One for the birds
published: Friday | December 3, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

In a recent letter to the editor, Mr. Jeffery Cobham was amused by a presenter on a radio programme proclaiming that the original James Bond, Sean Connery, did much of his bird- watching near Ian Fleming's "Firefly". As Mr. Cobham rightly pointed out, the misunderstanding could have arisen from the fact that the swashbuckling and debonair James Bond as fictionalised by Ian Fleming, derived his name from James Bond of ornithology fame ­ the original James Bond.

The assertion that James Bond (Sean Connery) birdwatched near "Firefly" is of course ­ one for the birds. For while the ornithologist James Bond did indeed have an eye for the birds, and may have roamed near "Firefly", the fictional James Bond as far as I know, never set foot on or near "Firefly". Admittedly, he also had an eye for the birds (the non-feathered ones) and was a keen observer of their habits ­ albeit in a rather less scientific way.

Mr. Cobham is understandably amused. I myself am amused. But I don't think the late great actor and playwright, Noel Coward would be amused. If my memory serves me right, his property "Firefly" was not bequeathed to Ian Fleming.

I am, etc.,

ETHON LOWE

Edenvale

St. Mary