Urban Birds An official plea has been issued for the
discouragement of the London pigeon, which it is said could be reduced in number if food were less freely distributed and suitable nesting places protected. It is hardly likely that the public will co-operate in such endeavours ; and a greater service would be rendered if the sparrow were discouraged. Its headquarters are the town ; and from that base it sends out emissaries into the country and at harvest time—this year as other years—large numbers of migrants who play havoc
with the wheat. Much the same may be said of the London rats ; and there seems to be good evidence for believing that the brown rat which delights in houses and is a great climber is returning. It was extinct in country places where it could not compete with the grey rat. How it has rein- forced its powers of competition in the town is a mystery. * * 31; *
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