48 



BIRD NOTE"^ AND NEWS. 



IN THE COURTS. 



Cruelty to a Sea-Gull. — At Filey, on September 

 30th, Joshua Fountain, of Foords Hotel, Filey, said 

 to be well known as a " naturalist " and dealer 

 in tamed Sea-gulls and other birds, was charged 

 with cruelty to a captive Gull. It was stated that 

 the beach was frequently strewn with wounded 

 l)irds, shot at and then left to die by shore-gunners ; 

 and one of these wounded birds was brought to 

 defendant by a boy. Two days later it was seen 

 <Tawling about in agony with a smashed leg and wing, 

 among other Gulls in the inn's back-yard, by an 

 Inspector of the R.S.P.C.A. Defendant, who 

 avowed himself " a lover of dumb animals," said 

 lie meant to put the bird in splints, thinking he 

 could cure it, but had not had time. The Bench 

 found the charge proved, and let off the offender 

 under the Probation Act. [It is hoped that this 

 case will lead to the prohibition of all shooting on 

 the Filey shore, as is already the case at Scarborough, 

 Whitby, and Bridlington.] 



The Birdcatcheb and his Ways. — At the East 

 Riding Sessions on October 26th, Joseph Bassett, 

 of Hull, was fined 5s. and costs in each case for 

 possession of Linnets and for cruelty to decoy 

 bu'ds. He had forty-five birds in his net, two of 

 them dead froni suffocation, and seventy-one were 

 lying on the ground. He said he killed the hens to 

 make a pie. — -Two other men were also fined the 

 same amount at the same court, and one at Sproatley, 

 for taking Linnets. — At Hove, on November 7th, 

 Reginald Pockney was summoned for cruelty to 

 two Linnets and a Goldfinch. The birds were used 

 as decoys, jerked uji and down with a string in 

 the usual way, and had been roughly used. It was 

 stated that defendant freed the Goldfinch and put 

 his foot on the Linnets when he saw the Inspector, 

 but he afterwards denied having a Goldfinch. 

 The Bench dismissed the case, giving as their reason 

 that it was brought under the Wild Animals in 

 Captivity Act. — The Eastbourne Magistrates like- 

 wise dismissed a case Vjrought before them on 

 October 28th, when Frederick Mejiham was charged 

 with using nets for catching Goldfinches and cruelty 

 to decoy Linnets. He had three Goldfinches in 

 his possession, and a numl^er of cages, but swore 

 he used them as decoys for Linnets. Two of the 

 captive Linnets died through ):)eing tightly braced. 

 He said he should not think of catching Gold- 

 finches, as nobody would buy them. The Bench 

 perhaps believed this, but said they thought it 

 as well the case had been brought forward. — Yet 

 another case, this time of cruelty to decoy Larks, 

 was dismissed by the Luton Bench on October 31st 

 and the barrister who defended (Mr. Humphrey 

 Williams) had the honour of being cheered by a 

 largo gathering of birdcatchers as he left the court. 

 — At West Bromivich, on October IGth, Henry 

 Griffiths was fined 8s. 6d. for catching Larks ; nets, 

 traps and birds to be forfeited. — At Bristol, on 

 October 26th, Edwin Clevoley, of Bedminster, 

 was fined 10s. for cruelty to two decojr birds, the 

 Bench stating that they were determined to put 

 down such practices. — At Lutterworth, R. Taylor, 

 of Leicester, was fined 20s. for possession of Gold- 

 finches ; nets to be forfeited. He urged that the 

 birds were taken in Northamptonshire, where they 

 are not protected. 



Taking Owls. — At Newmarket, on November 

 21st, Arthur Harrington, a watercress dealer, was 

 fined 10s. for unlawful possession of two Brown 

 Owls. He took the birds from a tree, and was seen 

 with them in a hamjjer, poking them with a stick 

 to make them squeak for the delectation of a crowd 

 of chiklren. The birds were liberated. 



Shooting A Hoopoe. — At Elham,on December 1st, 

 John Foreman was fined 2s. 6d. and £1 7s. costs 

 for shooting a Hoopoe, a protected bird. Defendant 

 said he mistook it for a Jay, but the Bench held 

 that if this defence was accepted it would always 

 be held out. The bird was ordered to be forfeited 

 and sent to a local Museum. 



RECENT LEAFLETS. 



3d. per dozen. 



No. 61. " How Osprey Feathers Are Procured.'" 

 Reply to statements made by Mr. Leon Laglaize. 



No. 63. " Bird Study for Schoolboys." By 

 Harry Cox. 



No. 64. " Remember the Bu-ds." Bj' Mrs. Fuller 

 Maitland. 



No. 65. " Look and See." Letter to Young 

 Nature Students. By L. Gardiner. 



GREETING CARDS FOR 1910-11 



"CHRISTMAS CAROLLERS." 



The Society's Christmas Card for 1910-11. 



SPECIALLY designed. 



In part from the picture by Giovanni Bellini, and 

 reproduced in colour. 



Words by the late Lord Houghton. 



One card, 3d., by post, S^d. ; one dozen, 2s. 6d.^ 

 by post, 2s. 8d. With or without Calendar for 1911. 



SEASONABLE POSTCARDS. 

 Id. each, by post, l|d. ; one dozen. Is. post free. 

 " In the Belfry." Giant post card. 2d. 



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 be sent post free to any address for Is. per annum, 

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 published by the Royal Society kor the Protection of Birds, 

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