60 



Bird Notes and News 



have disappeared for the present, fresh Teams 

 of good promise have come forward. The 

 Sandown Boys do not send in such satis- 

 factory essays as is expected from them, much 

 success having possibly induced carelessness, 

 but they still have the knack of utilising their 

 material to advantage. Two new comers 

 from the Isle of Wight, Thorley and Brigh- 

 stone, make a capital beginning, the former 

 having some good personal notes, and the 

 latter two excellent Tree papers. Hayling 

 contributes a useful study of the Kestrel, 

 and all its papers are neat, intelligent, and 

 well put together. Congratulations on con- 

 siderable achievement must also be given to 

 Barton Stacey, Bramshaw, Copythome, Hin- 

 ton Ampner, and Wickham. 



NORFOLK. 



Challenge Shield. — Coltishall School. 



It is unfortunate that the School which 

 would otherwise almost certainly have won 

 the Shield, loses it through the mistake of 

 selecting two domestic birds. Peacock and 

 Turkey, instead of wild species. Obviously 

 these cannot be accepted for the purpose 

 of the present Competition, however well 

 described. This mistake is the more to 

 be regretted since they are very good, and 

 the third Bird essay, on the Snipe, is the 

 best Bird paper sent in from the county, 

 and certainly one of the best from any 

 county. It is an admirable first-hand study, 

 and there is a capital drawing of a young 

 bird. The Tree papers also have unusual 

 merit. As things are, the Shield goes to 

 Coltishall, and these children's papers are 

 written in a charming style and show a 

 very pleasant enthusiasm. The intimate 

 studies of Blue Tit and Wren are true and 

 entertaining. From the Fakenham Boys 

 comes an excellent essay on the Lapwing, 



and from the Fakenham Girls a very pretty 

 one on the Greenfinch ; the Tree papers 

 in both cases show studious observation. 

 Observation and also an exceptional ap- 

 preciation of colour and beauty mark the 

 Tree Essays by the Hingham Boys, and 

 the Snipe again figures among the Birds. 

 Wroxham, Bracon Ash, Lyng, Wickmere 

 and Wolferton are other Schools gaining 

 the " excellent " award. Good work is 

 likewise submitted by Homing, Pulham 

 Magdalene, East Ruston, Saham Girls, 

 Sprowston, Tittleshall, and Weedon Girls. A 

 large number of other Schools are Highly 

 Commended or Commended, the total 

 number competing being fifty-four. There 

 is a much greater disparity in the achieve- 

 ments of the various Teams than is the case 

 in most counties, to be accounted for 

 probably by the fact that so many bravely 

 resolve to do their best whatever that best 

 may be. 



NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 



Challenge Shield. — Badby C.E. School. 



Competition is very strong in this county. 

 Badby gains the Shield by virtue of the 

 neatness and general intelligence of aU the 

 papers, though there are better single 

 essays from several other schools. The j 

 subjects are simple, but they have been ij 

 carefully and sympathetically studied. 

 Wellingborough (Victoria Council School), j 

 holder of the Shield for 1911, and Rushden 1 

 (Northend) are an excellent Second and 

 Third. In both cases there is a tendency J 

 to overload the Tree papers with small * 

 details, zealously and conscientiously noted, 

 at the expense of characteristic features and 

 general description ; but the work is wonder- 

 fully painstaking and the knowledge of 

 entomology notable. Exceptionally good 



