104 



Bird Notes and News 



took to the wing it repeated the unmelo- 

 dious tick-tack, sounding like nothing so 

 much as a wheel badly in need of greasing. 

 The ' tack ' was about a fourth below the 

 ' tick.' 



" By-and-bye it was noticed that the 

 Snipe no longer came to his vantage-point ; 

 and not long after this two old birds and 

 five young birds were daily seen flying over 

 the field and the school buildings. The 

 conclusion to which we came was that the 

 male bird kept his post as sentry while 

 incubation was going on, and gave up the 

 duty when the cliicks were hatched. We 

 are, however, by no means sure that it 

 was always the male which stood on the venti- 

 lator. As I was often told by the children 

 that ' now there is a bigger bird on the 

 chimney' (meaning ventilator), possibly the 

 pair took turns at sitting on the eggs and 

 takmg ' sentry go.' 



" The birds had become so much accus- 

 tomed to us that they continvially flew quite 

 low over us, bleating as they did so. When- 

 ever this happened the bird's wings were 

 always spread out to their full extent, so 

 that it appeared to plane along — its planes 

 quivering violently, but never flapping as 

 they do in flight." 



"ARBOR DAY." 



Songs, plays, and musical pieces are lent 

 by the society for inclusion in the programme 

 of Bird-and-Tree Festivals ; and it is 

 suggested that an extra effort might be 

 made by schools this year to give attractive 

 performances and possibly add thereby to 

 the local Bird-Protection or Red Cross funds. 

 Lantern slides can also be obtained. 



It is specially urged that the trees jilanted 

 should he such as afford berries for the birds 

 in winter. 



Greeting Card, 1917-18 



READY IN NOVEMBER. 



BEHIND THE LINES 



"Robin in Khaki" behind the Lines in France' 



Specially Designed and Painted by 



MR ARCHIBALD THORBURN. 



and Reproduced in Colour with Appropriate Verses. 



One Card 3d., by Post 3H. 



One Dozen Cards 2/6, by Post 2/9. 



With or without Calendar for 1918. 



FEED THE BIRDS! 



CATALOGUE OF THE R.S.P.B. 



FOOD-STANDS and 



NESTING- BOXES 



Illustrates useful Feeding Appliances for Wild Birds, 

 including " Ever-Ready " Hopper for a constant supply of 

 Seeds for Finches, etc. ; " Hanger-on " Food-Boxes for 

 scraps of all sorts for Tits ; " Lunch Counter " for the 

 window-ledge ; " Bird- House," " Svalen," and " Ward '* 

 Tables for food of every kind. Safe from Cats. 



Tree-Hole Nesting Boxes (all the Berlepsch improve- 

 ments) ; Walden Boxes. 



Save the Food-crops. 



Save our Bird Allies, 



BIRDS, INSECTS & CROPS : 



A War-time Leaflet for all Growers 

 of the Nation's Food Supplies. 



Write for copies to the Secretary, Royal Society 

 for the Protection of Birds, 23, Queen Anne's Gate, 

 S.W. L 



Also published by the Society : " OUR ALLY 

 THE BIRD," Illustrated Leaflet, 9d. per dozen ; 

 " FARM, GARDEN, AND BIRDS " : How to 

 protect crops without destruction of Bird-life ; 

 price Sixpence. 



BIRD NOTES TN THE WAR 

 AREA. 



In the Winter Number of " Bird Notes 

 & News " it is hoped to j)ubhsh some 

 interesting notes from the Western front, 

 by Mr. Ohver G. Pike, the well-known writer 

 of the " Birdland " books, now on active 

 service with the R.F.C. 



BmD Notes and News (issued quarterly) will 

 be sent post free to any address for Is. per annum, 

 payable in advance ; single numbers, 3d. 



To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and 

 upwards per annum it is forwarded gratis and post 

 free. 



Printed by Witherby & Co., 326, High Holborn, W.C.l., and 

 published by the Roval Society for the Protection of Bi rus 

 23, Queen Anne's Gate, S.W.l. 



