A BIRD-STORY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In the cause of ornithological truth and common-sense allow me to make some short comments on Mr. Stillman's " bird-story," which, I may observe in fairness to him, he only has on hearsay. (1) When he speaks of the greenfinches "returning with the season," he seems to think the green- finch is a summer-migrant. Greenfinches are with us all the winter. (2) How could the "lady of Bournemouth" possibly know that the greenfinch which was restored by her care and nourishment was the same which returned next season with several others ? (3) Can any one who is acquainted with the manners of the animal world believe that one sparrow (because it had lost a leg) was allowed to feed unmolested by the com- passionate greenfinches ? A naturalist is inclined to think that, being a cripple, it was less actively voracious, and there- fore less offensive to the greenfinches. Why impute to animals motives which they do not have? Courtesy to a
cripple is unknown in the bird world. Any oddity or mal- formation is the signal for stronger birds to attack the sufferer. The prophet Jeremiah (xii. 9) noticed this, and used the excellent metaphor : to be "as a speckled bird ; the birds round about are against her."—I am, Sir, &c.,
LIGIIRINIIS CHLORIS.
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