;6 
NATURE NOTES. 
already very many, but of which folk do not seem to tire. Perhaps the religious note 
is rather more prominent here than in some works of similar scope, but of this we 
do not complain, while to some it may well prove a recommendation. The chap- 
ters are reprinted from the Kentish Gazette, and contrasts so favourably with the 
average contributions to local papers, that we think the author was well-advised 
in seeking a wider field for his work, albeit the tendency at the present time to 
consider all such articles worthy of reproduction in a permanent form is to be 
deprecated. Selbornians will think the better of Mr. Briggs for that, having 
rescued a missel-thrush from cold and exhaustion, he ends his chat about the bird 
by saying; “ I will open the door of his little cage and let him free.” But the 
“new woman” will not be pleased with the author’s reflections upon her, and is 
it not a little over severe to say that she “disgraces her sex ” by smoking? 
Mr. F. J. Whishaw’s The Romance of the IVoods (Longmans, 6s.), should 
have been noticed sooner, and would have been had we not hoped to speak of it 
at greater length than is now possible. He takes us into regions mostly unknown 
to the average naturalist, for few of us reach Russia, and stories about bears at 
first hand are not common. Here, indeed, a bear tells his own story, and very 
interesting it is and very well told. Then there is “The Bear that died of 
Curses,” a good deal of the folk-lore of the monjik or Russian peasant, and stories 
about witches, wood-goblins and the like. There is plenty of natural history as 
well ; the book is well written, and the contents, as will be understood from what 
has been said, very attractive. 
Messrs. Seeley & Co. have produced a pretty edition of Miss Mitford's Country 
Stories (6s.), illustrated by (Jeorge Morrow, which forms no unworthy companion 
to the Our Village noticed in this magazine for 1894. Mary Russell Mil- 
ford’s works need no commendation from us ; it is not to be wondered at that 
they find a new public at a time when the actuality of country life recedes more 
and more into the past, while the appreciation of its charms seems to increase. 
Mingled in the stories are pretty descriptions of gardens and their contents, and 
of woodlands and their flowers. It is to be regretted, however, that someone was 
deputed to correct the spelling of some of the names ; if, and it is possible. Miss 
Mitford was lax in this respect, there is no reason why so pretty a book as this 
should be disfigured by such extraordinary perversions of Cobiea, Lophospcrmum, 
and Eccremocarpus as “ scobtea,” “ lotus sjiermus,” and “ acrima carpis.” 
SELBORNIANA. 
A Rook Qtiery (p. 56) Answered. — If personal exiierience is of any use, 
I may reply “ None.” About twenty-five years ago some friends of ours possessing 
a very old rookery in the vicinity, borrowed our house for a few years during our 
aiisence abroad. Some of their rooks followed them here, built and remained. 
These rooks were naturally most welcome gue.sts to us, and they have continued 
to multiply year by year, gradually drawing nearer to the house, so that this 
season we lie in bed and watch them build — one nest almost hangs over the 
house. As we are staunch humanitarians it is superfluous to mention that no 
shot has ever been fired at them. 'They are as tame as barn door fowls, strutting 
about the lawn to pick uit leaves for their nests, and on all cold days coming 
regularly to be fed. Last winter during the extreme coUl they consumed two 
whole sacks of corn arid a large number of potatoes. They were fed twice a day 
on both sides of the house, on es])ecial plots of grass, swept for them, and they 
never interfered with the small birds, who were fed both on the lawn and on a 
“ bird table.” In the morning they might be seen waiting about on the trees till 
ihe well known call, “ rook, rook,” brought them all down in a black cloud. 
This winter their behaviour has been most curious. Owing to the mildness of the 
season they have not needed our hospitality and have never “ waited about,” 
save on the few frosty mornings we have had. On each of these occasions the 
