Bird Notes and News 



63 



Goosnargh (Third), Preston (St. Stephen's), 

 Withnell U.M., Cartmel Fell, Adlington St. 

 Paul's, and Buckhurst will then have to decide 

 the matter with numerous other Teams of out- 

 standing merit, including an extremely promis- 

 ing newcomer, Burtonwood. It is, however, 

 the try and not the success, the work and not 

 the result, which brings the true gain. 



NORFOLK 



Challenge Shield : Postwick 



Tliis is another county doing splendid work, 

 and with a constantly rising standard. Out- 

 work observation and zest have always been 

 conspicuous, and the Teams are gradually 

 getting away from the exclusive devotion to 

 nesting-time and to diary records which 

 detract from the interest and value of many 

 painstaking papers. Foremost, and very 

 closely together in clever and enthusiastic 

 achievement, come Postwick, Little Dunham, 

 Bracon Ash, and Necton ; followed at no long 

 distance by Feltwell, Ketteringham, Old Catton, 

 St. Faith's, Sporle, Thetford Girls, Wroxham, 

 and a host of others. 



NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



Challenge Shield : Middleton Cheney 



The number of schools entering here is not 

 quite so large as last year, but the level of 

 attainment is higher, and steady all-round 

 improvement is noticeable. Middleton Cheney, 

 always strong in the subject, contributes 

 thoroughly sound and thoroughly pleasant 

 work of an eminently fresh and genuine 

 character. Its excellence is indeed sufficiently 

 proved by the fact that it slightly out- 

 distances the Victoria School, Wellingborough, 

 where the boys are keen and quite accomplished 

 naturalists. The third place is taken by Sywell, 

 and certificates by Welton, Rockingham, 

 Hears Ashby, Culworth, Wellingborough (All 

 Saints), Maidford, and Clopton. Reference 

 to local lore and industries are particularly 

 interesting in some of the papers. 



SOMERSET 



Challenge Shield : Chillington 



Somerset, threatened with withdrawal of 

 the Shield for lack of sufl&cient competition, 

 recovers itself to some extent this year, but 

 is still lamentably far from the position such a 

 county should hold. Originality in matter 

 and charm of style as usual characterise the 



papers in general, and in particular the in- 

 telligent and sympathetic essays from Chilling- 

 ton ; while the personal point of view and 

 pleasant thought imbuing those from Wam- 

 brook and North Perrott make either of these 

 schools worthy to win that second prize which 

 Somerset should qualify itself to receive. 

 Norton Fitzwarren, Winsham, Chedington and 

 Taunton (Holy Trinity), also must be com- 

 mended, the first-named a very young Team, 

 the last a new competitor. 



WARWICKSHIRE 



Challenge Shield : Glascote Girls 



Entries here have increased, partly through 

 the addition of three schools from Birmingham 

 County Borough. All these do well, two of 

 them (Hall Green and Moor End) remarkably 

 well. Another newcomer, Brinklow, takes 

 second prize by reason of the eager and lively 

 spirit evidenced ; and the Shield-winners 

 themselves were new competitors last year. 

 It must be said that this is in part due to 

 the fact that some senior schools, doing sincere 

 and admirable work, have had to be dis- 

 qualified owing to extreme breaches of the 

 rule of time. The hour and a half allotted 

 each essay is not too rigidly interpreted ; but 

 when 2 J, 3, and even 3| hours are taken, 

 fairness to other schools compels this decision. 

 Certificates are well merited by Bedworth 

 (Leicester Road), Great Alne, Mancetter, 

 Minworth, and Temple Grafton. Astley C.E., 

 Rowington, and Solihull Girls' are highly 

 commended. 



OPEN CLASS 



Schools from Berkshire, Derbyshire, Herts, 

 Cambridge, East and West Suffolk, Sussex, 

 and the West Riding of Yorkshire meet in this 

 Class. Yorkshire has not been represented 

 for many years, and its three representatives — 

 Walshaw, Mytholmroyd (Cragg Vale), and 

 Colden — send such good and pleasing work 

 that more would be welcomed. The First 

 Prize is won by Totley (Derby), but Hinton 

 Waldrist and SUndon (two Teams) give further 

 evidence of the zeal and earnestness inspiring 

 their attractive work, which has placed them 

 more than once at the head. Charney, Great 

 Waldingfield, Felixstowe Ferry, Waltham St. 

 Lawrence, Ashwell (Merchant Taylors), Haw- 

 stead and Gazeley set examples that should be 

 encouraged by the admiration and imitation 

 of neighbouring schools. 



