32 



BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



must construe the Act literally, but offered to state 

 a case. 



On February 15th Henry Pannettwas summoned 

 for using a net to take wild birds, including' three 

 goldfinches. Defendant said he was catching 

 greenfinches ; he would not try to catch gold- 

 finches as everyone was afraid to buy them 

 nowadays. There were two previous convictions 

 against him, and a fine of 7s. 6d. and costs, 25s. 

 in all, w 7 as imposed, the Bench intimating that in 

 future cases they would forfeit all nets. 



At Llandudno, on January 18th, a labourer was 

 fined 5s. and costs for attempting to catch gold- 

 finches by limed twigs and a decoy bird. 



At the West London Police Court, on December 

 9th, a youth was fined for using starlings as decoy 

 birds. The decoys had strings tied to their legs, 

 and were kept moving, and they were in an 

 exhausted state. 



NEWS FROM BRANCHES. 



A report of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the 

 South Australian branch of the Society is un- 

 avoidably held over for our next issue. 



The President, Vice-President, and Committee of 

 the Belfast Branch gave a reception in Ye Okie 

 Castle Restaurant, Belfast, on February 29th, when 

 a largely-attended meeting was held in the King's 

 Hall, presided over by the Lady Mayoress (Lady 

 Jaffe). The speakers included the Lady Mayoress, 

 who urged the teaching of natural history in schools; 

 Professor Gregg Wilson, who animadverted espe- 

 cially upon the detestable cruelty involved in the 

 procuring of egret plumes ; Mr. W. H. Paterson, 

 who called attention to the destruction of larks for 

 the table ; Rev. W. H. Dundas, and others. 



The Annual Meeting of the Southport Branch 

 was held on March 22nd, too late for a detailed 

 notice in this number of Bird Notes and News. 



The Wirral Branch was inaugurated on Decem- 

 ber 14th, 1903, by a lecture on " Our Feathered 

 Neighbours and Visitors," by Mr. Lewis Jones, of 

 Hilbre Island ; Dr. Forbes, F.Z.S., presiding. At 

 the close of the lecture the silver medal of the 

 Royal Humane Society was presented to Mr. Jones 

 for saving life on more occasions than one. 



The Highgate Branch gave a very successful 

 entertainment on March 5th. In addition to songs 

 and recitations there were tableaux representing 

 " The Shuddering Angel," and groups from the 

 Society's postcards, and also a dialogue adapted 

 from " The Little Yellow Bird." Hon. Sec, Miss 

 F. A. Smith. 



LECTURES. 



THE following lectures illustrated with the Society's 

 slides, were given between December 1st, 1903, 

 and March 10th, 1904 : — 



December. — Everton,Mr. Lewis Jones ; Clitheroe, 

 Mr. J. Widdup ; Retford and Derby, Miss A. C. 

 Shipton ; Broadstairs, Miss V. Burke ; Hoylake, 

 Mr. L. Jones ; Burley, Mr. Witherby ; Failsworth, 

 Mr. E. Robinson ; Tuebrook, Mr. L. Jones ; 

 Winchester, Miss E. Williams ; Haileybury, 



Mr. Kennedy ; Barmouth, Mr. Wilson Roberts ; 

 Dunsden,Miss Hart-Davis. January. — Edgbaston, 

 Mr. E. L. Tyndall ; Bristol, Mr. H. C. P. Playne ; 

 Winchester, Miss E. Williams (two lectures) ; 

 Devonport, Mr. H. Montagu Evans ; Birmingham, 

 Mr. E. L. Tyndall ; Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Miss A. E. 

 Gardner ; Norland Institute, W., Miss Mace ; 

 Romsey, Rev. J. E. Kelsall ; Stockport, Mrs. Dixon 

 Davies (two lectures) ; Yarmouth, Mr. T. J. Wigg ; 

 Battersea, Mr. W. Johnson ; Whitehaven and Sea- 

 scale, Rev. P. W. Parminter ; Stockwell Training 

 College, Mr. Frank Finn. February. — Barmouth, 

 Mr. Wilson Roberts (two lectures) ; Rugby School, 

 R. Bosworth Smith ; Blackburn, Mr. R. J. 

 Howard ; Highgate, Mr. Maddox ; Haileybury 

 College, Mr. Bosworth Smith ; Brixton, Mr. N. W. 

 Osborne; Northampton, Rev. A. Harvie; Liverpool, 

 Mr. Lewis Jones ; Portsmouth, Mr. H. Beeston ; 

 Milnthorpe, Mr. J.W. Pattynson ; Winchester, Miss 

 Williams; Bebington, Mr. L. Jones; Sudbury, Miss 

 Perkin ; Haileybury, Mr. Kennedy ; Leeds, Mr. 

 Eagle Clarke ; Clitheroe, Mr. Widdup ; Walling- 

 ford, Miss Quin ; Stoke-on-Trent, Mr. Masefield ; 

 Southport, Mr. W. P. Pycraft ; Marlborough 

 College, Mr. Bosworth Smith ; Northampton, 

 Rev. A. Harvie ; Harold's Wood and Coggeshall, 

 Mr. T. Rose ; Burslem, Mr. Masefield ; Winchester 

 College, Mr. Bosworth Smith ; Stockwell, Mr. F. 

 Finn. March. — Chelsea, Miss B. Taylor ; Eton 

 College, Mr. Bosworth Smith ; Cheshire (series of 

 lectures), Mrs. W. Greg. 



County Council Orders. 



Since the issue of the Society's report, which gives the 

 dates and nature of all Orders in force on February isl, 

 1904, the following Orders have been granted : — 

 Chester, March 14th, 1904. [A.B.C.E.F.] 

 Shropshire, March 9th, 1904. [B.E.] 

 Hastings (C.B.), March 9th, 1904. [A.B.C.E.F.] 



THE SNOWY HERON. 



Copies of an illustrated Leaflet, by Mr. William 

 Dutcher, published by the National Committee of 

 Audubon Societies, and entitled "The Snowy Heron," 

 may be obtained of the Hon. Secretary, Society for 

 the Protection of Birds, 3, Hanover Square, W. This 

 Leaflet has been widely circulated in the United States 

 of America, and deserves the thoughtful consideration 

 of English women. 



Next Issue. — The next Number of Bird Notes 

 and News will be ready on July 1st, 1904. 



Reading Cases for Bird Notes and News can be 

 obtained from the office at a cost of is., including 

 postage. They will be found very useful to keep the 

 numbers together, and also for use in Public Libraries. 



Bird Notes and News will be sent post free to any 

 address for is. per annum, payable in advance. 



To Members of the Society subscribing 5s. and 

 upwards per annum it will be forwarded gratis and 

 post free. 



Printed by Witherby & Co., 326, High Holborn, W.C. , and 

 published by the Society for the Protection of Birds, 3, 

 Hanover Square, London, \V., of whom copies may be obtained, 

 price 2d. each. 



