^°';g,,^-] Bird Day. 29I 



recitation ; school song ; short address by visitor or teacher on 

 "Birds: their Value and Interest " ; rapid revision of the school 

 bird list and the list of last Bird Day ; where convenient, an 

 excursion, about half-past 2, to visit haunts of birds, nests 

 previously noted. A list of birds seen should be made, in two 

 columns — (i) birds positively identified ; (2) birds about which 

 there is a doubt. In city schools, where the excursion may not 

 be practicable, the programme may be extended, and may 

 include a composition exercise. 



This was adhered to in the majority of schools, and the pupils 

 learned a great deal about bird-life. 



Members of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union, the 

 Bird Observers' Club, the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 

 and kindred societies visited different schools and delivered 

 brief addresses about birds and their habits, &c., impressing on 

 the children the necessity for protecting bird-life for its econ- 

 omic value, besides its beauty and interest. Some of the bigger 

 schools of the metropolis were favoured by visits from leading 

 members of the Union. But there was in some instances a little 

 overlapping of lecturers, not likely to recur in future. 



In the country districts, generally, Bird Day celebration was a 

 success, and, with the facilities offered for open-air lessons, in 

 many instances the scholars had a most interesting and instructive 

 afternoon. At Drouin West State school Mr. Isaac Batey, the 

 veteran bird observer, and Mr. Swan were in attendance to 

 judge essays for which prizes had been offered. The subject 

 was — " What I Have Seen in the Bush," pupils of the fourth, fifth, 

 and sixth classes competing. The examiners were pleased with 

 the quality of the essays submitted. During the afternoon 

 Mr. Batey explained interesting features regarding different 

 specimens of birds displayed, and read an essay on nature 

 study. At Maryborough Mr. Alex. H. Chisholm did good 

 service in a similar direction, as did Mr. A. G. Campbell at 

 Stawell and Mr. G. E. Shepherd in the Mornington district, 

 and these instances of Bird Day celebrations in the country arc 

 fairly typical of a large number of others. At Ballarat four 

 large schools met in the Athenaeum Hall, where the Rev, 

 A. Greenwood lectured agreeably on " Birds : their Homes, 

 Habits, Uses, &c." At the Mortlake State school, where an 

 instructive paper was read by " F. R," the Rev. Mr. M'Bride, 

 according to The Mortlake Despatch (2/11/10), is reported to 

 have stated " that one of the chief characteristics of Australian 

 birds was that they are songless." Surely the reverend gentle- 

 man must have been misreported. 



In connection with Arbor and Bird Day, the following letter 

 from Captain S. A. White, of Wetunga, Fulham, South 

 Australia, which appeared in The Register, 24th August, 1910, 

 is of interest : — 



