86 



BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



lived in the country must know all about the 

 wild life, animal, bird, and plant, of field and 

 hedgerow. It is now admitted, so far as Birds, 

 for instance, are concerned, that those whose 

 daily business brings them most into relation 

 with wild birds, have very little trustworthy 

 knowledge regarding even that side of the bird's 

 life — the economic— that touches them most 

 nearly. 



When Arbor Day was first suggested, a 

 common objection heard was " We have too 

 many trees in England as it is," or " If we want 

 trees, what is the good of one or two planted 

 by school children?" Afforestation is now 

 being universally considered ; the importance 

 of forestry and the industries that depend upon 

 it, and the serious diminution in the nation's, 

 and the world's, supply of wood, are questions 

 constantly debated. The United States have 

 demonstrated the wisdom of training children in 

 some understanding of the uses and properties 

 of trees, and of instilling by object-lesson the 

 necessity of Tree-planting. 



More recently still has come the experiment 

 of outdoor schools for the benefit of delicate 

 children, while all acquainted with rural life 

 recognize the imperative need for social pastimes 

 and merry-makings to brighten the monotony 

 of quiet days. 



It would be difficult to say which among 

 these many requirements and problems, Bird 

 and Tree Day does not in some degree answer. 

 That it quickens intelligence ; that it gives an 

 interest in things of the country ; that it 

 stimulates a close and intimate study of natural 

 life ; that it brings the value of trees and tree- 

 planting into prominence ; that it takes children 

 into the healthy, fresh air with an exhilarating 

 object in view ; that it instils interest in free 

 birds, and consequently fosters a spirit of 

 humanity and rational Bird Protection ; and 

 that it gives opportunity for an annual festival 

 or merry-making : these are obvious features of 

 the scheme. The hundreds of essays sent in 

 this autumn form a remarkable testimony to the 

 sincerity and enthusiasm with which boys and 

 girls answer the novel requirements of such 

 a competition ; and the bright and happy 



spirit in which very many of them are written 

 is even more pleasing proof of the value of the 

 work than is the cleverness shown by not a few. 

 It is, of course, from the teachers that the 

 inspiration must come, and the head masters 

 and mistresses of a great number of schools 

 have the hearty thanks of the Society for the 

 cordial manner in which they have co-operated 

 with its Council. It is satisfactory to know 

 that their trouble is largely compensated by the 

 development of the children's general intelli- 

 gence, as well as by the pleasure given. 



THE INTER-COUNTY CHALLENGE 

 SHIELD. 



This year for thefirst time, an Inter-County Shield 

 was offered, being open for competition among 

 the winning schools in the several competing 

 counties, together with the Schools of Buckland 

 (Berkshire), and Yatton (Somerset), which having 

 won their County Shields for successive years were 

 debarred from trying for them again at present. 

 After careful consideration the judges awarded 

 this high honour, with accompanying Silver Medal, 

 to Privett School, Hampshire, on account of the 

 great amount of painstaking and intelligent 

 personal observation evidenced by their papers. 

 High commendation, with Bronze Medals, goes to 

 the admirable essays from Yatton, which are not 

 less interesting than those from Privett, and 

 include one that is a really remarkable performance 

 for a boy of ten ; and to Buckland, whose papers 

 are again notable for their originality and their 

 bright and entertaining narrative style. 



Ellesborough and Long Ashton are Highly 

 Commended. 



BEDFORDSHIRE. 



Challenge Shield : Northill C.E. School. 

 Certificate of E.rcellence : Clophill School. Highly 

 Commended: Muggerhanger ; Keysoe Council 

 School. Commended : Sandy Council School ; 

 Eaton Socon ; Woburn (Boys). 



Among the Bedfordshire teams this year there 

 is no one that excels the rest in a very marked 

 degree, and the first place is assigned to Northill 

 on account of the accuracy and high average 

 merit of the papers. None of these is, however, so 

 good as that on the Cuckoo from Clophill School, 

 which is a capital piece of work. The Birds are 



