Sir George Courthope tells me that he is anxious to
discover whether the habit is general in the species. So are we all. It should not be difficult. The birds are immensely. numerous in most counties ; and, since they have taken to nesting in rabbit holes there is no limit to their possible extension. A good many people released specimens of this bird in England, though it is especially connected with the name of Lord Lilford. Personally, I knew the bird best in the neighbourhood of Lilford, where it was common a generation ago. It would be interesting to know if the Lord Lilford of that date—he was the best naturalist in Britain—had any information about the bird's feeding habits in the country of its origin. He would certainly not have " enlarged " it if he had suspected it of being a small bird's enemy. Does it bring from Spain this queer habit and abnormal intelligence ?
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