FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE . LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY /Bound a: Ia.m.n.h V THE JOURNAL oF THERoYAL SOC FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS A- '^ OOiH- ^^. 5" The Royal Society for ,^,,,,, the Protection of Birds, 23, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, LONDON, S.W.I. Incorporated under Royal Charter, 1904, Any person interested in promoting the objects of tlie Society and willing to abide by the Regulations may be enrolled as follows : — FELLOW, by subscribing an annual sum of not less than One Guinea (£1 Is.), or by com- pounding for life by a donation of Twenty guineas (£21). MEMBER, by subscribing an annual sum of not less than Five shillings (5s.), or by compound- ing for life by a donation of Five guineas (£5 5s.). Fellows and Members are, after election, entitled to receive a copy of every publication issued by the Society, and to attend and vote at all General Meetings of the Society. ASSOCIATE, (a) by subscribing an annual sum of not less than One shilling (Is.), or compounding as a Life Associate by payment of Twenty-one shillings (21s.) ; (6) by paying a sum of Two- pence to cover cost of registration. Associates receive cards on joining ; Fellows and Members receive certificates of election. TABLE OF CONTENTS.— VOLUME iX 1920. No. 1.— SPRING NUMBER, 1920. PAGE Trade and tJie Plumage Question . . . . 1 By Dr. W. T. Hornaday. The Plumage Bill 2 Opinions of Sir H. H. Johnston, Sir T. Mackenzie, Mr. W. P. Pycraft, Mr. Julian Huxley, Mr Montagu Sharpe, Mr. Trevor-Battye, and Mr. Holbrook Jackson. " Farms " for Plumage 4 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . . 5 Annual Meeting— Council Meeting— Plumage Bill Comniittee— British Museum and the Bill— A Pole Trap Story— Obituary. Economic Ornithology . . . . , , _ ^ ■? The Nightjar— Food of the Rook— Birds and House-flies. Bird Destruction by Children 8 No. 2.— SUMMER NUMBER, 1920. The Importation of Plumage Bill Debate on Second Heading— In Comniittee— The Plumage Bill and Ostrich Feathers— The Ihreatened Extermination of Birds of Paradise. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . Council Meeting— Obituary. Notes The Government and the proposed Central Ornitho- logical Committee— Plumage-trade " demon- stration '—Fiction and Fact— Jewish support to the Plumage Bill— Story of a Lapwing— The ideal Mouser. Economic Ornithology Bird and Tree Competition 13 14 15 16 No. 3.~AUTUMN NUMBER, 1920. Egg-Shells The Plumage Bill In Committee— Ostrich-Farmers and the Plumage Trade— France and the Trade. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . . 20 PAGH . 17 . 19 Council Meeting— Ornithological Advisory Com- mittee. Notes Mr. 'William Dutcher— Colonel Yate's Bill— Bee- eaters in Scotland-Shooting of Hoopoes- Cornish Bird Sanctuary — Where are the SwaUows ?— The British Blue Bird. Economic Ornithology Protection of the Lapwing— Utility of Seabirds— Market-Gardeners and Birds. Books Received Bird and Tree Competition Some Bird Impressions in Prance No. 4.— WINTER NUMBER, 1920. " Stupidity Street " The Plumage Trade Birds and Man— Business Men and the Plumace Bill — Bill No. 10. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Council Meetings. Economic Ornithology Women's Work on the Land— Birds and Insect Pests — Canada and Bird Protection — Agricul ture versus Fashion— Food of the Rook. Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition In the Courts • . . 21 22 23 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 32 CONTENTS. 1921. No. 5.— SPRING NUMBER, 1921. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . , Annual Meeting — Council Meeting. " My Sisters " , The Plumage Trade The New Bills — How the Trade Construe Facts — Bishop of Durham on Feathered Women, Notes . . Ornithological Advisory Committee — Petrol Oil on the Waters — Story of a Grebe — Rescuing a Guillemot — " The Llanddwyn Grace Darling " — Birds' Foes and Friends — An appeal for Bird Wardens — Mysteries of Aviation — Monte Carlo and Chatham. Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition . . Entries and Festivals — Death of Mr. T. A. Cox — Essay on the Nightjar. In the Courts No. 6.— SUMMER NUMBER, 1921. The Plumage Bill— and After Economic Ornithology Bird Protection in France — Birds and Forestry — Weed Seeds and Birds. " The Fairies' Comer " The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . . Council Meeting — Trap-Shooting — The Plumage Bill. Notes Wild Birds Advisory Committee — Shooting in Close Time — Disappearance of the Swallow — Night- ingale and Cuckoo — Bird Protection In South Africa — The Plight of the Caged Bird — Gorse Burning. Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition . . In the Courts PAGE . 33 . 34 35 36 38 40 41 42 43 44 46 47 48 No. 7.— AUTUMN NUMBER, 1921. FAGS , 49 " Farewell, Swallow " Bird-Ringing 50 Economic Ornithology . . . . . . . . 51 Heather-burning and damage by Game in Scotland — Eagles and Grouse. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . . 52 Council Meeting — Death of Sir George Kekewich. Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Where Birds are fearless — Raiding the Eiders — Australia's National Sanctuary — Nature Pro- tection in Japan — Air Guns — How Glasgow helps. The Plumage Trade 54 Advisory Committee — Economic Value of Plumage Birds— The Oiled Feather. Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition . . 55 In the Courts . . . . . . . . . . 56 No. 8.— WINTER NUMBER, 1921. A Watcher on the Hills 67 The Plumage Trade 58 Notes 59 " The Museum of Comparative Oology " again — A Cuckoo in a Nesting-box — Gardeners and Birds — Pests and " Pestology." The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds . . 60 Council Meetings— H.R.H. Princess Mary- Obituary. Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition . . 61 Inter-County and County Shields — " Tailby " prizes. Books Received . . . . . . . . . . 64 INDEX. Air-Guns, Licences for, 53. Aldeburgh, Protection of Birds at, 44. African Society, Journal of, on Plumage Birds, 54. Agriculture, Ministry of, Leaflets issued by, 29 ; on protection of Lapwing, 22. Agriculture versus Fashion, 29. Allan, Mrs. Ashton, Story of a Grebe, 36. Andr^, Eugene, " A Naturalist in Guiana," 44. Arnold, Mr. T., on Birds and House Flies, 8. Arnold, Mrs., on Petrol Oil and Birds, 36. Aviation and the Flight of Birds, 37. Australia's National Sanctuary, 53. Barratt, Mr. Chas., on Victoria National Sanctuary, 53. Bee-eaters at Musselburgh, 2L Birds and House Flies, 8, Bird Catching, 25, 37 ; Sir Harry Brittain's Bill, 46. Bird-Destruction by Children, 8. Bird of Paradise, 12. Bird and Tree (Arbor Day) Competition, 16, 23, 30, 38, 47, 55, 61. Birds and Man, 26. Birds and Insect Pests, 15, 29. Birds and Forestry, 42. Bird Protection in Canada, 29 ; m France, 42 ; in South Africa, 43 ; in Australia and Japan, 53. Bird Protection Orders, 5, 13, 20, 28, 34, 44, 52. Bird-ringing, 50. Birds and Weed-seeds, 43. Bittern, shot in Essex, 46. Book Reviews, 23, 64. Boy Scouts, 13. Brittain, Sir Harry, Bird Protection Bill, 46. British Museum and the Plumage Bill, 6. Broughton, late Miss Rhoda, 13. " Buzzard at Home," 23. Canada, Bird Protection in, 29 ; Conservation of Wild Life in, 64. Cages, Small, conviction of Dealers, 47, 56. Captive-Bird Shooting (Prohibition) Bill, 44. Christmas Card, Society's, 21, 53. China, Pheasant " Farms " in, 19. Cockbum, Sir John, on Bird Sanctuaries, 43. Collector, The, 17. Collinge, Dr. Walter, on Food of Nightjar and Rook, 7 ; Sea-birds, 22. Cox, Mr. T. A., death of, 38. Courts, In the Police, 32, 40, 46, 48, 56. Cuckoo in a Nesting-box, 59. Davenport, Mr. H. S., Bird Records from Devon, 46. Drapers' Organiser on the Plumage Act, 55. Duerden, Dr., and Ostrich Farmers, 2, 19. Durham, Bishop of, on Women and Plumage, 35. Dutcher, late Mr. William, 21. Eagles and Grouse, 51. Economic Ornithology, 7, 15, 22, 29, 42, 51. Egret Farms, 3, 4. Egret " Protection " in Venezuela, 14, 54. " Egg-shells," 17, 20. Egypt, Egrets in, 58. Eider-duck, raids on, 53. Emu, on Wild Life in Victoria, 53. " Fairies' Comer," The, 43. " Farms " for Plumage, 4, 55. " Farewell, Swallow," 49. Fire-arms Act, 53. Fitz-Simons, Mr. F. W., on the Plumage Trade, 29 ; " Birds and their Value to Man," 43. Forestry, Birds and, 42. France and the Plume Trade, 19. France, Bird Impressions in, 24 ; Bird Protection in, 42. Galway, The late Viscountess, 34. Gater, Mr. G. H., on Bird and Tree Competition, 47. Gladstone, Mr. Frank, on the Plumage Bill, 26. Glasgow, Bird Protectors in, 53. Goodyear, Frederick, Letters of, 23. Gordon Hewitt, The late Dr. C„ 7, 64. Grey of Falloden, Viscount, on Wild Birds, 33. Heather-burning in Scotland, 47, 51. Hewitt, Dr. C. Gordon, death of, 7. Homaday, Dr. W. T., on the Plumage Question in U.S.A.. 1. Hoopoes, killed in Staffordshire, 21. Huxley, Mr. Julian S., on Plumage Trade, 4. Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Bill, 1920, introduced by Colonel Yate, 2 ; debate on Second Reading, 10; in Committee, 11, 19; withdrawn, 27 ; Resolution of Trustees of the British Museum, 6 ; Times correspondence, 3 ; Trade " demonstra- tion," 14 ; R.S.P.B. Committee, 6 ; support of Ostrich-farmers, 12, 19 ; Rev. R. H. Lightfoot on, 26 ; Women's National Liberal Federation on, 27. Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Bill, 1920, introduced in House of Lords by Marquess of Aberdeen, 2. Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Bills, 1921, 35 ; Second Reading of Mr. Trevelyan Thomson's Bill, 45 ; " agreed clause " accepted. Third Reading, 45 ; appointment of Board of Trade Advisory Committee, 54. INDEX. In the Courts. 32, 40, 46, 48, 56. Ibis, The, Report on Bird-ringing, 50. Italy, Ostrich Farming in, 54. Jackson, Mr. Holbrook, on Trade Interest in Plumage, 3. Japan, Nature Protection in, 53. Jewish Chronicle, on Feather Trade, 15, Johnston, Sir H. H., on the Plumage question, 3. Jones, Mrs., " the Llanddwyn Grace Darling," 37. Kirkby Stephen School Managers on bird destruction by children, 8. Kekewich, Sir George, the late, 52. Lapwing, Removing Nest of, 15 ; Protection of, 22. Larks, Destruction and sale of, 25, 40. Legacies to the Society, 28. Ligue FranQaise pour la Protection des Oiseaux, 15. Little. Mr. W. W., on Food of the Rook. 7. Lightfoot, Rev. R. H., on Birds and Man, 26. " Llanddwyn Grace DarUng," The, 39. London Chamber of Commerce and the Plumage Bill, 14. Mackenzie, Sir Thomas, on New Zealand Birds, 3. Macleod of Macleod, and the R.S.P.B,, 6. Macquarie Island, Penguins of, 28. Malta, Bird Protection in, 33. Market Gardeners and Birds, 22. Maughan, J., on Birds and Forestry, 42. Methuen, Field-Marshal Lord, on Bird Protection in Malta, 33. Migratory Birds Convention Act, 32. Miller, L. E., on Egret-Poisoning, 15. Monte Carlo, 37. Moor Burning in Close Time, 47, 51. " My Sisters," Protest from Mr. Edgar Syers, 34. Notes, 14, 21, 36. 46, 53, 59. Nightjar, Food of, 7 ; Essay (Bird and Tree) on, 38. Nightingale in Devon, 46. Nurseryman on Bird-Protection, 15. Obituary : Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt, 7 ; Canon Rawnsley, 13 ; Miss Rhoda Broughton, 13 ; Mr. T. A. Cox, 38 ; Viscountess Galway, 34 ; Mr. G. Frisby, 52 ; Miss Blanche Hartley, 28 ; Sir George Kekewich, 52 ; Sir Beville Stainer, 61 ; Lady Hooker, 61. Oldys, Mr, Henry, on Bird Songs, 24. Ornithological Advisory Committee, 14, 20, 37, 46. Ostrich-Farming and the Plumage Bill, 12, 19, 55. Ostrich Farm in Sardinia, 54. Owl, Shooting of, 13. Owl, the "TaUby" Prizes, 31, 62. Peat, Mr. E. H., Presentation to, 34. Penguins on Macquarie Island, 28. Pentire Bird Sanctuary, 21. Petrol- Oil and Birds. 36. Pigeon-Shooting, 37, 44. Pichot, M., on the Feather Trade, 19. Plumage Trade : Dr. W. T. Hornaday on U.S.A. Prohibition Act, 1 ; Egret " farms," 3, 4 ; Egrets in Sind and Venezuela, 14, 54, 55 ; Jewish Chronicle on, 15 ; destruction of sea-birds, 29 ; Bishop of Durham on, 35 ; Rev. R. H. Lightfoot on, 26 ; opinions of business men, 26, 55 ; " Shed Plumage," 58. ^ee Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Bill. Plumage BUI, The, and after, 41. Plumage Birds, Economic value of, 54. Pole -trap in Kent, 6. Pole-trap m Skye, Story of, 6. Pope, The, on Bird-snaring, 16. Princess Mary, 61. Pycraft, Mr. W. P., on "Egret Farms," 3, 4; on Egg-collecting, 18. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Annual Meetings, 5, 33 ; Council Meetings, 5, 13, 20, 28, 34. 44. 52, 60. Rawnsley, The late Canon, 13. Report of Departmental Committee on Bird Pro- tection, 6, 14. Rook, food of. Dr. W. E. Collinge, 7. Sanctuaries for Birds : in Cornwall, 21 ; Victoria National, 53 ; Letter in The Observer, 43. Santa Barbara Museum. 17, 20, 69. Sea-birds and their utility. 22. School-Children and Bird Destruction, 8,15. Sind, Egret Farms in, 4, 42. Scotland, Game and Muir-buming in, 51. Sea Eagle, Shooting of, 40. Sharpe. Mr. Montagu, K.C. , on Plumage Trade Profits, 3. Shetland, Birds of, 57. Skylarks, killed for the table, 25. Skylark-hawking, 34. " Soul of an Animal, The," 64. South Africa, Bird Protection in, 43. Spitzbergen Expedition, 53. Starling, Utility of, 8. "Stupidity Street," 25, Swallows, Decrease of, 22, 46, 49, 50. Syers, Mr. Edgar, on Lark-hawking, 34. "Tailby" Owl Prizes, 31, 62. Talbot, Dame Meriel, on Wild Bird Protection, 29. Thomas, Sir W. B., on Shooting in Close Time, 46. Times Correspondence and Leader on the Plumage BUI, 3. Trade and the Plumage question, 1. Trap-shooting, Prohibition Bill, 44. Trevor-Battye, Mr. A., on the Story of the Egret, 3. Venezuela, Egrets in, 4, 14, 54, 65. " Watcher on the Hills, A," 57. Watchers' Committee, 13, 28, 44, 62, 60. Weeds, Suppression of, 43. Westmoreland children and bird destruction, 8. Wild Birds' Protection Acts, Advisory Committee, 14, 20. 37, 46. Women's National Liberal Federation and the Plumage BiU, 27. Women's Work on the Land, 29. Vachek & Sons, Ltd., Westminster House, S.W.I.— 94689. Bird Notes & News ISSUED QUARTERLY BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY :: :: FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS Vol. IX.] SPRING. 1920. INo. 1. Trade and the Plumage Question. By Dr. W. J. HORNADAY. The following article is specially contributed by Dr. W. J. Hornaday, of the New York Zoological Park, the well-known leader in the fight against importation of wild birds'' skins and plumage into the United States, a fight which, thanks to his energy and to the efforts of the Audubon Association, ended in 1913 in the absolute prohibition of all import, sale, or wear of such plumage. li is of peculiar value at the present juncture, as showing the view taken by the commercial world as soon as the laio was an accomplished fact, and thus proving the contention of the R.S.P.B. that similar results will folloiu in Great Britain when once the Government take a firm stand and pass the long-delayed measure. It has long been a matter of wonder why Chambers of Commerce of honourable traditions, why representatives of clean and honest British trade, should support a traffic that brings utter discredit upon that commerce, and tars British trade with the brush of its own infamy — a traffic denounced by a member of the present Government as " utterly indefensible." It is perfectly safe to conclude that, once this hateful dealing in dead birds is stopped, British trade will breathe freely and thankfully as at the removal of a sickening burden, and will devote itself, as American trade has done, to loyal co-operation with the Customs House and to the development of British and Colonial productions and industries. The prohibitory results of the American and Canadian tarifi laws (1913) for the exclusion of all wild-bird plumage intended for commercial uses are everything that their sponsors ever hoped they would be. The disappearance of wild feathers from women's hats is wholly due to a law that is 99| per cent, effective. Before the American law went into effect, on October ith, 1913, a few dealers imported all the " paradise," " goura " and " numidia " that their cash would pay for. At the same time, many other dealers elected to cease carry- ing forbidden feathers. To-day this honourable group is represented by the New York Millinery Chamber of Commerce ; and recently it has recorded very decided protests against the further sale by the trade of banned plumage. They object to the odium that is being brought upon a respectable trade by a few irrecon- cilables, who are determined to sell " paradise " as long as one can be obtained. The stocks on hand when our law to prohibit imports went into effect were not confiscated, nor otherwise rendered unsaleable, and a very small supply is on sale to-day, at prices so high that a few men take great risks in trying to work the smuggling game. But showy feathers are difficult to smuggle and realise upon after- ward. Any thief can steal property from other people, but now it takes a supreme genius to dispose of it afterward by sale without getting caught. The law was drawn as a barrier net with meshes so fine that not one wild feather could get through it, and it has turned out well. Several parties now can testify that so far as economy is concerned, the smuggling of bird feathers is a highly expensive pastime. For example, instead of getting large profits, Abraham Kallman, of Laredo, Texas, got six months' imprisonment, a fine of $2,500, and a loss of about $50,000— all on the wrong side of his " paradise " account. He bought the 527 skins (that he lost) in London. Even at this time there is possibly a trace of illegal Egret killing and Aigrette smuggling, practised with great labour and travail, at Fort Myers, Florida, and possibly at a few other points infested by northern newly-rich visitors. The smart set of the northern cities has ceased to care for Aigrettes, or to buy them, even when offered the chance ; but the newly-rich- from-the-war buy all sorts of foolish things, and with them an occasional forbidden Aigrette. In New York City the wearing of Aigrettes is said to be confined to amateur actresses and ladies' maids, who get cast-o£E finery for nothing. But the absence of wild birds' plumage in New York is phenomenally complete. One can watch for days together without seeing one feather from a wild bird. The strangest manifestation of all is the desire of the members of the legitimate feather Bird Notes and News trade that the sale of forbidden plumage should cease altogether, and no longer bring odium upon honest men. When the tariff law went into effect in 1913 the feather importers of New York promptly accepted the situation, and elected to be good citizens by living up to both the letter and the spirit of the law. The men who had fought us hardest while the feather war was on, invited us to help them get everything in line for the full observance of the law without unjust or unnecessary hard- ships. We accepted the novel role of inter- mediary between the U.S. Treasury Department and the millinery trade, and the results seem to have been rather satisfactory to both sides. To-day the U.S. Millinery Chamber of Com- merce is strongly opposed to the sale by the Government of any seized plumage, and on two occasions there has been witnessed the novel spectacle of the former importers of feathers being joined by the bird defenders in appearing in Washington to argue against certain " requested " sales of seized " paradise." On both occasions the opposition made good, and the Treasury Department refused to permit the sales that had been urged upon it by parties who wished to buy the plumage " for exportation." The United States Government, the Millinery Chamber of Commerce, and the bird protectors are working together in perfect harmony ; and the Chamber of Commerce recently has issued to all its members a circular call, strongly exhorting them to drop the sale of remnant forbidden plumage, for the reputation of the trade. The Plumage Bill. In view of the fact that the Government showed no signs of promptly bringing in the Bill to Prohibit Importation of Plumage, promised by Sir Auckland Geddes (then President of the Board of Trade), a Bill was brought in by Colonel Yate, M.P., and read a first time on February 13th, 1920. It is backed by Mr. Acland, Viscountess Astor_. Mr. Brace, Sir John Butcher, Brig. -General Page-Croft (Member of Council, Eoyal Society for the Protection of Birds), Lieut. -Commander Dean, Mr. F. Green, Major Oscar Guest, Lieut. -Colonel Arthur Murray, Sir Beville Stanier, and Mr. Cathcart Wason, representing all parties in the House. The Second Beading is down for April 30th. Meantime a similar measure has been intro- duced in the House of Lords by the Marquess of Aberdeen, and was read a second time on March 25th, when Lord Somerleyton stated that the Bill had the approval of the Govern- ment. The Duke of Eutland (Vice-President, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), supported it. The third reading was carried without opposition on March 29th, Lord Aber- deen pointing out that the Bill had the hearty support of the Trustees of the British Museum, undoubtedly on the expert advice of the Natural History Department, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the R.S.P.C.A., the Plumage Bill Group, the Inter- national Council of Women, and other bodies. The Bill was then ordered to be sent to the Commons. The Bill proposes to place " the plumage of any bird " in the list of prohibitions named in Section 42 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876 ; with the exception of birds named in the schedule to the Act, birds imported alive, and birds ordinarily used for food in the United Kingdom ; and with exemptions in the case of plumage " imported in the baggage or as part of the wearing ajDparel of a passenger, if, in the opinion of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, that plumage is bona fide intended and is reasonably required for the personal use of the passenger " ; and plumage imported by licence for scientific or other special purpose. The birds scheduled are, as in 1914, Ostriches and Eider Ducks, with power to the Board of Trade to add or remove names. The opposition to the measure, so far as it is openly set forth, is contained mainly in half-hearted letters from Professor Maxwell Lefroy (a member of the committee for the " economic preservation " of birds which opposed the Bill of 1914), and Dr.J.E. Duerden. They suggest the well-worn theories that the building up and development of plumage industries by means of egret " farms," etc., might be better for trade than restriction ; that the Bill " protects nothing," because it would only send the business to France or Holland ; that the Bill is sentimental ; that the trade involves many workers besides the ostrich-farmers ; and that a full knowledge of facts might show them to be " less damning Bird Notes and New^ than they appear to be." These ninepins were speedily knocked down in the columns of the Times by the letters of Mr. W. P. Pycraft (Natural History Museum), Sir Harry Johnston, Sir Thomas Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand), Mr. A. Trevor-Battye (Member of Council of the Zoological Society, etc.), Mr. Montagu Sharpe, K.C. (Chairman of Council, R.S.P.B.), Mr. Holbrook Jackson (Editorial Director, National Trade Press), and Mr. Julian Huxley. A few excerpts only from the correspondence can be given. Mr. Pycraft on « Egret Farms " (March 23rd). Wo are told that " there are some birds (e.g., the Egret), which can be farmed and the feathers obtained without any cruelty." " Can " be farmed. We have been assured many times during the last few years that these birds are farmed, though no one has yet succeeded in obtaining any information whatever as to the number of such farms or in what part of the world they exist. Statements of this kind are not even the ghosts of half-truths — unless we are to regard rights of private ownership over areas of country haunted by Egrets in a wild state, if any such owner- ship exists, as " farming " rights. But as well might the owner of the English duck-decoy be said to be farming wild ducks. He simply kills the birds enticed into the decoy, and trusts to nature to make good the slaughter. . . . Having regard to the fact that these birds possess extraordinarily good powers of flight, it would further clear him of the charge of employing half-truths if he would explain how such " farmed " birds can be captured, so as to enable the work of depluming to be carried out painlessly, and without either killing the bird or spoiling the plumes. Sir H. H. Johnston on the Economic Question (March 24th). The majority of beautiful or impressive birds are insect-eaters of the tropical or sub-tropical regions, the term " insect " for convenience and brevity being taken to include ticks, centipedes, scorpions, and land mollusca. Birds are almost the only effective foes of mosquitoes and flies, of ticks and snails, of the chief germ-carriers that spread the devastating diseases of man, of cattle, sheep, deer, horses, swine, of valuable food plants and useful trees. . . . Reduce seriously in numbers . . . and we shall suffer terribly by an increase of those germ-diseases affecting our health and our food supply. The sea-birds of the tropics and sub-tropical regions, now shot in thousands at a time for their plumage, are the great producers of guano. Already numerous guano islands have lost their bird colonies. Sir Thomas Mackenzie on New Zealand Birds (March 24th). Of conditions in New Zealand I am able to speak with knowledge ; there we have had the greatest difficulty in preserving from extinction some of the most unique birds that are to be found on the surface of the globe, and the Government have gone to very considerable expense in this connection. Previous to my leaving the Dominion, when I became aware that plumage and specimen hunters were about to make a raid upon what was practically the last sanctuary set aside for our birds, I had to take steps to prevent their depredations, especially in regard to the Egrets. Mr. Trevor-Battye on the Story of the Egret (March 24th). I have seen photographs taken on the spot, and have read the scientific reports of ornithologists ia the U.S.A., which point to the undeniable fact that vast numbers of Egrets are being annually slaughtered at their nests for the sake of their plumes, the nestlings are left to die of starvation, to the peril of the extinc- tion of this species. . . . When Professor Lefroy has formed his company, and the Egret Farm is a " going concern," on a sufficiently large commercial scale to supply the plumage trade, it will be very interesting, only he must not delay too long, or there will be difficulties about a breeding stock. Mr. Montagu Sharpe on the Bill and Trade Profits (March 25th). The Bill, says your correspondent (Professor Lefroy), " protects nothing." An Act preventing profiteering from the slaughter of birds by prohibiting the im- portation and sale of their skins and feathers would protect the birds in the one practical way, since no one can maintain that they are killed for any other purpose than sheer profit. The proposal to "de- velop " the exploitation of other species (while " really protecting rare ones ") is a suggestion that the trader should be allowed to bring these within measurable distance of extinction before he is interfered with. . . . If England does not continue to encourage the trade, we are told, some other nation will do so. This appeal to England's dishonour, always the final argument of the trade, is enough to characterise the business. There is sure to be thieving ; let us, therefore, secure the benefits of the theft. Not to share in the plunder is to be, Professor Lefroy assures us, a hypocrite. To take the cash and cover the deal by a bogus Bill is, then, to be an honest Briton ? But even in point of fact, waiving the moral issue, the probabilities are all the other way. No port presents the facilities offered by London ; otherwise the trade, being wholly alien and almost wholly German, would have left England long ago. Questions concerning the ostrich-feathers farmers and the labour market have been fully answered. The ostrich-farmers of South Africa have declared their desire for the measure. Statistics have shown that the labour employed on " fancy " feathers is seasonal and ill-paid, and the workers numerically negligible. Mr. Holbrook Jackson on the Industrial Question (March 25th). The trade interest in plumage vetoed by the BUI in this country is so small as to be negligible from the point of view of finance. ... At the present time not more than 700 workers are employed in the con- tested plumage industry in Great Britain. If the trade were abolished these workers could readily find other employment. On the other hand, the negation of the traffic in brightly-coloured tropical feathers and aigrette plumes would stimulate the manufacture of substitutes, which may reasonably be expected to Bird Notes and News benefit the national exchequer by increasing the turn- over of a legitimate industry. Already there is a con- siderable and growing industry engaged in the manu- facture of artificial flowers and other millinery decora- tions ; this would be advanced by the passage of the Bill. ... A recent number of the Drapers' Organiser, a trade journal circulating very widely among the high-class buyers of drapery and allied goods, both in this country and overseas, recently published a leader supporting the Bill, and no criticism whatever has been received by the editor from the trade. The only comment comes from a dealer in ostrich feathers in support of the editorial contention. Mr. Julian S. Huxley on Bird Farming (April 1st). Many supporters of a drastic BiU believe in the possibility of plumage farms, but unfortunately, after the evidence adduced by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, they cannot, in spite of the assertions of the plumage trade, believe in their present reality. It might be possible to frame an amendment to the Bill * wliich should grant licences to firms to import plumes, provided that they could show that these had all been obtained humanely on real farms, and that they would submit to stringent inspection. This would prove an incentive to establish farms — an incentive which is now wholly lacking, when a few men, with guns and without scruples, can cater for trade needs. If we do not pass a drastic Bill, the present destruction will continue. . . . If bird-farming can be made practicable, let us make it so. But first let us make sure that the abominable cruelties and the wanton disregard of the future which leads to extermination, either entire or over large territories, are put a stop to for good before we are willing to start on a new line. Let us make sure of protection before we start cultivation. On March 26th the Times, in a trenchant leading article, summed up the evidence for and against the Bill fairly and squarely, and gave as its verdict, that if one or other of the Bills now introduced does not in this Session become law, " world-wide discredit will be cast on the British Nation "... "In this toleration of a wasteful, cruel, and barbaric industry we have too long lagged behind both the United States and our own Dominions." " FARMS " FOR PLUMAGE. The pleas for their trade put forward by the plumage dealers centre at present in the "Egret Farm." The old story of "artificial feathers " was of service only for the deception of lady purchasers, and is necessarily rather an argument against than for the need of imported plumage. " Moulted feathers," as a remunera- tive product of the immeasurable wild, have also had their day, and have to be confined more or less to the limited area of a " farm," where the birds conveniently deposit them. * Clause 2 sufficiently provides for this. Of these farms there are two varieties, both interesting. The first of these is, for the present, situated in Venezuela, where it is claimed that laws exist for the strict protection of birds and that owners of garceros guard their nesting-birds and carefully sweep up the old discarded feathers, all of which, it would seem, con- veniently fall from the moulting birds before they migrate from their breeding quarters. This stringent " protection " was referred to in 1908, but entirely discredited in official reports published by the R.S.P.B. It was revived in 1914, and again disproved. In 1917 the word went forth that the destruction of Egrets really had been prohibited this time, and that feathers might only be collected from July to November (which includes the breeding as well as the moulting season). What has never been shown are the exact provisions of this order, and the prospects of enforcing any such law in a wild country the size of Egypt, while only by killing can plumes of good quality be obtained. The clue to actual facts is seemingly contained in Mr. Eugene Andre's allusion in " A Naturalist in Guiana " (1914), where he speaks of the money made by owners of garceros on the Orinoco through hiring out the privilege of shooting the birds in nesting- time, and the " ever diminishing number of the birds." As Mr. Pycraft has pointed out in the Times, this " farm " is not a reserve for the benefit of the birds, but a preserve for the benefit of the owner. The second species of farm is located in Sind. An account of it was given, as a plea for the trade, by Mr. George Birch, Assistant-Com- missioner of Sind, in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society in 1914. These farms were described as large poultry-runs, 20 ft. by 8 ft., in each of which some 50 or 60 birds were confined in what the writer was pleased to call " a state of freedom," and where they were stated to lay eggs four or five times a year and to produce the nuptial plumage four times — statements the mere ornithologist would be apt to define as absolute nonsense. The plumes, it was added, were sold to merchants and smuggled to the European market. From the rejoinder of Major Lindsay Smith, M.B.O.U., in the same publication, the probable facts are that any such birds are kept as decoys for attracting others or caught in the winter for any plumes they may grow at the following breeding-season. His state- ments, as well as a conviction reported in the Bird Notes and News 5 Times of India (September 27th, 1913), indicate that it is customary to blind the birds by stitching up their eyes. This revolting cruelty, comments the paper, " will be a fresh argument in favour of those who are trying to put a stop to the plumage traffic." The story of the Sind Farms has been revived recently by Professor Maxwell Lefroy, but he has apparently no evidence of their existence under conditions that could be tolerated or under an inspection that can be accredited. Neither science nor humanity will think it worth while opposing a Bill for pre- serving millions of birds of many species, because some wretched Egrets are imprisoned in poultry-runs in order that their feathers may be smuggled into Europe. As Mr. Julian Huxley says, we must have protection before we go further. If, later on, cultivation can be proved successful, a licence can be issued under Clause 2 of the Bill. It will be noted that the trade fix attention exclusively on the plumage of the Egret. Not only is it the most widely distributed of any family of birds required, so that extermin- ation is slow even in specific areas, but it is one of very few birds of which certain feathers only are brought to market. It might be difficult to argue that Birds-of-Paradise, Humming-birds, Terns, Trogons, and all the rest shed their complete skins into the hunters' hands while their bodies continue to enjoy existence in forest or farm. Though even here the analogy of the snake might serve to inspire students who have evolved the feather-lined nest of the Heron and the breeding-plumage that is assumed four times a year ! The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. ANNUAL MEETING. The Duke of Rutland, Vice-President, presided over the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society, at the Middlesex Guildhall, on March 16th, 1920, when there was a large attendance. The adoption of the report and financial statement was proposed from the Chair, seconded by Mr. Montagu Sharpe, and carried unanimously. The following resolution was proposed by the Duchess of Somerset, Vice-President, seconded by Canon Rawnsley, and supported by the Dean of St. Paul's (Dr. Inge), Sir Charles Hobhouse, Bart., Sir Harry Johnston, G.C.M.G., Colonel Yate, M.P., and the Marquess of Aberdeen : — " That letters be sent from tins meeting to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Board of irade, asking them to use their best endeavours to secure the passing into law during the present Parlia- mentary Session of a measure which will prohibit the Importation into the United Kingdom of the Plumage of the Wild Birds now being killed for millinery purposes." It was carried with enthusiasm. The re- election of the Duchess of Portland as President, and of the Council and Officers of the Society, was also agreed to unanimously, on the motion of Sir William Portal, Bart., F.S.A., seconded by Major Radclyffe Dugmore, F.R.G.S. ; and the thanks of the meeting to His Grace for presiding were conveyed by Sir John Cockburn and Mr. J. R. B. Masefield. A report of the proceedings appears in the Annual Report of the Society, now published and obtainable from the Society's office, 23, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W. COUNCIL MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Council was held at the Guildhall, Westminster, on February 6th, 1920, Mr. Montagu Sharpe, Chairman, presiding. The Hon. Secretary reported that lectures illustrated by the Society's slides had been given by Mr. H. D. Astley, Miss Barlow, Mr. G. Daybell, Mr. George Frisby, Mr. T. H. Forbes, Mr. J. Gill, Miss Kershaw, Miss McCombie, and Mr. Masefield. Amended Bird Protection Orders continued to show the satisfactory response to the Society's plea for the preserva- tion of the Lapwing, which had been added to the list of birds protected all the year, together with its eggs, in Cambridgeshire (November 26th), Durham (November 28th), Oxfordshire (December 8th), and the County Borough of Northampton (November 20th). The bird has been also protected fully, and its eggs after April 24th in each year, in Lincolnshire (Lindsey Division), (December 22nd). The Stone Curlew is added to birds protected all the year in Cambridgeshire, the eggs of Stone Curlew, Goldfinch, Kingfisher, and Owl (except Little Owl) are protected, and the reservation of Wicken Fen as a breeding area is renewed for three years. Twenty-three Bird and Tree Festivals had been held, including those of 6 Bird Notes and News Headley (Hampshire Shield) and EUesborough (Bucks Shield). The Finance and General Purposes Committee presented the statement of accounts for the year 1919. Mr. K. S. Moreau was appointed Hon. Sec. for Farnham (but unfortunately has since had to resign, through leaving England for his health). The following Fellows and Members were elected : — Fellows : H. Baillie- Weaver ; Major A. Radclyffe Dugmore, F.R.G.S. ; Lieut. -Colonel L. C. Elwes, D.S.O. ; Mrs. L. C. Elwes ; Mrs. Malise Graham ; Roland Green ; Field-Marshal Lord Grenfell, G.C.B. ; Captain H. R. Janes ; F. W. Neale ; Sydney Porter ; Major W. RadclifEe-Saunders ; Mrs. Bernard Shaw ; Mrs. Arthur Thompson ; James Weston. Members : Mrs. Fleming Baxter ; Miss Bennett ; Miss M. K. Bradby ; G. T. Brodie-Smith ; Mrs. Brodie- Smith ; Miss Lilian E. Brown ; Mrs. Burgess ; B. G. Cain ; Miss Amy B. Crabbe ; Mrs. Crosfield ; Mrs. Cruikshanks ; Mrs. Carlyle Deas ; Mrs. Trevor Davis ; Mrs. J. H. Galloway ; Miss E. M. Galloway ; W. W. Hallam ; Mrs. Hallward ; Miss E. C. Haydon ; Arnold F. Hills ; Major-General Hordem ; Mrs. Janes ; Miss M. E. F. Lange ; Miss Margaret Macnamara ; R. S. Moreau ; William Newton ; R. de Rouet ; Miss N. Rogers ; Ernest W. Royston ; G. L. Searight ; Misa Joan Shilcock ; Mrs. Shipley ; Mrs. Startin ; James Alex. Waddell, of Leadloch ; Captain S. N. Walker. It was agreed that a question should be addressed to the Government with regard to action upon the lines of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Bird Protection, especially urging the constitution of the Central Advisory Committee, as recommended. Con- siderable discussion took place relative to the Plumage Trade and the Bill to prohibit Im- portation ; the second list of members of tke General Committee was received, and arrange- ments as to lectures and publications, etc., considered. Business connected with the Annual Meeting was brought forward, and Sir William Portal, Bart., F.S.A., was elected a Vice-President of the Society. The correspondence reported included letters with reference to a pole-trap in Kent, the police replying to the complaint that it had been taken down, but the person responsible had been warned ; and others relating to bird- catching, the formation of bird-sanctuaries, etc. Next meeting of the Council, April 23rd. PLUMAGE BILL COMMITTEE. Among those who have joined the General Committee of the Society for the promotion of legislation on the Plumage Question, since the last number of Bird Notes and News appeared, are the following : — The Viscountess Rhondda, the Viscountess Wolseley, the Bishop of Barking, Lord Lever- hulme. Countess Christine de Linden, Lady Baden-Powell, Lady Fry, Mrs. Mount Batten, Mr. T. C. Beaslev, Dr. A. C. Benson (Master of Magdalene College), Mr. F. C. H. Borrett, Miss Marjorie Bowen, Major R. 0. Bridgeman, Madame Clara Butt, Mrs. Davidson-Houston, Dr. Claridge Druce. Major A. Radclyffe Dug- more, F.R.G.S., Colonel L. C. Elwes, D.S.O., Mrs. Elwes, Mr. T. Musgrave Francis, ]\Ir. Hugh S. Gladstone, Mr. Norman Graham, Mrs. Malise Graham, Mr. C. H. Grinling, Right Hon. Laurence Hardy, Sir S. F. Harmer (Director, Natural History Museum), Mr. J. Ramsay Macdonald, Mr. F. W. Newmarch, Mr. Sydney Pater, Sir William Portal, Bart., Dr. Graham Renshaw (Editor of The AvicuUurist), Miss Maude Roy den, Miss May Sinclair, and Miss Emma Tate. THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND THE BILL. At a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Trustees of the British Museum, on March 27th, it was resolved : — " That the Trustees of the British Museum give their hearty support to the principles of the Importa- tion of Plumage (Prohibition) Bill, 1920, and welcome its introduction into Parliament." A POLE TRAP STORY. In seconding a resolution at a meeting in support of the Plumage Bill, held at Horsham on March 4th, the Macleod of Macleod (23rd Chieftain) said that the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was a Society which not only secured legislation, but saw to its enforce- ment. As an example, he cited an incident with regard to the pole trap. Legislation pro- hibiting the use of this abominable instrument of torture was brought about by the efforts of the R.S.P.B. in 1904, and shortly after its enactment, he received a letter from the Hon. Secretary of the Society to say that one of their emissaries had discovered a pole trap in a remote corner of one of the Macleod estates in Skye. Of its existence the Macleod himself was unaware, and he immediately took steps for its removal, and issued instructions to all his keepers, to the effect that such a thing was never again to be used. Bird Notes and News OBITUARY. The death of Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt, Dominion Entomologist and Consulting Zoologist of the Canadian Government, which occurred on February 29th, is a grievous loss to the cause of Bird Protection and to the economic study of bird life throughout the Empire. Dr. Hewitt, who was only 35 years of age, was formerly lecturer in zoology in Manchester University, and when there drew attention to the necessity for this study, in an address before the British Association, which led to the appointment of a joint committee of the Association and the Board of Agriculture to investigate the food of birds. It was also owing to him that the experiment of encouraging birds by the installation of nesting- boxes was successfully tried to stay the ravages of larch- disease at Thirlmere. In 1909 he went to Ottawa, and has since inaugurated important national schemes in nature-reserves and bird- protection, while the passage of the historic International Treaty with the U.S.A. for protecting migratory birds is owing greatly to the ability and energy with which he promoted it on the Canadian side. In recognition of his services in this respect the Gold Medal of the R.S.P.B. was awarded to Dr. Hewitt in 1917, and there had been hopes of presenting it to him at the Society's Annual Meeting this year. He cabled his regret at being unable to reach England by March 16th, on the visit home for which he was starting, and a few days later was seized with influenza, developing into pneumonia, which proved fatal. No worker, in his own special and vitally important line of study, or in the whole field of nature-pro- tection, could be more keenly regretted. Economic Ornithology. Dr. Walter Collinge has recently published reports of investigations into the food of the Nightjar and the Little Owl, in both cases favourable to the birds. The Nightjar has probably never been accused, save by rank ignorance and country superstition ; and it is to be hoped its reputation is now fully cleared of absurd allegations based on its old names of Goatsucker and Night-Hawk. It is wholly insectivorous, 88 per cent, of its food, according to Dr. Collinge, consisting of harmful insects. He adds that bird and eggs should be protected during its summer sojourn in this country. It is one of the birds scheduled by the Act of 1880, so that so far as the law goes it has been completely protected for forty years. What the gamekeepers do is another thing. To many of them it is the Fern " Owl," and has as short shrift as owls in general. THE FOOD OF THE ROOK. Mr. W. W. Little, writing from the Remount Depot, Romsey, sends to the Society a useful comment upon a report on the food of the Rook, contained in an article on wild birds, useful and harmful, by Dr. Walter Collinge, published in the September (1919) Strand Magazine. Dr. Collinge, who is well known to hold the Rook in small favour, sums up its food as follows : injurious insects, 23"9 per cent. ; slugs and snails, 3"2 ; cereals, 35*1 ; potatoes and roots, 13'4 : — " Now we have had a deal of discussion here lately on this very subject, and I have contended that the Rook does more good than harm to the farmer. I have offered to wager that an examination of the crops of birds shot at random would prove this. Dr. CoUinge's article comes, then, at an opportune time ; it has been shown to me as proving the case against the Rook. But does it ? " Dr. Collinge's facts I cannot dispute, but I don't think his conclusion is justified by them. He appears to me to have lost sight of two things : — ■ " (1) A caterpillar will eat in a day several times its own weight of food — I believe the figure is seven times — and judging by my own experience of slugs and snails I should think they are not far behind. Sup- posing the figure to be only four times, then Dr. Collinge's figures show that while a number of Rooks consume 100 lbs. of cereals, potatoes and roots, they will also consume over 55 lbs. of injurious insects, slugs and snails in one day. Had these been allowed to live, they themselves would probably have con- sumed 220 lbs. of food, nearly all of it (as I gather from their being classed as injurious) the farmers' produce, besides what they would have destroyed without consuming. " (2) These injurious insects, slugs and snails, were they not destroyed by the Rooks would in a great measure propagate their species, and but for the Rooks might become a perfect plague. " Consequently, it seems to me that instead of proving the case against the Rooks, a careful interpre- tation of Dr. Collinge's facts proves the case over- whelmingly in their favour as beneficial to the farmer." 8 Bird Notes and News There is still another consideration, and an important one. The fact that animal food, such as grubs and slugs, is speedily digested and absorbed into the substance of the bird, while hard matter, such as cereals, remains long in the stomach, makes all laboratory examinations apt to be misleading in point of the proportions of the two kinds of food. Diverging from the immediate subject, Mr. Little adds : — " Talking of Rooks, you may remember that in my notes from France I spoke of the tameness of the Rooks. I have noticed the same thing at tlie Camp here. It seems that they learn individually that khaki is harmless, as do the dogs and cats. It Is surprising with what unconcern a cat will walk by a crowd of men, all pushing, shouting, etc. A London cat would be terrified at such a commotion." BIRDS AND HOUSE-FLIES. Mr. T. Arnold writes from Cirencester Park Gardens a strong defence of the Starling, which has been deprived of protection by the Gloucestershire County Council : — " I don't know who advises the Government on such matters, but I have no hesitation in saying that whoever it may bo they are not very observant, either as ornithologists or entomologists. This bird is the most useful of all birds to the farmer. It is continually destroying destructive soil insects. It is only in severe weather when the soil is too hard for it to dig the insects out that it ceases its activities. But there is an important item of its usefulness often overlooked to which I am going to draw attention, viz., its diligent search for the larvse of insects in the excreta of animals. A short time ago we were fortunate in getting a lecturer to come and give our Gardeners' Society a most im- portant lecture on disease-carrying insects, and among these insects the common house fly was said to be the most dangerous in this country, and was responsible for the death of a great many children. The lecturer pointed out the importance of keepmg our streets free from horse manure, because this fly deposited its eggs in this and other excreta of animals. Any observant person must have noticed that birds diligently search all such manure for the larvae of insects, and by these means millions of flies are pre- vented from being hatched, or their pupae from maturing. Go any day and watch the starling turning the excreta of all kinds of animals in search of insects. ... I must once again put in a good word for the house sparrow, which is responsible for the destruction of the larvae of untold numbers of house flies by searching horse manure in our streets and roads." Now Ready ANTI-PLUMAGE POST CARDS. What eminent men say about the Plume-trade, 1 dozen assorted, 6d. 3 dozen post free, Is. 3d. BIRD DESTRUCTION BY CHILDREN. At a meeting of the Kirkby Stephen and Hartley School Managers on February 4th, the following resolution was carried unanimously : — " That, with a view to preventing in the future the wholesale destruction by school children of the nests, eggs, and young of wild birds of practically all descrip- tions in this district, which has been much too prevalent during recent years, the Westmorland Education Committee be requisitioned to instruct the head masters and mistresses of the county to warn the children attending their respective schools against touching, or in any way interfering with, birds' nests and their contents ; and, for the future, to forbid birds' eggs to be exposed in the schools of the county, except if and when required in connection with and during lessons on bird life, as such exhibitions act as an incentive to boys and girls to make similar collec- tions for themselves. Further, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Chief Constableof Cumberland and Westmorland, with the suggestion that he instruct his officers to use their best endeavours to prevent the destruction of birds' eggs and young, and cause pro- ceedings to be taken in all proper cases brought to his notice." AN ABC OF COMMON BIRDS A pocket Guide to the commoner Inland Birds of Britain With short and simple descriptions from which they may be identified by the unlearned ; their local names ; and brief notes on the food they eat that may be regarded as " pro " or " con " the interests of husbandman and gardener. 16mo. 64 pages. Price 6d., by post 7d. BIRDS : and the way to AVERNUS. ^ ird-'P roieclion and ^ird-'Protection Laws viewed from the economic standpoint. By LINDA GARDINER, Reprifited by permission from " THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AND AFTER." THREEPENCE. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 23, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, S.W.I. Bird Notes and News (issued quarterly) will be sent post free to any address for Is. 6d. per annum, payable in advance; single numbers, 4d. To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and upwards per annum it is forwarded gratis and post free. Printed by Vacher & Sons, Ltd., Westminster House, S.W.l — 78115 — and published by the ROYAi Society for SHU Pboibcxion of Birds, 23, Queen Anne'a Gate, S.W.l. Bird Notes & News ISSUED QUARTERLY BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY :: FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS :: Vol. IX.l SUMMER, 1920. [No. 2. The Importation of Plumage Bill. The Plumage Bill, having passed its Second Reading, is now in Committee, and its history so far has been a fair parallel to that of the Bill of 1914. The trade know, as they knew then, that the Standing Committee, the House and the country are against them ; that put before any unbiassed assemblage the Bill would be agreed to without further discussion ; for the subject has been discussed at all points dm-ing the past twelve years, and the tergiver- sations and subterfuges employed in opposition have probably done as^ much to sicken the public as the notorious character of the traffic itself. The one chance of the Bill's opponents lies in delay, just as it did in 1914, and for this they are playing now, as they played then, with every card in their pack. When the Com- mittee met for the sixth time there were ten foolscap pages of amendments down, ninety- eight of which had practically the same three names to them (Messrs. Bartley Denniss, C. Williams, and Archer Shee). The same thing reappeared three or four times with a slightly varied wording. On each as it came along the three or four supporters spoke as lengthily as possible, repeating the same statements, going round and round the same points, meandering and stumbling on and on and on, no matter what the words or sense so long as time was occupied. The strange contradictions and in- consistencies resulting would, if reported in full, afiord a feast of absurdity to the critic who had patience to wade through the mass. An attempt was made to adjourn the whole question for the Session, on the ground that it was wasting time, as the trade would never allow the Bill to pass unless amended to please them, and " would strenuously resist it at every stage." Other attempts have been the exemp- tion of birds considered " pests " or used as food, or " certified " as plentiful or as killed without cruelty in the country of origin ; also, continually and by divers approaches, " farmed " birds and " moulted " feathers. The assertion has been made again and again that the supporters of the Bill affirm its necessity on the two grounds of " cruelty " and " ex- termination " only. Strong and well-proved as are these two charges, it cannot be too plainly stated that they are far from being the only grounds, or even with some supporters the main grounds, for legislation. The demand rests on a more definite basis than these charges, to which the trade bring whimpering protestations of their love for birds, their ability to protect by killing or by not killing them, the law- abiding humanity of South America, and the astounding fecundity of caged Egrets in Sind. It is this: a steady refusal to look upon the bird creation, with its glorious beauty, its scientific interest, its economic value, its joyous life — as so much free material for an utterly senseless and incredibly wasteful business, and an illimitable field of gain for the most out- rageous of profiteers. The Committee has been assured, among many other things, that if the import of foreign feathers is stopped, the trade will proceed to kill British birds, since feathers they must have, and Acts and Orders will be easily evaded. A singular assertion this, to balance against the assurance that a brand-new law is effective in Venezuela, where disregard of it is of advantage to both natives and Government. Getting hold apparently of the wrong end of this stick. Colonel Ajcher Shee, on an amendment to exempt birds of a kind found in this country, went through a long list of British birds to show how obnoxious are Crows (under which head the trade hope to slip in Birds of Paradise), Jays (by which name they import Rollers), Pheasants (which apparently feed on mangel wmzel), Ospreys (which he appeared to con- found with the " ospreys " of the trade). 10 Bird Notes and News Cuckoos, Magpies, etc. The Committee has further been informed that often the best way to preserve and multiply birds is to kill them, the British Grouse and Kook being brought forward as parallel cases to the Bird of Paradise, the Quetzal, or the Impey? i Pheasant! If such speakers will bu proceed to the further logic that killing in the breeding-time is the best preservative of all (as so successfully practised with Egrets, Spoonbills, and Ibises in Florida, and Grebes in Oregon), further trouble about "moulted" plumes might be saved. Lieut. -Commander Williams, assuming the character of the ingenuous friend, proposed to include live birds within the Bill ; it was surely more cruel to import live Quail than dead plumage, but the Committee were not led away, Mr. Montagu observing that though abominable cruelty of this kind exists, it cannot be dealt with in a Plumage Bill. Brooks's soap will not wash clothes. It is characteristic of the whole opposition that although Commander Williams has occupied perhaps more time than any one on foolish talk, and regularly votes with the trade, a trade journal pretends to regard him as an advocate of the Bill whose suggestions prove the folly of its supporters ! There is no need to consider a single one of the propositions made. The plain fact stands out that a Bill cut to suit the trade would be — naturally — wholly useless for its purpose. As in 1914, so in 1920, they " would propose regu- lations that obviously could not be carried out, and dictate terms that would leave them laughing in their sleeves over a dust-blinded public." DEBATE ON SECOND READING. The Second Reading in the House of Commons of the BiU to Prohibit Importation of Plumage was down for April 30th, but owing to the lengthy discussion of a preceding Bill, it was 3.30 p.m. before Colonel Yate could bring forward his motion. In doing so he said that until the Bill of 1914 was debated he had no conception — and probably many other Members had none — of the enormous ramifications of this trade, and the consequent terrible des- truction of bird life in various parts of the world. His attention was first directed to the matter by the reports in Indian newspapers of prosecutions for smuggling of feathers, and it then came vividly to his mind that until the British Government passed such a Bill as this they were conniving at the importation of smuggled goods, and that the feather merchants who imported plumage, the export of which was prohibited, were practically nothing more than the receivers of stolen goods. He had before him a list of 258 species of birds, the export of whose plumage had been prohibited in British Colonies, British Dominions, and Crown Colonies. The only opposition to the Bill came from the plumage section of the textile trade in the London Chamber of Commerce. Proceeding to deal with the statements made in regard to " farms " for Egrets in Venezuela, Colonel Yate quoted the accounts given of alleged farms in Sind, with the statement that these birds moulted four times a year — a thing no knowTi bird in the world did — and that the moulted feathers, dropped on the floor of the l^ens, surpassed in quality those taken when in prime condition from the wild birds. Probably birds were caught and kept to act as decoys ; but was it credible that birds in reed huts, with nothing but the floor to nest on, would produce four or five broods a year, and that sixty birds, of a species whose nest was nearly two feet square, would breed in a space 30 ft. by 8 ft. ? A suggestion had been made that the birds to be prohibited should be placed on a schedule. How could a schedule contain a list of the innumerable species which should be protected ? Such a thing was absolutely impossible, as the authorities of the Natural History Museum agreed, while it would be equally impossible to call upon the Customs Authorities to examine them. He believed that the Bill would lead to a development of the artificial flower trade and of the ostrich feather and poultry feather industry, thus increasing em- ployment for British labour, and that the intelligent members of the drapery interest welcomed it. Lieut. -Colonel Murray, in seconding, said he would have preferred to see the women of this country rise up in a body and affirm their de- termination not to wear skins and feathers of birds that were being ruthlessly destroyed to pander to their vanity. What he had seen, however, that morning at the private view of the Royal Academy proved conclusively the necessity for the Bill, which would put an end, so far at any rate as this country was concerned, to the cruel, uneconomic, and unscientific slaughter of beautiful and beneficent creatures, and to a wasteful and barbaric traffic which throve on the vanity of a type of being whose selfishness nothing but legislation could repress. The Bill took up the story where Sir Charles Hobhouse's Bill left off, and it was for the House Bird Notes and News 11 to determine whether or not the final chapter in that story was to be written and whether this country would join hands with the United States in setting an example to the civilised world. Mr. Bartley Denniss, avowing that cruelty was abhorrent to him, and that he had never killed a bird in his life, said that the trade did not want rare birds, it was the collectors who wiped them out. The Bill proposed to injure a trade when the injury could be averted by simply altering the schedule to a schedule of birds to be protected. Of course if all birds were to be prohibited then it was no use making such a list ; but the people who knew that there were birds useful to them which need not be prohibited were the people dealing in them — the trade. It was a fatal blot on the Bill that it did not enable them to insert a clause com- pensating the people whose trade would be destroyed and the thousands of workpeople who would be afiected. All that would happen would be that the trade would be diverted to the Continent — the birds would be gathered just the same, the cruelty perpetrated just the same. There was no danger of the extermina- tion of the Egret, which produced nuptial plumes four times a year in various parts of the world, especially in Venezuela ; and though there had perhaps been cruelty in the past there was now none whatever, as the birds there were amply protected. This hyper- sensitiveness was a bad sign in the British nation. There was no danger of the extinction of the Birds of Paradise ; they were extremely numerous, and the Dutch Government took good care they should not become extinct. Lieut. -Colonel Archer Shee moved the re- jection of the Bill. His chief argument was that it would be impossible to exterminate Hunoming-birds or Seagulls, and that it was no more cruel to kill birds for their plumage than to wear sheep-skins and rabbit-skins or to eat oysters. Mr. E. S. Montagu said the Government were extremely anxious to see this Bill passed. The trade they desired to see exterminated was not the feather trade, but the trade which existed by the destruction of birds. He did not believe that it would destroy any legitimate trade ; and if it destroyed one which would result, gradually but at an increasing speed, in a birdless world, they ought to be only too glad to see it put an end to. Some of the opponents of the measiu'e said they would support it if it were turned round. He never knew an opponent of a Bill who did not promise to support it if it were framed in a different way. If the Bill was going to destroy the trade in one way, it would destroy it in the other. The real secret of the matter was that the trade knew their method to be unworkable. One set of people wanted to kill the birds, and another set wanted to prevent the killing of them. Let hon. Members show by their votes what the House desired. Lieut.-Col. Sir M. Wilson said it was the duty of the country to which the bird was indigenous to protect it, not for us. Mr. Gilbert also opposed the measure, urging the great size and importance of the trade and the hugeness of its warehouses, and was expatiating on this theme when Colonel Yate moved that the question be put. The Deputy Speaker, however, declined to allow this, and at 5 p.m. the debate stood adjourned. On the following Friday the time of the House was fully taken up by Bills having pre- cedence ; but on May 14th two other Bills lost their place through technicalities, and the Second Reading of the Plumage Bill was again moved by Colonel Yate. The opponents, seeing the impossibility of dragging on a discussion for five hours, and knowing that a division could have but one result, reserved further arguments, and the Bill was carried by 61 votes to 8. A motion to refer it to Select Committee was rejected. IN COMMITTEE. The Bill was referred to Standing Com- mittee C, to whose fifty members the following have been added in respect of this particular measure : Lt.-Col. Archer Shee, Viscountess Astor, Capt. Bowyer, Mr. Bridgeman (Board of Trade), Mr. Jas. Brown, Sir John Butcher, Commander Dawes, Mr. Bartley Denniss, Mr. J. D. Gilbert, Mr. J. F. Green, Mr. J. Hinds, Mr. J. D. Kiley, Mr. J. E. Mills, Right Hon. E. S. Montagu, Major Nail, Sir J. D. Rees, Mr. R. Tootill, Mr. Aneurin Williams, Colonel Yate. Mr. Turton is chairman. Among the methods adopted by the oppo- sition, as in 1914, has been an effort to prevent the formation of a quorum ; and unfortunately circumstances played into their hands in this matter. One meeting came after an all-night sitting of the House, when Members departing at 3.30 a.m. could hardly be expected to attend again at 11 ; the adjournment was then made until the following day, Wednesday, a day never before chosen, and at this short notice probably not possible to many. To 12 Bird Notes and News sit and listen to Mr, Denniss, Lt. -Commander Williams, and Col. Archer Shee wading through a moraBS of words in order to kill time, and insisting on a count upon every amendment though the majorities against them were patent to every one present, is not an exhilarating occupation. It can but be asked how long Parliamentary procedure is to allow an infinitesimal fraction of Members, whose services have not been distinguished in any other respect, to hold up legislation which Committee, House, and country plainly and unmistakably demand. The fact that two unopposed verdicts of the House of Lords, and three overwhelming majorities of the House of Commons, have approved the Bill, while the one object of the opponents is to shirk and postpone any and every appeal to the straight vote, should In all conscience be sufficient to bring the whole scandal to an end. There was again no quorum on July 6tb and 7th. The Chairman consequently moved the Bill from top to bottom of the list awaiting consideration. Twenty-four members of the Committee have not attended one meeting, thus (as Sir Charles Hobhouse comments in the Titnes, July 5th) playing into the hands of the trade. Their constituents should have something to say to this before the Autumn Session. Circumstances, however, were unpropitious. Two late sittings of the House, the clashing of other important Committees, and Ascot, de- terred Members who perhaps saw little hope of getting through a hundred amendments at the initial rate of progress. THE PLUMAGE BILL AND OSTRICH FEATHERS. " The Ostrich feather trade will never get firmly and permanently established until we entirely abolish the traffic in the plumage of Wild Birds. The rich and influential firms in France and London who deal in the plumage of our murdered feathered allies are mainly responsible for setting the fashion in feathers. When it suits their pockets they so order it that Ostrich plumes are the fashion. Then, when they have accumulated vast stocks of the skins and feathers of wild birds, the fashion changes and there is a slump in Ostrich feathers. I speak from knowledge. I ascertained these facts when in London and Paris, and I challenge denial. " We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by safeguarding the lives of wild birds." The writer of these words, extracted from the Eastern Province Herald (Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony) of June 4th, 1920, is the well- known naturalist and ornithologist, Mr. F. W. Fitzsimons, F.Z.S., F.R.M.S., many years Director of the Port Elizabeth Museum, who has no trade axe to grind and no aim other than the prosperity of the country in which he lives. He adds — and the statement will be substantiated by anyone who has recent experience in South Africa : " The plume trade is doing its utmost to get the Ostrich farmers to oppose the Plumage Bill. They are being told that there will be little demand for Ostrich feathers, as the public will conclude there is cruelty involved in their production also." As a matter of fact the conspicuous exemp- tion of Ostrich feathers from the Bill emphasises the point that women need not hesitate to wear them, as thousands have done, in their sickened revolt from the slaughter of wild birds. The trade cry shows the wisdom and necessity of limiting the schedule to feathers for which a guarantee can be given, and thus furthering the Ostrich-feather industry of our Colonies. THE BIRD OF PARADISE. The arguments put forward by the sup- porters of the Bill with regard to the threatened extermination of Birds of Paradise are proved up to the hilt by examination of the species now coming into the market. The trade have contended that evidence given in 1908 and 1911 on this point is shown to be absurd, because thousands of birds have continued to come into the market, and therefore they must be as plentiful as ever. But the fact is, that the birds now being worn are not of the same species as those brought in a few years ago. Northern New Guinea, the habitat of the earlier supplies, has become profitless to the trade, oMdng to the devastations its ravages have made. The central portion of the country, including Dutch New Guinea, is now being scoured, the parade of protection made by the Netherlands Government being little more than a blind. Doubtless thousands of birds have been received by the trade during the past twelve years. Unless the Bill passes they will receive thousands more. Then will come the inevitable end. The whole island and adjacent islands will have been swept bare : but the trade purse will be the fuller. Bird Notes and News 13 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. COUNCIL MEETING. Mr. Montagu Sharpe, K.C, (Chairman), pre- sided at the quarterly meeting of the Council on April 23rd, 1920. The Hon. Secretary reported on the position of the Plumage Bill. The Bill, and the corre- spondence thereon in the Times, were discussed, and it was agreed that, as the text had been approved by the Board of Trade, the amend- ment suggested by the Duke of Rutland should not be pressed. Deep regret was expressed at the death of Dr. Gordon Hewitt, one of the most able and vigorous of leaders in the preser- vation of wild life. Twenty-three lectures had been given, by Mrs. F. E. Lemon, Miss Alice Anderson, Rev. J. E. Kelsall, Rev. B. T. Verrey, Rev. J. Heaton, Major Haines, Major Orde- Lees, Major C. Smith, Mr. H. D. Astley, Mr. H. P. Burdett, Mr. H. Collison, Mr. Cragghill, Mr. G. Daybell, Mr. G. Frisby, Mr. Gilbert- Cooper, Mr. J. Hopwood, Mr. H. C. Metcalfe, Mr. Masefield, Mr. J. Norris, and Mr. Herbert Walker. Twenty-five Bird and Tree Festivals had been held. The Scottish Bird Protection Orders had been imder revision, and those for the great majority of the counties issued during February. The plan of issuing these Orders for a definite period has been abandoned, and they now remain in force until further notice. Bute and Elgin remain without Orders. The Finance and General Purposes Com- mittee presented the accounts for the quarter. The resignations of Mr. R. S. Moreau, Hon. Sec. for Farnham, on leaving for Egypt, and of Miss Berrill, Hon. Sec. for Kettering, on leaving the neighbourhood, were received with regret ; and Miss Kathleen Jacques, Orlingbury Hall, Wellingborough, was appointed to succeed Miss Berrill. The following Fellows and Members were elected:— Fellows : Reginald F. Appach, Miss Esther Bright, J. R. Bristow, Mrs. Stracey Clitherow, Miss M. E. Fairholme, Mrs. Murray Guthrie, Miss K. H. Henrey, Miss M. Herron, Mrs. Hamilton Leigh, Major T. G. L. Lumley-Smith, D.S.O., J. P. Mills, I.C.S., J. M. K. McGugan, Mrs. R. E. McLean, H. T. Mercer, Mrs. Murray-Smith, Mrs. Chandos Pole-Gell, Spencer J. Portal, Desborough Walford, J, W. Baker White. Life Fellow : J. C. Moulton. Members : Donald Benton, T. H. Brinton, Mrs. E. du Boulay, Miss M. M. Chamberlayne, Arthur E. Chaplin, Mrs. E. H. Corbett, A. Crowther, Arthur L. Cutbill, Miss Darby, Miss M. E. Doran, Miss Helen Drummond, J. A. Edwards, L. Edwards, Mrs. Fierz, Mrs. Fairholme, E. G. Gilbert-Cooper, A. C. Greene, H. W. Honess, Miss Irvine, Captain W. James, R.N., Colonel J. H. M. Jebb, D.S.O., Alfred J. Kingham, Captain F. 0. Lewis, R.N., Albert E. Malpas, T. G. Mathews, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Murray-Dixon, Misa S. L. Richards, James Robinson, Miss Katharine Rowland, Miss E. Sawers, H. D. Scogings, Lady Scott, Miss Marjorie Seaver, Mrs. Soames, Captain Archibald Stirling, Miss Summers, Miss Agnes Travers, Rev. S. E. Ward, Eric White, Miss D. M. Williams, D. N. Williams, Mrs. Wilson, Miss E. Wilson, Rev. B. Wilson. Life Member : Julian S. Huxley. The Report of the Watchers recommended that a record of the work done in 1919 should be printed for private circulation ; enumerated the Watchers appointed for 1920, and stated that special letters had been sent to all of these, calling their attention to the need for greater care and vigilance than ever before, to which they had responded loyally and heartily. Mr. W. P. Pycraft and Mr. J. L. Bonhote were elected members of the Council, and the Standing Committees were re-elected. It was. rej)orted that numerous complaints had been received of the revival of birdcatching and in- creased supplies of wild birds in the shops during the close time ; various inquiries had been prosecuted, and a letter had been sent to the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, asking him to instruct his officers to do all they could to enforce the law. It was agreed that a test case might be brought on a certain point in the Acts. The shooting of Owls at Roe Green Village, near Heudon, and in the Isle of Wight was reported, a fine having been imposed in the latter case, in which a farmer was prosecutor. A letter was read from Sir Robert Baden-Powell, asking the Society's suggestions and co-operation relative to the institution of " Bird Wardens " among the Boy Scouts ; and other correspondence was brought forward. OBITUARY. The Society is the poorer for the loss of two old and constant members and sympathisers. Canon Rawnsley and Miss Rhoda Broughton. The Rev. Hardwick D. Rawnsley, whose name will ever be associated with the Lake District and its poets, and with the National Trust and many other movements for the preservation of England's beauty and the uplifting of English thought, joined the R.S.P.B. in 1893, became 14 Bird Notes and News a member of the first Council in 1901 and a Vice- President in 1912. Passionately opposed to the traffic in birds' plumage, he wrote an effective poem on the subject, " My Feathered Lady," and spoke vigorously in support of the present Plumage Bill at the Society's Annual Meeting in March last. He was also particu- larly sympathetic with the Bird and Tree Movement, and presented the beautiful Cum- berland Challenge Shield, which was designed by Mrs. Rawnsley. Canon Rawnsley, who was born in 1851, died on May 28th. Miss Broughton became a Member of the Society in 1895, and continued her interest in its work throughout the 25 years between that time and her death in June, 1920. Notes. In reply to the Duke of Rutland, in the House of Lords on April 28th, the Earl of Onslow stated that the Government accepted in general the proposals made by the Home Office Committee on the Wild Birds Protection Acts, and though unable to promise a Bill this Session, hoped to set up a central ornithological advisory committee as recommended in the Report. The matter, it will be remembered, was mentioned at the Annual Meeting of the R.S.P.B., and it is to be hoped that the central body, on whom further progress hangs, will shortly be an established fact. The reader imagines this to imply that large supplies of " osprey " feathers come from " domesticated " birds in Sind or elsewhere. Not at all. The adroit use of " obtainable " and " available " reduces it to a mere expression of trade opinion that the thing might be done. As a matter of fact, Mr. Bridgeman, speaking for the Board of Trade in the House of Commons on June 7th, said that no Egret plumage was among the .£100 worth of feathers imported from India in 1919. If any did come in it was, of course, smuggled. The plumage-trade " demonstration " of workers against the Plumage Bill was something of a fiasco. In spite of the obvious ease with which firms can bid their emq)loyes trot round the town to the music of a band, even the trade journals have to acknowledge that the pro- cession " was hardly such as to inspire the un- prejudiced beholder with the sense that if the Bill passes it will inflict irremediable hardship upon the workers." The many thousands of whom so much is heard were, in fact, repre- sented mainly by young girls, " some of them the veriest children, who," continues TAe Draper, " it would be absurd to suggest could not find employment elsewhere." Among the many dubious and misleading statements in the memorandum " prepared by the plumage committee of the textile section of the London Chamber of Commerce " (a memorandum replied to, at the request of the R.S.P.B. in an analysis drawn up by Mr. W. P. Pycraft, F.Z.S.) appears the following characteristic paragraph : " Lesser White Egret. The largest supply of these beautiful short curved plumes is obtainable from India, which in 1902 passed laws prohibiting exports of all kinds of feathers other than those of domesticated birds. . . . Supplies now available are even of greater value than those obtainable from Venezuela." Still more recently, however, the trade's apologists have sidled away from India, as being uncomfortably open to inspection and inquiry, and returned to their old love, Vene- zuela. Their latest leaflet is issued without name and address for reasons best known to its author, but easily conjectured. It gives a truly humorous account of gentle peons guiding their boats softly along the rivers " so as not to alarm the birds," while they gather the snowfall of dirty and worn old feathers which have dropped from the moulting Egrets. It would be hard to picture anything more ludicrously unlike the business methods of plumage- hunters in a half-savage land, where only " live " feathers from breeding birds are in such a condition as to yield profitable returns either to trade or to Government revenue. The genius who composed it certainly did so with his tongue in his cheek. " The promoters of the agitation," he glibly observes, " do not tell the public that for twenty years now Venezuelan law has prohibited the hunting of these birds with firearms or their maltreatment in any shape or form, and that heavy punishment, now rigidly enforced, awaits the offender." No, the promoters of the Bill leave the composition of such nonsense to other hands. The law was not even placed on paper until Bird Notes and News 15 1917, and anyone who knows aught of the character of the country, geographically or otherwise, knows very well that such laws could not be worth the paper they are printed on. The pleasing assurance in this anonymous sheet, that the birds are not alarmed is a fairly obvious half-truth . Naturally, when birds are to be shot they are not first scared out of gunshot range. It also serves as re- minder of further precautions now taken on the Paraguay River not to frighten the Egrets from their haunts, as recounted in Mr. L. E, Miller's recent (1918) book on South American wilds ; the gun is abandoned — in favour of poisoned fish scattered over the feeding- grounds. Among the newspapers which support the Bill none have done so more wholeheartedly and eloquently than The. Jewish World and The Jewish Chronicle. " From every point of view," says the latter (June 11th, 1920), " this feather trade is a cursed thing." It is interest- ing to remember in this connection that the first Hon. Secretary of the Society for the Protection of Birds, on its transference to London, was a Jewess. An interesting instance of the devotion of birds to their nests is reported to Bird Notes AND News from Hayton Manor Farm, in Kent. While ploughing up a mangel field the carter found a Lapwing's nest with two eggs. He carefully moved it to another spot, and the bird returned and laid two more eggs. In due course she started sitting, and although the nest had to be moved again and again (in all eight times) in the course of harrowing and drilling, four lively little Lapwings were safely hatched out. A good many instances have been narrated of birds following a nest that has been carefully moved out of danger, but this is probably a record. * * * The Ligue Fran9aise pour la Protection des Oiseaux has decided to found a " Prix Magaud d'Aubusson " in memory of its late President. The subject set for the first year will test the ingenuity of competitors, who are to consider the destruction of useful birds by cats, and to suggest a means of restraining their pro- clivities in that direction without interfering with their activity as mousers ; also to indicate, with evidence, some animals which might replace the domestic cat as regards its virtues. It is to be feared that the perfect animal, which will hunt to order, will be far to seek, like the bird that should discriminate between weed and crop. Economic Ornithology. A NURSERYMAN ON BIRD-PROTECTION. The head of a leading firm of nurserymen, seedsmen, and florists in Cheltenham, writes to the Fruit- Grower (which has been publishing some excellent articles on " Bird-life and Food- Production ") : — " The damage done by a few varieties at certain seasons is obvious to all, but the unceasing good most birds do throughout the year passes to a large extent unobserved. The hosts of swallows, martins, swifts, chiff-chaffs, and other soft-billed birds that visit us in their season are all so many police patrolling our skies, trees and hedges, and waging an unending war against the fruit-growers' enemies. Even that much- debated bird, the sparrow, is on the whole decidedly our friend. I have watched them for over 25 years, from the first beginning of the leaf searching assiduously and unceasingly the plum, apple, nut, lime, elm and other trees, and eating aphis, while the number of cater- pillars they account for during the breeding season must be beyond calculation. Doubtless in the corn- fields they become destructive, but the horticulturist has little against them, beyond a few primroses, poly- anthus, crocus and gooseberries, which latter are easily protected. The bullfinch and the wood pigeon alone appear to have no claim to protection. " It is urged by some persons that bird life has increased and requires thinning. But as the population has grown, cultivation of our land has also increased, and with it also a vast increase in insect life, and a large addition of bird life becomes vitally necessary, being indeed one of the most necessary of all things to the grower." Complaint of the wanton destruction of nests and eggs by school-children and youths was never more widespread than during the present summer. Unfortunately it is not only the supporters of the " sparrow " club and other blundering tactics of ignorant scaremongers in war-time, who suffer now from the fatal blunder- ing that actually encouraged such destruction ; the whole country has to groan over the increase in caterpillars, blight, midges, and other plagues. " Landowner " writes to the Daily Mail : — " All over the country for the last four years trees and shrubs have been stripped bare by insect depre- dations, while at the same time a deplorable campaign, 16 Bird Notes and News carried on by schoolboys and so-called ' sparrow-clubs,' has destroyed millions of our most useful insectivorous birds. I reckon from my own experience as a land- owner that we are losing thousands of pounds yearly by our insane laisser-faire policy in a matter which so closely concerns food production. " The Board of Education ought to take the thing in hand at once. As it is, hardly a child knows the difference between the house sparrow, whose nest is always out of reach, and the hedge sparrow, whose nest is unfortunately easily found." Mr. J. S. 0. Robertson Luxford and the Rev. J. P. Bacon Phillips comment on the defoliation of oak trees by caterpillars, the former writing from Robertsbridge :— " The reason for this destruction is absence of birds. A main cause of absence of birds is the fact that their nests, eggs and young are ruthlessly destroyed by boys, all and sundry, everywhere, under pretence that they are acting under Government authority. " I have read speeches made by persons in authority urging the extermination of sparrows. I have long taken an interest in birds and watched sparrows feeding their young. They will have two, or even three, broods a year of eight each, and they will feed them almost entirely during the season on caterpillars. " Sparrows in this part of the country have dis- appeared. I never see one near my house now. And very few other birds either, except jays and magpies. The caterpillars have the field to themselves." BIRD AND TREE (ARBOR DAY) COMPETITION. All Essays for this year's Competition should reach the Secretary of the Society by September 1st. Where it is not possible to have them written and read by local judges so soon as this, an intimation should reach the office, in order that the judging may be put back for the arrival of the full number of papers from that county. It has been impossible to record the many and successful celebrations held by competing schools throughout a time ranging from a week or so after results were known to close upon the date for writing the new year's essays. It is in no depreciation of numerous admirable programmes and delightful days that the following programme of a Lancashire school's doings is quoted, but rather as an instance of a singularly complete and appro- priate festival, which may serve as suggestion to those schools that ask for hints for Bird and Tree Day. It comes from Goosnargh Whitechapel : — " The children assembled at 12.30, and the various school groups were photographed. Then followed a football match for the boys and all kinds of games for the girls. Tea was jjrovided in the school at 3.45, after which many parents came for the concert. The children performed " A Midsummer Eve " (Mrs. Suckling), the stage being effectively dressed with boughs to resemble a wood and the children prettily dressed for their parts. Songs and recitations, chiefly bearing on Nature, were also given. The Headmaster explained the aims of the Society and the objects of the scheme, the best essays were read, the Society's awards presented, and other books to the value of £8 Avere also given. Sports were held in the playing- field from 6.45 to 8.45. " The Enchanted Wood," also by Mrs. Suckling (music by Miss Clementine Ward) was performed at the Boscombe girls' highly successful festival ; and " The Law of Love " formed part of the programme at Great Alne (Warwickshire Shield- winner). Many thanks are due to the Teachers, and the support and co-operation of local residents in presenting awards and giving encouraging addresses has been greatly appreciated. The Pope, who is stated to be fond of birds, has, it is announced, caused to be issued to all parish priests a circular letter instructing them to dissuade boys from the evil practice of robbing birds' nests and snaring birds, and to preach from the pulpit against all forms of cruelty to animals. His Eminence will find work enough of this kind awaiting the Church in Italy, but there is ample need for similarly practical effort on the part of the clergy of Protestant and avowedly humane England. AN ABC OF COMMON BIRDS A pocket Guide to the commoner Inland Birds of Britain With short and simple descriptions from which they may be identified by the unlearned ; their local names ; and brief notes on the food they eat that may be regarded as " pro " or " con ' the interests of husbandman and gardener. 16mo. 64 pages. Price 6d., by post 7dl. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 23, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, S.W.I. Bird Notes and News (issued quarterly) will be sent post free to any address for Is. 6d. per annum, payable in advance; single numbers, 4d. To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and upwards per annum it is forwarded gratis and post free. Printed by Vacher & Sons, Ltd., Westminster House, S.W.I— 81160— and puMi.shed by the Boyal Sooiety for THH Protection of Birds, 23, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W.I. Bird Notes & News ISSUED QUARTERLY BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS Vol. IX.] AUTUMN. 1920. [No. 3. Egg-ShelL "Birds," as the Times (July 15th, 1920) remarks in discussing the latest threat to their existence, " have many enemies." There is indeed no part of creation which has more to fear not only from human greed and stupidity but from professed friends. Plumage-hunter and plumage-barterer, birdcatcher and bird- dealer, keeper, fruit-grower, gunner and col- lector all join in the chase, whether beauty, rarity or fine song, real or imaginary depreda- tions, or mere existence as a living thing and a target form the excuse. Under the cloak of bird-study, skins and eggs are brought in ; under the cloak of ornithology or oology, skins and eggs again and in greater numbers and by divers doors. The result to the bird is the same in every case. There is little use in considering which enemy is worst ; in fighting the one, no armistice can be agreed to with the rest. The formation, however, of a so-called " Museum of Com- parative Oology " or " World Museum of Birds' Eggs," at Santa Barbara, California, should at least arouse instant suspicion and precaution on the part of genuine naturalists. The declared purpose is to link together egg- collectors all over the world, and to stimulate the buying, selling, and exchanging of eggs, with the main idea of forming enormous col- lections of " variety " clutches. Wherever colours, markings, size or shape vary in the eggs of any species, the proposition is to get together not fewer than eighty specimens of every kind, adding to these as many nests and skins as shall appear desirable. Circulars are being freely sent out seeking co-operation among " men and women of the oological persuasion," and citing names which will not allay misgivings excited by the scheme in the minds of British Bird Protectors. The alleged object is, needless to say, " Science," a word that is becoming almost as unpleasant to the ear as " kultur," and covers as dubious morality of action as " liberty " in the days of Madame Roland. It proposes to " enlarge the content of our phylogenetic knowledge of birds," while ofEering a profitable exchange and mart and promoting " international good feeling and hospitality." The modest claim is even made that the resultant stacks of egg-shells will "afford an insight into the very method of Nature's operations throughout the kingdom of the living " and enlighten mankind " as to the whence and whither of life itself." In short, a new Bible-cum-Origin-of-Species combined, for a new League of Nations under Humpty- Dumpty. While bombastic nonsense such as this can only raise a laugh among scientific men, the scheme itself needs more than mere ridicule of its Yankee — or hyphenated — phraseology. In this country the collecting craze of recent years is the most menacing danger that has yet existed to the survival of our rarer birds. It is aimed at both birds and eggs ; but especially at eggs. Already public museums have amply sufficient collections of these for practical purposes of study and research ; and the col- lecting and examination and chronicling of egg-shells has received attention out of all proportion to its utility and to the attention bestowed upon the life, character, and habits of the birds themselves. The mania begins among schoolboys, usually ending in their case with a few neglected drawers of specimens coupled with utter ignorance of the characteris- tics and economic value of birds. Even at that stage the collection is apt to be, at public schools, largely a matter of purchase and therefore not even a basis for nature-study. It continues among private collectors and trading collectors, who buy and exchange and seU ; and who quarter the countryside to hunt out, buy, and bribe, breaking any laws that may come in the 18 Bird Notes and News way of their bobby, in order that they may boast rarities in their cabinets and deal the last blow at dying speoies. The collector, observes the Times in the article already referred to, " is alert, well-informed, and insatiable. If a bird be rare or hitherto un- known in a locality, if a species be nearly extinct, he recognises a valuable prey and hastens to secure it." No sense of honour prevents him from evading legislation and checkmating and undoing the honourable efforts of wardens, keepers, and watchers. No self-respect for the traditions of an officer, the profession of the clergy, the honesty of the protector-in-print, deters him. (The Society has had concrete examples of each case.) He bribes wherever a bribe will be taken, and where palms refuse to be greased employs every device to " obtain " the booty he wants. A "protected area " suggests to him a place worth trying ; so that it is even a risk to make efforts at protection public. A man on guard suggests a winking display of " Fishers." A clutch that would hatch out some of the rarest birds in the land suggests immediate acqui- sition, even if it entails the filling of pockets before the Watcher can come up or when his back is turned. Such persons deem themselves oologists and scientists and have no shame in their exploits. The scientific ornithologist regards them as a discredit to the name of naturalist. The plain man endorses Sir Herbert Maxwell's hatred of the " cursed collector " and adds the natural Englishman's dislike of the sneak. It is time that plain truths were spoken of the danger in which bird-life stands from a seljish, pretentious, and useless craze ; and it may be hoped that members of British Natural History and Ornithological Societies will give a plain answer to the bland proffer of love and money from the Californian brotherhood. Mr. W. P. Pycraft (Natural History Museum) writes in the Illustrated London News (Sept. 4th, 1920) :— " The urgent need for sane protective measures not merely for our native birds, but for birds in the wilderness also, is growing daily more apparent. And on this account one views with apprehension the foundation, at Santa Barbara, California, of a ' World Museum of Birds' Eggs.' Herein the founders of the institution propose to enshrine a complete collection of the eggs of the birds of the world, together with ' as many nests and skins as are necessary to enable the eggs to tell their full story. . . .' " To obtain this object a world-wide canvass is being made. Nomination forms, duly filled up, are being sent out to all ' eligible ' persons ; and all the recipient has to do is to fill in his name and send it back to California. From that moment he may consider himself a full Member of the Museum of Comparative Oology. " It is taken for granted that every member will ' collect ' assiduously, not merely to fill his own cabinets, but also to enable himself to build up a collection of duplicates available for exchange. He will certainly be kept busy, for every member is to be registered, so that he may conveniently be importuned for speci- mens by collectors scattered over the whole habitable globe. From a copy of the Museum's journal, which has been sent me, I note that a newly-elected member, resident in Scotland, has this year sent to the Museum a ' series of six sets of the Red-shank, six sets of the British Ringed Plover, and six sets of the Oyster-catcher. He probably retained a like series for his own collection. For very shame I will not mention the name of that small Scotch village, but it axigurs ill for the birds which elect to breed there in future. It is obvious that if the members of this band fulfil what is expected of them, their ravages, so far as the British Islands are concerned, will be very serious. For each is asked, after filling his own cabinets, to do his best to fill those of every other collector from here to New Zealand. This result is evidently anticipated by the founders of the Museum, for the enthusiastic editor of the journal remarks that the collecting of birds' eggs, ' whether followed as a fad, a pursuit, or a passion, is likely to become at last a major avocation. . . .' " Among my own friends are collectors of repute, and none deplore more than they the insatiable greed and unscrupulous cimning which are displayed by many collectors in this country. To check their activities as far as possible, the Society for the Protection of Birds has to spend large sums annually in the employ- ment of ' watchers ' to circumvent their raids. This is deplorable enoiigh, but the evil will most certainly be aggravated by the incitements of the Museum of Comparative Oology." Bird Notes and! Newti Id The Plumage Bill THE BILL IN COMMITTEE. Colonel Yate's Bill, which was relegated to the bottom of the list on July 7th, on account of the non-attendance of Standing Committee C, whose business it was to meet and consider it, came on again for consideration on August 4th, when Colonel Yate moved hie amendment to allow of a licence for the importation of any consignment of feathers, provided it was made to appear to the Board of Trade, by the pro- duction of a certificate from the country of origin, that such plumage had been obtained from birds regularly kept or bred in captivity for their plumage. It was at once evident that the trade would have none of such an amendment unless the Venezuelan Egrets were brought in ; and Commander Williams was still talking when the members present, not unnaturally, tired of his eloquence and the quorum melted away. The proceedings were then adjourned until October. During the interval the composition of the Committee had been somewhat altered, 16 members being taken off and 15 new members added. Mr. Bartley Denniss endeavoured to constitute this a ground of objection ; but the Chairman assured him that no Standing Order prevented the Committee of Selection from making such alterations. OSTRICH-FARMERS AND THE PLUMAGE TRADE. "At a recent meeting of the ostrich-feather trade held at Port Elizabeth the following resolution was adopted : — That as the Ostrich is exempted from the Plumage Bill, and it has been proved conclusively that there is no cruelty attached to the handling of the birds and taking the plumage, we thank the (Cape) Government for the interest it has taken in the matter, and would now respectfully request the Government to put a definite stop to lectures on the subject at present. " It was stated that while Mr. Duerden was accepted as a scientific authority on breeding problems, he was not regarded as the best man to lecture on matters afieoting the ostrich- feather trade, and his opposition to the Anti- Plumage Bill was calculated to do the industry harm in England. Seeing that ostrich feathers were exempted, South African farmers and traders had no right to interfere with the Bill, and desired the Government to put a stop to Dr. Duerden 's provocative lectures. The views he had expressed in England were not the views of South African farmers and traders."*— South Africa (July 17th, 1920). It will be remembered that Dr. Duerden led opposition to the Bill in the Times and Nature, claiming that he had South African opinion behind him ; he also took part in the trade " demonstration " in London. His real backing obviously lies with the fancy-feather traders, who continue to assert in their leaflets that " All the sections of the great South African trade have united in opposing it." FRANCE AND THE PLUME TRADE. In an article in Le Chenil (June 24th, 1920), M. Amadee Pichot deals with the Pheasant " Farms " in China from which the feather- traders were said to obtain supplies of Gold and Silver Pheasants. The story was set going by a U.S.A. Consul at Hong Kong, " and the credulity displayed by this official would have surprised us had we not long since become familiar with the clever tactics of those to whose interest it is to throw dust in the eyes of the public." The " facts " he stated were found to be all hearsay, and the existence of any such farms was disproved by Mr. Beebe and Mr. Roy Andrews. " Dr. Hornaday of New York oSered to send a capable naturalist to take photographic snapshots of the farms, but to this proposal the plume-importers made no reply." No doubt they would prefer to provide their own photographs. M. Pichot adds : — Now that a law for the prohibition of the importa- tion of feathers other than those of the Ostrich and of domestic poultry is again being discussed in the British Parliament, the plume-traders are up in arms, and newspaper writers pretend that the Government of the .French Republic has directed its representatives in England to inform the English Government that French industry will suffer if this law is passed, and that large numbers of French workers, mostly women and girls, will thereby be deprived of their means of livelihood. This audacious assertion is as inexact as the rest of the statements upon which the plume- traders have sought to build their defence. * The italics are ouri.— -Ed. B.N. & N. 20 Bird Notes and News The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds COUNCIL MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Council was held at the Guildhall, Westminster, on July 16th, 1920, Mr. Montagu Sharpe, K.C., Chairman, presiding. The Hon. Secretary's report referred to the heavy loss sustained by the Society in the death of Canon Rawnsley, a Vice-President. Bird Protection Orders, largely dealing with the further protection of the Lapwing, had been issued for Gloucestershire, Hampshire, West Suffolk, Breconshire, Wigtown, co. Dublin, and the County Boroughs of Birkenhead, Bradford, Chester, Coventry, Dewsbury, Hali- fax, Leeds, Reading, Rothcrham, and Sheffield. Seven lectures illustrated by the Society's slides had been given, and five Bird and Tree Festivals held. Through the kindness of the Ulster S.P.C.A. the Society had an exhibit of leaflets, etc., at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Show. The quarter's accounts were presented by the Finance and General Purposes Committee. The appointments of Mr. W. B. Urwin as Hon. Secretary for Birmingham, Miss Esme Tinne for Farnham, and Mrs. Barne for North Oxford- shire, were confirmed ; and Mr. R. S. Moreau was appointed Hon. Secretary in Egypt. The following Fellows and Members were elected : — Fellows : Sir Godfrey Baring, Bart., Howard Brooks, Miss Calley, Mrs. Fennell, Mrs. Edward Foster, Viscount Hambleden, Lady George Nevill, H. W. Payne, Miss Esm6 Pigott, W. H. Savory, Mrs. Watson, P. "C. A. Wiggall. Members : Mrs. Alexander, Miss Gerradine E. Barber, G. W. Bennett, Miss Blackden, Mrs. Carey, Herbert G. Cornish, A. F. Craig, Mrs. Crauford Crichton, Mrs. Cruttwell, M. S. Curtler, Mrs. Drury, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Fidler, H. T. Griffin, Mrs. Haworth- Booth, Miss Constance Hill, Miss Mabel K. Howat, Miss M. S. Johnston, F.G.S., F.R.G.S., A. C. Knight, Miss E. Masham, Mrs. H. E. Master, Mrs. Miiller, Miss Gladys G. Norman, Bertram Pickard, Mrs. Poole, D. J. Preston, Mrs. W. Restall, Mrs. Rigg, Miss Vere Ptoberts, Mrs. D. I). Robertson, Rev. A. Scott, W. F. Shrimjiton, Miss M. C. Stirrat, Mrs. Tallentire, Miss Esm^ W. Tinne, W. B. Urwin, Miss Vera E. Vansittart, Dr. W. B. Winckworth, Edward 0. Windel, Henry Wood, Francis Worsley. Life Member : John R. Menzies. It was noted that not only Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, but Ceylon and Mesopotamia were represented by new Members. Viscount Guilla- more was elected a Vice-President of the Society. The Plumage Bill, the representation of the Society on the Central Advisory Committee under the W.B.P. Acts, and the trade in cage- birds were among the subjects discussed ", and attention was drawn to the proceedings of an egg-collecting association, calling itself the " World Museum of Birds' Eggs," in California. Correspondence had taken place with regard to the attempted nesting of a pair of Bee-eaters at Musselburgh, and the illegal trapping of a Buzzard and Falcon on Mull. ORNITHOLOGICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. In accordance with the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Protection of Wild Birds, the Home Secretary has appointed a Central Advisory Committee to advise the Home Office on matters connected with the administration of the Wild Birds Protection Acts. The Committee, it may be remembered, recommended the immediate setting up of such a body ; that the new Bill (the character of which they suggested) should be drafted by its advice ; and that its work should include collecting and classifying of information, investigation of the food of birds, advice on the making of Orders, etc., and the extension and encouragement of educational and propagandist work by means of popular articles in newspapers and magazines, lectures, the promotion of " Bird Day," etc. It was further recommended that the members be nominated by the Home Office, the Scottish and Iiish Ofiices, the Depart- ments of Agriculture, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The Committee appointed, however, concerns England only (others being appointed for Scotland and Ireland), and consists of representatives of the R.S.P.B. (Mr. Montagu Sharpe, K.C., Chairman of Council), the Natural History Museum (Dr. Percy Lowe), the Ministry of Agriculture (Mr. H. G. Maurice), and the British Ornitholo- gists' Union (Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, Secretary). The Chairman is the Duke of Rutland, who is a Vice-President of the R.S.P.Bt, and presided over its annual meeting last March. The Scottish Committee is to consist of Mr. Hugh S. Gladstone (Chairman), Dr. Eagle Clarke (Royal Scottish Museum), Dr. W. E. CoUinge, Mr. H. M. Conacher (Board of Agriculture for Scotland), Mr. H. J. Crowe (Fishery Board for Scotland), and Professor J. Arthur Thomson. Dr. Eagle Clarke has for some years acted as advisor to the Scottish Office on the subject. Bird Notes and News 21 Notes One of the most vigorous and gallant of the world's workers for birds and their protection, Mr. William Dutcher, died on July 1st, 1920. A member of the original Committee for the Protection of Birds of the American Ornitho- logists Union, he maintained the movement in the United States in its lean and struggling years, and was practically founder of the National Association of Audubon Societies in 1901. When its incorporation was rendered possible in 1905, by means of a large legacy, he became its first President, and held that office amid the respect and affection of all its members, until his death, though for ten years a stroke of paralysis, due to overwork, had deprived him of the power of speech and writing. His name will ever be honoured among Bird Protectors the world over. Mr. Dutcher, who was a direct descendant of one of the "Mayflower" Pilgrims, was elected an Hon. Life Fellow of the K.S.P.B., and was a cordial friend and co-worker. It is impossible to forecast the future of Colonel Yate's Plumage Bill. It does not depend on the opinion of the country regarding a trade than which none since the Slave Trade has met with more, or better merited, condem- nation ; nor on the vote of the House, which has three times been recorded unmistakably ; but on Committee procedure. If three men are to be permitted to talk up and down and round and round a hundred amendments, it is obvious that time and patience will be worn out long before the chance of a Third Eeading comes ; and, obvious also, that no private Bill will ever have a chance in Parliament so long as a handful of interested persons oppose Committee and House. Should any attempt at concession or negotiation be entered upon, it is perfectly clear that this will be made merely the ground for demanding more and yet more until an absolutely useless Bill exists for no other purpose than that of throwing dust in the eyes of the public. The trade want to " use " the birds, other people want to save the birds. That, as Mr. Montagu said on the Second Reading, is the one simple truth, whatever the circumlocutions and assurances and evasions and subterfuges of profiteers who have ..never yet faced the world with an honest defence, but whose whole hope has been, and is, in confusing the issue, perverting the facts, and postponing the verdict. The appearance of a pair of Bee-eaters at Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, and their attempt to breed a thousand miles north of their natural breeding-haunts, is an interesting event in British ornithology, though it met with but a melancholy end. This brilliantly coloured bird, about the size of the Blackbird, has been killed and " taken " now and again at various places in our Isles, and is scheduled by the Act ; but it has never nested. On this occasion there is no doubt that the pair made a nest in a sand-bank, merrily supporting life for a spell on bees and flies, and that an egg was laid. The rest of the story is involved in dispute and uncertainty ; but the female bird, brought dead in an emaciated state to Dr. Eagle Clarke, exists in the Scottish Museum as a memorial to the folly of the misguided birds in their choice of a home. ii t * Thanks to the persevering efforts of Dr. and Mrs. Albert Wilson, a Bird Sanctuary has been formed on the Pentire peninsula, near Newquay, in Cornwall, the landowners on both sides of the river Gannel having agreed to prohibit the killing of either land or sea birds. The example is one that should be followed wherever a stretch of river or coast, a woodland, or a heath or hillside can be by tact and diligence secured. « 4c * One of the birds most in need of protection in its riverside haunts in this country, and one whose foreign cousins are among those count- less victims of the plume-trade for whose feathers neither " farms " nor " moulted plumes " can pretend to account — the King- fisher— forms the subject of the Society's Greeting-card for 1920-21. The artist is Mr. Roland Green, a young bird-painter from whom much is expected. Mr. Green is illustrating a book on birds by Canon Theodore Wood, which will shortly be published, and the Ruskin Press, of which he is an Art Associate, is reproducing a series of his sketches. * * * Two Hoopoes are recorded in British Birds as having been killed this spring in Staffordshire. As this rare bird is a scheduled species, the shooting was, of course, illegal, but equally, 22 Bird Notes and News of course, this fact has been entirely overlooked by the local police, and by the " W. Davies," who sends the record. * * * The continued decrease in the number of Swallows has been again commented on very generally this summer. With occasional partial recoveries, it has been noted for now more than twenty years ; yet no solution has been found. " What we want to know is," as the Fruit- grower observes, " Is the reduction in numbers, which if continued at the same rate will end in the complete absence of the species, due to human agencies ? " Are the birds still des- troyed wholesale in the South of France for the plumage trade or for any other purpose ? The House-Martin, whose nests are often stolen by House-Sparrows and still oftener knocked down by " neat " householders, remains fairly plentiful. Economic Ornithology PROTECTION OF THE LAPWING. In view of the value of the Lapwing to agri- culture, says the Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture (July, 1920), the Ministry is desirous that the protection afforded to this bird should be extended. In Departmental phraseology, " Quite apart from the limitation of numbers by direct destruction of birds, the natural in- crease of the Lapwing is hindered by reason of the fact that the eggs are much sought after as a table delicacy." It is pointed out that the Home Office Committee recommended complete protection of nests and eggs, except, before April 15th, from owners of land, and proposed this as the- minimum protection which should be given the eggs. Present laws, however, do not allow of this reservation of rights to landowners or occupiers. In May, 1919, it may be remembered, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds sent a circular letter to all County Councils asking for better protection of the Lajjwing and its eggs. Since then Orders have been obtained by seventeen County Councils and eleven County Boroughs, protecting the bird all the year, making, with the five which had previously adopted this measure, a total of twenty-two County Administrative areas in which full pro- tection is given. It is satisfactory to find the Ministry now taking up the matter, if a little late in the day. Country Life comments (July 24th, 1920) r— Why should tbe Lapwing be killed at all ? It does not make the best of eating, and is a small table bird. Many people absolutely refuse to eat it. No harm would be done by forbidding the destruction of Lapwings at all times and in any circumstances. For some time past ornithologists have noted with regret that the size of the flocks continues to diminish. . . . Tbe Lapwing ie less numerous to-day in its wildest haunts than it was, say, fifteen or twenty years ago. SEABIRDS AND THEIR UTILITY. Reporting in Nature on inveBtigations into the food of seabirds, Dr. W. E. Collinge says these all go to show that with a few exceptions, e.g., the Cormorant and Shag — ^the food of each species is partly beneficial to man, the bulk being of a neutral character, while the injuries done are less than the benefits rendered. " Whilst not advocating any special protection, except in one or two cases, any agitation for their destruction cannot be condemned too forcibly, for, altogether apart from sentimental reasons, it is extremely unlikely that our fisheries would benefit or show any marked improvement, even were hundreds of thousands of these birds destroyed annually, whikt agriculture would certainly be the sufierer by such a loss." MARKET-GARDENERS AND BIRDS. A correspondent from the Isle of Wight writes : — I have had six weeks lately at a little farm in the interior of the Island, where the people never kill any birds, though they make their living principally out of fruit and vegetables. A Flycatcher reared her brood on the porch ; she had her nest in the middle of a Celine Forestier rose, and it was pretty to see the little birds among the yellow roses. A tame (though wild) Woodpigeon fed regularly in the garden, eating caterpillars off an oak tree ; Goldfinches swung and sang all day ; Turtledoves purred in the orchard ; Larks and Swallows and Swifts, Greenfinches and Robins were all plentiful. A Chiffchaff worked hard at the blight on a plum-tree close to our windows ; and the only complaint was "there are not enough of those birds." A man came and asked if he might catch Goldfinches in the orchard for sale, but was refusvd indignantly. Bird Notes and News 23 Books Received. Frederick Goodyear : Letters and Remains. 1887-1917. (London : McBride, Nast & Co.) The Buzzard at Home. Bv Arthur Brook. (London : Witherby & Co. 39. Gd.) Among the many ornithological students of brilliant promise lost through the war— G. V. Webster, C. C. Baring, H. 0. Murray Dixon, J. M. Charlton, H. V. Charlton, and 0. B. Ellis, to name a few of those associated with the R.S.P.B. — Frederick Goodyear occupies a special place, since ornithology was but one of the keener interests of a peculiarly alert, introspective, and critical mind, more than ordinarily capable of self -study and self- revelation. The Letters and Eemains bring the reader in close touch with a strongly- marked and very attractive personality, characteristically 20th century in its outlook, besides affording graphic and often humorous descriptions of experiences in Finland, India, and Flanders. His love of birds comes out, not in studied investigations or records, but in the casual yet observant touches of the out-door bird-watcher ; and in an admirable preface Mr. F. W. Leith Ross states that from the observations collected during his life consider- able material is left for a book on British Birds. When he was a boy of six or seven only, hia father was explaining that a person becomes an "authority" on a subject when he knows a lot about it. "Must he know everything?" asked Frederick. "No, not everything, but more than any one round him." "Then," said Frederick, with a boy's logic, "in thia house I suppose I am an authority on birds?" At an early age he became a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and regularly attended its meetings. His habit of taking long solitary rambles grew from his desire to study Nature undisturbed ; and his letters bear evidence how strong this evidence was in him right to the end. The last letter quoted, when Lieut. Goodyear lay in hospital with an amputated leg, ends with notes on the spring migrants : " Did just hear a nightingale on May 11th. No cuokoo at all." Six days later he died. The self- written record of his too brief life was well worth j)ublishing. " The Buzzard at Home " has just been added to Messrs. Witherby 's Home Life series. Mr. Arthur Brook has followed closely with notebook and camera the history of two young Buzzards in the nest, with details of the food brought. He attributes the increase of the species in Wales to the absence of keepers, and, as out of five nests he found three were robbed, probably by man, the increase is not likely to become over-dangerous to the moles and frogs which constitute the birds' chief diet. The hen bird, Mr. Brook tells us, decorates the nest daily with fresh green leaves, on one occasion pulling off and bringing a huge spray of moun- tain-ash. Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition. Essays, due September 1st, are still coming in for this year's Competition, and reports on results will be sent to the Schools as soon as possible after the judging by the Society's examiners. A happy suggestion for Tree-planting in village and town is furnished by Washington, D.C., where a tree has been planted in memory of birds and animals killed in the war. Harris), chairman of the school managers, and the Headmaster (Mr. H. Halton). A member of the first Bird and Tree Team from Newburgh School in 1913, who in that year won one of the Society's medals, has this year passed her Inter. B.Sc. examination at the Liverpool University. This pleasant annoance- ment was made at the Festival at Newburgh on July 14th, when the School celebrated its notable success in winning both the County and Inter-County Challenge Shields, Excellent addresses were given by the Vicar (Rev. C. A teacher who does not inculcate ideas of love and sympathy for the great out-of-doors, and conservation and protection of our natural resources — which means, first of all, the bird and animal life — is indeed remiss in her duties towards the future citizens of the United States. Besides, she is overlooking a splendid oppor- tunity, for nothing goes to make for better discipline in a schoolroom than a healthy, wholesome interest in Nature. Nothing is more easily correlated with every routine schoolroom subject. No clubs are formed with more enthusiasm. Here is something tangible, something the child can see, feel, hear, something that touches his intimate everyday life. The appeal is universal." — Blue Bird (Ohio). 24 Bird Notes and News SOME BIRD IMPEESSIONS IN FRANCE. It is usually interesting to hear the first impressions of an ornithologist in England or in EurojDC, and those made by bird-songs are particularly so when recorded by a naturalist such as Mr. Henry Oldys, of Washington, D.C., who has specialised on the notes of American birds. Writing from the American Red Cross, under which he has been actively working during the war in France and Poland, Mr. Oldys says that he has made the acquaintance of about fifty European birds. Like John Burroughs and Mr. Roosevelt, he has been particularly charmed by the Robin, but a brief reference to the Nightingale suggests that he has never heard this to advantage. Many species were reminiscent of American birds : — The Crows caw and act generally like our Crows; the Green Woodpecker flies down to the ground to feast on ants like our Flicker and utters a repeated note that is very like the Flicker's spring reveille; the Wren bobs about like our Wren, though a trifle more sedately, but sings more like the winter Wren though in a less attractive voice ; the Titmice, of which there are several species, gaudier in attire than our Chickadee, having the same " chickadee-dee-dee " and other notes, but differ in their songs. The Black- bird behaves precisely like our Robin and utters the same strident note of alarm, but is a far better singer, rivalling the Wood Thrush in this respect. The Lark, mounting from the field with its loud and far-carrying song of varied phrases, in which the "z" sound is prevalent, gives pleasure more from the abandon and joyousness of its singing than from any musical beauty in the performance. It rises by a fluttering movement that carries it upward almost imperceptibly, poises and flutters in the upper air, usually at a height of five or six hundred feet, but sometimes one hundred feet above the earth, then descends by alternative dives and fluttermg pauses, though I have seen one descend in a straight dive of a thousand feet. The Nightjar suggests a spinning-wheel. It gives a performance that lasts several minutes without any apparent stop for breath. When I first heard the '■ song " I thought I was listening to many frogs in a pool. The tone is not at all raucous, but is very pleasing to the ear, though absolutely dry and without any approach to music. The Cuckoo surprised me with the great, heavy character of its utterance. The cuckoo-clock note, though a faithful reproduction, would have to be much magnified in calibre to reproduce with exactness the actual tone. The Robin is a prime favourite with me. Modest, tranquil, gentle, unobtrusive, he is my best friend among the European birds, perhaps I might say among all birds. In his singing of the two or three short phrases, vibrant in tone and often carrying the quality of the Veery's song, though reduced in volume, he seems to be the unconscious instrument through which the music of Nature is pulsing. There is an inadvertence about his singing that relieves it of all self-consciousness. All through the year these bits of Pan-music may be heard, the singer poised motion- less upon a lower twig of a sapling, the orange-red breast gleaming amidst the complementary green of foliage. Another great favourite with me is the handsome little Stone-chat, a Chewink in miniature, though more gaily garbed. 1 remember a grass-topped clilf beside the sea at Sainte Marguerite (near Saint I.azaire) where one or two pairs of Stone-chats made their homes. Whenever I came upon this high vantage point, these birds would ascend at once to the tips of the low shrubs in which they lived and stand guard silently, like well-trained and alert sentinels. And when I moved to the edge of the cliff, they would follow me, always perched upon the top of shrub, fence-post, or whatever other place of sentry duty they selected. I have seen the brilliantly clad male mount guard on the top of a stake not more than five feet from the point where I was resting on the grass. I have been much interested in watching the Jackdaws circling about the towers of cathedrals or settling on the ledges with peculiar guttural conver- sational or controversial notes, their grey heads readily distinguishing them from the rest of the corvine tribe. The Nuthatch, though like ours in appearance and behaviour, differs materially in voice, having varied loud, clear calls, some of which suggest the Tufted Titmouse. The Song Thrush, or Mavis, recalls our Brown Thrasher, but is far superior to that bird musically. I have heard from it songs that were nearly identical with Cardinal and Carolina Wren phrases. GREETING-CARD FOR 1920-21. Ready Shortly. BRITAIN'S BLUE BIRD. From the Painting by Mr. Roland Green ; reproduced in Colour. AN ABC OF COMMON BIRDS A pocket Guide to the commoner Inland Birds of Britain With short and simple descriptions from which they may be identified by the unlearned ; their local names ; and brief notes on the food they eat that may be regarded as " pro " or " con " the interests of husbandman and gardener. 1 6mo. 64 pages. Price 6d., by post 7d. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 23, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, S.W.I. Bird Notes and News (issued quarterly) will be sent post free to any address for Is. 6d. per annum, payable in advance; single numbers, 4d. To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and upwards per annum it is forwarded gratis and post free. Printed by Vaohee & Sons, Ltd., Westminster House, S.W.I — 83165 — and published by the Royal Society for THH Pbotectioh OF £iBDS, 23, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W.I. Notes & I ISSUED QUARTERLY BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS Vol. IX.] WINTER. 1920. [No. 4. (( Stupidity Street " Some specimen cases of birdcatcliing cited on " In the Courts " (p. 32) afiord interesting samples of a trade which has increased since the end of the war and which ought to be entirely abolished. The excuse of " out of work " or " old soldier " is ready to hand, and may in some cases be true ; but it is poor economy, to say the least of it, to allow men who have had to help in war upon an enemy now to make war upon the friends of the food-grower. One offender had collected thistles from an adjoining field to tempt the useful thistlefinches to their destruction. This " gentleman " came to the scene of operations in a motor-car. For another offender it was said that he had always " been fond of birds," and catching them was his " hobby " ; and a third urged the death of one of his unhappy braced birds as a sufficiently heavy loss without a fine for using it. Cruelty to these braced decoys is a general feature of such cases, and will continue to be until every magistrate orders the confiscation of every bird and every net. The new Act, it is hoped, will not leave them liberty of choice in the matter. What benefit to describe birdcatching as a " very cruel trade," as a West London magistrate did the other day, yet leave the man his decoy for continuing the business ? * :i« * The Goldfinches, Larks and Linnets caught by these loafers are probably all destined for the bird markets of big towns, such as the disgraceful one in Sclater Street, E., where they may, if they live, be sold from street stalls into a life whose chief advantage is that it will probably not last long. So far as Skylarks are concerned, an infinitely greater number are caught by nets and other contrivances to festoon poulterers' shows and to grace the dinners of city magnates or the dance-suppers of would-be smart women. This wholesale slaughter of song-birds as gastronomic tit-bits has long deprived England of any justification for protest against the eating of Robins and Warblers by Italians and French. Moreover, it has led to the introduction into various stores of Blackbirds and Thrushes, evidently as a " feeler." Who can doubt that, unless the whole business is suppressed at the outset by public opinion, Robins and Warblers and any other small birds will follow ? Men like Lord Wolseley and Edward Clifford appealed in vain in the earlier stages of the detestable fashion. But here, as in almost every matter, public opinion which condemns — and strongly condemns — the practice could easily put an end to it by practical methods. Complaint to a Society is of little avail unless the individuals who make up the Society, or who invoke its aid, take their personal share of action. // every Fellow, Member and Associate of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will refuse to deal with any poulterer or with the game depart- ment of any store where Larks are offered for sale, those stores and those poulterers will quickly find that it is not a paying business to provide them. And there will be an end of the scandal. The excuses of the Lark-catcher or dealer are that Larks are destructive birds, that those killed are migrants and therefore don't matter, and that they belong to species which do not sing. The last assertion is the lie direct ; the second requires investigation, and may perhaps be " paired " with the statement that thousands of English Larks are netted for export to France. The first is one of those equivocal assertions usually advanced when the creature to be killed may be profitably sold. The profiteer dubs himself philanthropist, and places a lively faith in public ignorance. A newspaper which probably contains more advertisements of " the fancy " than any other, outside trade organs, recently published this ingenuous comment : " Of all the song-birds found in this country probably not one is more universally admired or more familiar 26 Bird Notes and News than the Skylark, and its praises have oft been sung, alike in prose and verse. . . . Although the exquisite nature of their song is undeniable, there is another side to the picture, and one not generally known to anyone but the farmer and the ornithologist. We refer to their destructive habits in com and clover fields. . . . No one having any regard for the beautiful Skylarks can fail to be shocked at the number which are killed each year. At the same time, if the farmer is to be relied upon — and we think he is in this respect — they cannot be tolerated. In districts where their numbers are unusually large it is customaiy for men to be specially told off to capture them at night by the aid of lark-nets, and dozens of the sweet songsters fall victims to this form of trapping, the captures afterwards being sold at a few pence per head." What are the actual facts about " the other side of the picture," as known to ornithologists and to those farmers who have investigated the question ? These. That the Lark will attack the base of young green plants, especially if the seed was not planted deep enough, and thus do damage at one season ; that all the year it eats weevils, wireworm, and other highly destructive pests, and great quantities of weed-seeds ; that, in the words of Dr. W. E. Collinge {Journal of the Board of Agriculture, 1918), supported by the verdicts of Mr. F. W. Frohawk (Natural History Museum), Professor Newstead, and others, " the injuries it does are far outweighed by the benefits it confers." In the face of these facts " thousands upon thousands of a useful bird are annually killed," as Canon Theodore Wood deplores, " for a practically needless purpose, and agriculturists injured to no little degree by the consequent loss of their services." Which, then, is to be " tolerated " — the minstrel of the sky, friend of poet and food-grower alike, or the sale of its tiny body for consumption by the gourmand ? The Plumage Trade BIEDS AND MAN. Preaching at Westminster Abbey on November 14th, 1920, on the subject of Christian Unity, the Rev. R. H. Lightfoot, Fellow and Chaplain of Lincoln College, Oxford, drew attention to the moral obligations imposed by the discovery of evolution and the unity of all life ; and in the course of a powerful sermon referred to the fate of the Plumage Bill as a negation of this responsibility. He said : " Among Darwin's discoveries was this — that all life in this world springs unquestionably from a single root, so that the lower animals are quite literally our distant cousins — our poor relations, we may call them. And that raises some very big questions which it will take centuries to settle, because in most parts of the world we have hitherto treated our poor relations in feather and fur as if they had no rights at all. I think we may be proud and thankful that in this country deliberate cruelty to animals is severely punished, more severely, I believe, than in any other European country ; but if you noticed in the newspapers last summer the opposition raised in a Committee of the House of Commons to the Plumage Bill, you had there an illustration of the point I wish to make. That Bill was designed to prevent the importation into England of skins and feathers of wild birds, other than those killed for food, and in particular of some very beautiful and expensive plumes, which have to be obtained from rare birds during the mating season by a particularly hideous form of cruelty ; and yet, though it had passed both Houses, it was held up in Committee, apparently owing to the interests of the trade, by a mass of amendments standing in the name of a very small minority, and has been thereby so far successfully delayed. You see, therefore, that though we have been quick to use the revelation which came through Darwin, in all sorts of ways, we have as yet scarcely begun to consider, still less to live out, the new and important moral obligations which it brought. And it seems to be a law also that if there is this one-sidedness there will be trouble before long ; for revelation, though she says nothing, quietly but firmly refuses, as time goes on, to be exploited and to be used for purely selfish ends." BUSINESS MEN AND THE PLUMAGE BILL. Mr. Frank Gladstone writes from Shrews- bury to the Draper's Organizer (November 20th, 1920) to give " the ordinary unimaginative business person's view of the foreign plumage trafl&c and the probable effect of the Bill when it becomes law." " The majority of men in this trade who know anything about the Egret trade hate it and detest it. They believe the tale of Egret farms to be a lie. They know that moulted plumes exist in very small quantities, and are practically unsaleable. They know that when the Bill is passed, the comparatively few workers who would be affected would be immediately absorbed in the ostrich and poultry plumage trade. They know that any deficiency in the plumage trade (if there should be one) would be at once made good by the increase in the artificial flower and berry trade. They are aware that if this unholy trade was stopped, many hundreds of thousands of pounds at present sent to the bird- murderers would be paid in wages among our own people and in our own country, and that the ostrich farmer would benefit. They know that the number of people who make a living by the sale of imported feathers is infinitely small, and in no case do they live solely by that means. So long as an active demand exists, and so long as fashionable women will have real osprey, and while some few M.P.'s (who should know better) block the Bill, it is hardly to be hoped Bird Notes and News 27 that milliners will do more than give the movement passive support. " K, however, you could impress these facts on those in our trade who are ignorant of them, and would ask the whole mass of millinery workers to write to their M.P.'s and ask them to support the Bill, something might be done. If, in addition, a few people in really high positions would let it be known that they disapprove of the wearing of any feathers other than those of birds bred for their flesh or plumage, I believe those who desire to see the Bill become an Act would not have long to wait." BILL No. 10. Why was not the Plumage Bill, the tenth of the kind introduced into Parliament, among the tale of sheaves of the Parliamentary harvest of 1920 ? The question is asked, and may well be asked, not only in this country, but by ornithologists the world over who have a notion that the British Parliament exists to carry out the expressed wishes of the British electorate. The history of the Bill is briefly this. It was introduced on Feb. 13th, read a second time by 61 votes to 8 on May 15th, and was one of the first Bills of the session to be committed. On behalf of the Government Mr. Montagu said that Ministers desired to see it passed ; as was indeed to be expected, seeing that it was but a continuation of work to which the Government itself put its hand in 1914. On every occasion when a division was taken (and the occasions were many) the majority in support of both principle and detail, and against every attempt to enfeeble its provisions, was such that no possible doubt could exist as to the Committee's wish and intention. Yet the result is a blank, and the fight must begin over again. It is commonly said that the Bill failed to pass because of the continued want of interest and of a quorum in Committee. This assertion is a mere begging of the question. Incidents outside and inside the House no doubt militated heavily against Committee attendances ; but the plain truth of the matter lies in the fact quickly made obvious that those who attended on behalf of the Bill were but wasting their time. What man could wish to spend his mornings in Committee Room 14 listening to the dreary farce performed by Mr. Bartley Denniss, Colonel Archer-Shee, and Commander Williams as the Three Multiloquent Brothers in "A Talk against Time " ? Had each clause been put to the vote after one hearing of objections raised against it, the whole thing would have been through in three or four sittings. But the farce went on and on ; and after the recess — during which some changes had been made in the supers of the play under a supposition that this might make business move — the curtain was rung down on the plea that no time remained for the final Act of the piece. It may be argued that the Bill was brought forward at an unwise time, when Government could not help it forward, and that some of its supporters might have handled their case more judiciously. But Bills far more conten- tious, far less unanimously called for, and also suffering from no-quorum committees, got home. The trade have affirmed, first, that opposition in Committee was so strong that no headway could be made with the Bill ; and secondly, that the prejudices of the Committee were so strong that no headway could be made with arguments against it. One statement is as false as the other. Except from some five or, doubtfully, six members who for unknown reasons chose to support a trade denounced by Parliament and people, there was no opposi- tion to the Bill. The complaint of prejudice is on all-fours with the plaint of Punch's dissen- tient juryman, who never in his life came across eleven more obstinate men. The whole country is " prejudiced " against this wasteful, useless, discreditable business which brings neither grit to the nation nor gain to the workers, a trade founded on profiteering at the world's cost and bolstered up from first to last by false- hood and dissimulation. The whole country is sick of it, and sick of the quibbling and garbling put up in its defence. The crying need is for the Bill, the whole Bill, the Bill 12 years overdue, the Bill 12 years delayed by sheer obstruction. Why, then, with Government and people alike desiring the measure, is a little knot of moneyed traders enabled to laugh at both people and Parliament ? Is the farce to be renewed next session, or will the Government straightly take the matter in hand and put the Bill through without further dilly-dallying and disputation ? The Executive Committee of the Women's National Liberal Federation has passed reso- lutions regretting the loss of the Bill, deploring the " continued inaction of the Government a,fter its publicly-declared sympathy with the Plumage Bill, and calling on them to give whatever facility may be necessary to enable the Bill to become law without delay " ; and also 28 Bird Notes and News expressing the conviction that " as the plumage trade is among the worst of the sweated trades, the restrictions imposed in the Bill, far from causing unemployment, would lead, through the substitution of decorations other than bird feathers, to an increase of openings for labour under better conditions." Rosalind Countess of Carlisle presided. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds COUNCIL MEETINGS. Meetings of the Council were held at the Guildhall, Westminster, on October 22nd and December 10th, 1920, Mr. Montagu Sharpe, K.C. (Chairman), presiding at the former, and Mr. Meade- Waldo (Chairman, Watchers' Com- mittee) at the latter. The Hon. Secretary's Reports gave particu- lars of Bird Protection Orders issued for the counties of Monmouth, Nottingham and Kirk- cudbright, the county boroughs of Cardiff, Gainsborough, Huddersfield, Leicester, South- ampton, Wakefield, and Great Yarmouth, and the City of York. Twenty-four lectures had been given. The results of the Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competitions were reported, together with those of a similar competition among private schools at Hove, organised by Miss K. Close. A second impression of the Society's Greeting Card "The Sea-blue Bird," painted by Mr. Roland Green, had been called for. The Statement of Accounts presented by the Finance and General Purposes Committee included legacies of £20 and £25 respectively under the wills of Miss T. C. Dittrich and Miss F. Baylis. Allusion was made to the loss sustained by the death of Miss Blanche Hartley, for fifteen years Hon. Secretary for Carlisle, and always a ready and sympathetic co-worker ; and the following appointments were con- firmed : Carlisle, Miss Coulson ; Oxford, Mrs. Gifford-Ambler ; Southampton, Miss Lettice Macnaghten. The following Fellows and Members were elected : Fellows : The Countess of Shaftesbury, Mrs. Barclay, J. F. Coonan, Norman Eadie, H. A. Freeman, Mrs. Hunter Gray, R. E. Heath, Miss A. B. Hodges, Wynnard Hooper, Robert J. Howard, Mrs. Robert Hunter, William Hustler, Mrs. Jefferson, Coryndon Matthews, F. G. Miller, Miss C. Pilkington, George Priestman, Miss Vemer. Members : Herbert D. Adams, Miss E. Allison, Miss Bevan, Miss D. Burgess, Miss Cattley, Mrs. Edward Clodd, Mrs. Morris Cochrane, J. Edwin Cooper, Mrs. Parry Coi, Miss K. Crosfield, Norman Davy, Miss Duke, Mrs. Enfield, Miss Fripp, Dr. H. Willoughby Gardner, Jliss Mary Gerrard, Mrs. Gifford-Ambler, John Dixon Gibbs, Miss D. Goodwill, Miss Grime, John H. Grant, Miss L. M. Harris, Mrs. Thomas Hardy, Miss Ruth Herbert, Miss C. L. Hill, C. T, Hirst, Miss Hopgood, Miss E. M. Howard, Miss Johnson, Ernest Jackson, Miss Judson, Mrs. Keely, Mrs. Kenwright, T. F. Kynnersley, Dr. Percy R. Lowe, Mrs. Maples, Mrs. Blench Mason, Mrs. M. N. Mitchison, Miss Murphy, H. J. R. Murray, Miss C. Nicol, Miss Nordenson, Charles H. Peppiette, Miss L. Relfe, A. W. P. Robertson, Mrs. Savage-Bailey, Miss Scarth, Miss Shaw, Rev. B. B. Slater, Mrs. Taylor, Miss E. E. Tate, Miss Marie M. Tate, Jas. J. Thomas, Miss Walker, Miss Watson, Miss Violet Welldon, Miss Wells, Miss WJiiff, Mrs. Carlyle Wilkinson, Miss M. N. West, Miss C. Williams. Life Membee : Miss Agnes E. Debenham. Affiliated : Torquay Natural History Society. The Countess of Shaftesbury was elected a Vice-President of the Society, and Mr. Maurice R. Portal a Member of the Council. The Watchers' Committee reported on the appointment of Watchers for a large number of areas in England, Wales and Scotland, the issue of a detailed Report on the Watching done in 1919 and 1920, and various matters connected with the protection of the rarer birds ; and on the need for greatly increased support for this branch of the Society's work. The Plumage Bill, Macquarie Island, the sale of Larks and other song-birds in provision stores, the protection of Swallows, the Boy Scouts' Bird Warden badge, were among the subjects discussed ; and correspondence con- sidered included muirburn in Scotland, bird- destruction on the coast, the shooting of a White-tailed Eagle in Kent and a Buzzard in Lincolnshire, etc. It was stated that the further efforts made by Mr. James Hatch and his oil company to obtain a lease of Macquarie Island for the pur- pose of slaughtering the Penguins are not likely to prove successful in view of the firm attitude taken by the recently-appointed Governor of Tasmania. Bird Notes and News 29 Economic Ornithology WOMEN'S WORK ON THE LAND. On the appointment of Dame Meriel Talbot as Woman Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture, a letter was addressed to her by the Secretary, hoping that through her efforts the interest of women in birds, and knowledge of the relation of wild birds to agriculture, might be promoted, as a means not only of benefiting agriculture, but also of adding to the pleasures of rural life. The following reply was received : — Thank you very much for your letter, and for the kind expressions it contains of pleasure at my appoint- ment as Woman Adviser to the Ministry. I need not assure you that. the object of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is one with which I have the fullest sympathy. It will be my constant endeavour to help in every way that is possible to bring the valuable information contained in the papers of your Society home to the rural women of this country. ..There can be little doubt that it is only ignorance of the facts which leads to the very harmful destruction of wild birds. As a member of the Central Federation of Women's Institutes I shall be glad to press home the importance of the subject, and in other ways I shall hope to be of service to your Society. BIRDS AND INSECT PESTS. The following letter has been received from Mr. H. C. Long, dated from the Ministry of Agriculture, September 11th, 1920: — I beg to thank you for your letter of the 28th July last, in which it is suggested that it would be useful if mention were made in the Notes on Insect and F\mgus Pests, published periodically in the Ministry's Journal, of the species of wild birds which destroy the different insects. Your letter has been considered in the Department, and it is agreed that the suggestion might usefxilly be adopted. It is hoped, therefore, to mention from time to time in these Notes species of wild birds which destroy the insects dealt with. The Ministry of Agriculture have recently issued revised editions of their leaflets on the Lapwing, Starling, and Barn Owl. The first- named contains a list of the County and County Borough Orders protecting the eggs of the bird, and giving the extent of this protection. Twenty-five of the 42 County Orders and 22 of the 33 Borough Orders have been obtained since the issue of the Society's circular letter to the Councils in 1919. In the Starling leaflet the volumetric analysis of its food given by Dr. W. E. CoUinge {Journ. Bd. Agri.) is adopted, with the conclusion that the bird is at present injurious owing to the increase in its numbers, but if considerably reduced would economically prove most useful and valuable. BIRD PROTECTION IN CANADA. The Canadian Ministry of the Interior have published an admirable little pamphlet giving the views with regard to birds and their utility held by the Ministers of Agriculture for Sas- katchewan (Hon. C. M. Hamilton), Quebec (Hon. J. E. Caron), Ontario (Hon. Manning W. Doherty), and Manitoba (Hon. Valentine Winkler). Stress is laid by all on the great value of birds through their services to agri- culture as well as by their charm and beauty ; and on the need for teaching and influencing children to love and protect them. Copies of the pamphlet can be had from the Commissioner, Dominion Parks Branch, Department of the Interior, Ottawa. AGRICULTURE VERSUS FASHION. Mr. F. W. Fitzsimons, F.Z.S., Director of the Port Elizabeth Museum, who has lately been on a visit to England and investigating the pros and cons of the Plumage Trade, writes in the Farmers'' Weekly of South Africa : " The ancient Incas of Peru were fully aUve to the value of guano, and the birds which produced it were rigorously protected. In 1853 the Peruvian Govern- ment valued the guano deposits at 620 million dollars. If the Incas were not as advanced in some ways as we are they were certainly possessed of more practical sense. . . . We know the economic value of wild birds ; yet we stand aside and aUow them to be perse- cuted at the will of any cruelty-loving or money- coveting person. We do more. We encourage our womankind to adorn themselves with their plumage. For instance, 300,000 guano-producing sea birds were, within a month, slain on a guano island in the Pacific to supply the plume merchants of London. Can a more brutal or senseless thing be imagined ? THE FOOD OF THE ROOK. Writing in the Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture (Dec, 1920), Dr. W. E. Collinge computes the food of the Rook by his volumetric method, and arrives at the conclusion that 41 per cent, of the food of the Rook consists of animal matter and 59 per cent, of vegetable matter ; the former figure including 23' 9 per cent, of injurious insects (wireworms, leather] ackets, weevils, etc.), and the latter being mainly made up of cereals and potatoes and roots. Dr. Collinge's decision is that the birds are therefore proving injurious because there are too many of them ; that repressive measures should be used ; that a systematic taking of eggs and destruction of nests in districts where there is conclusive evidence of the superabundance of the birds would probably be sufiicient ; and that reckless and wanton destruction would be likely to lead to serious and disastrous results. 30 Bird Notes and News Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition The Society's work in the Elementary Schools is not only for the benefit of children but of primary consequence to the common weal. In these days, when efforts are being made on every hand to tempt workers to the land and to make the countryside a more attractive place for intelligent dwellers, few things can be more desirable than giving rural residents a genuine interest in the country itself. Innumerable meetings are held and speeches made with the object of settling inhabitants of town and country upon the soil, as the ultimate source of food and wealth, and of bringing town lectures, town classes, town cinemas, into the country. It is a singular thing that at the same time little if any attempt is made to divert attention from and dependence upon city shows to the incomparable fascinations of the country itself, or to instil first-hand acquaintance with that wild life, sentient or otherwise, which is inextricably bound up with every form of agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. To supply at once some delight in nature itself and essential practical knowledge, the Bird and Tree scheme was started ; and it must be regarded as one of the most important develop- ments in modern education, soon to be focussed, it is hoped, by the institution of a national Bird Day as foreshadowed by the report of the Home Ofiice Bird-Protection Committee. By directing the natural curiosity of children, stimulating their interest, eliciting their sympathy and sharpening their powers of observation, the form of Nature-study, framed and adopted by the Society, meets the demands of the Bird-Protector, the educationist and the agriculturist. It aims at evolving a genmne first-hand intelligent knowledge of the ways and habits of birds that will gradually supersede the conventional statements and hoary mistakes conspicuous in so many nature-books for the young, and the venerable superstitions and prejudices which stand so largely for informa- tion to-day. The extent of popular ignorance, and the unlimited possibilities and results of open-air study, are strikingly shown in the variety of papers written by children. Where the teacher is enthusiastic, enthus- iasm is quickly kindled in boys and girls. Many of the essays are delightfully fresh and original in tone and observation . It is naturally difficult to divert the child's mind from that confidence in books and in verbal repetition which has been fostered by educational methods of long years. There is still too much recollec- tion or memorising of lesson or reading-book ; but individual outdoor watching, and the fascination of finding out things new and strange, is strong in a large number of Teams, admirably guided by the teachers. The charm of these essays is as irresistible as the powers of accurate observation acquired are invaluable. If space permitted, pages of Bird Notes and News might be filled with these notes and discoveries, thrilling to the child and often of real interest to the ornithologist ; and if printer's bills permitted, a pleasant pamphlet might be composed of specimen papers. One such it is hoped to reproduce in the Spring Number, as a sample of the kind of work encouraged. Practical Bird-Protection almost inevitably results from acquaintance with living birds. More than one school has formed a bird club for natural history study and active protection of birds and nests. Feeling against bird- catching, caging, unnecessary bird-slaughter, the destruction of nests, and cruelty to nesthngs, grows apace ; in one instance recently, a teacher reports that quick information given by a little Cadet led to the apprehension and con- viction of birdcatchers. No one who knows the country can say such a movement is not needed. Neither can it be urged, as regards the study of trees, their beauty and utility, that such knowledge is uncalled for in these days of furious motoring, hedge-cutting, indiscriminate lopping and topping, and the requirements, real or supposed, of intensive farming. The national importance of tree-planting, and of the character and uses of timber, was brought home to England only too clearly during the war. Summarised reports of the work sent in by the several counties where Challenge Shields are offered may be had by readers interested in those counties. It is greatly regretted that the Somerset Shield has to be withdrawn this year for want of sufficient competition. Somerset began with ardent enthusiasm, but has appeared unable to maintain effort. In Lancashire, Norfolk, and Northants, on the other hand, the work grows and improves steadily year by year, Bird Notes and News 31 meriting the highest commendation. Hamp- shire and Warwickshire furnish excellent Teams, and some charming work, though the numbers of competing schools are not what is expected of two such happily-placed counties ; and in Bucks, and Cumberland quality is more con- spicuous than quantity. A list of the chief awards is appended : but it must be added that in several cases the judges found it extremely difficult to decide the comparative merits of many excellent papers. The number of Birds written on is greater than usual, including a large number of less common species. Lapwing, Kingfisher, Magpie and Cuckoo, coming unexpectedly to the fore. The judges were : Mr. Montagu Sharpe, K.C., Miss Clifton, Mrs. Frederick Dawson, Mr. G. A. Freeman, B.Sc, Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, Miss Pollock, Rev, W. A. Shaw, Rev. Julian Tuck and Miss Gardiner (Secretary). INTER-COUNTY COMPETITION. Challtngt Shield — Wereham School, Norfolk. Second — -Ridge School, Hampshire. Third — Victoria C. School, Wellingborough, Northants ; and Newburgh, Lancashire. COUNTY COMPETITIONS. BucKiNGHAMsmRB. — Challenge Shield — EUesborough Council School (3rd year). Certificates of Excellence — Coleshill C.E. ; Cuddington C.E. ; Pitstone C. Highly Commended — Haversham C.E. ; Sherington. Cumberland. — Challenge Shield — St. John's Girls' School, Keswick {2nd year). Certificates — Buttermere ; Cargo ; Nether Denton C. ; Seaton Camerton. Hampshire. — Challenge Shield — Ridge School. Second Prize — The Holme School, Headley. Certifi- cates— Boscombe Girls' School ; Barton Stacey ; Headboume Worthy ; Hinton Ampner. Highly Commended — St. John's Girls', Boscombe ; Brooke, I.W. ; Wickham. Lancashire. — Challenge Shield — Newburgh C.E, School (2nd year). Second Prize — Cartmel Fell. Third Prize — Withnell U.M. Certificates — Adlington (St. Paul's) ; Bolton-le-Sands R.C. ; Buckhurst, Walmersley ; Finsthwaite C.E. ; Parbold Douglas ; Preston (St. Stephen's) ; Staveley-in-Cartmel ; Goos- nargh Whitechapel. Highly Commended — Atherton C.E. ; Ashton-in-Makerfield (Park Lane) ; Barton Newsham R.C. ; Brow Edge C. ; Blawith P. ; Mawdes- ley R.C. ; High Wray ; Salesbury ; Scarisbrick Township ; Skelwith (Brathay District) ; Walmsley C.E. Commended — Claughton R.C. ; Grassendale (Victoria) ; Hollins Green C.E. ; Lathom Park (Ormskirk) ; Priest Hutton. Norfolk. — Challenge Shield — Wereham School. Second Prize — Necton. Certificates — Beechamwell ; Bracon Ash ; Old Catton ; Mattishall ; Postwick ; St. Faiths ; Sporle ; Thetford ; Wickmere ; Wroxham. Highly Commended — Castle Rising ; Colby and Fel- mingham ; Elsing ; Feltwell C.E. ; Feltwell Fen Garvestone ; Hempnall ; Thompson ; Toftwood Topcroft ; Whinbergh. Commended — Bumham Deep dale ; East Ruston ; Fundenhall ; Long Stratton South Walsham ; Wiggenhall St. Germans ; Wolferton Worstead. Northamptonshire. — Challenge Shield — Victoria Council School, Wellingborough. Second Prize — Middleton Cheney. Third Prize — All Saints Boys, WeUingborough. Certificates — Croughton ; Culworth ; Maidford ; Mears Ashby ; Silverstone ; Welton ; Wellingborough (All Saints Girls) ; Hemington ; Watford. Highly Commended — Clopton ; Great- worth ; Harlestone ; Polebrooke ; Rockingham ; Sudborough. Commended — Flore ; Grendon ; Ashby St. Ledgers ; Byfield. Somerset. — Challenge Shield. — Withheld. Certifi- cates— Chedington ; North Perrott ; Winsham. Highly Commended — Norton Fitzwarren. Warwickshire. — Challenge Shield — Mancetter C.E, School. Second Prize — Rowington. Certificates — Glascote Girls' ; Great Ahie C. ; Minworth 0. ; Solihull Girls'. Highly Commended — Astley C.E. ; Great Alne (II.); Temple Graf ton. Open Class. — First Prize — Slindon C.E. (Sussex). Certificates — Felixstowe Ferry (E. Suffolk) ; Hinton Waldrist (Berkshire) ; Totley (Derbyshire). Highly Commended — Chamey, Bouverie-Pusey (Berks.); Copdock C. (E. Suffolk) ; Gazeley V. (W. Suffolk) ; Girls' Hospital School, Lakenham (Norfolk) ; Portland Easton C. (Dorset). Commended — Merchant Taylors, AshweU (Herts.) ; Kedington (W. Suffolk) ; Waltham St. Lawrence (Berks.). THE " TAILBY " OWL PRIZES. Some dozen or more essays compete for these special prizes, the species written on being generally the Barn Owl, sometimes the Brown, and in one instance the Little Owl, the first introduction of this bird in the competition. The papers are generally good, showing know- ledge of the Owls and their value to the farmer, and thus helping to further the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, who say in their Leaflet No. 51 : "In view of the unanimity of evidence as to the great utility of the Barn Owl, the necessity for the careful preservation of this valuable bird cannot be too strongly urged upon the whole rural community." The first prize goes to Christina Hannah (Staveley-in-Cartmel), the second to Sydney Woodward (Rowington), and the third to Muriel Hamblin, aged 9, (Hinton Waldrist) ; but special commendation must be given to Edith Blood (Withnell), who mentions that the Liverpool Corporation protect the Owls on the moors and plantations because they catch the mice which nibble at the young trees ; W. Thornley (Adlington St. Paul's) ; Ethel Hatch (Coleshill), Isabel Darwell (Ashton-in-Maker- field), and GeofErey Moore (Mattishall), 32 Bird Notes and News IN THE COURTS. BiEDCATCHiNG. — At the West London Police Court, on September 3rd, Joseph Goodrick was fined 40s. for catchmg Goldfinches and for using a decoy bird braced in between a pair of nets in such a manner that its body was badly bruised. The magistrate remarked that trapping birds was a very cruel trade and ordered the nets to be forfeited, but allowed the man to retain the decoy bird. At Axbridge, on October 25th, George A. Skinner was fined £3 for taking Goldfinches. He had two nets, two decoy birds, two " braced birds," and had stuck up a row of seeding thistles further to attract the birds. He had been previously fined and made his living by snaring birds, coming to the place in a motor-car. Six of the birds died shortly after capture. Birds, decoys, and nets were all forfeited At Wycombe, on September 24th, Charles Pope was fined £1 for taking Goldfinches. He had a pair of nets and four decoy birds. Three of the birds died, and defendant pleaded that in consequence of this loss he should be let off easily ; he had been " fond of birds " all his life and it was his hobby to go out and catch them. Nets were forfeited, but not the surviving decoys. At Cambridge, on October 16th, Charles Osier and Arthur Barrett were fined each 5s. and costs for taking Goldfinches, and £2 each and costs for cruelty to decoy birds ; nets and decoys forfeited. It was stated that Cambridgeshire was notorious for the doings of bird- catchers, who sent great numbers of birds to the East end of London, many dying on the way. At Solihull, Harold and Reuben Cosier, Benjamin Cosier and Joseph Cooper were fined 10s. each for taking Larks and Linnets, and 10s. each for giving false names and addresses, and Benjamin a further 20s. for cruelty to the decoy bird, which was in a dying condition. Cruelty to Larks. — At Brighton, Albert Mitchell, describing himself as an out-of-work soldier, was summoned for cruelty to Larks. He was caught leav- ing the Roedean Estate with 20 Larks in a small bag. The birds were then half-dead and died shortly after- wards. Fined 40s., and bound over in £5 under the Prevention of Poaching Act. Leniently Dealt With. — At Odilmm, on Dec. 18th, Harry Surridge, of Yateley, was charged with catching Goldfinches and with cruslty to a decoy Linnet. He had nets and ten cages containing different birds. Defendant complained that owing to the action of the police his wife, a district nurse, had received notice to leave. It was pointed out to him that he was in the wrong, and not the police ; but he was let off with fines of 5s. and 4s., and his nets returned to him. (Defendant made the usual common mistake of sup- posing disgrace to lie, not in breaking the law but in being found out.) " The best Crop Protector is the Insectivorous Bird." C. Gordon Hewitt, D.Sc. An important decision in the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island (Canada), under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, shows that local indifference or opposition cannot override the Federal law. A certain Russell C. Clark was apprehended in the close season by a Federal Game Officer for killing Canada Geese, migratory birds. The magistrates dismissed the case, but on appeal defendant has been convicted and fined and his gun confiscated ; he had also to pay all costs. BIRD-ALLY POSTCARDS QERIES o{ 12, each with quotation as to value of Birds in Agriculture, from Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, Dr. Gordon Hewitt, Dr. Hornaday, Sir Harry Johnston, Edward Newman, M. Edmond Perrier, and others. Twelve Cards, assorted, 6d. ; 3 packets, 1/3, post free ; 100 Cards, 3/6. AN ABC OF COMMON BIRDS A pocket Guide to the commoner Inland Birds of Britain With short and simple descriptions Irom which they may be identified by the unlearned ; their local names ; and brief notes on the food they eat that may be regarded as " pro " or " con " the interests of husbandman and gardener. 16mo. 64 pages. Price 6d., by post 7d. NESTING-BOXES Revised Catalogue now ready of the R.S.P.B. Nesting-boxes and Food-Stands for Wild Birds. JILL BRITISH MADE. Tree-hole Boxes (all the " Berlepsch " improvements) ; Walden Boxes. For Tits, Nuthatches, Wrynecks, Wood- peckers, Wagtails, Robins and other species. Encourage the Bird and discourage the caterpillars by providing houses for hole-nesting birds. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 23, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, S.W.I. Bird Notes and News (issued quarterly) wilj be sent post free to any address for Is. 6d. per annum, payable in advance; single numbers, 4d. To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and upwards per annum it is forwarded gratis and post free. Printed by Vacher & Sons, Ltd., Westminster House, SW.l— 86004— and published by the Royal SocrETY fob THB Peotection OF BiEDS, 28, Queen Anne'a Gate, S.W.I. Notes & News ISSUED QUARTERLY BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS Vol. IX.] SPRING, 1921. [No. 5. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ANNUAL MEETING. The 30th Annual Meeting of the Society, held at the Middlesex Guildhall (by courtesy of the Middlesex County Council) on March 8th, 1921, had for Chairman Earl Buxton, newly returned from the Governor-Generalship of South Africa, who has been a member of the Society since 1894, and its Hon. Treasurer since 1901. F.-M. Lord Methuen, G.C.M.G., who was to have presided, was prevented by illness, and wrote : — " I cannot tell you how vexed I am to fail you. . . . I had longed to say how much Malta owes to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for what it has done for the birds there. . . . There was much opposition to the Bill introduced by the Govern- ment, but it was passed and the result reached my best expectations." The President of the Society, the Duchess of Portland, wrote regretting her absence from town and giving assurance of her continued sympathy with its work and her constantly deepening conviction of the importance of its propaganda ; referring especially to the keeping of small birds in cages without adequate space, light or air. Viscount Grey of Falloden, K.G., also unable to be present, wrote of his sympathy with the Society's object and work : " An interest in the life of wild birds and the observa- tion of them is one of the most wholesome and satisfying of human pleasures to those who are fortunate enough to have an inclination for it. And the preservation of all but thQiVery few species that are really injurious and sufficiently numerous to do mischief, is a most desirable object. I wish the Society all success in its efforts to preserve birds generally, and rare species in particular in our own country, and to promote legislation such as the Plumage Bill, in order to protect beautiful species abroad from becoming rare and finally extinct. The more civilisation and trade advance and spread the more need is there for care and effort to prevent the natural beauty and amenity of the world being impoverished bj' the destruction of harmless and attractive bird life." Mr. Montagu Sharpe, K.C., Chairman of the Council, was also unable to be present through illness. There was a large attendance of members and friends. The Annual Report was introduced by Mr. Frank E. Lemon, Hon. Secretary, and adopted on the motion of Lord Buxton, who spoke of the pleasure it gave him, after seven years' absence, that his first appearance on a public platform should be as Chairman and speaker for this Society. Referring to the Plumage Bill, he commented on the cry of the fancy-feather dealers that the ostrich-feather trade would be involved ; this he did not believe for a moment, the two businesses being on a totally different basis. The seconder of the Resolution was Colonel Sir Henry McMahon, G.C.M.G., K.C.I.E., who dealt with Bird- Protection in Egypt, and with the relation between a dearth of birds and plagues of insect pests, instancing especially the costly ravages of the cotton- worm, formerly destroyed by Egrets, which had been killed for the feather market. The re-election of the President of the Society was proposed by Lord Buxton and seconded by Mr. Meade Waldo. The election of Council and Ofl&cers for the year was submitted by Sir Sidney Harmer, D.Sc, F.R.S., who dealt with the great need for general education as regards bird and animal life, and the value of public museums in this connection, citing particularly the exhibits at the Natural History Museum illustrating the life history of birds and those calling attention to their economic importance. Sir William Portal, F.S.A., who seconded the motion, had the full sympathy of the audience in his appreciation of the English hedgerow, and spoke also of the Society's Bird and Tree Competitions. Two other Resolutions were also carried amid applause. The first, proposed by the 34 Bird Notes and News Kev. Dr. Archibald Fleming, and seconded by Mr. Holbrook Jackson : — That legislation is necessary in the interests of bird i^reservation throughout the world, and that in the opinion of this Meeting the importation into England of the plumage of wild birds should be prohibited. The second, proposed by Mr. Frederick Spriggs, seconded by Miss Clifton : — That this Meeting records its detestation of the taking and caging of %vild song birds during the winter months, and urges the Home Secretary to promote legislation which will put a stop to these practices. An interesting feature of the Meeting was the presentation of a field-glass and Mr. Coward's " Birds of the British Isles and their Eggs " to Mr. E. H. Peat, Head-keeper on the Duke of Devonshire's Derbyshire Estate, in recognition of his endeavours to protect a Sea-Eagle in the Derwent Valley. A vote of thanks was accorded the Chairman and speakers, and to the Middlesex County Council, on the motion of Sir George Greenwood, seconded by Mr. Trevor-Battye. A full report of the Proceedings will appear in the Society's Annual Report, to be issued shortly. COUNCIL MEETING. The Council of the Society met on January 28th, 1921, at the Guildhall, Westminster, Mr. Montagu S'harpe, K.C. (Chairman) presiding. The Hon. Secretary's Report recorded with great regret the death of the Viscountess Galway, a Vice-President and active supporter of the Society. A Bird Protection Order had been issued for Hampshire, making a breeding sanctuary of Southern Oakhanger Pond and certain adjoining lands, at the instance of the Earl of Selborne. Ten lectures had been given in connection with the Society, and eleven Bird and Tree Festivals held. Mr. Hudson had kindly presented 100 copies of his " Birds in a Village " as prizes in the Competition. The Finance and General Purposes Committee presented the statement of accounts for 1920. Miss Margetts was appointed Hon. Local Secretary for Kenilworth in succession to Mrs. Key, who resigned. The following Fellows and Members were elected : Fellows : Miss E. Marston, Miss Petitjean, T. F. Twist, T. Smith, J. B. Watson. Members : Mrs. Balfour, F. Bannister, Hugh L. Brooksbank, Miss B. A. Carter, George J. Corke, Mrs. Dickinson, Louis Evans, Mrs. Louis Evans, Mrs. Fitzroy Fenwick, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Sidney Frankenburg, A. C. Eraser, Reginald P. Gait, A. J. Hett, LL.B., Miss A. B. Hill, Miss D. A. Hill, Miss Humby, C. R. W. Jackson, C. W. Mason, Fitzroy Murray, Miss Power, Mrs. Middleton Taylor, Ralph Venning, H. T. Whorlow, Elgar Wilford, Lady Stewart Wilson. Life Membeks : Lord Tennyson, Lieut. -Colonel A. E. Lascelles. Dr. Philip Gosse was nominated as a member of the Council. Among the subjects discussed were the Bird Protection Acts and the revision of Orders ; legislation to prohibit the importa- tion of Plumage ; the sale of Bearded Tits as cage-birds ; Bird Protection in Guernsey ; the shooting of a White-tailed Eagle in Kent ; shooting from aeroplanes ; destruction of sea- birds by petrol-oil ; and other matters. Committee meetings were held on February 14th. Next meeting of the Council, April 22nd. "My Sisters 99 The following protest comes from Mr. Edgar Syers : — " Humanity to animals was not in mediaeval times a distinguishing characteristic of the Church, but there are a few touching legends of the affection with which the Hermits regarded the wild creatures which were often their only companions. " One of these sets forth how St. Francis of Assisi used to say : ' If I could only be presented to the emperor I would pray him, for the love of God and of me, to issue an edict prohibiting anyone from catching or imprisoning my sisters the Larks.' There are doubtless to-day, ' when sins are so many and saints so few,' numbers of people who would be glad to offer such a petition, for fortunately the love of birds and animals is by no means confined to saints and religious folks ; the atheist loves them too. " A short time ago the writer was reminded of the words of St. Francis by an article on Lark Hawking which appeared in the Field, setting forth how hundreds of Larks had been destroyed, and indicating how some of those which were taken un wounded from the clutches of the hawks were caged in order to afford sport on a future occasion. " Such an account was sufficiently distressing to a lover of birds, and it was accentuated by the details and the statement of the great numbers slain of ' the bird beloved of the sickly sentimentalist.' The latter phrase was an affront to all who would be proud to be placed in such a category with Shakespeare, Shelley, Wordsworth, Thomas Hardy, and Davenant ; and to the memory of those poets who, if they were senti- mentalists, have left us legacies of which all the generations of the children of men may be proud and who have sanctified and sv/eetened this paradoxical world." Bird Notes and News 35 The Plumage Trade THE PLUMAGE BILL. Three separate but identical Bills for pro- hibiting the Importation of Plumage into this country have been introduced into the House of Commons. They are identical also with the Bill introduced by Colonel Sir Charles Yate last year, except that Bill No. 3 is entitled simply " A Bill to Prohibit the Importation of Plumage," dropping the words " and the sale or possession of plumage illegally imported." The object of the Bills is to add to the table of prohibitions contained in the Customs Con- solidation Act, 1876, the plumage of any bird except (1) birds included in the schedule to the Act, (2) birds imported alive, (3) birds ordin- arily used in this coimtry as articles of diet. The Board of Trade is empowered to grant licences for purposes of museums, scientific research, or other special purposes. The birds named in the schedule are African Ostrich and Eider Duck. The Bill is to come into opera- tion six months after passing. The sponsors for the three Bills are Mr. Galbraith (L., Spennymoor), who has obtained second place on May 6th for Second Reading ; Captain Brown (C.-U., Hexham), who has little chance of success, having only fifth place on April 22nd ; and Mr. W. Trevelyan Thompson (C.-L., Middlesbrough) ; but it is understood that any Bill successful will be taken charge of by Mr. Thompson. Among the Members who back the Bills are Sir Charles Yate, Viscountess Astor, Lieut.-Colonel Page Croft, Sir BeviUe Stanier, Sir John Butcher, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Murray, Captain Wedgwood Benn, Mr. F. Green, Mr. Ormsby Gore, Mr. Cairns, Mr. T. Davies, Mr. Bromfield, Sir Charles Oman, and Mr, Aneurin Williams. THE BLOCKING OF BILLS. One of the spokesmen for the feather-traders, Mr. H. G. Cubitt, has written letters to the newspapers in all constituencies represented by backers of this year's Bills, in which he under- takes to answer the question why the measure, which has been before Parliament in one form or other nearly every year since 1903, has never passed into law. This is the remarkable notion which Mr. Cubitt sets forth : — " Because the arguments produced in support of the idea nave been shown again and again to be the well-meaning but uninformed diatribes of sentimental people, which would not bear analysis." To the profiteer every argument which does not appeal to the pocket is sentimental. But what are the facts ? They are shown in the leaflet, "Milestones," issued by the R.S.P.B. Lord Avebury's Bill of 1908 was passed unanimously by the House of Lords. Lord Aberdeen's Bill of 1920 was carried unanimously with the expressed approval of the Govern- ment. Bills introduced by Sir William Anson, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, and Mr. Alden were blocked in trade interests. Mr. Alden's Bill of 1911 had a majority of 326 to 48 on First Reading and was then blocked ; the Govern- ment BiU of 1914 passed its Second Reading by 297 to 48 ; Colonel Yate's Bill of 1920 was read a Second time by 61 to 8, and every amendment attempted by the trade in Committee was rejected by an overwhelming majority. But each Bill in the Commons has been obstructed and hindered by every device rendered possible in Parliamentary procedure to a small knot of determined opponents. Why ? Because the trade dare not face the verdict of the nation, and plead and struggle and scheme and manoeuvre and intrigue always for Delay, knowing perfectly well the sentence which awaits it. The "uninformed diatribes " would seem to be the perquisite of Mr. Cubitt and his friends. THE BISHOP OF DURHAM ON WOMEN AND PLUMAGE. Speaking at South Shields on February 16th, 1921, the Bishop of Durham said that cruelty to dumb animals was a very trustworthy index of character. Most of it arose either from sheer brutality or from mere thoughtlessness ; but apart from these causes a vast amount of suffering was occasioned by commercial greed. It was a grave scandal that the Plumage Bill, presented again and again to Parliament and backed by so great and emphatic an expression of the public conscience, should fail to pass into law. It was sup- ported by all humane and thoughtful people who had been at the pains to inform themselves of the facts concerning the plumage trade, and it was opposed by the vested interest of a small but well organised trade under the unreflecting and most discreditable acquies- cence of a large section of the fashionable world. " I say with deliberation," his Lordship went on, " every self-respecting woman ought to be heartily ashamed of appearing in public with her person garnished — like the savage Indian v/ith the scalps of his victims — with Egret plumes and Birds of Paradise. I can hardly imagine a grosser paradox than that which will be presented in the churches of the country this Easter of Christian women kneeling at the altar rail to receive 36 Bird Notes and News the Holy Communion with their heads carrying such trophies of callous cruelty as I have referred to. Public opinion — and especially the public opinion of the Christian Church — ought to prove itself too strong for the position traders in plumage have secured by ruthless havoc and the destruction of some of the most beautiful creatures with which the Creator in His beneficence has enriched the world." Dr. Hensley Henson was one of those advanced clergy who early gave their support to the anti-plumage fight by exhibiting in the .porch of St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, when rector there, the " Story of the Egret " poster published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Eirds. Notes Protest is quickly strengthening against the new and ghastly danger to wild birds of the sea coast and of rivers through the discharge of oil from petrol-driven boats. The full cause of the abomination appears not to be fully known ; but the results are only too apparent. In addition to the destruction of birds under horrible conditions, through getting their plumage soaked and clogged by the foul stuff, there is imminent danger to the fisheries through the destruction of fish and fish-ova and pollution of rivers. During the war it appeared to be difficult to prevent the escape or discharge of oil from submarines and other vessels, but there is no occasion why the evil should be allowed to establish itself for want of precaution and care, or why action to prohibit it should be delayed until it has grown to such dimensions as to render action infinitely more difficult. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is collecting evidence, and will be glad to receive communications from observers in any part of the country respecting either sea or river. Fishery Boards and anglers will do well to be up in arms, and that quickly, in conjunction with bird-lovers. A pathetic but charming story of a Grebe comes to the Society from Mrs. Ashton Allen. Towards the end of last year, it appears, sea- birds were being constantly found on the beach at Folkestone in a half-dying condition, their plumage saturated with tarry oil. A young Russian naval officer, a refugee from his country, fond of and interested in birds, succeeded in rescuing a Gull and Grebe, which he took home, fed and cleaned. The Gull was too far gone from starvation, and died. The Grebe recovered, and after a fortnight's hos- pitality was taken back to the sea ; it swam about for a while, but on seeing its host moving away uttered cries of alarm and swam rapidly to shore. There was nothing to be done but to take it home again. Further experiments had the same result ; the bird was taken once a week to the sea for a swim, but nothing would induce it to remain ; and by-and-by its friend noticed that after being in the water 15 or 20 minutes it began to sink and then made a rush for the shore. This was supposed to be due to the loss of natural oil from its feathers when it was vigorously cleaned to remove the petrol. Meanwhile the Grebe became absolutely tame, following the members of the family about the house and garden, and when picked up rubbing its head against their faces. Fresh fish and sprats were procured for it daily, and during the cold weather it loved to sit preening itself near the fire with its kind friends. The bird lived this life for three months, and then died quite suddenly and without any warning. Now comes a less pleasing part of the tale. The Grebe was found, when its head was stroked, to have two or three shots just under the skin, and may have had others elsewhere. During the time when the unfortunate half- starved birds were helpless on the beach a man had amused himself by shooting at them, until a Russian lady insisted on the end of the " sport." After this the Russian refugees may be inclined to say that, whatever the hospitality of English people to political fugitives, they have among them those who are Bolsheviks to the birds. ^ H: ^ A somewhat similar incident is reported by Mrs. Arnold, who, staying at Broadstairs, found boys potting at a helpless Guillemot. The bird was taken to her rooms and the petrol cleaned off with rags, feather by feather, until it could be released by the shore and wing its way once more. Hundreds of sea-birds, it was reported to her, had been coming ashore dead, especially near Deal. The aid of good Samaritans may save a few, but how few ! of those caught in the clogging oil. The Duke of Rutland has, through ill-health, unhappily had to resign the Chairmanship of Bird Notes and News 37 the new Central Advisory Committee on the Wild Birds Protection Acts ; but the Home Office have had the good fortune to secure Viscount Grey of Falloden to take his place. The first meetings of English and Scottish Committees are being arranged for an early date in May. * * * " The Llanddwyn Grace Darling " is the name which Welsh newspapers have now given to the one woman Watcher acting for the R.S.P.B., in consequence of her aid to the Rhoscolyn Lifeboat crew on December 3rd last, when, exhausted after terrible experiences at sea, they made for Llanddwyn. The boat went out in a tremendous sea, with all the pluck and daring that distinguish the British Lifeboat- man, to the help of a steamer struggling against the hurricane in Carnarvon Bay. The task was beyond their strength, and five men were drowned, the survivors being rescued by the people of the lighthouse settlement — the three pilots (all Watchers) and their families — and cared for in their homes. Mrs. Jones, who is the widow of the former Chief Pilot, has received a letter from the Royal National Life- boat Institution, who writes : " The District Inspector of Lifeboats has written to the Committee in terms of warm praise of your services to the Institution in berthing the Lifeboat and taking charge of her for the five days during which she lay at Llanddwyn, and in helping him and Captain Davies to take her to the tug on December 8th. For these services, and in particular for your kindness in caring for the crew of the Lifeboat, the Committee of Management desire me to express to you their very grateful thanks." * * * Complaints as to illegal catching of birds in the country, re-stocking of bird-shops in towns, and wanton destruction at the hands of children and equally ignorant adults of birds, their nests, eggs, and young, come in increasing numbers to the R.S.P.B. No doubt the increase is largely due to a growing feeling of humanity, growing knowledge of the value of bird-life, and growing indignation against the senseless crushing out of life and song and beauty on the part of the general public. But a great part of the lawbreaking and destruction complained of is back-wash from the war, when panic found one outlet in a wild cry against any and every creature that might touch seed or fruit which man might conceivably eat, no matter how many tons of human food those same creatures had saved from the true vermin. * * * Every member of the Society and every lover of nature is earnestly asked to constitute himself or herself a bird-warden this summer and to help in defending the " winged wardens of our farms." This can best be done by acquiring definite information on the food of birds, by becoming versed in the law of close- time and in local Orders on bird protection ; by encouraging and assisting the Police with accurate information and evidence in cases of breaches of Acts and Orders ; and by enlisting the sympathy of teachers (who should be asked to adopt the Bird and Tree Scheme), and Scoutmasters and Girl Guide leaders. " Birds, Insects and Crops," the sixpenny "A B C of Common Birds," and packets of " Bird- Ally " postcards are useful for pro- paganda. * * * While the Times has been justly decrying, amid general sympathy, the brutalities of pigeon-shooting at Monte Carlo, a paragraph also appears in its columns stating that a pigeon-shooting match had taken place for the benefit of a certain hospital in Shropshire, when " 840 birds were released and about 500 were killed." How many got away wounded is not mentioned. At Chatham, on March 30th, according to the newspapers, a " grand opening meeting " for the same " sport " took place, for which 400 pigeons (Wood-Pigeons with cut tails) were provided and were released from collapsing boxes to meet the guns, a 50-bird match for £200 being part of the pro- gramme, and 5s. being charged for admission to the spectacle. So far as humanity is con- cerned the Chatham Gun Club, and the pot- house-shoots at Blackbirds and Starlings still existent and legal in England, are probably below the level of Monte Carlo. With these things at one end of the social scale, and Lark- eating and " Osprey "-wearing at the other end, and with a "charity" deriving funds from trap-shooting, English people are badly handi- capped as preachers. The flight of birds in relation to the problems of aviation has occupied much attention of late. The Aeroplane, in particular, has pub- lished (January 12th, 19th, 26th, 1921) articles by Captain H. S. Wildeblood, M.Inst.C.E., and Captain W. H. Sayers, together with a lively correspondence between the former and the Editor of the journal, which will have interested students of bird-flight as well as those ardent aeronauts whose minds are centred on the Handley-Page wing. Capt. Wildeblood, from a study of Indian birds, develops theories which 38 Bird Notes and News he thinks give hopes of cheaper and safer flying for wingless man ; while Capt. Sayers, though holding that an aeroplane can never utilise the internal energy of the wind as birds can do, considers that " with a competent pilot and an intelligent study of the habits of soaring birds, there is no practical doubt that soaring, under favourable conditions, could be made a certainty," " Soaring Flight " is further dis- cussed in a pamphlet by Colonel R. de Villamil, late R.E., who claims to have found " a simple mechanical solution of the problem." One fact apparent is that the bird is the natural mascot, leader, and ideal of airmen and should find consistent friends and protectors in their ranks. Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition Bird and Tree Festivals and the sending in of entry-forms for this year's Competition have been the events of the last three months. Entries have come in well, and the number of Cadets enrolled increases, a Birmingham School holding the record at present with 120. Wereham (Norfolk), winner of the Inter- County Shield, celebrated their success by a performance of an operetta " Santa Claus is Coming," to which a " real " Santa Claus with presents for the children gave added point. Encouraging addresses were given by Mr. H. A. Day and Mr. Copeman, of the Education Com- mittee, and the former presented the School with a framed picture. Ellesborough (Bucks Shield) had a pleasant gathering on March 4th. Mancetter (Warwickshire Shield) had the benefit of an interesting address on birds and trees in India and the Far East from Colonel Heming, the Shield and Prizes being presented by Mrs. Heming. A collection taken for a war memorial for old scholars realised £5 6s. Ridge (Hamp- shire) will have its Day on April 15th, but a preliminary Tree-planting and procession took place on March 15th. Cartmel Fell had a delightful afternoon and evening, winding up with a dance in honour of the Headmaster's silver wedding. At Boscombe Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G., presided, and the prize- giving was supplemented by a presentation to Miss Firbank, Headmistress, and a performance of Mrs. Suckling's play, " Midsummer Eve." Other festivals have been no less successful. The Competition, and education in general, have lost a most able and sympathetic worker through the death of Mr. T. A. Cox, Secretary to the Norfolk Education Committee. Cordially welcoming the introduction of the Bird and Tree scheme in the county, Mr. Cox was throughout a staunch advocate of this form of Nature study ; and his untiring interest and unfailing courtesy made co-operation in this work a very pleasant thing to the representa- tives of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It is gratifying to know that his successor, Mr. J. S. Davis, formerly Assistant Secretary to the Committee, is an ardent enthusiast in the study of nature, and was the first to introduce systematic Nature study in the Training Colleges, where its inculcation is of such essential importance. * * * THE NIGHTJAR. [This essay, by Freda Holland (14), of Ellesborough School, Bucks, is chosen for publication as an example of what girls and boys can learn by bird-watching, not because it is absolutely the best paper received in 1920, but because it is of more suitable length than some others for reprinting, and deals with an interesting species. Equally good essays were sent by the Victoria School, Wellingborough, Ridge, Wereham, Necton, Newburgh, and other Teams. Its chief defect is the absence of dates.] I WAS walking through the bracken one evening in the most dense part of the common, when a large bird, which I took at first to be an Owl, flew out of the bracken at my feet. I searched about in the bushes and on the ground, but could not find any nest, so I followed the bird in order to see what it was. I had a difficult task in following it through the large gorse bushes and tall bracken, for it would often disappear completely out of sight behind the trees and I had no idea where to look. So I kept perfectly still hoping that it might fly by me, and before long I caught sight of it flying low over the bushes with another similar bird. I watched them for a long time swooping and flitting about in the air, and on every downward swoop they would utter a little noise which sounded like " coee-ooee " and something resembling the cry of an Owl. One of them disappeared in the trees, but the other settled in a little haunt of tall bracken, tiny whitethorn bushes, and woodbine. In the centre of this was a small ash-tree, and on this the bird sat quietly, with his body horizontal with the branch and crouching flat upon it, Bird Notes and News 39 for a little while ; then he started to make a peculiar jarr-r-ring noise, and at once I knew it was a Nightjar. I searched again next day in the hope of finding the nest, especially in the place where there had been a nest last year. A Nightjar flew up out of the bracken again and flew about, holding one wing limp as if hurt ; she then settled on a branch, still holding her wing in that peculiar way ; so I crept up, but she flew away with a loud clapping of the wings like a Wood- pigeon. She made a wide circuit round the place where she had risen, but did not go any- where near it. I went back to that place, and there, in a patch of silver moss, I found an egg. There was no nest of any description ; it was just laid on the bare ground in a little hollow in the moss, and was most difficult to discern. It was quite cold, for my bird had not started to sit. The spot was most un- secluded, being a foot or two away from a small bypath and not far from the lane. I went again next evening and there was stiU one cold egg, but the next day there were two eggs and the bird was sitting on them. She heard me approach by the breaking of a dry piece of bracken, and flew off, pretending to be hurt as before, and, tumbling about over the bracken, disappeared. This time I did not follow her. The eggs were lying side by side and they were not pointed like most eggs but the same width each end. They were mottled all over with brown, from the lightest to the darkest shades, with patches of mauve and grey at one end, and the second egg was much brighter than the other with patches of dark brown all over it. They looked just as if they were made of marble and were very glossy. My bird started to sit the next day, and when I went near she flew off swiftly, making a low chucking noise resembling a Blackbird when frightened off its nest. I did not go near the nest after that for almost a week for fear she might forsake it. But I followed the male bird about in his haunts and got many good glimpses of his colours. He was mottled all over in different shades of brown and the feathers were mar- gined with white. He also had white streaks on his wings which were very noticeable in the dark. There was a diamond-shaped white mark on each wing which expanded on flight. He had a flat dark brown head streaked with white, and I noticed some blue on his wings. His legs were very dark red, and he had a small curved black beak with a tuft of spines on the top, very long wings, and a short forked tail. When I went to the nest again my bird flew off very silently, and only clapped its wings when it was a good distance from the nest. I covered the eggs over with bracken so that they would not be discovered while my bird was absent. I crept up to my nest through the bracken nearly every other day, and in about ten days I found that one of the eggs was hatched, which was to my great satisfaction and delight, for she had now been sitting for over a fortnight, and I thought that perhaps they were rotten. The young one was a very pretty little bird, just like a ball of fluff, and an exact miniature model of its parents, especially in the crouching attitude of its body with the beak slightly raised. It looked like a pretty little kitten curled up. The other egg was hatched the next day, and the eggshells lay about a foot away from the young ones, but it was difficult to tell which was the youngest, for they were much more matured than the young of birds generally are. They were covered aU over with fawn-coloured and dark brown fluff, which enveloped their heads so that their beaks were hardly discernible. Their beaks were black and their legs dark pink and tinged with black. Their wings were very long according to the size of the body, which was about that of an ordinary sparrow. My bird was very alarmed at my approach, so I went into an adjacent bush and watched her circling round and round her young ones, but in this bush the father bird was reposing, and he flew out uttering his peculiar " ooee, ooee, ooee " very quickly. This seemed to greatly disturb the mother bird and she dropped flat on the ground with wings out- spread, and frequently flapping them and pretending to be hurt, and as I hid behind the bush I perceived that she was not so bright as the male and she was much smaller. The young ones grew very fast, for in two days their eyes were open, and they made a quaint little squeaking noise. They did not look so pretty when their feathers were coming. One day I bent down to them, and they both jumped up and opened their beaks, and I was surprised and taken aback at the size of their mouths with such a tiny beak. The insides of their mouths were pale pink. The mother bird was not with them on that day, but I saw her afterwards with the male bird, and they were catching moths. This appeared to be their chief food, for I never saw them 40 Bird Notes and News eating anything else. My bird frequently used to move the young ones to another patch of bracken when the ground got sodden with rain, and gradually, as they grew larger, she moved them further and further away until it was most difficult for me to find them, and at last they disappeared altogether. Before they disappeared I noticed that they were exactly like their parents in colour and form. The jarring noise of my bird is the peculiarity from whence it gets its name, and something resembles a thresher at work in lowering its note at intervals. It keeps this up until quite late at night. My male bird used to sit in his little haunt and sing by night and sleep or catch food in the daytime. Nightjars never fly high but with swift undulating movements over the bushes. I often saw the mother bird take a dust bath in the lane near the nest. IN THE COURTS. The Shooting of Sea-Eagles. — At Ashford, on March 8th, Henry West, keeper on the Surrenden Dering Estate, Kent, was convicted of killing a Sea- Eagle, and fined £1. In spite of the fact that the specimen had been mounted for preservation by West's employer and is of more value than the fine imposed, no order was made for the forfeiture of the bird. (The case was brought to the notice of the police by the R.S.P.B., but months of correspondence were required before the case could be brought into court on account of the possessor of the bird refusing to let it be seen and identified.) At Chapel-en-le- Frith, on March 31st, Ernest Dearden, keeper to Lord Edmund Talbot at Derwent Hall, Sheffield, was convicted of shooting a Sea-Eagle, and fined £1 and costs, the bird to be forfeited and sent to the Derby Museum. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. V. R. Cockerton, on behalf of the R.S.P.B. Defendant said he shot it because it was destroying the grouse and ground game. The Eagle measured seven feet from tip to tip of wings and was three feet in length. BiRDCATCHiNG. — At Ealing, on January 9th, Thomas Libiccio, of Lambeth, was fined 20s. for catching birds at Perivale (a district in which there is much complaint of Chaffinch-taking). At Woking, on February 12th, William Flaxten, of Bethnal Green, was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to five Chaffinches by carrying them in a cage 11 by 5 by 4 inches. One was said to be unable to fly and all in a distressed condition, and one died. Defendant said he only used the cage for carrying purposes and its small size prevented the birds from dashing themselves about. The magistrates dismissed the case. At Coleshill (Birmingham) three men were fined 5s. each for taking Linnets at Castle Bromwich, and one of them a further 5s. for cruelty to the decoy bird. Birds as Footballs. — At Brighton, on February 8th, George Brooker was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour for cruelty to Willocks (Guillemots) by kicking them into the sea, breaking their beaks and legs. Defendant's father said his son had no sense of honour or of cruelty. Following upon the article on the sale of Larks and other song-birds in provision stores in the last number of Bird Notes & News, a special postcard asking the co-operation of customers at these stores has been issued, and it is hoped that full use will be made of it for the purpose of checking, and finally stopping entirely, this unpleasant practice. "The ringing chorus of a summer sky." SAVE THE SKYLARKS A Postcard Appeal to the Shopping Public against the eating of Song-Birds. 3d. per doz. " The best Crop Protector is the Insectivorous Bird." C. Gordon Hewitt, D.Sc. BIRD-ALLY POSTCARDS QERIES o{ 12, each with quotation as to value of Birds in Agriculture, from Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, Dr. Gordon Hewitt, Dr. Hornaday, Sir Harry Johnston, Edward Newman, M. Edmond Perrier, and others. Twelve Cards, assorted, 6d. ; 3 packets, 1/3, post free ; 100 Cards, 3/6. ABC OF COMMON BIRDS A pocket Guide to the commoner Inland Birds of Britain With short and simple descriptions from which they may be identified by the unlearned ; their local names ; and brief notes on the food they eat that may be regarded as "pro" or "con" the interests of husbandman and gardener. 16mo. 64 pages. Price 6d., by post 7d. fioyal Society for the Protection of Birds 23, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, S.W.I. BiKD Notes and News (issued quarterly) wil] be sent post free to any address for Is. 6d. per annum, payable in advance; single numbers, 4d. To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and upwards per annum it is forwarded gratis and post free. Printed by Vaoher t wall ; or (>ii>ti>>ut; ■.(. j,'ardcn. Packs fiat for -post or rail Price 10/6 ; on stand £1/1/0. THE CAMP TABLE '•■ IV ; iold;> (or transit c" Stained grcwi. lUL- £1/110. Clarriauic cxi THE LUNCH COUNTER. Mruiiti and easily lived. Stained gi< i'rice 5/6 ; by post 7/6. '^ lliniughoiil. the bUnuner tile Birds arc keeping down blight, gobbling up grubs, boring for wircwonns, destroyilig countless weed-seed> When the ground is trozen so that their beak- i.anuot prerce i.t. <.>r s^ow covered so that thcA cannot iind thc">ocdi', shall we let them ' '• • under our ver\' windows ? Save at least all food that would otherwise be • wasted. Bread and bird-seeds are always good , but kitchen .-.craps —bacon, bits of fat and suet, cheese, remains ol porridge, baked potato skin etc. — are all .vtcepjable Barley -meal madr into A pudding witli hot w, iter' is good on ■< cold day< so is hiynp-seecf > iiol pl.iCL lotxi <<\\ file ground Hti\e a tra's liiat can be cleaned and Yeplcniifhed ; a stand tor the garden; :i lunch counter ' for the window ; a "' Hanger-on "' (or smalt scraps ; ai' ■ .\yc. Ready ">hoppet* for -^icd. Take .( collection tor the birds alter c.ich luoal Different !iird.s, need ditferen.t tootl quire walei;. ,V11 r. THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE ^PROTECTION OF BIRDS 23 (lUEEN ANNE'S GATE i::=r:> LONDON, S.W.I Vol. IX No. 7. BIRD NOTES AND NEWS ISSUED QUARTERLY BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. Autumn dumber, 1921, CONTENTS. PAGE " Farewell, Swallow "... ... ... ... 49 Bird-Ringing... ... ... ... ... 50 Economic Ornithology ... ... ... ... 5 1 Heather-burning and damage by Game in Scotland — Eaglet and Grouie. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ... 52 Council Meeting — Death of Sir George Kekewich. Notes ... ... ... ... ... 53 Where Birds are fearless — Raiding the Eiders — Australia's National Sanctuary — Nature Protection in Japan — Air Guns — How Glasgow helps. The Plumage Trade ... ... ... ... 54 Advisory Committee — Economic Value of Plumage Birds — The Oiled Feather. Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competition 55 In the Courts ... ... ... ... 56 23. QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, LONDON, S.W.I. Vol IX No. 8. BIRD NOTES AND N ISSUED Quarterly by the royal society FOR THE PROTECTION QF BIRDS. inter dumber, 192 1 . CONTENTS. PALiI A Watcher on ihe Hills ... ... 57 The; plumage Trade; 38 N(:>t€s ... ... ... ... Vj Tke Rqyal Society lor the Protection of Bir^^^ 00 Council MrHtnp6-H.R.H. Pnncew Mary- -New Ycaf fHonow- . Bird and Tree Challenge Shield Competjtion ()l Books Received . . - ^'4 2S, QUEEN ANNl&'S GATE, LONDON, S.W.I, THE ROYAL SGCIETY FOR THE PROTBeTlON OF BIRDS. 23, Queen Anne's Qate, / London, S.W. 1. FOUNDED 1889. incorporated untier Royal Charter t 1904. Any person mteresteci in itfomofting the objects oi the Society, aj>d willing tp , abide by the Regulations, may be enrolled a^ follows,:— -■■ ' , ■.■ ''" '^ - .'.' '■;■ , '" , ' ■; FELjLOW, by sjibscribing an annual sum f?f riot less than One guinea (£1 li), or by coihpounding for life by a donation of Twenty guineas (£21). MEMpER, by subscribing an annual sum of n<>t le^s thah Five shillings (5s. I, or by compounding for life f^y a donation of Five guineas (£5 5s,). Fellows and Members are, after