BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



65 



they turn to Hawks (a superstition so old that 

 Aristotle denied it), is an unfortunate one, what 

 can be said for the class of farmer responsible 

 for the employment of such persons as the 

 "professional bird-poisoner" convicted the other 

 day at Fakenham, in Norfolk ? And what for the 

 enforcement of the law which by his own account 

 this individual has been systematically breaking 

 for 25 years ? His plan has been to tempt the 

 birds with genuine food, and having gained their 

 confidence to give them wheat steeped in strychnine. 

 No distinction, it need scarcely be said, could be 

 made or was attempted between one species and 

 another in dealing out this hideously cruel death ; 

 and the case does not tend to increase the 

 naturalist's faith in the probable amount of 

 intelligence displayed by the agriculturist in the 

 more ordinary means of destruction carried on 

 under the aegis of the law. It has indeed clearly 

 shaken the confidence of the Norfolk Chronicle, 

 which concludes some strong comments on the 

 case in these words (May 3rd, 1907) : — 



"Some weeks ago, when it was suggested that 

 the newly formed Norwich Museum Society might 

 afford scientific information to farmers and market 

 gardeners, and give them hints that would be 

 useful in the conduct of their business, we were 

 inclined to regard it as a piece of unnecessary 

 interference, bordering upon impertinence. The 

 revelations before the Fakenham Bench have 

 caused us to modify our opinion considerably, and 

 we frankly admit that some means are urgently 

 needed to disseminate in our rural districts an 

 elementary knowledge of natural history, and, we 

 may add, of morals." 



Norfolk is not perhaps a likely county to establish 

 Bird and Arbor Day in the schools ; but it 

 would be an excellent thing if some of the bird- 

 lovers of the district were to introduce that most 

 pleasant and practical of nature-study schemes. 



Birds in Summer. 



The cold and backward spring of 1907 may yet 

 be succeeded by a summer as dry and hot as that 

 of 1906, and bird-lovers, who listened with delight 

 to the prophetic songs of Thrush and Blackbird, 

 Chaffinch and Hedge Sparrow, while grey skies and 

 bitter winds gave little promise of ethereal 

 mildness, may be reminded that the bird food of 

 winter should be followed by a water supply for 

 the wild birds in summer. If some future loyal 

 demonstration could be marked by the erection, 

 wherever possible, of drinking-fountains, with 



troughs for cattle and sheep and dogs and birds, 

 we might have happier memorials than many 

 Jubilee follies present ; but in country places 

 especially the birds must depend largely on 

 eleemosynary help. Now that hedges are often 

 relentlessly trimmed and hedge fruits ruthlessly 

 taken, their need is great. The care of cage-birds 

 does not come within the purview of the R.S.P.B., 

 but the hint may be given that Canaries and other 

 captive birds should not be exposed to hot sun and 

 glaring light. Mid-day sunshine coming through 

 the glass of a window is purgatory to sensitive 

 birds, who, in a free state, seek shelter from 

 summer heat in the cool of green leaves, and are 

 fanned by the soft breezes and cooled by the wind 

 of their own flight. 



Magpies in London. 



The remarkable tameness of the London 

 Wood Pigeons and the boldness of the London 

 Gulls, are the most surprising features of 

 metropolitan bird-life. But the Magpie is even 

 more delightful than the placid Pigeon and 

 the rushing sea-bird, because of its entertaining 

 ways, its lively chatter, its cunning and intelligence, 

 and few fowls could be a more fascinating addition 

 to London parks than " Mag," with his handsome 

 and conspicuous black and white plumage. There 

 is no game for him to interfere with ; a few small 

 birds' eggs— even, we might say, a tragedy or two 

 among the ducks — may well be forgiven him. For 

 some years, one, two or three Magpies have 

 haunted St. James's Park ; there used to be, and 

 may be still, a pair in Regent's Park. This spring 

 a nest has been built in the Green Park. It was 

 stated recently in the daily papers that the eggs of 

 the birds are always destroyed by the park 

 authorities in order to prevent the numbers 

 increasing, but an enquiry from the R.S.P.B., 

 last month, brought a courteous and welcome 

 reassurance on this point. The Magpies are never 

 interfered with in the Royal Parks. Perhaps some 

 day a Jay or Woodpecker may be induced to add 

 further interest to park bird-life. The loud scream 

 and the laughing call, the glimpse of blue or of 

 brilliant yellow, would give more delight than 

 many aviaries. 



The Native Fauna Protection Society of New 

 South Wales has been disbanded, in consequence, 

 it is stated, of the non-passing of a Bill giving 

 necessary powers and authority to carry out its 

 objects. It was formed in 1905. 



