Bird Notes and News 



The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. 



ANmJAL MEETING. 



The Annual Meeting of the Society, held 

 on March 12th, at the Guildhall, West- 

 minster, was made memorable by the 

 presentation, at the hands of the Duchess 

 of Portland, President, of the Gold Sledal 

 awarded to Dr. Hornaday, Director of the 

 New York Zoological Park, and to Dr. C. 

 Gordon Hewitt, of Ottawa, Dominion Ento- 

 mologist and Consulting Zoologist, in recog- 

 nition of their work in furthering the first 

 International Bird-Protection treaty — that 

 between Canada and the United States 

 for the preservation of migratory birds. 

 Dr. Hornaday was represented by Mr. W. H. 

 Buckler, Special Attache, American Embassy, 

 in the absence from to^vn of the American 

 Ambassador ; and Dr. He-nitt by Sir George 

 Perley, High Commissioner for Canada. 



The Treaty, inter alia, gives protection 

 throughout the year to all migratory 

 insectivorous birds. 



The Duchess of Portland said that the 

 need for bird protection was never more 

 urgent than at present, particularly in view 

 of the destruction of valuable insectivorous 

 birds by so-called " sparrow-clubs." Major 

 Courthope, M.P., speaking as a practical 

 farmer, said his experience and observation 

 had convinced him that the vast majority 

 of birds did infinitely more good than harm ; 

 and he hoped the Society would gain the 

 assistance of Chambers of Agriculture, 

 Farmers' Clubs, and other bodies to which 

 the farmer looked for guidance. 



Other speakers included Brigadier- 

 General Page Croft, M.P., Sir Thomas 



Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New 

 Zealand ; General Ryan (Austrahan Imperial 

 Forces) ; IVIr. Montagu Sharpe, and Mr. 

 J. R. B. Masefield. 



Before the proceedings closed, Mr. Thor- 

 burn's picture " Behind the Lines in France," 

 generously given by the artist, was put up 

 for sale and was eventuall}' bought by 

 m. G. W. Hayes for £27 10s. 



A fuU report of the meeting, which was 

 largely attended, will be issued shortly 

 \^ith the Society's Annual Report. 



COUNCIL MEETING. 



The Council's quarterly meeting was held 

 at the Guildhall, on January 2oth, Mr. 

 Montagu Sharpe, Chairman, presiding. 



The Hon. Secretaky's Report stated 

 that the Bird-Protection Order for Somerset, 

 ensuring protection for all birds and eggs 

 on the Society's sanctuary, Brean Down, 

 had been renewed. Lectures had been 

 given by Miss McCombie, B.A. (Kirby) ; 

 Miss Farquhar (Wickham) ; Mr. Councillor 

 Pearson (Lytham) ; Mr. Masefield (Stoke- 

 on-Trent) ; Mr. A. Badland (Bradford) ; ]Mr. 

 Vicars Webb (Bristol), and Mr. Frisby 

 (Loughboro'). Twenty-seven Bird and Tree 

 Festivals had been held. The Christmas- 

 card had had a very large sale. 



The Finance and General Purposes 

 Committee presented the accounts for 1917. 

 Omng to the death of Mr. Wilham Watson, 

 who acted both as Hon. Sec. and as Watcher 

 for the Society in Ennerdale, and to the 

 resignation of ]\Irs. Tunnard and Mrs. 

 Hocking, three vacancies were created in 

 the list of the Society's Hon. Secretaries. 



