176 
NATURE NOTES 
how long would hair remain on his poor back, or the skin on his tail ? Then how 
would they themselves, both hanging on to his tail, proceed — backwards or 
forwards? This theory lands us in endless difficulties and conundrums, and I 
give it up. 
I think it most likely that where long distances are concerned, the rat partly 
rolls, partly lifts the egg, according to the nature of the ground, and that he 
undertakes the work alone. 
August, 1898. Edmund Thos. Daubf.ny. 
Singing Mice. — Can any of your readers enlighten me about “singing 
mice”? A relation of mine now staying in an old house at Painswick writes 
that her sleep has been much disturbed by an uncanny sound which began late 
at night, and seemed to wander about her room. She was told at last that it 
was a singing mouse, but the reason of its singing was not explained. In Frank 
Buckland’s “ Log Book ” there is a short account of these creatures, but he says, 
“ the real secret of these musical powers in the mouse is not, I believe, known. 
Dr. Crisp, of Chelsea, informed me that he thought the singing was caused by 
the presence of a parasite in the liver. I have a specimen, in spirits, of a singing 
mouse, in which this parasite is certainly plainly visible, but I am not at all sure 
that other mice also, who are not musical, have not this parasite.” If any one 
can throw further light on this mystery, I should be greatly obliged. 
Catnbridge Lodge, St. Albans. (Mrs.) Rose Turle. 
Are the Wild Birds’ Protection Orders to remain a Dead 
Letter ?- There is great possibility of this happening, as Mr. W. B. Gerish 
remarks, unless efforts are made locally to see them carried into effect. I agree 
that something should be done early next year, so that united action might be 
taken by those interested in a given locality. Children could at least be warned 
of the illegality, and so perhaps be diverted from adopting the profession of the 
bird-catcher before too late. Against the hardened adult I fear that little can be 
done. There are too many ways by which he can wriggle out of a conviction, 
and if convicted, the fine is no deterrent. Our hope lies in the children. Let 
us at least educate them in our principles. The seed will fall on some good 
ground. There ought to be no lack of publicity. As Mr. Gerish no doubt is 
aware, full instructions as to advertising such orders are to be found in 57 and 58 
Viet. (1894), c. 4. Local authorities should be watched to see that this is 
carried out. 
• Edwd. A. Martin. 
As an interest in the protection of wild birds seems a feature of the Society’s 
aims, would it not be well if they could exercise their influence towards inducing 
the authorities of Board Schools to allow posters of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 
as applicable to the county division of each, to be posted up in the Board 
Schools? The R.S. P.C.A. supplies these, and as school boys are the worst foes 
to the birds, and horribly cruel in their methods of killing all the nestlings they 
find, as well as robbing eggs, this would be a means of bringing the law before 
their notice, so that they could not pretend ignorance of it, and if people of 
influence could be induced to seeing that it does not remain a dead letter, a good 
deal might be done to mitigate the wholesale destruction of birds’ nests that goes 
on in the neighbourhood of all towns and villages. Posters applicable to this 
division of Sussex have been put, at my suggestion, by the authorities in the 
Board School of this place, anti I believe it would be generally acceded to as a 
sensible plan if suggested through the medium of societies like the Selborne. If 
the Selborne Society has done, or will take up the matter, I should he pleased to 
send a donation towards that purpose. 
East Grinslead, Sussex. Emily Fountains. 
Caged-Birds. — I venture to suggest that your contributor, “ Lover of 
Liberty,” would do much more for the cause of humanity if, instead of 
adding to the already too long list of Societies by starting a “league against 
the custom of keeping captive birds,” he (or more probably she) were to 
join forces with those who are endeavouring to persuade bird keepers to keep 
their pets under conditions more favourable to their happiness. I grant that 
