96 



Bird Notes and News 



A late addition to the exhibits in the 

 hall of public health at the American 

 Museum of Natural History, in New York, 

 is connected with the anti-fly campaign. 

 It does not consist of fly-papers and traps, 

 but shows the most important enemies 

 of the fly, in a setting of stable and stable - 

 yard. A hen is engaged picking up fly 

 larvae ; a toad is waiting under burdock 

 leaves to catch its prey ; Swallows are 

 skimming over the yard, catching flies 

 on the wing ; wasps are abroad on a similar 

 quest, and in corners of the stable are waiting 

 spiders and centipedes, while bats hang 

 suspended from the beams. The Swallow 

 is, of course, only a representative of the 

 many species of birds, including even the 

 House-Sparrow, which wage war on flies. 

 Possibly to all these remedies might be 

 added a broom and pail as typical of the 

 cleanliness which is a main factor in the 

 prevention of fly-plagues. 



IN THE COURTS. 



Taking Eider Ducks' Egos. — At Cupar, 

 on May 11th, David Butchart, pier porter, 

 Broughty Ferry, and David Smith Mollison, 

 private in the Royal Engineers, were con- 

 victed of taking seven Eider-Ducks' eggs 

 on Tentsmuir. They visited the place on 

 a Sunday, with a portmanteau and various 

 bags to hold their booty, and took no fewer 

 than 654 eggs before they were caught by 

 the keepers. The great majority were those 

 of Black-headed Gulls which are not pro- 

 tected. Butchart, who organised the raid 

 and owned the boat employed, was fined 

 10s., and Mollison, as he wore His Majesty's 

 uniform, was let off with an admonition. — 

 At Aberdeen, J. Coull, motor-lorry attendant, 

 and two farm servants, were convicted of 

 taking three eggs of the Eider-Duck on the 

 links of Forvie on May 16th, and were fined 

 5s. each. A similar charge was brought 

 against J. Youngson and A. Will, farm 

 servants, of taking twenty-eight Eider- 

 Ducks' eggs ; fined 15s. each. 



BiRDCATCHrNG. — At Caxton (Cambridge), 

 on April 30th, Charles Emery, professional 

 birdcatcher of Gamlingay, was summoned 

 for setting nets for Linnets on April 12th. 

 He had five or six yards of nets, two decoy 

 birds pegged down, and two Linnets in 

 cages. In spite of the fact that Gamlingay 

 is one of the most notorious places in 

 England for birdcatching, and Emery's 

 name is well known in connexion with it, 

 he was let off with a caution. — At Dorking, 

 on May 15th, Matthew Duffield, Henry 

 Schofield, and Henry Duncombe, of Bethnal 

 Green, were charged with possession of 

 newly-caught wild birds. At Mickleham, on 

 April 20th, two of the men had stuffed birds 

 concealed in their hats, and they carried 

 a basket containing eleven wild birds, most 

 of which were smeared with bird-lime. 

 They said they were out for a day's sport 

 and were going to Epsom races. Fined 

 £1 each ; birds and outfit confiscated. 



NEW PUBLICATIONS- 



No. 73. 



ON LIBERATING CAGED 

 BIRDS. 



By W. H. HUDSON, F.Z.S. 



With Illustration in Colour by H. GroNVOLD. 

 Price Id. ; 9d. per dozen. 



No. 74. 



TAKEN PRISONER. 



Price 3d. per dozen ; Is. 9d. per 100. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE R.S.P.B. 

 FOR 1914. 



With Report of Proceedings at the 

 Annual Meeting, 1915. 



Bird 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., and 

 published by the Royal Society for the Protection op Birds, 

 23, Queen Anne's Gate S.W. 



