196 
NATURE NOTES. 
common in summer, is a species with which we are unacquainted, even by name, 
and the particular species of “ Woodpecker,” which is “ rare,” is not indicated. 
We have received the first part of the beautiful edition of The ComplecU 
Angler, which Mr. John Lane is publishing in monthly instalments at is. each 
(net). It is excellently printed, and has numerous and appropriate illustrations by 
Mr. Edmund H. New. There is a sudden rush of cheap editions of popular illus- 
trated works on natural history, and Messrs. Lloyd send us the first instalment of 
theirs, in which Dr. Sharpe begins the history of British Birds. A hundred and 
twelve pages of letterpress by a master of his subject, illustrated by eleven coloured 
plates, make up about the cheapest sixpennyworth we remember to have seen. 
The new number of Mr. Walker Miles’s Field Path Rambles, devoted to 
Epsom and its delightful neighbourhood, comes in time for mention, though not 
soon enough for notice, in our present issue. 
We are compelled once more to ask the patience of those who have sent us 
books for notice, the pressure on our space rendering it impossible to deal with 
many of these in our present issue. 
SELBORNIANA. 
Hampstead Heath. — At a meeting of the London County Council on 
Tuesday, July 7, the Parks Committee reported that it was their intention to 
preserve Hampstead Heath as far as possible in its natural state. They therefore 
recommended the Council to reduce the number of “ workmen ” on the Heath to 
three, whose work would be strictly limited to clearing up refuse, clearing out 
water-courses, repairing footpaths, staking and tying trees, and similar indispens- 
able operations. The recommendation was adopted. Public opinion urgently 
demands that some person, or persons, of taste should be appointed to overlook 
all work done on the Heath ; also, that many of the newly planted trees (said to 
be nine thousand) should be removed, as it is universally felt they are misplaced. 
Taming the Birds. — At this season of the year the garden is generally 
pretty full of young birds, and when this is the case it is very easy to make them 
tame. All you have to do is to place a chair in a conspicuous position, and take 
your book and read quietly, and when the young birds come near, throw them a 
few crumbs of bread, taking care each day to diminish the distance between the 
birds and yourself. At last the birds will grow so tame that they will eat out of 
your hands and fly on your knees and shoulders. For an invalid I can imagine 
few things more entertaining than sitting out of doors in a comfortable chair with 
the birds tame all round, and feeding from your hands. In my time I have 
tamed a great number of birds, bull-finches, linnets, robins, &c., which would 
follow me everywhere. Of course one must whistle or talk to the birds, so that 
they will grow familiar to your habit of calling them. 
Melbourne, Derby. Arthur Myers. 
The Forest (p. 164). — Thinking that my article would be of interest to such 
a past master in the woodman’s craft as Mr. Gladstone is, and that P'orestry was 
of an importance to deserve the advocacy of his powerful eloquence, I sent 
Nature Notes for August to Hawarden Castle, and the venerable statesman 
writes to me as below. 
Slapton, Kingsbridge. Giles A. Daubeny. 
“ I agree with you upon the very great importance of the subject of Forestry, 
and .shall be very glad if you can induce our countr}-mcn to give it an increased 
attention. — W. E. Gladstone.” 
“ Aigrettes ” in the Army ! — I do not think it is generally known that 
ladies are not the only barbarians in the matter of wearing aigrettes. I was in 
some lodgings lately where the landlord made plumes for the Guards. Some of 
these were brought up for my inspection. They were indeed beautiful, but alas 
for the poor birds. In one plume were £,'2. los. worth of splendid aigrettes ! 
Who is responsible for this wholesale destruction? 
Acines L. Drury. 
