for information about the migration of the blackbird, which many
people regard as a home dweller. The facts should be easily discoverable, since the blackbird is one of the chief favourites of the bird-ringers organized by Mr. Witherby, from 326 High Holborn. Approximately 3,000 blackbirds are ringed yearly ; and the recoveries of these rings varies as a rough rule with the size of the bird. For example, seven Peregrine falcons out of 46 ringed were recovered, and according to figures quoted from the fountainhead by " Peter Michael " in the Countryman, only 0.27 per cent. of wrens (of whom 3,236 were ringed) have been recovered. The increase of knowledge due to ringing is very large. The crossing of the Atlantic to Labrador and within the Arctic circle is proved in the ease of Kittiwake, and we have a marvellous map of the route of English swallows to the very South of Africa. The ringers deserve our admiration ; but I should wish that very small and weak birds were omitted from their ministrations. The few recoveries of the midgets may very well indicate that the ring is a mortal handicap to those that must cross the sea.
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