4 MAY 1951, Page 14

COUNTRY LIFE

THE human memory plays us queer pranks, and without notes it is a little dangerous to speak confidently about changed relationships in the bird-population. Nevertheless I feel very sure that with us here in Kent the jay was much less in evidence twenty years ago than it is today, while the green woodpecker remains in about the same numbers. It is amusing to realise that the house-sparrow is not at all common here, and it was with quite a thrill of pleasure that I saw a cock bird coming for some scraps of food one day last week. This is one of man's most faithful bird companions, and the differences of tone in his neat plumage can only be seen to real advantage in the country where soot and grime do not soil his coat.