48 



BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



IN THE COURTS. 



Bird-catching. — At Epping, on October 5th, 

 two men were convicted of cruelty to a decoy 

 Goldfinch and of using nets for taking Goldfinches 

 in Epping Forest. The case was proved by the 

 forest-keepers and Inspector Broome, R S.P.C.A. 

 Fined 10s., and the costs in each case, nets and 

 birds confiscated. 



At Coventry, on October 10th, a bird-dealer was 

 fined £2 and costs for having Goldfinches and 

 Linnets in his possession. It was stated in Court 

 that seventy-five per cent, of the wild birds caught 

 die within three or four days of their capture, and 

 the Magistrates said they were determined to put 

 a stop to this cruelty. 



On November 9th, at Coventry, William West 

 was charged with taking Goldfinches and Linnets 

 and with cruelty to decoy birds. He admitted 

 that he did not know ho»v to keep alive the birds 

 he caught. The Police Superintendent said that 

 the Chief Constable had asked him to press for a 

 strong penalty, as, in spite of public notices, this 

 practice was becoming common all over the county, 

 with the result that it was being denuded of its 

 most valued birds. Fined £2 and costs in the one 

 case, 5s. a bird and costs in the other, birds and 

 net to be confiscated. 



At Lawford Gate, on October 4th, a bird-catcher 

 was fined 10s. and costs for cruelty to decoy 

 Linnets. The birds were tethered to the ground 

 in the usual way with string, which had cut into 

 the skin and lacerated the wings, and defen- 

 dant must, said the police, have known that he 

 was torturing them. 



Using Bird-lime. — At Stratford, on November 

 4th, a bird-catcher was fined 2s. and costs for 

 using bird-lime to take protected birds. He had 

 limed twigs set at the end of a pond, and captured 

 the birds when they alighted on them to drink. 



The Mayor and the Bird-catcher.— A 

 Bermondsey bird-catcher was fined 10s. and costs 

 at Monmouth, on October 24th, for catching Gold- 

 finches. He had all the usual apparatus, and said 

 the Mayor of Monmouth had given him per- 

 mission to catch the birds. The Mayor explained 

 that he told the man he would not give him per- 

 mission unless the police consented. [The Chief 

 Magistrate of Monmouth might have enquired 

 into the law on the subject.] 



Catching Plovers.— At the Curragh, on 

 November 7th, two men were convicted of cruelty 

 to a Plover, which was fixed in a trap with its legs 

 bent, to act as a decoy. For the defence it was 

 stated that this method of catching Plover had 

 been carried on for years, and the fine was fixed 

 at 2 is. to allow of an appeal. 



(Other cases of bird-catching are reported from 

 various parts of the country, and in Ireland a good 

 number of convictions have been recorded in 

 counties where the Close Time has been extended 

 to December 1st.) 



The Royal Society for the Protection 

 of Birds, 



3, HANOVER SQUARE, LONDON, II'. 



Founded 1889. 



Incorporated under Royal Charter, 1904. 



Any person interested in promoting the objects of 

 the 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 

 US Ss.) 



Every Fellow and Member is, 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 

 (2 is.) ; (b) by paying a sum of twopence to cover 

 cost of registration. 



Associates receive cards on joining ; Fellows 

 and Members receive certificates of election. 



"THE WAITS." 



The Society's Christmas Card for 1906-7, specially 

 designed by Sir Francis Carruthers Gould 

 ("F. C. G."). 



With (or without) Calendar for 1907. Price, one 

 Card, 2d., by post, 2^d. ; one dozen Cards, 2s. post free. 



Copies of last year's Card, painted by Mr. Thorburn, 

 may also be had, price 2d. each. Packets of twelve 

 assorted Cards (three designs), is. 6d. 



An Interview with Mr. Meade-Waldo, on the 

 birds seen during his recent yachting expedition, will 

 appear in the April number of Bird Notes and 

 News. 



Bird Notes and News (issued quarterly) will be 

 sent post free to any address for is. per annum, payable 

 in advance. 



To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and 

 upwards per annum it will be forwarded gratis and 

 post free. 



Printed by Witherby & Co., 326, High Holborn, W.C., and 

 published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 

 3. Hanover Square, London, W., from whom copies may be 

 obtained, price 2d. each. Double numbers, 3d. 



