contains much interesting biographical matter, and from it we 
learn that the scheme of a phv'sical laboratory in the Old Deer Park is finally 
abandoned. 
The Derbyshire Naturalists’ Quarterly, Vol. I., No. 4, December 15, 1900. 
London Agent ; Elliot Stock. 
We are pleased to see that Mr. Hinscliff, the editor, quoting a remark pre- 
viously made in these columns, is able to .say that in foretelling the success of his 
venture we have proved true prophets, and we hope the Derbyshire Naturalists' 
Quarterly may have a long career of usefulness before it. 
Received : — Knowledge, Science Gossip, The Naturalist, The Irish Naturalist, 
Humanity, Our Animal Friends, The Anitnal IVorld and The Agricultural 
Economist for January. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
The Mild. Winter. — In the neighbourhood of Plymstock yesterday, I 
observed a blackbird suddenly rise from the hedge screaming in a manner which 
betokened fright, as is the wont of blackbirds when startled by a passer-by, 
especially during the nesting period. On examining the place whence it ascended 
I found a partially-built nest of recent construction. Evidently the mildness of 
the weather had induced this bird to build early in anticipation of the summer 
being at hand. Perhaps your readers might have met with similar cases. Among 
flowers still blooming in the hedges are the herb robert, the common campion 
{^Lychnis diurna), and I also saw a strawberry flower. Of ferns there is an 
abundance, Scolopendrium vulgare predominating. Verily the seasons are 
changing. E. R. C. 
Plymouth, January l, 1901. 
On December 21, 1900, a sparrow’s nest with four eggs in, was found in a hay 
loft in this parish, and near the same place in a stack last January a robin was 
sitting on four eggs. 
Franklin, Salop. O. A. Feilden. 
Birds, Bats and Insects. — The open weather this month has had the 
following effects amongst others here. Thrushes are singing all day long, missel 
thrushes, hedge sparrows, and some other birds occasionally. Bats fly about, not 
only in the evening, but in the day time ; while bees take dangerous journeys in 
vain quest of honey, dangerous, because if they settle on the cold ground they 
often become so chilled as to be unable to regain their home. To-day numbers 
of large flies were busy in a bottle containing the remnants of sugar used as a 
death trap for wasps in the autumn. It is generally supposed that a severe winter 
is destructive to insect life ; but I fancy that a mild one is the more fatal of the 
two. Cold weather compels most insects to lie torpid in their winter quartets, 
where they are in comparative safety from their foes, and most, if not all, that 
