NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
15 
heard at frequent intervals. Some of them must be at great heights in the air, 
for several minutes will occasionally elapse from their first audible cries or calls 
to the last sound of them in the opposite direction. At certain periods of 
the year I have noticed a frequent repetition of similar notes, whence I 
usually infer that the flights or migrations of various kinds of birds are common 
to special and well-defined epochs. 
Bishopston, Bristol, W. F'. Dknninc, F. K.A.S. 
May 12, 1905. 
246. Golden Oriole. — On April 27 a pair of (lolden Orioles was observed 
in a garden at Shottery. The last record of the species occurring in the Stratford 
.iistrict dates back some twenty years, when a single bird was noticed, and of 
course shot. Fortunately, one of the two persons who saw these orioles was 
a competent observer, who had frequently come across the birds in the South of 
France, so that there can be no doubt as to the identification. I am thankful to 
add that the birds were not molested here, although 1 gravely fear that they will 
eventually be “collected” as a reward for their temerity in visiting these 
inhospitable shores. 
Stratford-on-Avon, Kei'.inai.i) Hudson. 
May, 1905. 
247. Starlings in Australia. A newspaper cutting headed “Cure 
Worse than the Evil,” says : “ So serious has the destruction of fruit crops by the 
descendants of imported British Starlings become, that the Royal Agricultural 
Society of Victoria is joining with other similar societies in petitioning the 
Government to take energetic measures for their reduction. The birds were 
originally introduced for the destruction of insects, and special laws were enacted 
for their rigid protection.” The transportation of a creature from its own to 
another continent is often accompanied by unforeseen results and great change of 
habits. No doubt those who turned the English rabbit loose in Australia thought 
they were adding to the sport and attractions of the country. But it has turned 
out a downright curse. The English sparrow long ago proved the reverse of a 
blessing in America, having taken to even worse habits than here. On landing 
in Australia our hive bee industriously collected quantities of honey. Finding, 
however, that there was no winter such as we have in England, it gave up laying 
in stores. Its morals are corrupted; for it is no longer “ busy,” and leads a 
butterfly life. A change seems to have come over the starling in Australia. Not 
finding his usual diet of wire-worms and chafer grubs at the other side of the 
world, he has turned his attention to the first food ready to hand, and preys upon 
the Australian’s fruit in a most unpleasant way. But, because of taking to evil 
courses in the Antipodes, probably forced on him, it is to be hoped the starling’s 
character will not suffer in the British Isles ; for here he is a useful bird. The 
leaflet on “ The Starling,” issued by the Board of Agriculture, which can be 
had on application to the Secretary, free of all cost, is well worth reading. The 
leaflet on tits also is admirable, and the Board wish their publications circulated. 
With many persons Government papers have great weight and Selbornians 
would do good in distributing some of these leaflets. 
Southacre, Swaffham, Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
May, 1905. 
248. Blue Tits. — The propensity of blue tits to place their nests in letter- 
boxes, though interesting, is embarrassing. Every spring a pair nests in my 
letter-box, going in and out through the slit, which is on the public road. Not 
wishing to disturb them I lock the door of the box and hang a temporary cage on 
the adjoining gate, for the use of the postman. But as this is awkward, I put up 
close by, in the garden, a disused box with a similar slit, on the top of a post about 
five feet high, hoping that the birds would prefer the greater security and privacy 
of this arrangement and allow the other receptacle to be used for its legitimate 
purpose. But this was not to be. A second pair of tits has taken possession of 
the new home and there is now a nest in both boxes, with about eight eggs in 
each. The nests are beautifully constructed and the lining is a model of luxurious 
softness. A. L. II. 
Buxsted, 
May 5, 1905. 
