NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



PEREGRINE PROTECTION. 



The Westmorland police have recently taken action, 

 through information supplied by the Y.X.U. Wild Birds' Pro- 

 tection Committee, against Fred Bellas, a platelayer, living at 

 Mallerstang, for taking some young Peregrine Falcons from the 

 nest. He was ordered to pay costs and release the young 

 Falcons in the presence of the police. The Chairman of the 

 Magistrates remarked it was well for him that the case was 

 tried in Westmorland where only the eggs are protected, as 

 had it been brought in Yorkshire, the penalty would have been 

 more severe. 



A WHITE SWALLOW. 



From the ' Yorkshire Evening Post ' also we learn that 

 * Reginald Renton, of the Fountain Hotel, Otley, was sum- 

 moned at Otley, on a charge of shooting a white swallow. 

 Defendant said he had thought the bird a novelty, and had even 

 told the Press about it, thinking there was nothing wrong. 

 The Chairman (Mr. E. P. Arnold-Forster) asked the defendant 

 if he did not think it a thoughtless and needless thing to try 

 to kill so interesting a specimen as a white swallow. It was one 

 of the most interesting creatures possible. He ought to have 

 been ashamed of himself. Defendant was ordered to pay the 

 costs.' In this case the fine was not a serious one, but the fact 

 that the Y.X.U. have been successful in getting this case 

 brought before the notice of the public, is very satisfactory. 

 We need not draw attention to the great value of a white swallow 

 to ornithologists in watching the migration of these birds. 



BUZZARD SHOT AT SKIPTOX. 



In addition to the preceding, the Y.N.U. Committee has 

 been successful in securing a conviction against a man for shoot- 

 ing a Buzzard at Skipton. He was fined i/- and 15/6 costs. 

 If any of our readers are in a position to assist the Wild Birds' 

 iand Eggs' Protection Committee in its work, by giving informa- 

 tion, will they kindly communicate with the secretary of the 

 Committee, Mr. Riley Fortune, F.Z.S., 5 Haywra Street, 

 Harrogate, or with the editors of this journal. There will not 

 be any necessity for the names of the informants being brought 

 forward if they do not wish it. " ' . . 



1908 October i. 



