34 



Bird Notes and News 



its name : and this result is clue in a great 

 measure tr- Mrs. Phillips' unwearied devotion 

 and tactful management." 



In 1916, with a Societj'- extended far 

 beyond the limits of twenty years ago, the 

 tribute to Mrs. Phillips' work cannot be 

 less sincere. She was also a frequent 

 speaker at th.e Amiual Meetings, eloquent 

 b}' reason of her deep feelmg and intimate 

 knowledge. It is not without touching 

 significance that her last utterance on the 

 Society's platform in 1902 was devoted 

 to inspiring and stimulating the campaign, 

 then newly inaugurated, among children, 

 the workers of the future, by means of 

 Bird - and - Tree Competitions, her speech 

 ending with the characteristic words : — 



■ ' The establishment of a Bird-and-Tree 

 Day by promoting the study of Nature 

 among all classes will do noble work, for 

 it must tend to spread abroad in the hearts 

 of both teachers and pupils the best and 

 surest, nay, the only efficient motive power 

 for good — the Love of God." 



Mrs. Pliillips was left a widow for a 

 second time in 1891, and shortly afterwards 

 took up her residence at Vaughan House, 

 Croydon, where she died. She had been in 

 failing health for some time, but until 

 very recently was able to interest herself 

 in the daily paper and in reading her 

 favourite Greek poets ; and her death 

 occurred quite suddenty and peacefully. 

 Her nobility of character, a bent of mind 

 perhaps somewhat masculme, and a deep 

 sincerity of purpose, made up a personality 

 which impressed itself upon all who knew 

 her, and has left its mark on many phases 

 of work in the humanitarian world. 



The death has also to be chrorucled of 

 two other friends of the Society, whose 

 membership dates from a very early period. 



Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, F.R.S.E. (Scot.) 

 of Dimipace House, Stirlingshire, had been 

 a constant correspondent and supporter of 

 the work since 1 892, when his first donation , 

 of £10, started the young Society's banking 

 account. He was the author of some 250 

 books and papers on ornithological and 

 allied subjects. 



Captain Ciiippindall-Heale}'^ became Hon. 

 Secretarj^ for Havant m 1896, and on leaving 

 that district took up the work at Hove, 

 resignmg, tlu'ough ill-health, only in 1913, 

 and retaming his kindty interest to the last. 



Captain J. M. Charlton, who was killed 

 m France on his 25th birthday (July 1, 1916), 

 was one of the most talented of the younger 

 generation of bird-students, and won the 

 R.S.P.B. Bronze Medal in the Public School 

 Essay Competition in 1910. He had been 

 recommended for the Military Cross. He 

 was a son of Mr. John Charlton, the eminent 

 artist ; and his brother, Lieut. H. V. Charlton, 

 who was killed in action a week eailier, was 

 a rising painter of birds and animals. 



THE USE OF AIR-GUNS. 



The following letter has been addressed to 

 the County and Borough Councils of Great 

 Britain by the Royal Society for the Pro- 

 tection of Birds : — 



" The Council of the Royal Society for the 

 Protection of Birds beg to call the attention 

 of County Covmcils, as the local Taxation 

 Authorit}^ to the lu-gent need for enforcing 

 the Gun' Licence Act, 1870 (33 & 34 Vict, 

 c. 57), as regards the use of Air-gxms. 



" The definition clause of the Act is as 

 follows : — 



" In this Act the term ' gmi ' includes a. 

 fire-arm of any description and an air-gun 

 or any other kind of gun from which any 

 shot, bullet, or other missile can be dis- 

 charged." 



