29 SEPTEMBER 1950, Page 10

. SIR,—Reading Mr. Atkins's interesting article on the Spectator naturalists

I am reminded that my mother, who was a niece of R. H. Hutton, used to tell me that the more improbable animal stories sent to the Spectator in his day were attributed to Hutton's nephews and nieces ; they delighted in doing this in order to find out how much their uncle could be persuaded to swallow (and to publish).

May I add my regret, which must be shared by all Spectator readers, at the ending of Sir W. Beach Thomas's Country Life notes, always

interesting and charming.—Yours faithfully, L. M. SYNGE. The Old Rectory, Great Barrow, Chester.