Bird Notes and News 



105 



(Cuckfield) ; Miss Jacob (London, W.) ; 

 H. W. Jessop (Pvawdon) ; Mrs. Craven 

 Jones (London, N.W.) ; J. W. Lombard 

 (Dublin) ; Mrs. McLean (Blundellsands) ; 

 Mrs. Norman (Bath); Mrs. Roscoe (Evesham); 

 Ernest Sutton (Saskatchewan) ; Miss Ysolde 

 Walters (Chesham Bois) ; Mrs. E. Wansey 

 (Worthing); W. Webb (Central Telegraph 

 Office, E.C.). 



Watchers Committee. 



Reports were received from the Society's 

 Watchers at various stations, from Trinity 

 House with reference to protection of 

 birds at Lighthouses, and also with 

 regard to the illegal taking of eggs in 

 certain districts ; and business relating to 

 a threatened action against the Society 

 for libel, was dealt with. 



General Business. 



It was agreed that the arrangements 

 for judging the Public School Essays 

 and the Bird-and-Tree Essays from 

 Elementary Schools should be similar to 

 those of previous years. A suggestion 

 for offering extra prizes for two special 

 subjects was deferred until next year. 

 Among other correspondence considered 

 were letters arising out of an illustration 

 in a daily paper representing " fishing 

 for Gannets " from the Bass Rock ; it 

 was explained that the birds were merely 

 caught for " ringing," no fishing in the 

 ordinary sense of the term, nor any injury 

 to the birds, being entailed. The sale 

 of game-birds in the close season, and 

 other subjects, were considered. 



OBITUARY. 



The Society has sustained a loss that 

 will be greatly felt in the sudden death, 

 at Dover on June 18th, of Mr. G. W. 

 Chitty, of Belmont, Ightham, who had 

 been a Fellow of the R.S.P.B. since 1899 

 and Hon. Secretary for Hythe since 1905. 



Keenly interested in every agency for 

 social advancement and genuine philan- 

 thropy, Mr. Chitty made his Secretary- 

 ship no nominal post, but threw into 

 the work a whole-hearted and practical 

 sympathy which, combined with his 

 kindly and unassuming manner and 

 personal generosity, drew in many other 

 influential supporters. Though senior 

 partner in a large commercial concern 

 which owed its extension mainly to his 

 acumen, his main delight was in the 

 things of the country and in art and music, 

 and he had always time and thought to 

 spare for the Birds. Mr. Chitty was a 

 man of delicate health, but his death was 

 wholly unexpected. He was 72 years 

 of age. 



PUBLIC SCHOOL ESSAY 

 COMPETITION. 



Intending competitors are reminded 

 that all Essays, whether on " Flight " or 

 on " The British Owls," should be handed 

 in to the representative of the Society 

 at a Public School by Sept. 30th, or be 

 forwarded direct to the Head Office of 

 the R.S.P.B., 23, Queen Anne's Gate, 

 S.W. In either case they should reach 

 the Society by October 18tb. 



CHRISTMAS CARD. 

 The Society's Greeting-Card for 1915-6 

 will be again from a painting by Mr. 

 O. Murray-Dixon, whose " Bird of Good 

 Omen " was so much admired last year. 

 It will illustrate verses taken, by permis- 

 sion of Lord Desborough and of the 

 Times, from the poem " Into Battle," 

 written by the late Captain the Hon. 

 Julian Grenfell, D.S.O. (Royal Dragoons) 

 while serving his country in France. Mr. 

 Murray-Dixon himself is a member of 

 the United Arts Rifles, 1st City of 

 London Battalion. 



