20 APRIL 1929, Page 18

A PUGNACIOUS LITTLE BIRD.

When I lived in Ceylon a grey wagtail formed the habit of tapping at a window in my house, as described by your cor- respondent in the Spectator of December 9th. I regarded the action as an attack upon its own reflection as mirrored in the glass. To test this I placed a small mirror on the lawn outside, to which the bird was soon attracted and delivered onslaughts of great vigour upon its supposed adversary. It was amusing to watch the wagtail dodge behind the mirror occasionally for the purpose of a flank attack, and to ob- • serve its astonishment on finding its enemy flown.—E. V. FREEMAN, Spreyton, Devon.