MISSEL THRUSH AND IRISH YEW 87 
and the writer has no reason to think that any of them are in 
danger of extinction, except some marsh plants whose haunts 
have been drained. 
Since we share a parish magazine with sixteen other parishes, 
we cannot devote as much space as we should like to Selbornian 
themes, but of course we print a Naturalists’ Calendar, where 
the children who discover a rare plant are immortalised, and 
a desperate rivalry is carried on with Lyndhurst, as to which 
parish shall see the first swallow and hear the first nightingale. 
In case this mention of rewards for rarities should trouble 
some of my readers, I will name as examples, the Deptford pink 
(a single specimen, not uprooted), the mouse-tail and blue wood- 
ruff (corn-field weeds) the Claytonia (abundant in one spot), the 
hare’s foot clover, the penny cress, the orpine and the ox-tongue 
— not plants which are scarce everywhere, but happening to be 
rare in this particular neighbourhood. 
Lastly, the writer trusts that any egotism in these remarks 
will be pardoned, since he records his experiences in the hope of 
their being suggestive to others who have similar opportunities. 
He need hardly say that he will be pleased to show his garden 
to any members of the Selborne Society who pass this way at 
a suitable season. 
J. E. Kelsall. 
Milton Rectovy, Lymington. 
THE MISSEL THRUSH AND IRISH YEW. 
He chirrs and scolds to keep all thieves away, 
With passionate tone of simulated fear 
Drives off what other feasters venture near ; 
But all the while he plies his robber play ; 
He leaps and sets the yew tree plumes asway, 
Then at the coral fruitage seems to tear, 
Lets fall what beak o’ercharged can no wise bear. 
Falls after, leaps, and flutters into grey. 
There as I watch his restless greed and strife 
Against all comers and the swift rebound 
From earth to fruit, from fruit again to earth, 
I think of those who from the Tree of Life 
Keep other souls, but keeping them make dearth, 
And cast food meant for angels on the ground. 
H. D. Rawnsley. 
