§ Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to outbreaks of animal and bird poisoning in different parts of the country; whether any reports have been made to him as to the causes of such poisoning; and whether, in view of the destruction of animal life which has resulted, the reason for scattering poison in these cases has been cleared up and the responsibility assessed?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have seen references in the Press to the finding of a number of dead rooks in and around Melcombe Horsey, Dorset, but my attention has not otherwise been called to the matter. I have obtained from the local police a report, from which it appears that after making inquiries they have reached the conclusion that the death of the birds in question was due to eating flesh containing strychnine,1322W which had presumably been put down for the purpose of destroying vermin. Efforts to trace the sale of strychnine during the past year to persons resident in the county have been unsuccessful, and search has failed to reveal any remains of poisoned bait.