08 



BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



point of whistling to her Thrushes, especially 

 at feeding-time, when they were in the 

 aviary. The little fellow was evidently in 

 the best of health, though in the most 

 miserable condition when purchased, and 

 thoroughly enjoying his little wild outdoor 

 life. It was June when he was freed, and 

 through the autumn he constantly frequented 

 the garden, becoming quite tame. Occasion- 

 ally he would take a glance at his old 

 " home " (a box about ten inches by six), 

 but manifested no inclination whatever to 

 share the " happy " state of Agatha's lark ! 



IN THE COURTS. 



r Catching Birds with Hooks. — At the Lerwick 

 Sheriff Court, on December 19th, 1908, four young 

 men were convicted of attempting to catch sea-birds 

 by means of baited hooks. The Fiscal said that 

 many complaints had been made of the cruel prac- 

 tice, and it was necessary that an example should 

 be made. As this was the first prosecution under 

 the Act of 1908, defendants were let off with small 

 fines, the Sheriff adding that they ought to have 



had the sense to see the cruelty of the thing. 



At St. Ives, Cornwall, on March 10th, four fishermen 

 were summoned for catching birds with hooks. The 

 ■defence was that the birds were wanted as food. 

 One man was fined and the others ordered to pay 

 •costs. 



Shooting on the Foreshore. — At Woolton 

 Sessions, on February 1st, 1909, Thomas Allen was 

 fined for shooting a Gull on the Mersey foreshore, 

 .a protected area. The action was taken by the 

 Liverpool S.P.C.A. with a view to putting a check 

 ■on the desultory shooting which was said to be on 

 the increase. Defendant pleaded that he was 

 "' trying a new gun." 



Birdcatching. — At East Ham on January 16th, 

 ■George Fairweather, of Manor Park, was convicted 

 •of illegal birdcatching and of cruelty to decoy birds. 

 A Chaffinch and a Linnet, braced with string which 

 •cut into the flesh, were in an exhausted condition, 

 and eleven newly-caught birds were in a cage close 

 by. Defendant made the usual excuse that he 

 ■ had to do something to earn a living." Fined 

 £1 15s., and an order made for the liberation of the 



birds and destruction of the apparatus. At 



■Coventry on January 15th, Alfred Chattaway was 

 fined 20s. and costs for birdcatching. He had 

 ■cages, birdlime, decoy birds, and three Bullfinches 

 recently-caught in his possession, and evidently 

 made his living at the business. The police said 

 there were many such cases, although 300 Bird 

 Protection Notices had been posted in the district. 



At Long Ashton, on February 26th, James 



Tapscott, of Bristol, was summoned for cruelty to 

 a decoy Goldfinch and Linnet, and for taking a 

 Goldfinch. The decoys were braced in the usual 

 way, and completely exhausted. Defendant, who 

 gave a false name and address, pleaded that he was 

 not a professional catcher, and had seven children. 

 On promising " not to be cruel " he was let off with 

 a small fine and allowed to retain his nets. 



BIRD PROTECTION ORDERS. 



The following County Council Orders have 

 been issued since January 1st, 1909 : — 



Essex. January 14th. BCDEFS. As 

 previous Order, with addition of clause ex- 

 empting House-Sparrow from operation of 

 the Act. 



Oxford. February 19th. E F. Owl 

 (all species) protected all the year, and Owls' 

 eggs protected. 



East Sussex. February 17th. A (e), 

 B C E F S. Same as Order of 1905, with 

 addition of the full protection throughout 

 the year for the Heron and its eggs. 



Glamorgan. January 28th. A (b) 

 B C E F S. As previous Order, but close 

 time for Woodcock to be between last day of 

 January and first day of August. 



Ireland. — March 1st. C. Close time for 

 Woodcock and Snipe to be from March 1st 

 to October 1st in following counties : Carlow, 

 Cavan, Clare, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, 

 Limerick, Londonderry, Louth, Mayo, 

 Queen's County, Roscommon, Wexford, 

 Wicklow. 



NEW LEAFLETS. 



No. 60. — Moulted Plumes. Letters from 

 H.B.M. Ministers in Venezuela and Argentina, and 

 others. With illustrations of Egrets and 

 " osprey " plume. Price Id. ; 9d. per doz. 



No. 61. — How Osprey Feathers are Procured. 

 A condensed edition of No. 60. With illustration. 

 Threepence per doz. ; Is. 9d. per 100. 



No. 62. — Wild Bird Protection Orders in 

 Great Britain. Showing the nature of Orders in 

 force under the Wild Bird Protection Acts, 1880 

 to 1906. With form of Order and suggestions as 

 to birds specially needing protection, and how to 

 protect them. 



ANNUAL REPORT. 



The Annual Report of the Royal Society for the 

 Protection of Birds, with proceedings at the 

 Annual Meeting, 1909, is now ready, and may be 

 obtained from the Society's office ; free to 

 subscribers. 



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. 



