Bird Notes and News 



61 



from personal observation, are marked 

 by accurate knowledge and considerable 

 descriptive power. The calendar of bird- 

 arrivals is an admirable one, and the 

 general comments are apt. The two 

 papers next in merit are both excellent 

 and contain much original work. G. V. 

 Webster's account of the Stone-Curlew 

 is particularly notable ; his chronicles 

 of Red-backed Shrike and Yellow Wagtail 

 are also very thorough, and a remarkably 

 full record is supplied of the larder of 

 the Shrike. The inclusion of the Kentish 

 Plover, peculiar to one locality, and 

 Lesser Tern, show that the writer has 

 not limited his area of observation. 

 There are thoughtful and interesting 

 remarks on the migration problem in 

 the Essay by C. P. Staples, which also 

 has a good calendar of arrivals and is 

 written in clear, simple English. 0. W. 

 Somerville describes his birds very 

 pleasantly, the Hirundines especially being 

 well dealt with. It is welcome news 

 that the Corncrake, whose rapid decrease 

 is deplored in England generally, is still 

 abundant in parts of Ireland. 



In the Junior Division, E. Searight, 

 who tied with C. C. Baring for the Medal 

 last year, again proves himself a capital 

 outdoor ornithologist, and adds some 

 charming sketches. He covers a large 

 ground, for he has managed to see a 

 great deal, and has records of many 

 small migrants not only in spring but 

 also in autumn, when it is more difficult 

 to see them. B. Seeker's Essay lacks 

 exact notes of arrivals, but is an excellent 

 record of work. He is evidently a keen 

 student of nests and eggs, and makes 

 a gallant attempt to describe the songs 

 of birds. His style is vigorous and 

 direct. L. S. Pitman sends a nice Essay, 

 making a point of comparisons between 



migrants and resident species ; and J. It. 

 Hassell, dealing mainly with the line 

 of migration across the Midlands, gives 

 interesting notes of the migrants seen at 

 different spots in that region, mention- 

 ing that Wood-Warbler, Brambling, and 

 Grey Plover have been picked up in the 

 streets of Birmingham. 



In the Owl Essays, C. P. Blacker 

 is unquestionably first, both for the 

 thoroughness of his work and for the 

 originality and value of his observations. 

 He is evidently a field naturalist who has 

 studied carefully and to good purpose, 

 and his knowledge of bird-anatomy is 

 a strong point. This is in every respect 

 an excellent paper. C. P. Staples, in 

 an Essay again to be commended for 

 its straightforward unpretending style, 

 points out forcibly some of the reasons 

 why the Owls are not more common ; 

 does not disguise his opinions of land- 

 owners and keepers who destroy either 

 Owls or rare Raptors, and brings forward 

 the evidence of pellets to prove his case. 

 G. E. Caraco devotes himself principally 

 to the food and consequent utility of the 

 birds discussed, and gives more space 

 than do other competitors to the Hawks 

 and Falcons. The variety of remedies 

 he suggests indicate a sincere anxiety 

 for the preservation of the birds. S. F. 

 Davenport also shows genuine interest 

 in his subject, and the true naturalist's 

 keen desire for the protection of fine 

 species of birds ; and he has given 

 careful attention to the economic 

 question. 



The Judges were : Mr. F. W. Headley, 

 M.A., Mr. J. R. B. Masefield, M.A., Mr. E. 

 G. B. Meade-Waldo, M.B.O.U., and the 

 Rev. Julian Tuck, M.A. Mr. Headley did 

 not act in the class in which there were 

 competitors from Haileybury. 



