106 



Bird Notes and News 



OBITUARY. 



Dr. Philip LutleySclater,D,Sc.,F.R.S., 

 who died on June 27th, aged 83, was one 

 of the first supporters of the R.S.P.B., 

 and the last surviving of the distinguished 

 group of ornithologists — including Lord 

 LiKord, Professor Newton, Dr. Bowdler 

 Sharpe, Canon Tristram, and the Rev. 

 F. O. Morris — who are named in the 

 Society's first report as its sympathisers 

 and friends in the fight agamst the 

 feather-trade. He became a Life Asso- 

 ciate in 1896 and a Vice-President in 1898. 

 Dr. Sclater, who was Secretary of the 

 Zoological Society from 1859 to 1902, 

 and one of the founders of the British 

 Ornithologists' Union, was an authority 

 on the geographical distribution of birds 

 and on the bird-hfe of Central and South 

 America. 



Mr. William Comyns Clifton, of Rom- 

 ford, a FeUow of the Society and helper 

 in many a good work, died on Septem- 

 ber 10th. He was descended from an 

 ancient and honoured Essex family, whose 

 only representative now is his sister. 

 Miss M. F. Clifton, a member of the 

 Council of the R.S.P.B. 



PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY 



BIRDS. 

 In addition to the Bird Protection 

 measures at St. Catherine's Lighthouse, 

 perches have been erected at the Caskets 

 Light as rests for birds migrating by this 

 route. Mr. Burdet, who came over from 

 Holland to inspect the work at Catherine's, 

 sent an account of his visit to the Ligue 

 Fran9aise pour la Protection des Oiseaux, 

 and this was read at a meeting of that 

 society. He remarks that as the in- 

 stallations were not complete it was 

 difficult to judge of their efficacy, and 

 that various modifications had to be 



made in consequence of the construction 

 of the lighthouse and its position — two 

 factors which would always have to be 

 taken into account in the apphcation 

 of the Thijsse system. But, he adds, 

 " the Enghsh are ready to carry out 

 the projects of the Roj^al Society for the 

 Protection of Birds, and the Government 

 has accorded them facihties. It is to 

 be hoped that other countries will nob 

 delay to follow the example of England. 

 I understand that Denmark intends to 

 adopt the Thijsse method and that 

 Germany has sought information by a 

 special deputation. On all sides, it seems 

 to me that the question is being seriously 

 considered ; interest in the protection 

 of birds increases, and that is a happy 

 sign of the times." 



Throughout the spring migrations the 

 loss of bird-life at the great TerscheUing 

 Lighthouse, which is fitted with Professor 

 Thijsse's apparatus, was extremely small. 

 From December 1st, 1912, to June 1st, 

 1913, the total number of birds found 

 dead was only 91, and this although as 

 many as 400 sometimes rested on the 

 perches in a single night. It will be 

 remembered that about 100 Warblers 

 were killed at St. Catherine's in the 

 night of April 25th last. The 91 killed 

 at the TerscheUing in six months included 

 38 Larks, 12 Starlings, 7 Blackbirds, 

 3 Pewits, and in all 27 different species. 



NESTING-BOXES. 



There are few better ways of pre- 

 serving, and of increasing interest in, 

 wild birds, than feeding in winter and 

 the provision of nesting-boxes in spring. 

 The R.S.P.B. continues to supply a 

 variety of Boxes, British and Berlepsch, 

 and of Food-tables, stands, trays, and 

 bells. It is advisable to have these fixed 

 in place in the autumn; 



