84 



BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



IN THE COUETS. 



Illegal Possession of Wild Birds. — At West- 

 minster Police Court, on August 26th, a bird-dealer 

 of Rochester Row, Westminster, was fined 10s. 

 and 23s. costs for being in possession of six Larks, 

 birds which are protected in London all the year 

 round. Inspector Green, of the R.S.P.C.A., said 

 the birds were very wild and showed every sign of 

 having been recently taken. Defendant said they 

 came from Newcastle, and he thought the close 

 time ended on August 1st. 



The Bath Police Court fined George Pease, of 

 Twerton, 10s. and costs on June 29th, for being in 

 possession of Swifts, receniLy-kiiled. He was seen 

 on the previous Sunday evening'khocking down 

 the birds with a thick stick as they flew past, and 

 a crowd of boys and girls were looking on and 

 laughing. A gentleman who passed by gave 

 information and was thanked by the Bench for his 

 action. 



Catching Goldfinches. — At the Newmarket 

 (Cambs) Sessions, on August 20th, Thomas Fenn, 

 an Isleham birdcatcher, was summoned for posses- 

 sion of six Goldfinches. Complaints of birdcatching 

 in this district having reached the R.S.P.B., 

 information was given to the police and the 

 R.S.P.C.A., with the result that the railway station 

 was visited, and a box consigned by defendant to a 

 dealerin Islington was found, containing Goldfinches 

 and Linnets. It was stated that the birds were 

 readily seen and identified through the crevice in 

 the box, and that defendant afterwards acknowledged 

 having sent the birds, adding that he caught them 

 on Mr. Rumbelow's land at Freckenham, where he 

 had permission to go. Defendant now swore that 

 the birds were Chaffinches, not Goldfinches ; if he 

 had had Goldfinches he would not have been so 

 soft as to tell the Inspector he received only 2s. for 

 them and 4s. for the 12 Linnets, whereas Goldfinches 

 were worth about is. apiece. Fined 15s. and 

 14s. 6d. costs. — For having in his possession the 

 six Goldfinches which were the subject of the 

 charge against Fenn, George Wilshaw, of Islington, 

 was fined 20s. and 22s. costs at the Clerkenwell 

 Police Court on August 14th. 



Fined for liberating a Lark. — Mr. R. W. 

 Fox-Male, of Plymouth, was summoned at the 

 Camelford County Court for the recovery of £\, 

 the alleged value of a Lark. Defendant, consider- 

 ing it a brutal thing to keep wild birds caged, 

 liberated the bird and offered plaintiff ten shillings 

 for trespassing. Judge Grainger said if a person 

 could liberate birds in this way he could liberate 

 all sorts of animals, and as a warning to others 

 gave judgment for the full amount claimed, with 

 costs. 



Charge of slandering Birdcatchers. — Two 

 birdcatchers, who were convicted at the Edinburgh 

 Sheriff Court in December of taking Linnets, 

 brought an action against the Edinburgh Evening 

 Despatch for alleged slander, claiming .£100 

 damages. In reporting the case the Despatch 

 described bird-limers in general as " thieves." 



The Court of Session on June 22nd dismissed the 

 action, but refused expenses to either party on the 

 ground that the action was provoked by the 

 "exaggerated use of the word 'thieves.'" 



COUNTY COUNCIL ORDERS. 



Brecon. September 12th, 1907. B.E.F. Pro- 

 tects the Kite all the year round ; it is already a 

 scheduled bird in the county. Lists of Birds 

 added to the Schedule and of Eggs protected, 

 same as in previous Order. 



Cumberland. September 12th, 1907. B.E. 

 Identical with the Order for 1 90 1 , e^gepj: .that the, 

 eggs of the Black-headed Gull are no longer 

 protected. 



Norfolk. Septembergth, 1907. A(e) B.C.E.F.S. 

 Protects the Eggs of all Wild Birds in the Broad 

 areas and on the foreshore of the county, gives 

 Sunday protection in the same districts, extends 

 Close Time to September (except for Wild Duck, 

 Snipe, and Teal), adds to the Schedule the Great 

 Bustard, Crossbill, Sand-Martin, and Bearded Tit, 

 and protects the Eggs of certain species, as in the 

 Order of 1905. Extends list of Birds protected 

 all the year round — Bittern, Little Bittern, and 

 Great Bustard — by addition of Goldfinch, King- 

 fisher, all species of Owl, and Bearded Tit. 



Northamptonshire. August 9th, 1907. 

 B.C.E.F. Protects Kingfisher and all species of 

 Owl throughout the year. Otherwise as in 

 previous Order : extends Close Time for the 

 Heron to September 1st, adds Heron, Hawks 

 (except Sparrowhawk), Kingfisher, Nuthatch, Owls 

 and Wryneck to the Schedule, and protects Eggs 

 of certain species. 



Ready early in November. 



"THE ARAB OF THE AIR." 



Greeting Card for Christmas and New Year. 



Illustration in Colour from a Picture of Wild-Bird 

 Life, specially painted for the Royal Society for the 

 Protection of Birds, by Mr. G. E. Lodge. 



Price, one copy, 3d., by post, 3^d. ; one dozen, 

 2s. 6d., by post, 2s. 7d. 



Copies can still be had of "The Waits," designed 

 by Sir F. Carruthers Gould. One copy, 2d., one 

 dozen, is. 66. 



Bird Notes and News (issued quarterly) will be 

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

 in advance ; single numbers, 3d. 



To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and 

 upwards per annum it is 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, 

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