15 



Mr. Winter, in answer to the chairman, said that in the Western 

 District he found indigenous birds injurious to his fruit trees, par- 

 ticularly the black magpies. A simple plan of frightening birds 

 away, was a bottle bell hung to the trees, which was made by cut- 

 ting off the bottom of a champagne bottle, by means of a cotton 

 wick saturated in turpentine, which must be ignited, and the bottle 

 dipped when hot into a bucket of cold water, a piece of hard cork 

 or soft wood suspended from the mouth of the bottle formed a 

 clapper, which was kept in motion by a feather inserted in it. He 

 (Mr. Winter), had found this plan answer very well. 



Count de Castelnatj spoke of a plan said to be adopted by the 

 Malays, that of hanging up a wooden effigy pierced with holes, the 

 wind passing through which, caused most unearthly noises. 



Dr. Joseph Black called attention to the fact, that hares were 

 being frequently killed, and hoped that an expression of disapproval 

 from the Society would have the effect of preventing persons from 

 wantonly destroying those valuable animals, before they had become 

 thoroughly established. 



The President said, that the Society had done what it could to 

 punish persons who were caught destroying hares, he was pleased to 

 state that in many parts of the country hares were abundant. If 

 they were allowed to increase unmolested for a couple of years more, 

 the law would be changed, and coursing might be allowed without 

 objection. 



Mr. Christy said he had noticed the sparrows doing good service 

 in his garden, by killing the aphis on roses. 



Dr. Pugh added, that sparrows sent to a gentleman at Sunbury, 

 had not only done no mischief to the fruit, but cleared the garden 

 of aphis, and been a great benefit in all respects. 



Mr. Were remarked, on the other hand, that according to the 

 testimony of market gardeners, the destructive qualities of the 

 sparrow had far exceeded its beneficial qualities. 



The President said that the letters furnished on the snbject by 

 market gardeners and others to the Society, came from a small 

 number of persons, and were not all of a trustworthy character. 

 The English people were naturally given to grumbling, and not only 



