BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



11 



In Cumberland there were no less than 259 species 

 of birds as residents or visitors, so that there was 

 a large field for investigation. In congratulating 

 the scholars, he trusted their success would be an 

 incentive towards making them ardent naturalists, 

 taking great interest in the life of birds, and, above 

 all, protecting them. 



HAMPSHIRE. 



The notable fact that among all the schools of 

 the large county of Hampshire one with less than 

 90 scholars on its register, in a little rural village 

 of some 250 inhabitants, should have won the 

 Shield, made Bird and Tree Day memorable for 

 Privett. The victory must be mainly attributed 

 to the enthusiasm of the schoolmaster, Mr. T. E. 

 Paine, with which he has evidently inspired his 

 scholars. The festival, held on November 24th, 

 begun with Tree-planting on a piece of open 

 ground in front of the school, where, through the 

 kindness of Mr. Nicholson, of Basing Park, a 

 mound was raised and a fine copper beech 

 planted, the ceremony being performed by Miss 

 Gertrude Nicholson. The schoolroom was then 

 tilled to overflowing for the prize-giving. Captain 

 Hugh Nicholson presided, and Mr. T. Hastings 

 Lees, a member of the Council of the Society, the 

 Rector of Privett, and several of the local clergy, 

 and Mr. W. C. G. Milman, H.M. Inspector for 

 the county, were among those present. Mr. Paine 

 read congratulatory letters from Mr. D. T. Cowan, 

 Director of Education for Hants, Mr. Gill, one 

 of H.M. Inspectors, Mrs. Suckling, and others. 

 He added that the subject had been taken as part 

 of the school-work of the year, and the children 

 had also been out with him two days a week for 

 note-taking and observation. — The Chairman, in 

 speaking of the pleasure and interest afforded by 

 observing birds and trees, said that this was not 

 only a recreation which cost them practically 

 nothing, but it also enabled them to obtain a 

 quantity of most useful information about birds 

 which would prevent the wholesale destruction 

 of those species that were good friends to the 

 farmer, did the farmer but know it. The know- 

 ledge which they gained from the books published 

 by the Society for the Protection of Birds ought, 

 for one thing, to put an end to the destruction of 

 owls, which lived on rats and mice, and did harm 

 to no one. — After the formal presentation of the 

 Shield and the giving of the prizes and reading of 

 essays a social tea was held. — An artistically 

 painted design on wood, recording the team's 



success, has been executed by Mr. Hopwood as a 

 permanent memorial of the event. 



The Bitterne Park Girls' School, winners of the 

 Second Prize, celebrated Bird and Tree Day on 

 February 26th. In the afternoon a tree was 

 planted in the girls' garden, to the strains of the 

 boys' band. In the evening, Mr. T. D. Haysom, 

 chairman of the Southampton Education Com- 

 mittee, presided over a large assembly in the 

 schoolroom, when the prizes and certificate were 

 presented, songs sung, and a highly interesting 

 lantern lecture on Birds given by the Rev. J. E. 

 Kelsall. 



The girls' and boys' departments of the Sandown 

 (I.W.J National School held a united festival 

 on December 8th, the boys having won the 

 Third Prize among Hampshire schools, and the 

 girls a Highly Commended. An entertainment 

 took place in the schoolroom, the Rev. W. T. 

 Storrs, B.D., presiding. The prize essays were 

 read, and an encouraging address was given by Mr. 

 T. A. Wright, C.C., who also presented one of the 

 extra prizes. Subsequently trees were planted in 

 the school playground by the winning teams. 



SOMERSET. 

 This was the first year of the competition in 

 Somersetshire, and Yatton National School held 

 high festival on November 25th to honour the 

 occasion. Sir Edward Fry unveiled the Shield 

 presented by the Society, and the Society's prize 

 books, as well as nine volumes given by Sir Edward 

 Fry, were handed to the members of the team by 

 Mrs. Martin Gibbs, at a crowded meeting at the 

 Schools. The Rev. F. A. Mather, vicar, presided, 

 and the company included the Hon. Sec. ot the 

 Society (Mr. F. E. Lemon) and Mrs. Lemon, and 

 Mr. Bothamley, Secretary, Somerset Education 

 Committee. Sir Edward Fry urged the young 

 people to learn to love and prize all the things 

 they could find in the great book of Nature, 

 and congratulated the schoolmaster (Mr. H. II. 

 Mansey) and scholars on gaining this distinction. 

 He also strongly protested against the slaughter 

 of birds for millinery. Mr. Bothamley spoke 

 especially on the value of trees, and of the little 

 that had been done to replace the vast number 

 cut down during the last twenty - five years. 

 Where trees were scarce both the soil and climate 

 of the district became affected. The work that 

 had been done in Yatton School was the outcome 

 ot no new fad ; its purpose was to develop 

 faculties which would help the children in any 

 position they might fill in the future. — At the close 



