56 



BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



IN THE COURTS. 



Bird-catching. — The birdcatchers, as usual, 

 have been busy during the autumn months, and 

 some of the sentences passed can hardly be regarded 

 as affording much support to County Council 

 Protection Orders. Men who are let off with a 

 fine of 5s. and costs after catching 23 Goldfinches, 

 and left in possession of their nets and the sur- 

 viving birds, are likely to find their trade worth 

 the risk. — At Tavistock, on October 14th, John 

 Thompson, a bird dealer, of Plymouth, and William 

 Hillson, were fined 5s. each and 4s. 6d. costs for 

 being in possession of a number of Goldfinches. 

 They were found working a bird net, and had with 

 them several call-birds in cages, and two boxes 

 with false bottoms, in one of which were seven 

 Goldfinches. All the birds died the same day. — 

 At Barnstaple, on October 14th, Alfred Richards 

 and Harry Guillaume were each fined 5s. and costs 

 for taking Goldfinches. They had nets and call- 

 birds, and 23 birds, 18 of which died. It appeared 

 that a former case in which Richards was concerned 

 was dismissed by the Bench on the ground that 

 there was no local publication of the Order ; on 

 an appeal by the R.S.P.C.A. the case was sent 

 back, the High Court judges stating that there was 

 nothing to show that publication was a necessary 

 precedent to conviction. No further proceedings, 

 however, were taken, and it was now contended that 

 Richards consequently thought he was not acting 

 illegally. — At Llandudno, on October 19th, John 

 Hudson was let off with a nominal fine of Is. and 

 costs for using birdlime to take Goldfinches. — At 

 Devizes, Henry Woodruff, birdcatcher, was fined 

 £1 and 7s. costs for taking Goldfinches on September 

 12th. He had a trap, which was set near a brook, 

 four decoy birds, and 15 or 16 Goldfinches in a cage. 

 The police took possession of the birds and set them 

 at liberty on a magistrate's order. — At Winchester 

 County Bench, on November 7th, Robert Biggs, 

 Edmund Harris, and Thomas Olding were con- 

 victed of catching Goldfinches at Otterbourne. The 

 police found on them two nets, lime, and three small 

 cages containing Goldfinches covered with water- 

 cress ; two of these were trapped decoys, and 

 died before the court day. Ordered to pay the 

 costs, 18s., among them. — At Aylesbury, on Sep- 

 tember 19th, Mark Carter, a Londoner, was con- 

 victed of taking Linnets at Great Missenden. In 

 his possession were five cages, nets, ropes, a call- 

 bird's cage, and a braced bird. When spoken to 

 by the policeman he offered the constable 2s. and a 

 drink to say nothing about it. Fined £1 8s. 8d., 

 the appliances to be destroyed. 



Cruelty to Decoys. — Henry Whiddett, of 

 Fulham, was fined 20s. and his nets ordered to be 

 confiscated, by the Acton Bench on October 21st. 

 He had nets laid at Grove Farm, Chiswick, with a 

 decoy Linnet, which had to be killed on account of 

 its injured and suffering state. 



Two labourers were fined 21s. each by the Nott- 

 ingham Magistrates on ^November 4th for cruelty to 

 a decoy Starling. It was stated that the practice 

 of catching Starlings in this way was very prevalent, 

 and the Chairman said it was brutal and ought to 

 be stopped. [The Notts Evening Post, commenting 

 on the case says : — " The law should prohibit 

 absolutely the taking of wild birds."] 



Gross Cruelty. At Cardiff, Charles Benson 

 Inson was fined 40s. on November 26th for cruelty. 

 He was shooting Starlings, and in his son's pocket 

 were found eleven birds, four of which were alive 

 but shockingly mutilated. 



The Use of the " Landwatch." — Two Lincoln- 

 shire men were summoned at Bourne, on November 

 19th, by the R.S.P.C.A. for cruelty to Plovers by 

 the use of an instrument known as the " landwatch," 

 in which decoy birds are placed. Persons engaged 

 in the trade denied the cruelty, and said Plover- 

 catching was an important industry, large quantities 

 of the birds being sent from the Fen districts to 

 London and provincial markets. Whether the size 

 of the business proved the humanity of its methods 

 or not the case was dismissed, on the ground that 

 no unnecessary suffering was caused. The 

 magistrates have been asked to state a case. 



NESTING-BOXES FOR BIRDS. 



Nesting-Boxes of various patterns, and of both 

 English and German make, are supplied by the 



Society. 



The German Boxes are those recommended by 

 the Freiherr von Berlepsch. A full description of 

 them and of their use will be found in the book 

 Hoio to Attract and Protect Wild Birds, recently 

 translated into English ; to be obtained of the Royal 

 Society for the Protection of Birds, price Is. 6d., 

 by post Is. 9d. 



The English Boxes, made under the superinten- 

 dence of Mr. Masefield, have been found equally 

 successful, and additional patterns can be made 

 to order. 



Price-lists can be had from the Society's Office, 

 where specimen Boxes may be seen. 



CHRISTMAS CARD. 



The Society's Christmas and New Year Card has 

 been specially painted by Mr. Robert Morley, 

 the well- known animal painter, and is a charming 

 example of his work. It is entitled 



"IN THE BELFRY," 

 and reproduced in colour, with Calendar for 1909. 



Price: — One card, 3d., by post, 3id. ; one dozen 

 cards, 2s. 6d., by post, 2s. 7d. 



Copies can still be had of 



"THE ARAB OF THE AIR," 

 from the picture by Mr. G. E. Lodge. With (or 

 without) Calendar for 1909. One card, 2d. ; one 

 dozen. Is. 6d., by post, Is. 7d. 



A few Assorted Packets (four varieties) 2s. each. 



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 of Birds, 

 3, Hanover Square, London, W. 



