BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



87 



in this case perhaps better done than the Trees, 

 but all are interesting and well-written. On the 

 other hand Keysoe team is much stronger on 

 Trees than on Birds, showing in all three essays a 

 good knowledge of what to note, and how to note 

 it, and a marked improvement on previous work. 

 Muggerhanger (or Morhanger), winners of the 

 Shield last year, again deserve high praise for 

 thoroughness of observation and admirable 

 industry. It would be better if, for the Com- 

 petition Essays, their notes were put into less 

 disjointed form, and some of those omitted which 

 add no new facts. Sandy Council School, a new 

 competitor, makes a good start, giving proof of 

 appreciative observation of Trees particularly. 

 The Eaton Socon papers, though short and slight, 

 have a pleasantly genuine ring about them, indi- 

 cating real interest in their subjects. The Woburn 

 boys also write for the most part in a good straight- 

 forward boyish way, and a little more sympathy of 

 treatment, as well as closer study, will bring the 

 team well to the fore. 



Several promising teams are absent, for one 

 cause or another, from the Competition this year, 

 and it is to be hoped that they will strengthen the 

 Bedfordshire contingent in 1908. 



BERKSHIRE. 



The Berkshire Shield having been reluctantly 

 withdrawn for the present, owing to lack of 

 sufficient competition, the schools which sent in 

 essays have been placed : Burghfield with the 

 Hampshire Teams, and Braywick, Bray, with its 

 Bucks neighbours. Both are highly commended. 

 Burghfield sends a very well-written set of essays, 

 wherein a commendable amount of observation is 

 set forth in an interesting manner. Braywick's 

 papers are very pleasant to read, if not very 

 original, and chronicle some local facts of interest 

 about Trees. 



BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 



Challenge Shield : Ellesborough Council 

 School. Certificates of Excellence : Hambleden, 

 Stony Stratford (National). Highly Commended : 

 Cheddington, Braywick. Commended : Princes 

 Risborough, Coleshill (Amersham'), Quainton 

 (Aylesbury). 



As was anticipated from the excellent beginning- 

 made by Bucks last year, the county has again 

 done well, with a notable improvement both in the 

 quantity and quality of the competing essays. The 

 award of the Shield was not an easy matter, the 



distinctive excellences shown by several schools 

 having to be carefully weighed and considered. 

 It goes to Ellesborough because of the freshness, 

 sincerity and intelligence that characterise the 

 papers. They show a good deal of outdoor 

 watching and individuality of treatment. Hamble- 

 den is a close competitor, and one essay, on the 

 Kingfisher, is better than any by the winning- 

 team, while there is considerable freshness of 

 thought in all ; but the general level is not up to 

 Ellesborough. The Stony Stratford team manifests 

 many of the admirable qualities that gained the 

 Shield last year. For detailed description, and for 

 careful writing and composition, the essays are the 

 best sent in from Bucks. Were the amount of 

 definite observation in proportion, St. Giles's School 

 would again have headed the list. The Tree papers 

 are extremely good. Cheddington's papers are 

 very unequal in merit, though all are bright and 

 intelligent. Five others equal to that on the Rook 

 would have given Ellesborough a formidable rival. 

 The Princes Risborough team sends particularly 

 good Tree papers, tersely put and well expressed. 

 The Bird essays, good as far as they go, are too 

 short and slight. The Coleshill and Quainton 

 teams compete for the first time, and both bid fair 

 to take a high place when with practice and study 

 comes more confidence in their own power of 

 observation and expression. The former team 

 has made good use of careful notes and helpful 

 lessons ; and Quainton's work, though somewhat 

 disjointed, is on such good lines as to leave no 

 doubt of rapid improvement. 



CUMBERLAND. 



Challenge Shield ; Kirkoswald School. 

 Certificates of Excellence ; Cargo ; Grey stoke. 

 Commended : St. John's, Keswick (Girls), two 

 teams. 



The Competition in Cumberland is disappointing, 

 and, together with the defection of Westmorland, 

 indicates that the north of England is not so keen 

 on Nature Study as the south. The traditions of 

 the Lake District ought to stimulate such work, 

 and the many characteristic and delightful birds of 

 the region might well inspire young naturalists. 

 The Competition this year is practically confined 

 to the five teams mentioned. 



The Kirkoswald and Cargo teams very nearly 

 tie for first place. The Cargo papers are notable 

 for their excellent tone and graceful, yet childlike, 

 mode of expression. Two writers hamper them- 

 selves by adopting the autobiographical form, but 



