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JOLKNAL OF THE WILD BIRD INXESTK .ATIOX SOCIETY. 



objects, viz., the establishment of local branches. 

 1 rej^ard this as most important, for never was 

 \hvn- a greater need than at the present time for 

 such org-anization, if we wish to preserve our 

 wild birds. 



\\'ith(iut exag-geration, I can safely say that 

 in the district I live we have not a quarter of 

 the number of birds we had ten years ago. The 

 Tits, the Wren, the Challinch, the Skylark, the 

 Song- and Missel-Thrushes, the Robin, the Jay, 

 the Magpie and the Jackdaw have all decreased. 

 Of our visitors, the Fieldfare and Redwing are 

 shot bv the market gardeners, and indiscriminate 

 egg-collecting has undoubtedly been the cause of 

 tiie reduction of many other species. On the 

 other hand, the House-Sparrow and Starling 

 have both increased. 



I sincerely hope that there will be a wide and 

 readv response to this call, for I feel sure that 

 local societies could <lci much to educate public 

 opinion, and ultimately bring' about a very 

 different state of things. Further, such local 

 branches would bring students of bird life 

 together, and so increase the interest of this 

 fascinating' studv. 



A PRArricAL Orxithologis'i. 



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LOCAL BRANCHES. 



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I welconie most heartily the proposed forma- 

 tion of a new Society for the purpose of wild 

 bird investigation, and feel sure that it has a long 

 and most useful career before it. 



For over twentv years I have been a studeiit 

 of ornitholog'v, or perhaps I should say, the ways 

 and habits of wild birds, and I have frequently 

 felt the need of a publication that was interested 

 in the same, and also the lack of local ornitho- 

 log'ical societies. 



There must be hundreds of bird lo\ ers and 

 students of wild bird life that have the time to 

 organize local branches, and I hope, ere long, we 

 shall at least have one or more in every county in 

 the United Kingdoni. .Apart from the absorbing 

 interest of the studv, which such branches would 

 do much to foster, there is a great and important 

 work to be done in educating the general public 

 (in all matters relating to wild birds, and I 

 sincerelv hope that bv the formation of local 

 branches, general meetings, and the publication 

 of the Journal, this Society will take a leading 

 part in such necessarv propaganda. 

 A\'ith all good wishes for success. 



A Northern .Stl'dext. 



One of the objects which the W.B.I.S. seeks 

 to carry out is the establishment of a network of 

 local branches throughout the United Kingdom. 

 .Such a series of clubs would not only have a 

 great educational value, but they would tend tO' 

 link together all who are interested in the study 

 of wild bird life. Moreover, the members, bound 

 together as definite organizations, would un- 

 doubtedlv exercise a most beneficial influence 

 upon all matters pertaining to the subject in their 

 respective districts. 



.\nv two Ordinary Members of the .Society who 

 are willing to act as Chairman and Honorary 

 Sccretarv respectively, can, with the sanction of 

 the Council, call together those interested, and if 

 ten Ordinary or .Associate Members can be 

 obtained, the Branch can be formed, weekly or 

 monthlv meeting's, excursions, etc., arranged, 

 and work commenced. 



The Secretarv will be pleased to forward 

 nomination forms and further particulars, or to 

 replv to anv queries, on application. F.nxelopcs 

 should be marked " Local Branches." 



St. Andrews. — Chairman : Prof. D'.Arcv W. 

 Thompson, C.B., D.Litt., F.R.S. Hon. 

 .Secretarv : O. .S. Orr, Commercial Bank 

 House. 



.\ \'erv successful inaugural nn-eting was held 

 in the Council Cliamlier on March 28th. Prof. 

 l)'Ari\ W. Thompson, h'.R.S., presided, and' 

 was supported by a large audience. .After point- 

 ing out the importance of the study of wild birds, 

 and the unrivalled facilities offeri-d in the sur- 

 rounding district, the Chairman called upon 

 Dr. Collinge, who drew- attention to ihc objects 

 and aims of the -Society, and read a list ol the 

 local iriembers. 



Mr. O. .S. Orr proposed : " That in the opinion 

 of this nieeting it is desirable that a local branch 

 of the Wild Bird Investigation Societv be- 

 founded in St. .Andrews." The Rev. Dr. P. M. 

 Pla\fair proposed that Prof. l)'Art'\ W. 

 Thompson be elected chairman, and Mr. O. S, 

 Orr. honorary secretary. 



Mav 8th. — .A well-attended meeting was luld 

 in the Court Room, Dr. Collinge presiding. The 

 Honorarv Secretarv read a list of the local mem- 



