THE SQUIRREL AND THE BIRD SANCTUARIES. ETe ens Bravos or
rats Seacraucts."1
think the reason for the "sudden extinction" of the squirrel in Mr. Douglas Gordon's district is that during the War large tracts of fir plantations were cleared off and the squirrels with them. When these woods were in their youth annual raids had to be made on the squirrel in order to miti- gate the enormous damage he did to the trees, but these raids were carried out systematically by the owners of the trees, and I never knew more than three or four men to be engaged in the work, and a gun and not a " squaler " was used. This latter weapon was the invention of the boys in the early days of Marlborough College. The squirrel has lately made his appearance in the London parks, and if he is allowed to increase unchecked I am afraid that the bird sanctuaries will not be the success they deserve, as no nest in his vicinity will escape a visit and he by no means confines himself to a
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