BIRD SANCTUARIES FOR LONDON.

(To THE EDITOR OP THE IT SPECTATOR."1 Sin,—The interest of readers of the Spectator in natural history and in all wild life is well known. I am certain, therefore, that they will be not only ready but anxious to help in the admirable scheme for establishing bird, sanctuaries in London parks which has just been adopted by the Office of Works. Lord Crawford and the Permanent Secretary to the Office of Works, Sir Lionel Earle, desire to establish and main- tain the bird sanctuaries, which will be a soureeof delight to all intelligent Londoners, without any expense, to the, tax- payer. Even those who care little about birds ought to support the Office of Works for setting such a good example! In one way it is easy to avoid expense as a sanctuary means roughly a, thicket left to.itself,, except for, the attentions of, Or discreet watoher;.theanore shy birds will not breed where gardeners are, for ever intruding and trimming and weeding. During the: war bit& which- had, not bred: in London parka before did* so simply because owing to the lack of gardeners they found' cover where formerly there had. been- none.

But there is another way in which expense can be saved, and here I come to the matter in which your readers: can greatly, help. The committee on whose recommendation the Office of Works is acting carefully went into-the question of what kinds of birds might reasonably be attracted' to London and what kinds of shrubs and) plants were- required to make- London. sufficientlyattractive to them. A list has been drawn. up, and having consulted: Sir Lionel* Earle, I have his authority for saying that if any of your readers will send plants for the sanctuaries, the carriage will be paid on the parcels and an acknowledgment will be sent to them. Here is a list, of plants needed for getting the scheme under way :— Contributiona of plants—the, more the better—should.. be directed to the Superintendent, Hyde Park, London. Cards should be attached, and the-Superintendent will be instructed to pay the carriage and remit the cards to the. Office of Works for. acknowledgment. There is no time to lose. The planting ought to be completed before the middle of March.

How many persons will turn out to listen-to the nightingales singing in Kensington Gardens, when nightingales do sing,

Botanical Name.

Prunus spenosa Rosa canina

Cotoneastor in variety

Cornu.s sanguine°. .. PTURIRI pennsylvanica.. Cozy lus Avellana Cratagus pyracantha

oxYacantha Ribes sanguinea Rosa rugosa Symplaoricarpus racemosum Prunus cerasus Rubus canadensis Rubus villosus Rosa rubiginisa Rubus.Idaeus Briers, Penzance in vpriety Ribes Grossularia Ulex europseus

Approx. reqqn:uired.;taity

Common Name. 11000 1,000 1,000 200

Loco 1,000

1,000

11,;000000

1,000

1'200000 11,0(0000

1,000

22:0005=000 '•

• • • • - • • • • • • • • • • •

Blackthorn ..

(Dog 'Rose) ..

Dogwood Wild_Red Cherry. Common Hazel ..

Hawthorn Wild Currant

• •

• . •.

Snowberry Wild Cherry .. Low Blackberry Iiigh ,Blackberry Sweet Briar .. Wild Raspberry..

Gooseberry Gorse