200 EditorinL 
Mathias's servicesi and that the members of the Perpetual Flower- 
ing Carnation Society have given him this ])ractical token that 
they (Inly appi-eciate his administrative and business qualifications. 
" A very interesting presentation was made by Mr. J. S. Bruton, 
"chairman of the executive committtee, to Mr. Hayward Mathias, lion, 
"sec, on behalf of the members. The presentation was a verj- pretty sil- 
" ver egc; boiler, and a purse of twenty guineas, as a token of the members' 
"appreciation of Mr. Mathias's services since the inception of the society 
" in February, l'JO(>. Mr. Mathias is a verj' loveable gentleman of quiet 
"demeanour, thoroughly business-like, always obliging, helpful, courteous 
" and under whose direction the work of the society has i>rospered." — 
From the " .Toui nal of Tloi-ticiilture," June KUh, litlO. 
Nesting of HammerkopS {Scopius umbrrtta) -. Just on 
going to press we learn that a pair of this species have nested in 
the Great Aviary at the Zoo, and at the present time (July 9th) 
have two chicks about a month old. This is the first occasion on 
which this species have reared young in this country. 
White-necked Crane: Owing to a misunderstanding, 
the plate so named in last issue, opposite p. 103, is incorrect — the 
birds figured being Manchurian Cranes. 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
Bird Life through the Camera. 
By H. WiLLPORD. 
The few photographs accompanying these lines are some of 
my first attempts at birds in a wild state, and to anyone who has 
the time to spare, a few hours spent in the woods or fields hidden 
away from view by a tent or other means cannot fail to be full of 
interest. 
The Nkjhtingalb (Dnalim luHc'ina Linn.) : The first 
subject here reproduced is our most renowned songster the Night- 
ingale, and it was only by chance whilst walking through a glade 
at the edge of a wood that I almost trod on the nest, the old bird 
scuttling quickly away along the ground for some distance. The 
cup shaped nest formed of dead oak leaves lined with hair and 
fine grass, was at the bottom of a small tree, not more than six in- 
ches from the ground, and when found contained five newly 
hatched young, about which the old birds seemed very concerned 
when I stooped over the nest to see the position for my photo- 
graph, the cock doing his best to draw me away with his oft 
repeated note of warning. 
On the following day I brought up my hiding tent and 
fixed it up near the nest, having of course well covered it with 
