Scots Squirrels It was very pleasant to see in Scotland—in
Kirkcudbright —red squirrels playing in the garden; and I am inclined to think that they are increasing in districts which have not yet been reached by the grey squirrel. They have, of course, been increased by immigration. The red squirrels that I have seen of late in Whipsnade and in North Devon were born not in England but in the near East—I think in Czecho- Slovakia, a region that sends us also its partridges. These squirrels and partridges are as nearly as possible identical with our native, and flourish in their new homey It is to be hoped that the Forestry Commissioners, whose new forests are the very contrary of sanctuaries, will not consider the squirrel to be one of their alleged enemies. In more than one area of Scotland black game have been ruthlessly exterminated in and out of season. They are treated as vermin, no better from the afforester's point of view than rabbits. What is their attitude towards crossbills, which have made one appearance at any rate—so a local observer of distinction tells me—in a district of Scotland not before visited? These are perhaps the one and only species of live thing that have been attracted to a region by the planting of regiments of conifers.
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