A FEAST OF ROWAN BERRIES.
fTo TES EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.] Sm.—Within a few yards of my study window a fine rowan or mountain ash has borne a very abundant crop of berries this year. This has afforded mo a rare opportunity for noticing the variety of birds that feast on this luscious fruit. On this subject opinions seem to differ considerably, some observers mentioning one or two species, and few going beyond three or four. In the course of a fortnight during the month of August my tree was entirely stripped of its fruit by birds which came in the following order. First of all the missel thrushes, which are in the habit after the nesting season of wandering about restlessly all over the country. During their hurried visits they ate voraciously, and after a few days gave way to the more modest and well-behaved song-thrush, to blackbirds old and young, and to the few starlings which have remained at home after their congeners have joined the largo flocks now roaming the neighbouring fields. After these ravenous feeders came the smaller birds, among whom I noted as particularly pleased with their fare bull-finches, blackcaps, chaffinches, and a solitary pair of white-throats. Now and then as many as five varieties of birds might be seen feasting together at the same time. From first to last there was no quarrelling, no attempt at domination or monopoly. All behaved as decorously toward ono another as the guests at a city banquet—I am„ Sir, &e.,
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