COUNTRY LIFE
AN open winter is not assured till we begin to approach the first of spring. Last year's late weather is sharply recalled by an account of the loss of birds which was inost pitifully apparent in the chain of sanctuaries along the Norfolk coast. The succession of snowstorms and the continuous frosts began about January 20th and did not cease till March 13th. In a peculiarly interesting (illustrated) account of wild bird protection in Nor- folk (Miss Gay, Bank Plain, Norwich. Is. 6d.) it is written, "As a result of 23 days of continuous frost water-hens were dying of hunger on February 13th "—a dreadful preface to Valentine's Day—otter tracks were noticed all over the Marsh at this time, and on the 15th two were seen collecting and eating the dead water-hens. Many small birds also were picked up dead. It is feared that the Bearded Tits were wiped out completely, and it is a question whether the species will ever be re-established. Kingfishers, bittern, herons and a number of waders suffered severely, and Jenny Wrens were virtually annihilated. The weather has a remarkable influence on the movements of birds. For example, it was calculated that about Valentine's Day there were no fewer than 10,000 mallard on Hickling. It will be eagerly observed, wherever naturalists frequent, how far the losses in that long late frost will have reduced the breeding companies in this coming spring.
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