HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
15 
LEEDS NATURALISTS' CLUB. 
The meeting held in the Zoological Depart- 
ment of the University on Monday, May 6, was 
a general one for the exhibition of specimens. 
The President (Miss M. Westerman, M. Sc.) 
exhibited cocoons of the Emperor moth and of 
the common silk-worm, and also gave some inter- 
esting remarks regarding the work of nitrogen 
fixing bacteria in connection with leguminous 
plants. 
Mr. W. Withell sent for exhibition a Willow 
Wren foun din Roundhay Road. 
Mr. W. Harrison Hutton exhibited several 
species of Plamorbis, Limnea, and Clausilia, and 
various kinds of caddis cases. He also exhibited 
Lionnea stagnalis from King Lane pond, and con- 
trasted the corroded appearance of the shells with 
those from Street Lane pond. Mr. J. Hargreaves 
did not agree that this was probably due to the 
presence of old mortar, and thought the erosion 
was due to vegetable acids. He pointed out that 
some of the thinnest shelled mollusca have occurred 
in water which was heavily charged with lime. 
Mr. H. Strickson exhibited twelve species of 
beetles, three species of flies, and also a specimen 
of Helix hortensus from Harewood and Wyke. 
Mr. Greevz Fysher exhibited several photo- 
graphs of Kingfishers, and also showed Cardamine 
amara, Ranunculus hederaceus, Arum mascula- 
tum, Veronica hederifolia, hornbeam, and species 
of Lathyrus and Carex, all from Harewood. 
Mr. Jas. Hargreaves showed various species 
of Pesten, and drew attention to the beauty of 
form in these shells. 
Mr. W. Denison Roebuck exhibited Limax 
maximus var obscura, from Collingham. 
Mr. B. W. Hinderwell exhibited apetalae 
forms of Ranunculus auricomus from Garforth 
and Lead, and also Veronica buxbaumi from near 
Lead. 
REVIEWS. 
The "Avicultural Magazine," June to hand. 
Contains most interesting articles on "What did 
we do in the Great War," "Our Duty to Bel- 
gium," and particulars of the Society's Garden 
Party to be held on June 28th at the Zoological 
Gardens in the Fellows Pavilion at 4.15. 
Two most interesting books to hand, " Over 
the World," and "The Persian Gulf and South 
Sea Islands," by Sir Edgar Collins, Bart., 
F.R.G. S. (Horace Cox, Bream Buildings). The 
former touches on South Africa, New Zealand, 
Java, Siam, China, etc., whilst the latter treats of 
the Persian Gulf and South Sea Isles only. 
Both books are written in a very plain and 
remarkable interesting manner. The author gives 
the minutest particulars of his travels. 
Evidently a very keen observer of human 
nature. His tribute to the many friends in differ- 
ent parts of the world who gave him help, with- 
out which these books would not have been writ- 
ten, is well worth reading. These books should 
be read by all my readers. 
THE USEFUL BIRD. 
The following appeal appeared in the "Daily 
lelegraph," April, 1918. 
PLEA FOR PROTECTION. 
Sir, — The serious diminution in the numbers 
of our resident insect-eating birds, which resulted 
from the severe winter of 1916 — 17, and also from 
widespread destruction of birds and eggs, is a 
cause for grave anxiety at the present time. 
Plagues of insect life of various kinds were re- 
ported from many districts last summer and au- 
tumn, and but for the services of summer migrants 
would have proved alarmingly destructive to 
corn, grass, and green crops, and to fruit. This 
year a similar and greater danger faces us. Un- 
der the most favourable conditions, it must be 
some years before many of our small birds regain 
their normal status. The continual ploughing up 
of old grassland multiplies insects pests; increased 
crops afford increased food, and thus stimulate 
the hatching out of countless swarms. Owing 
to these circumstances the protection and preser- 
vation of insect-eating birds and of those birds 
which destroy small vermin is a matter of urgent 
necesity. If the country is to have a sufficiency 
of food crops, those crops must not be merely 
planted and tended; they must be guarded as far 
as possible from the perpetual menace of ravage 
and devastation by insects. Hand labour is wholly 
inadequate to the task, even if it were abundantly 
to be had. We therefore strongly urge that, in 
the interests of national food supplies, this matter 
should be promptly taken up by agricultural bod- 
ies, by gardening and allotment associations, and 
in elementary and secondary schools, with a view 
to checking the destruction of useful birds and 
their nests and eggs, and the preservation of insect, 
eating species, both resident and migratory. Diff- 
erence of opinion exists as to the economic status 
of a few species, but all who have studied economic 
ornithology and entomology are agreed (1) that 
the great majority of wild birds are beneficial to 
man; (2) that the insect-eating and vermin-eating 
