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Bird Notes and News 



Bird-and-Tree Challenge Shield Competition. 



The extreme importance of teaching children 

 a practical knowledge of Birds, and appre- 

 ciation of the value of bird life, is being 

 emphasised anew every day ; and similar 

 teaching is only less imperative in the case 

 of Trees. It is impossible to do more in 

 this number of Bird Notes and News than 

 record the results of the competitions for 

 1917 ; but it is hoped that every effort 

 will be made to stimulate this method 

 of nature-study in the spring, and it is 

 intended in the Spring Number to give a 

 few hints to new teams and young cadets. 

 The conapetition of 1917 has been very 

 satisfactory in view of the difficulties in 

 the way. The Swallow proved the favourite 

 bird : perhaps testimony to the joy with 

 which the belated spring was greeted. 



The judges of the essays were : Mr. 

 Montague Sharpe (Chairman of Council), 

 Miss Clifton, Mjs. Frederick Dawson, Mr. 

 G. A. Freeman, B.Sc, Mr. W. H. Hudson, 

 Mr. Hastings Lees, Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, 

 Rev. W. A. Shaw, Rev. J. G. Tuck, Mr. 

 Meade-Waldo, and Miss Gardiner (secretary). 



INTER-COUNTY SHIELD. 



Ten teams, as winners of the highest 

 places in the County Competitions, were 

 entered this year for the Inter-County 

 Shield. Since its institution this Shield 

 has been won by Hampshire (twice, Privett 

 and St. Peter's Girls', Bournemouth), Somer- 

 set (Long Ashton), Berkshire (Buckland), 

 Northants (Wellingborough Council School), 

 Bedfordshire (twice, Woburn Boys'), Bucks 

 Wolverton St. Mary), and Norfolk (twice). 

 This year it is again awarded to Norfolk. 

 The Little Dunham boys and girls write 

 with delightful enthusiasm, and show surpris- 

 ing ability to note the characteristic features 

 of both Birds and Trees. The second place is 

 taken by Hampshire, the extent and quality 

 of Barton Stacey's first-hand observation 

 proving both zeal and patience. These two 

 teams send in precisely the sort of work 

 which the society desires to stimulate. 



COUNTY CHALLENGE SHIELDS. 



BucKiNGHAJViSHiKE.— Challenge Shield .- Tyr- 

 ingham-cum-Filgrave School. This school 



has been working its way up for some 

 time, and the essays show real insight, 

 observation, and appreciation ; the matter 

 is all good, though it is not well arranged. 

 The birds are Swan, Starling, Wood-Pigeon, 

 and Chaffinch ; the trees Sycamore, Larch, 

 and Holly. Prince's Risboro' and Elles- 

 borough, both winners of the Shield in 

 past years, send in some excellent papers, 

 remarkably well written and sympathetic ; 

 while Pitstone is advancing on right lines 

 and shows how well boys of nine and ten 

 years can do. These three schools take 

 certificates of excellence. 



Cumberland.— CAaZZewgre Shield : Butter- 

 mere School, which repeats its triumph 

 of last year, although a very small school. 

 St. John's Girls', Keswick, doubtless suffered 

 from loss of the head mistress, but should 

 soon regain its old form, as two teams 

 evidence admirable nature-study. Cargo, 

 which may run the leaders in Cumberland 

 hard next year if its improvement continues, 

 also Tidns a certificate this year ; and 

 Nether Denton is another notably promising 

 team. Once again the county shines by 

 reason of its varied list of birds studied, 

 thus giving distinct interest to the papers ; 

 and the artistic work is good. 



Hampshire. — Challenge Shield : Barton 

 Stacey (second year). In a county where 

 composition is so strong it is probably a 

 sur^Drise to all concerned to find the Shield 

 awarded for two years rumiing to the same 

 village school. There is constant friendly 

 rivalry among half a dozen leading teams, 

 with also a good chance that one pre\nously 

 less regarded may with a sudden effort 

 come in first. The contest between Barton 

 Stacey and the team from St. Peter's 

 Girls', Bournemouth, which wins second 

 prize, is curiously close this year. All the 

 writers are girls, the average age the same, 

 the selected birds are similar species. Both 

 are admirable sets of essays, full of informa- 

 tion, displaying keen interest, and gracefully 

 written. The winning Bird-essays deal with 

 Goldfinch, Red Wagtail, and Long-tailed Tit. 

 Bournemouth's drawings are particularly 



