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BIRD NOTES ASD NEWS. 



there was a tea, followed by games ; and on February 

 9th a public meeting at St. Peter's Hall, when the 

 Rev. W. Edgcumbe Leachman, who presided, ex- 

 plained the scheme, and Mr. W. Parkinson Curtis, 

 P.E.S., lectured on " The Birds of Poole Harbour," 

 with lantern illustrations. The prizes given by the 

 Society, and by Miss Firbank (head mistress) and 

 Miss Rooper, were distributed by Miss D. Vipan, a 

 Member of the Education Committee. 



A particularly happy Festival was held at Ridge, 

 on December 22nd, when in spite of rain, Mrs. 

 Suckling drove to this isolated little village to share 

 in and increase the festivities, bringing with her a 

 birch tree for planting, extra prizes, and buns. 

 She also gave an encouraging address. At 

 Awbridge, also, Mrs. Suckling gave prizes and a 

 lantern address ; and a catalpa tree, presented by 

 Mr. E. H. Thurston, was planted. At Barton 

 Stacey, a damson tree was planted in the garden of 

 the mistress, Miss Lutton, who has done so much 

 to stimulate the Competition and help the Team. 

 At Hayling additional prizes were provided by 

 Colonel Collins, C.B., and by Admiral Startin, and 

 Miss Sandeman, and a tree was duly planted. 



NORFOLK. — The success which attended the first 

 Bird and Tree Competition in Norfolk characterised 

 also the public meeting for the presentation of the 

 Shield and prizes, held at the Thatched Assembly 

 Rooms, Norwich, on November 27th. Sir William 

 ffolkes, Chairman of the County Council, presided 

 over a large and influential attendance, and Lady 

 ffolkes presented the Shield to Bracon Ash Team, 

 and the prizes and certificates to their various win- 

 ners. Sir William made reference to the rich 

 avifauna of the county ; and Mrs. James Stuart 

 said they were proud to know that Norfolk was the 

 first county to work this scheme through its own 

 Education Committee. Mr. H. Lee Warner traced 

 the progress of bird-study from the first growth in 

 boy and girl of the humanising self-denial which 

 led a boy not to take eggs, and the girl not to pry 

 too far into the secrecy of the nest. That was the 

 first lesson the Gilbert Whites and Bosworth 

 Smiths aspired to teach. From humanity in its 

 widest sense they passed to observation, and 

 through that door to knowledge, if not to science. 

 With this power of observation came also the prac- 

 tical gain of distinguishing between friends and 

 foes to agriculture ; and in these days it would be 

 no little gain if the small holders and their families 

 earned to recognise what the Prussian Board of 

 Agriculture were spending thousands of pounds 

 to teach, viz., that no power on earth could make 

 up for the loss of our bird population in keeping the 

 land free from pests. Mr. T. A. Cox, secretary to 

 the Education Committee, said that out of 500 



schools in Norfolk 95 were invited to compete, 

 and of these 66 sent in papers. Next year he would 

 invite all the schools to join. 



SOMERSETSHIRE.— The reception of the County 

 Shield for the second year in succession was 

 celebrated by Long Ashton on February 15th, the 

 tree-planting having been accomplished before 

 Christmas. The ceremony took place at Ashton 

 Court, where the children were entertained by Lady 

 Smyth, for whom hearty cheers were given. After 

 tea in the Church House, there was a large gathering 

 of parents and friends, and a musical programme 

 was gone through, under the direction of Mr. 

 Gunston, the head master. Mr. Bothamley, 

 County Education Secretary, gave a most instructive 

 and helpful address. 



The Castle Cary Girls' School, winners of the 

 second prize, celebrated Arbor Day in conjunction 

 with the Boys' School, on December 22nd. Mr. 

 Macmillan presented the prizes, and Miss Naish, 

 head mistress, entertained the girls to tea. The 

 children of Exford School gave a capital entertain- 

 ment to a crowded audience on December 4th, 

 including songs, dialogues, and a Maypole dance. 

 Between the two parts the Bird and Tree report 

 and two of the essays were read by the Chairman 

 (Rev. W. New), who heartily congratulated the 

 Team and Mr. and Mrs. Brambley, and the prizes 

 were distributed by Mrs. New. Previous to these 

 proceedings a tea was given to the children by the 

 vicar and Mrs. New. At Clutton trees and shrubs 

 were planted in front of the school. Whitestaunton's 

 first Festival was the occasion of a happy holiday, 

 when after a programme of songs and recitations 

 the medals and books were presented by the Rev. 

 H. A. Cartwright (rector), and a pretty fir tree, 

 given by Captain Elton, was planted amid much 

 excitement in the churchyard. The boys' and girls' 

 Teams of Southend School, Chard, joined in a cele- 

 bration on December 23rd, when Mrs. Haughton 

 James gave the prizes and medals with encouraging 

 words. 



Dytche School, Bridgwater, held their festival on 

 February 26th. A happy half-holiday began with 

 the planting of two plane-trees in the playground, 

 and closed with a delightful lantern lecture from 

 Mr. Henry Corder, and with the presentation of the 

 awards. The Rev. W. R. Pearson, rector of Holford, 

 presided. 



WARWICKSHIRE.— The Director of Education for 

 the county (Mr. Bolton King) who has taken great 

 interest in promoting the scheme, was present at 

 the function at Henlcy-in-Arden in December last, 

 and presented the Warwickshire Shield to its first 

 winners. Mr. King said that no subject was more 



