JOURNAL OF IIIK WIID BIRD IWRSTKiATION SOCIRTY. 



55 



111 all nui- pLiblir parks, recreation j^frdinuls, 

 etc., niiuii mij4;lu be done in ilie way of pro- 

 viding^ nesting sites and in protection gener- 

 allv. In the I'nited States of America, Aus- 

 tralia, and elsewhere many such areas have 

 been set apart as wild bird sanctuaries, with 

 excellent results. Surely such a sini])lc |3lan 

 might be adopted by our municipalities and 

 urban authorities throughout the land. The 

 provision of nesting boxes in our gardens and 

 allotments would help to increase the number 

 of insect-eating birds, and at the same time 

 af^'ord considerable pleasure to those who 

 erected them. 



In the encouragemeiu of the study of wiki 

 bird life we are far behind other countries, as 

 also in educating the young in this connec- 

 tion. The introduction of this imjiortant sul)- 

 ject in our schools, particularlx' those in urban 

 and rural districts, is very desirable. In other 

 countries such instruction has pro\-etl to be 

 both |)leasural)le antl profitable, and to such 

 an extent that in certain States in America 

 it is now compulsory. Arbor and Hird Days 

 ha\'e been instituted in matn countries. On 

 these occasions special addresses are given in 

 the public schools on bird life and its utilit\'. 

 The good such organizations are doing in 

 instilling a love and knowledgr of birds into 

 the rising generation cannot well be over- 

 estimatetl. 



The citizen has evervthing to gain b\' the 

 increase of all wild birds that are beneficial, 

 both from a utilitarian and an a-sthetical 

 standpoint, and there never was a time w'hen 

 his interest on their behalf was more needed 

 that at the present. By a little forethought 

 and effort each might do much to preserve a 

 natural pleasure and secure the same to the 

 ftiture sjcncration. 



THE JOURNAL OF THE 



WILD BIRD INVESTIGATION 

 SOCIETY. 



Tke Journal is supplied Jree to all Ordinary and /Issociate 

 Members. Non-members oj the Society may obtain it from the 

 publishers (post free) on forwarding subscription of liis. Gd. 



All matter intended for publication should be written on one 

 side of the paper only. Typed MS. is desitab.e. Unrelated 

 subjects should be dealt with on different sheets. No notice will 

 be taken of anonymous communications. No matter can be 

 returned unless a stamped and directed envelope is enclosed. 



All communications should be addressed to Dr. W . E. Collinge, 

 St. Andrews, Scotland. 



EDITORIAL 



O 



The steady, if somewhat slow, progress of the 

 W.B.I.S. is a source of much satisfaction to those 

 who are interested in the study and protection 

 of our wild birds, but there is a considerable 

 amount of spade-work to be done before we win 

 over public opinion. As Miss E. L. Turner has 

 recently pointed out, " Bird protection laws are 

 ineffective and futile. This is partly owing- to 

 the fact that these laws are engineered by the 

 wrong people, and partly because of the many 

 conflicting interests." We welcome this out- 

 outspoken statement, as it is very difficult, indeed 

 almost impossible, to convince many so-called 

 bird protectionists that they are doing more harm 

 than good. "The public," Miss Turner con- 

 tinues, " is becoming more and more genuinely 

 interested in birds. It likes to know the details 

 of their home life and the workings of their tiny 

 minds. It is only by educating public opinion 

 that our heritage of birds can be ultimately pre- 

 served. " 



A larger membership, more local branches, and 

 consequent increased income would do much 

 tow'ards enabling us to carry out this work of 

 educating public opinion. Moreover, such work 

 demands all the enthusiasm that bird lovers can 

 throw into it, for as a nation we have been, and 

 still are, largely indifferent. We are not inter- 



