10 MARCH 1933, Page 13

GARDEN BIRDS.

A large number of lists of garden birds have reached me, many of them compiled over a long series of years. The papers of one list are obviously " yellowed with their age," but are by no means scorned " like old men of less truth than tongue." The oldest and longest—and yellowest—contains just sixty birds, seen from the house or garden of Leigh Vicarage by T. L. Jenkin." This district of Dorset is as favourite a haunt of birds, almost, as Selborne, and a neighbouring lake brings such birds as the Canada goose. The list includes the crossbill, all three woodpeckers, heron and woodcock. Another smaller but more remarkable list comes from Norwood within six miles of Charing Cross and contains forty-eight names. The garden is small, scarcely wider than the house. Buzzards have been seen and wryneck heard ; and in a neighbour garden of a very populous district an ousel has appeared. Another peculiarly interesting list conies from the Malvern Hills.

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