Sir Lionel Earle and his Committee are to be heartily
congratulated on the success of the bird sanctuaries in the public parks. By the planting of shrubs which attract various birds for shelter, nesting and food, and also—and perhaps chiefly—by leaving in quietness shrubberies anti rough places that used to be continually intrudod upon and tidied up by gardeners, several comparatively rare birds which formerly would have had a look and passed on have been induced to stay and to breed. In the case of Richmond Park, however, it was necessary not so much to leave plantations undisturbed as to cut away the thick and rank growth of generations. Mr. Rudge Harding supplies a fascinating report of his observations in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Willow warblers seem regularly to have established themselves. He also reports a garden warbler, whinchat, sandpiper, common white- throats and lesser whitethroats. The most interesting event perhaps was the mating of a gadwall and wild duck. A little hybrid duckling was subsequently seen on the Long Water. Mr. Harding also writes of Richmond Park. The redbacked shrike which he has seen there ought to be encouraged in every way, as we fancy that a good many have been killed off in the Home Counties by ignorant gamPlc—nerq. There is no news yet of a nightingale in Hy( * * * *
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