BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



THE PLUME TRADE. 



The following figures give the number of packages 

 of 4i osprey " or heron plumes, and of bird of 

 paradise skins, offered for sale by auction at the 

 London Commercial Sale Rooms during 1902. 

 They are taken from the official catalogues. 



(pa°cl P age y s). Birds of Paradise. 



February 326 ... 4,052 



April 313 ... 2,072 



June 252 ... 2,977 



August 155 ... 2,646 



October 334 ... 2,895 



December 228 ... 4,910 



Total 1,608 ... 19,552 



A package of osprey feathers varies in amount 

 from two or three to over one hundred ounces ; but 

 a careful computation shows the average to be 

 about thirty ounces to the package This gives a 

 total of 48,240 ounces, and on the received esti- 

 mate that four birds are required to yield one 

 ounce of plumes, we have a total of 192,960 birds 

 killed in the breeding season to furnish one year's 

 feather sales. 



Of the birds of paradise 13,992 were catalogued 

 as females. 



Killing Down the Buff-Backed Heron. — In the last 

 issue of \he Journal of the Khedivial Agricultural Society, 

 attention is called, apparently none too soon, to the great 

 diminution in the number of useful birds in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cairo. The writer (Dr. Innes) tells of the 

 "almost total extermination" of the buff- backed heron 

 (Ardea btibulais), which he calls the cattle-egret, from 

 its habit of attending cattle and relieving them of insect 

 pests. In this connection it may be mentioned that the 

 only authenticated British-killed specimen was "shot (in 

 1805) while following some cows and picking up insects." 

 Birds of this species follow the plough and pick up mole- 

 crickets and larvae. Capt. Shelley says that they cause 

 "great havoc among the locusts and other insects." 

 They were so common in the past and did so much good 

 that many travellers confounded them with the sacred 

 ibis. Dr. Innes attributes the reduction in the numbers 

 of this useful species to "so-called sportsmen, who kill 

 for the sake of killing." He also points out that, unless 

 a stop be put to reckless shooting so as to allow the birds 

 to increase, it will be necessary to take steps, involving 

 considerable expense, for the destruction of injurious 

 insects. Dr. Innes pleads for some measure of protection 

 for this species, whose services to man are too valuable to 

 allow it to be exterminated without an effort being made 

 to stop reckless slaughter. — Hy. S. — Fr^m the Field, 

 Feb. 14th, 1903. 



In the Courts.— At Enfield Police Court, Wm. H. G. 

 Putnam, a professional birdcatcher, of Enfield, was fined 

 ios. and costs for snaring wild birds with a net on 

 March 1st. He had taken three goldfinches, a chaffinch, 

 and three linnets, and was using a redpoll, suspended on 

 a string, as a d^coy. After being cared for by the police, 

 the injured decoy bird recovered, and the magistrates 

 ordered the birds to be released and the nets destroyt d. 



The Man with a Gun. — Last month two of the four 

 St. James's Park pelicans were reported missing, having 

 taken a longer flight than usual from their home. Both 

 have been shot— one at Frensham, the other at Lancing. 



LECTURES, 1903. 



The following lectures, illustrated by the Society's 

 slides, have been given since January 1st : — 



January 2nd, Newport, Fife, Miss Berry ; January 

 3rd, Newport, Mr. W. Berry ; January 12th, Fare- 

 ham, Rev. J. E. Kelsall ; January 17th and January 

 22nd, Northampton, Rev. G. E. Startup ; January 

 2 1st, Winchester, Miss Williams ; January 22nd, 

 Westerham, Miss Hall ; January 26th, Clydach, 

 Mr. W. J. P. Player; January 28th, Colchester, 

 Rev. G. A. Hicks ; February 2nd and 7th, Pen-y- 

 grove, Carnarvon, and Llanbedi, Mr. Wilson 

 Roberts ; February 5th, Maidstone, Mr. Allchin ; 

 February nth, Fareham, Rev. J. E. Kelsall; 

 February nth and 12th, Littleport, Mrs. Lud- 

 dington ; February 12th, New Maiden, Mrs. Nelson; 

 February 16th, Holt, Mr. J. G. Woods ; February 

 26th, Uttoxeter, Mr. Masefield ; February 28th, 

 Heywood, Mr. Dodgson ; March 2nd, Bradford, 

 Mr. Butterfield ; March 2nd, Canterbury, Miss 

 Holmes ; March 7th, Malvern Wells, Mr. Stable ; 

 March 9th to 14th (four lectures), Mrs. Walter 

 Greg ; March 12th, Southport, Mr. North Dufty ; 

 March 17th, Romford, Mr. C. B. Russell ; March 

 20th, Witham, Rev. A. F. Curtis ; March 20th and 

 2 1st, Wyggeston High School, Leicester, Miss 

 Gardner; March 21st to 28th, Northampton, 

 Mr. Bates ; March 24th, Portsea, Mr. Seale ; 

 March 30th, Sholing, Rev. J. E. Kelsall ; March 

 31st, Morley Memorial Hall, Mr. F. Finn. 



The Committee have to thank Mr. Masefield 

 for the gift of five slides (nesting-boxes), Mr. 

 Luddington for five (nests), and Mr. Butterfield 

 for one (chaffinch's nest). 



PICTURE POSTCARDS. 



Now ready, in packets of one dozen (four assorted 

 designs), is. a packet. Single card i|d., post free. 



No. 1. The Magic Circle. 



No. 2. Woodland Notes. 



No. 3. The Birds' Pillar Box. 



No. 4. At My Window. 

 Published by the Society for the Protection of 

 Birds, 3, Hanover Square, W. 



SUBSCRIPTION. 



Bird Notes and News will be sent post free to any 

 address for is. per annum, payable in advance. 



To Associates of the Society subscribing 5s. and 

 upwards per annum it will be forwarded gratis and 

 post free. 



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

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

 Hanover Square, London, W., of whom copies may be obtained, 

 price 2d. each. 



