Bird Notes and News 



121 



Bird-and-Tree (Arbor) Day. 



Year by year the quality of the Essays 

 on Bu*ds and Trees sent in from the 

 Elementary Schools in competition for the 

 County Challenge Shields and other awards 

 has improved and has far exceeded the 

 expectations with which the scheme was 

 started. It is, however, somewhat dis- 

 appointing to find that the number of 

 competing Schools increases but slowly, 

 and in one or two instances has even 

 diminished. The crowded state of the 

 official time-table is no doubt chiefly account- 

 able, and it is much to be regretted that 

 this should close rural schools to a subject 

 of serious importance to country dwellers, 

 and of benefit to the intelligence, character, 

 and happiness of the children. 



The most general defect in the papers 

 on Birds is concentration of attention on 

 nests and broods and want of knowledge 

 of the habits, food, and notes of the birds 

 themselves. In the Trees there is a tendency 

 to too much minute detail, with neglect of 

 distinguishing characteristics. But these are 

 failings natural to the youthfulness of the 

 writers ; and the jpatience, alertness, care, 

 and zeal displayed, together with the 

 excellence of writing and composition, are 

 sterling evidence of the natural capacity 

 of the children and of the skill of many 

 teachers in educing it. The ages of the 

 competitors range from fifteen down to 

 seven (in one Northants Team), the average 

 being about twelve. 



The Judges were : Mr. Montagu Sharpe 

 (Chairman of Council), Rev. Julian Tuck, 

 Rev. J. Clare Hudson, Mr. G. A. Freeman, 

 B.Sc, Mr. W. H. Hudson, Mr. Hastings 



Lees, Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, Mrs. Fuller 

 Maitland, Miss Clifton, Miss M. Rowe, 

 B.Sc, and Miss Gardiner. 



Short reports of some of the Bird and 

 Tree Festivals will, it is hoped, appear in 

 the next number of Bied Notes and News. 



INTER-COUNTY 

 COMPETITION. 



Chaxlenge Shield : Wobum Boys' Council 

 School (Beds.); East Caxleton School (Nor- 

 folk), tie. 



Second Pkize : Wolverton St. Mary Girls' Schoo 

 (Bucks). 



The Competition among the leading 

 Schools of each County for the Inter- 

 County Shield results, for the first time, 

 in a tie. The trophy must spend half the 

 year with the Wobum Boys' School (Beds.) 

 and half at East Carleton (Norfolk). 

 Woburn's Essays are all remarkably good, 

 showing not only accurate observation but 

 judgment and skill in selecting the salient 

 facts and arranging them in the best order. 

 The same School won the Shield last year, 

 and has evidently worked hard to keep it. 

 East Carleton, however, is little if at all 

 behind, and is a much younger Team. 

 These children's Essays are well worth 

 printing, being full of fresh observation 

 and nicely written ; they would show to 

 admiration what village boys and girls can 

 do, and should inspire and stimulate other 

 schools. The second prize goes to the 

 Wolverton St. Mary Girls (Bucks), who, 

 if somewhat inferior to the other two 

 Teams in exact knowledge, exceeds both in 

 charm of style. 



