7 FEBRUARY 1947, Page 18

February Hunger

It behoves bird-lovers to remember that birds need more food in the later frost than the early. They store fat against the winter ; but have less of it to draw upon when St. Valentine approaches. After all, many birds, most noticeably partridges, arc wont to pair towards the end of January. February frosts are therefore much more fatal than December frosts, and the later the worse. If ever we are allowed to put food and fa: (groundnuts are the best form) on the bird table, now is the greatest obligation. As to other animals, I have never known mice, especially long-tailed field mice, so crowd into outbuildings.