10 



BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



useful and encouraging addresses were given 

 by the chairman and the Rev. R. J. Lubbock, 

 A.K.C., tlie festivity concluding with the 

 planting of a tree and shrubs. Mr. A. G. 

 Pricket t, head master, and Miss Watson, 

 head mistress, were thanked for their un- 

 faiUng interest in the work. 



At Barton Stacey the Festival was asso- 

 ciated with the School breaking-up day on 

 December 22nd. The report and best essays 

 were read by the Vicar, Rev. A. C. FrankHn, 

 who also gave an interesting address ; and 

 after songs and recitations, two Chestnut 

 trees were planted in the playground, one by 

 the Vicar, Avho was the kind donor of both, 

 the other by Miss Hodgson, of Gavelacre. 



Successful festivals have been held also at 

 Bramshaw, Awbridge, Ridge, Romsey, and 

 others have yet to be carried out. 



Somersetshire. — The formal presentation 

 of the Shield to the Frome Boys' School is 

 postponed until later in the year. 



Yatton held its Annual Festival on January 

 1 5th , when the Second Prize awards and medals 

 were presented by Lady Cardigan, and the 

 permanent commemoration Shield by Mr. C. 

 H. Bothamley, County Education Secretary ; 

 and Mountain-ash trees were planted in the 

 churchyard. The Vicar, Rev. R. Hayes- 

 Robinson, presided. The essays were read, 

 and a Somerset folk-song formed a pleasing 

 item of the proceedings. Lady Cardigan 

 expressed her pleasure in'^attending such an 

 interesting function and her unqualified 

 approval of this means of inculcating the 

 observation which made the profit and 

 pleasure in life of the country. Mr. Bothamley 

 observed that the competitions were 

 extremely useful in leading young people 

 to take an interest in bird-life, and they 

 served another purpose in so training the 

 mind that they could rely on their own 

 judgment and knowledge in emergencies. 

 A most promising member of the team being 

 seriously ill, Mr. Bothamley kindly took the 

 sick lad his medal and book. 



At Long Asliton the festivities extended 

 over three days. The presentation took 

 place at Ashton Court, where Lady Smythe 



formally handed over to Mr. Gunston the 

 Bronze Inter-County Medal and the per- 

 manent memorial Shield attesting the past 

 victories of the Bird and Tree team. The 

 girls of the cookery class made the cakes for 

 the festival tea; the boys of the gardening 

 class planted the trees. Some very fine photo- 

 graphs of the teams, the school, garden, and 

 bee-garden, were taken by Mrs. Irby and 

 copies kindly presented to the School and to 

 the R.S.P.B. 



Exford had, as usual, a most successful 

 entertainment, given by the teachers and 

 scholars, under the direction of Mr, 

 Brambley, head master. The schoolroom 

 was packed, and the songs, dialogues, and 

 sketches were successfully performed. The 

 Rev. W. New presided and read the report, 

 and the certificate and prizes were dis- 

 tributed by Mrs. New. Extra books were 

 given by Mr. New and Mr. Greig, and Mr. 

 and Mrs. New gave the team tea. 



A pet Jackdaw belonging to the School was 

 a conspicuous feature in the proceedings at 

 Catcott, where the Festival was held on 

 December 23rd. He accompanied the chil- 

 dren to the field behind the school where 

 the trees, given by Mr. Henniker, were 

 planted, and superintended the work from a 

 convenient apple-tree, occasionally alighting 

 on one of the children to have a closer view. 

 The prizes were presented by Mr. Henniker, 

 and carols sung. 



At Clutton a larch tree and some flowering 

 shrubs were planted and the awards dis- 

 tributed on December 23rd. 



Warwickshire. — Here too the festival of 

 the Shield School, Middleton, has been post- 

 poned. 



Henley -in- Arden, winners of the Second 

 Prize, commemorated the event on St, Valen- 

 tine's Day, the Rev. G. A. WiUis, chairman 

 of Managers, presiding, and congratulating 

 Mr. Cooper and liis staff and the team, upon 

 the success won, and the practical benefits 

 resulting from the study. He hoped Bird 

 and Tree Day would become an annual fes- 

 tival. Several of the essays were read and 

 songs sung. Part of the Society's grant is to 

 be expended on a summer outing for the team. 



Pleasant celebrations are chronicled also 

 from Mancetter, Fillongley, Elborrow, and 

 Stratford-on-Avon. 



