96 
NATURAL HISTORY QUERIES. 
49 - Rooks. — A rooks’ nest was built in a tree in a town garden about 
one hundred yards away from another large garden where had been a small 
rookery for about thirty years. All the summer there were three rooks in the 
tree : the hen sitting on the nest and two attendant birds — one sitting on a 
twig close by, and another a little further off. When the second of these went 
away the third usually went with it. 
Query — What was the business of the third bird, and what was its sex ? 
50 . — Robins Fighting. — For the last three years I have had a very 
tame robin coming into the house every day, and it even fed out of my hand. 
As it never sang, I concluded it was a hen. Lately another robin has come 
every day for food ; it is not so tame, but sings beautifully. 
On March 26 the tame robin came hopping slowly through the window with 
one eye completely pecked out, and her beak twisted quite crooked like a pair 
of scissors. I got her into a cage, where she now is. She soon learnt to feed 
herself in spite of the damaged beak, and seems more likely to die of over- 
eating than anything else. She is obliged to eat large pieces as she cannot pick 
up small ones. 
Every day the other robin comes through the open window and perches on 
the cage, singing. The robin in the cage takes no notice at all. 
Is it true that young robins kill the old ones? If so, I thought that only 
applied to cocks, and my injured bird is evidently a hen. 
I should be pleased if any of your correspondents would enlighten me. 
Botley, Hants. M. S. Jenkyns. 
April 7, 1905. 
51 . Joint Nesting. — On the subject of joint nesting, I should much like 
to know whether there is any explanation, or whether it is only an accidental 
occurrence. Last April I found a moorhen’s nest with seven moorhen’s eggs 
in it and one coot’s. CuTHBERT Raikks. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
[Note.— At.l Announcements with reoard to Meetings ok the 
Central Society or Branches will he round together at the end 
OF THESE Notices.] 
New Members. — Central Society. — John F. Davie, Esq., Oxford Circus ; 
William Lawrence, Esq., Hanwell ; Miss Dunham Massey, Croydon. 
Birmingham Branch. — Miss Thring, Edgbaston. 
Clapton Branch. — Miss E. Hawker, Dalston Lane. 
Hampstead Branch. — E. E. Belyeniann, E.sq., Parliament Hill ; E. Collins, 
Esq., Mrs. E. Collins, Chiswick ; Miss Ethel Stanbro(>k, Tufnell Park ; Miss 
Steinberg, Miss Alice Steinberg, South Hampstead. 
Subscriptions. — The Council has great pleasure in acknowledging sub- 
scriptions of greater value than 5s. from the following members; G. \. Musgrave, 
Esq., IS. ; Mrs. Musgrave, £\ is. ; Lady Simeon, los. 
Library. — The Honorary Librarian has pleasure in acknowledging the 
following additions to the Library: ‘‘The Glamour of the Earth,” by G. A. B. 
Dewar ; and ‘‘Verses Chielly About Nature,” by G. E. M., kindly presented by 
the Editor; and live editions of the “ Natural History of Selborne,” by Gilbert 
White, kindly presented by E. A. Nash, Esq. 
The Honorary Librarian will attend at 20, Hanover Square, from 6 p.m. to 
6.30 p.m., on the evenings when the Publications Committee meets (at the present 
on the second Monday in the month), for the purpose of issuing books to 
Members. 
SELBORNE SATURDAY AFTERNOONS. 
March 25. — About .seventy Members assembled at Tallow-Chandlers’ Hall, 
Dowgate Hill, where they were welcomed by Mr. M. F. M(mier-Williams, 
