SELBORNIANA. 
79 
tit, White Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Sky Lark, Hedge Accentor, Redbreast, 
Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chifif Chaff, Wren, Goldcrest, Spotted 
Flycatcher, Swallow, Martin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Hawfinch, (?) Bullfinch, 
Sparrow, Starling, Missel Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing, Thrush, Blackbird, 
Nuthatch, Great Shrike, Woodpecker, Jack Daw, Rook, Seagulls, Wood Pigeon, 
Cuckoo, Yellow Bunting, Creeper. 
Sparrows. — I have twice been informed by residents in Leusden, a village 
near Ashburton, in Devonshire, that no sparrow has been seen there within the 
memory of man. Can anyone account for this curious fact ? 
During this spring I have had in my garden, in Torquay, rows of yellow 
Crocuses quite untouched by the sparrows. 
Furzebank, Torquay. Theresa Musgrave. 
The Primrose. - The Whitehall Revie-u of April 19th has two articles, one 
on “ Primrose Day ” and one on “ Primroses, ” in the first of which we are assured 
that “the Primrose is a purely British species, not found in any other part of 
Europe,” and in the second that it is found “ nowhere outside the British Isles, 
unless it be in some parts of Scandinavia, while our only grounds for presuming 
its existence there, is the fact that Linnaeus christened it Primula vulgaris.” This 
statement is emphasised and repeated, so it is perhaps as well to say that it is 
absolutely devoid of accuracy. It meets my eye on my return from a railway 
journey through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, where the Primrose adorned the 
banks and woods as freely as it does at home ; and at Como on “ Primrose Day ” 
we gathered a bunch large enough to supply any number of enthusiastic 
“Leaguers.” The second of the articles referred to is throughout an excellent 
example of the combination of nonsense and misstatement which does duty for 
“ science ” in papers of a certain class. G. S. R. 
Keswick Notes. —The Rev. II. D. Rawnsley writes from Crosthwaite 
Vicarage, Keswick, “ The first Cuckoo was heard here in the Keswick Valley, on 
April 2nd. The first Chiff Chaff was seen on April 10th. The first Swallow on 
April 20th. The corncrake came to us on the first of May. I find that 
it marvellously sharpens the school children’s eyes to look for the coming of the 
birds, if a sixpenny bit is promised for the first authenticated sight of one of 
these winged lake visitors. But I also find that old eyes are better than young 
ones ; in each case my little school friends were a day late in first sight of the 
birds. May I again plead that the May Queen Festivals may have associated 
with them, as here at Keswick, a public proclamation in proper form of Her 
Majesty’s good will and pleasure towards those who kindly entreat horses, dogs, 
wild birds, and tame pets, during the coming season. I can send you a copy of 
our own proclamation, which after duly being read in the ears of all the people 
in the Keswick Market-place, will be posted on the walls, and in the school- 
rooms, and in all the cottages. Every little thing that helps in the direction 
of kindly care for animals I feel must interest the Selborne Society. This is my 
excuse for writing.” 
The Note of the Cuckoo.— A. M. II. writes from Bath “Having been 
much interested in the letters upon the note of the cuckoo which have appeared 
lately in Nature Notes, on hearing it for the first time this year, on April 25th, 
I took particular care to observe the interval. It was a clear, distinct, perfect fifth, 
A to D, repeated eight or nine times, then ending with a major third, F sharp 
to D. Once I heard the bird singing the major third, conclude with a distinct 
perfect fourth, G to D. Another cuckoo at the same time was singing major thirds. 
I must mention that the pitch by which I took note of the interval was higher than 
concert pitch, being philharmonic.” 
While dealing with this subject We may note that Miss Eva Milman, writing 
from Martin’s Heron, Bracknell, Herts, records the appearance of the cuckoo on 
April 16th. And A. II. writes as follows: — “The cuckoo was first heard in 
Bramdean, Hampshire, on Tuesday, April 15th, and swallows were first seen the 
next day. I adopt a plan which I recommend to all who are lovers of birds. I 
not only feed them through the winter and spring, but I keep a pan of fresh 
water filled for them. Also I put tufts of cotton wool or wadding near at hand, 
which in the nesting season soon disappear.” 
Destruction of Birds of Prey in the Hebrides.— Surely the last 
paragraph of the article under the above heading in the April number must be a 
mistake. 1 have most of the dealers’ catalogues ; they vary little in price, and 
