29 OCTOBER 1948, Page 17

Piebald Pucks The virtues of the South-West have been impressed

on me this week,) especially of those two old rivals (in the title of preserved cream as in much else), Cornwall and Devon. Cornwall is notably strong in local poets. Much the best local verse I have seen is to be found in a humble little book, A Cornish Gleaning, by Bernard Moore, published, oddly enough, from 216 High Street, Slough. It is essentially Cornish ; but the best verses are of wider scope. As to birds, a very spirited addressl to Tom Tit begins well:

"You imp of life!

You blink of blue!

You piebald Puck!

You much ado! "

I wonder whether Cornish tits have adopted the bad habit, reported froml several places in Devon, of attacking newspapers and labels and letters* as well as the tops of milk bottles.