28 SEPTEMBER 1929, Page 15

FOOLISH VIRGINS.

The birds are in much the same straits as the farm animals : they have been eating up their winter fodder. Trees, such as the mountain ash, are already entirely denuded ; and if the eating of winter berries continues at the present rate our winter visitors, especially the fieldfares, are likely to go hungry. Nuts are being devoured with similar lack of fore- thought. I have one hazel in my garden that has been raided (apparently by mice). As a rule they wait till the nuts have fallen and lain on the ground ; and then carry them over to some neighbouring cache. This year they have eaten thgn