23 JANUARY 1932, Page 12

Escapes," now a technical word for escaped captives, are much

commoner than is generally realized. In the annual records of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society (pro- cured from the Hon. Secretary, 31 Surrey Street, Norwich) are references to a Chile widgeon, a stork, and perhaps an ibis, that must have been once tame. Ornamental duck are con- tinually wandering ; and such pheasants as Amherst and Reeve may be met every day in the Midlands, not to mention the barking deer, the grey squirrel and the muskrat. The tribe of Canadian geese, now very firmly established in Britain, sprang from released birds. It is surprising that the guinea fowl, which many people attempted to naturalize, is only to be found in domestic guise.

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