Bird Notes and News 



41 



M.D. (Norwich), Bernard Lonsdale (Weston- 

 super-Mare), Miss G. K. Medlicott (Botley, 

 Hants), Mrs. Middleton (Bournemouth), Miss 

 Nevinson (Cobham), Henry C. Oberholser 

 (Washington, U.S.A)., Mrs. Pearce (White- 

 bam, Berks), Mrs. Radchffe Piatt (Barn- 

 staple), Miss F. A. Prescott (Wigmere Hall, 

 Herefordshire), Mrs. Ricardo (Chi'istchurch), 

 C. E, Scarisbrick, Mrs. Scarisbrick (London, 

 S.W.), John Sewell (Frizington, Cumberland), 

 E. P. Smith (Streatham, S.W.), Mrs. Strang 

 (Henley-in-Arden), F. C. Verner (Oxford), 

 Miss Olive Wade (Eangswinford), Geoffrey 

 Whitworth (London, S.W.), P. D. WiUiams 

 (St. Keweme). 



The question of Bird Protection in 

 Egypt was again brought forward, and 

 certain recommendations made. Reports 

 from two of the Society's agents as to 

 illegal catching and caging of birds were 

 discussed. In two cases convictions had 

 been obtained, with the help of the 

 police ; and it was agreed that investi- 

 gations should be further pursued at the 

 right season with a view to decisive action. 



Publication Committee. 



Attention was drawn to Mr. Gals- 

 worthy's articles " For Love of Beasts," 

 which had appeared in the Pall Mall 

 Gazette the previous week, and it was 

 agreed to seek permission to have them 

 reprinted and circulated ; it was decided 

 to issue a duodecimo edition of " The 

 Story of the Egret," as it was thought 

 that the small size would be convenient 

 for enclosure in letters, for placing on 

 drawing-room tables, and for other pur- 

 poses for which the album and wall- 

 sheet size are not suitable ; the offer of a 

 water-colour dramng of " Brean Down " 

 as an illustration for Bird Notes and News 

 was accepted ; and it was agreed to ask 

 Mr. C. Whymper to furnish a design for 

 the Society's greeting-card, 1912-13. 



Watchers Committee. 

 Li addition to other matters, the agree- 



ment by which the Society rents the 

 shooting rights of Brean Down, Somerset, 

 for the purpose of preserving and pro- 

 tecting all birds on that area, was re- 

 ported and approved. 



General Business. 



Mr. Alden's Plumage Bill (No. 2) was 

 considered, and it was resolved that the 

 Council, while reserving its opinion as 

 to details of the Bill, should support the 

 Second Reading, and directions were 

 given for copies of the resolution to be 

 sent to the Members of ParHament intro- 

 ducing and backing the Bill. Corres- 

 pondence on various subjects was laid 

 before the Council. 



The Watchers Committee met on 

 July 26th, when reports on the season's 

 work were presented and discussed. 



Next Meeting of Council, October 18th. 



THE TRAFFIC IN FEATHERS. 



Dr. Hornaday, the able Director of 

 the New York Zoological Gardens, writes 

 to the New York Times (Sept. 9, 1912) 

 with reference to the paper read at the 

 recent meeting of the British Association 

 by Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, Secretary of the 

 London Zoological Society : — 



" There is one cause right at the door of 

 the Zoological Society of London which is 

 in great need of the active and aggressive 

 support of Dr. IVIitehell and his society. For 

 several years the Royal Society for the Pro- 

 tection of Birds has waged gallant but ineffec- 

 tual warfare against the appalling traffic in 

 the plumage of wild birds for millinery pur- 

 poses which has its headquarters in London. 

 It would take considerable space to describe 

 the full extent of that traffic, the deadliness 

 of it, and the number of species of beautiful 

 birds that it threatens to exterminate in the 

 near future . . . Let us hope sincerely that 

 the Zoological Society of London will take 

 up its share of this particular burden and 

 throw all the weight of its power and influence 

 into the campaign that is being made by the 

 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds." 



