174 



KNOWLEDGE. 



May, 1913. 



in a wild state, and without experience of the latter 

 it will be only time wasted to endeavour to manipu- 

 late them, except, perhaps, with the exception of 

 two of the instruments, namely, that of the wood- 

 pigeon (see Figure 160) and the golden plover 

 (see Figure 16.5). These two are the simplest 

 to operate and little practice is necessary to 

 enable one to make successful 

 use of them. The woodpigeon 

 call may also be substituted 

 for that of the cuckoo, and a 

 little practice with it soon 

 enables one to acquire the 

 correct pitch and modulation 

 of sound necessary. It is 

 very interesting to visit a 



breeding haunt of the wood- 

 pigeon with one of these calls 

 is to conceal myself (I use 



Figure 170. 



Partridge. 



My method 

 a hiding tent 

 for this purpose, which is furnished with 

 tapes, to which I attach twigs, grass, and so 

 on, and make use of the surrounding under- 

 growth to screen it) under the nesting trees, 

 having previously arranged 

 my camera in position, and 

 send out a few notes. As 

 generally happens, the 

 cushats in the immediate 

 neighbourhood are cooing 

 all around, and, at first, 

 little or no notice is taken 

 by the birds of one's efforts, 

 but the secret is to continue 

 to call, not, however, unin- 

 terruptedly, but with pauses 

 of about four minutes, making 

 a fairly high pitch in the 

 tone, when the birds will be 

 observed to crane their necks 

 downwards and stop cooing 

 others fly closer to the 

 approaching to within a few yards, and altogether 



Figure 174. 

 Magpie. 



the call, always assuming the proper sounds are 

 given, has a most alluring effect on woodpigeons 

 during the commencement of one of their breeding 

 periods. During incubation, however, the birds pay 

 little heed to artificial calls, and at such times 

 it is useless trying to attract them. Another 

 easily duped species is the cuckoo, which may 

 be enticed to within a few 

 feet of the manipulator, and 

 the same may be mentioned 

 of the golden plover (see 

 Figure 163), partridge (see 

 Figure 170), pheasant (see 

 Figure 159), and little grebe 

 Figure 171. Figure 172. (dabchick). Species some- 

 what more difficult to deal 

 with are the wild duck 

 (mallard) (see Figure 167), curlew (see 

 Figure 164), snipe (see Figure 173), owl 

 (see Figure 166), wigeon (see Figure 161), 

 magpie (see Figure 174), oyster-catcher, and 

 IGURE 173. red-throated diver. All the calls illustrated 

 Snipe. should be worked with the left hand, so as 



to leave the right hand free 

 for manipulating the shutter 

 of the camera and other 

 necessary items. The art 

 of bird-calling is a most 

 interesting study, possessing 

 a peculiar charm, a charm 

 impossible to describe, and 



Teal 



Figure 175. 

 Rabbit. 



9 



Figure 172 

 Blackbird. 



Figure 



Jay. 



one 



for 



and 



to 



do 



Having a 



ornithological 

 with 



Some bolder than 

 hidden caller, often 



fold. 



patience 



certain. 



fondness 

 pursuits, 

 plenty of time 

 spare, could hardly 

 better than take up 

 so absorbing a hobby, the 

 acquisition of which would 

 repay him a thousand- 

 Hut such a one must be possessed of great 

 and perseverance, otherwise failure is 



176. 



THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE PARENTS' NATIONAL 



EDUCATIONAL UNION. 



The seventeenth Animal Conference of the Parents' National 

 Fducational Union will be held at Caxton Hall. Westminster, 

 from May 5th to May 8th. The programme is now before us 

 and bears at the top the motto " Knowledge the basis of 

 National Strength." On the afternoon of the first day, Earl 

 Beauchamp will preside and Mr. J. St. G. Heath will give an 

 address on " Education and Social Sympathy." In the even- 

 ing, a paper on " Self Education," by Miss C. M. Mason, will 

 be read, and one on " How we teach Citizenship " by Miss 

 L. Faunce, an ex-student of the House of Education, Ambleside. 

 Tuesday morning will be devoted to the consideration of 

 the subjects taught in one of the Parents' Union Schools, and 

 among the other papers of the day wili be one on " Knowledge 

 and Learning " by Mr. Stanley Leathes, C.B. The topics 

 chosen for the third day include The Montessori System and 

 some of the ideals of the Union. In the afternoon, with Dr. 

 Parkin, C.M.G.. as Chairman, Mr. J. L. Paton, High Master 



of Manchester Grammar School, will consider " Knowledge 

 and its relation to National Efficiency," while the Earl of 

 Aberdeen will preside in the evening, when the Bishop of 

 Southwark will speak on " The School of Life." 



Papers dealing with the administration of the Union will 

 occupy the afternoon of Thursday, and in the evening there 

 will be a meeting for children's nurses, when Dr. Flora Murray 

 will talk about "Things that matter in the Nursery," and Miss 

 Helen Webb, M.B., will consider " The Child as a Person." 



There will be receptions on Monday afternoon and Tuesday 

 evening. All particulars can be obtained from Miss E. A. 

 Parish, 26, Victoria Street, S.W., but we may mention that 

 season tickets, which admit to all proceedings, can be obtained 

 at a cost of 3s. 6d. each (invitations to the receptions will be 

 sent to holders of season tickets only), and day tickets for 

 Is. 6d. each. 



