BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



55 



The late Sir Charles Dilke was among the 

 early friends of the Society, expressing warm 

 approval of its work and sympathy with 

 its objects, although never officially con- 

 nected with its organization. 



The cause of animals and birds in Scotland 

 has to deplore the death of the Rev. John 

 Ferguson, B.D., of Aberdalgie, who spent 

 himself untiringly in its promotion. As 

 Hon. Sec. for Perthshire for the Scottish 

 P.C.A., he journeyed over a wide district 

 to address the schools, and on these occasions 

 as well as in his pulpit utterances, he did not 

 fail to plead for the birds and to commend 

 the work of the R.S.P.B., of which he was a 

 Member. Though Uving for thirty years 

 in a quiet rural parish, Mr. Ferguson was a 

 travelled and scholarly man, who kept 

 abreast of modern thought without neglect 

 of the old learning. 



PUBLIC-SCHOOL COMPETITION. 

 Silver and Bronze medals. Certificates 

 and books are again offered by the Society 

 for Essays written by pubhc-school boys. 

 The alternative subjects this year are — (a) 

 Records of personal observations made 

 during the year on one species of bird, to 

 which descriptive matter, otherwise acquired, 

 may be added ; (b) Description of a holiday 

 with the birds, to include records of any birds 

 seen during the spring vacation. Full par- 

 ticulars of the Competition may be obtained 

 from the Offices of the R.S.P.B., 23, Queen 

 Anne's Gate. 



THE PROTECTION OF CROPS. 

 The Council of the R.S.P.B., being fully 

 alive to the difficulties of farmers and 

 gardeners in protecting their crops, intend 

 offering a substantial award for the best 

 Essay on the most practical, economical, 

 and inexpensive methods of guarding 

 fruit, vegetables, flowers, and agricultural 



crops, other than that of destroying 

 birds. By this means the Council hope 

 to elicit many practical suggestions, which 

 they will embody in a pamphlet for distribu- 

 tion among agricultural and gardening 

 associations, and other bodies interested in 

 the question. Further particulars will be 

 ready shortl3^ 



BIRD AND TREE COMPETITION 



As the time for entering in the Bird and 

 Tree Competitions (Elementary' Schools), 

 1911, has been changed, and the change has 

 not been noted by all schools, entries will 

 for this year be admitted during April. 

 All who are interested in the teaching of 

 children, especially in the villages, are asked 

 to make the scheme known in their locaHty, 

 as there is an Open Class for schools in any 

 county. Entry-foi-ms and all particulars 

 may be had from the Secretary of the 

 Society. 



The Northamptonshire Education Com- 

 mittee, at their meetmg on January 25th, 

 decided to send out copies of the best Essays 

 sent in last year to ever}' school in the county, 

 in order to encourage them to join in the 

 Competition. The Chairman (Mr. Allebone) 

 who gave the Challenge Shield, said that the 

 scheme had proved of great interest, and 

 should be of much use to the children. 



PUBLIC SCHOOL ESSAYS. 



The following extracts are taken from 

 essays sent in from the Public Schools, in 

 competition for the Silver Medal and other 

 awards offered by the Royal Society for the 

 Protection of Birds. They are indicative 

 of the careful first-hand observation which 

 shows the true naturaUst. As usual, nests 

 and eggs claim foremost attention in these 

 essays, and other habits and characteristics 

 of the birds do not receive their due ; but 



