6 MAY 1949, Page 20

TROUBLESOME CHAFFINCHES Sta,—I can add another example to that of

the " sleep-breaking chaffinch " quoted by Sir William Beach Thomas in the Spectator of April 22nd. We have been troubled by a pugnacious chaffinch over a period of nearly four months—first at a large window, then at all windows in a large house, at all times of day. By the aid of a butterfly-net the bird was captured, confined in a butterfly-cage covered with cloth, and carried four or five miles to the top of Newlands Corner. Here it was released, preened itself in a bush and seemed quite content. But it was back at its window- pecking within an hour.—Yours faithfully, H. SOMERSET BULLOCK. Woodways, Abbotswood, Guildford.