OFFICIAL NOTICES, &c. 
39 
Birds and their Ways. — An amusing incident was witnessed by a friend, 
who, like myself, is interested in anything relating to natural history. Whilst 
working at a house called the Manor Farm, Worksop, Notts, during last 
summer, he observed a noise and great commotion amongst the swallows in the 
stable yard, and thought he would try and find out the reason of the commotion, 
when he observed a jackdaw trying to plunder the nests of some swallows, but 
was apparently compelled to abandon the project, for all the swallows flew 
around him, as they may be often seen doing at anything which they dislike, such 
as a cat, hawk, or owl, buffeting him about until he appeared to have had enough, 
and flew away with all the swallows after him. No sooner had he done so when 
another jackdaw (his mate, no doubt) watching from an adjacent tree, came 
quickly and perched itself upon one of the dormer windows, popped down, took 
a young bird out of the nest, and before the swallows had time to molest him was 
gone. The same dodge was attempted and partly carried out the following day, 
hut some men coming into the yard with a horse-mowing machine, they were 
frustrated in the attempt. It seems very much as if it was a “ planned job ” 
between the jackdaws, who were a pair, and had young close by. This incident 
recalls to my remembrance a scene which I saw when I was not more than 
between nine and ten years old, at Steeple Claydon, Bucks. In the gable end of 
an old thatched cottage in the village some sparrows had hatched and reared 
their young, when one day I observed a fine and beautiful jay (not a common 
thing to see a bird of this species in a village), which seemed to be lurking about 
as if alter no good. After a short time some sparrows flew round him, which 
appeared to frighten him. This went on for a few minutes, when quick ^as thought 
he flew back to the gable end of the house, and before the sparrows could collect 
their senses, took from under the eaves of the thatched house a young and fledged 
sparrow (the young bird crying piteously) in his claws, flying away in the direc- 
tion of the large woods less than three miles distant. 
Hampstead, N. IV. James E. Whiti.\g. 
OFFICIAL NOTICES: WORK OF BRANCHES, &c. 
Our Volumes. — We desire to call the special attention of our readers to the 
volumes of Nature Notes for 1890 and 1891, which may be obtained at the 
offices of the Society, 9, Adam .Street, Adelphi, W.C., at the cost of three shillings 
each, or by post, three shillings and fivepence. By the variety and interest of 
their contents these volumes are admirably adapted for the school or parish library, 
and we would urge upon our readers not to neglect so excellent a means for 
advancing the interests which they have at heart. Cases for binding the numbers 
for 1890 and 1891 may be obtained from the Secretary at the above address, price 
IS. each; or the numbers will be bound and the case supplied by Messrs. Bale & 
.Sons, 87, Great Titchfield Street, W., at the cost of is. 3d., or with gilt edges, 
IS. lod. The name and address of the sender, with stamps to the above amount, 
should be forwarded with the magazines in order to prevent mistakes or del.ay. 
Miss II. C. Manson writes : — “ It has occurred to me that the numbers for 
1891 might be liked in some country parish for the lending library. If you know 
of any clergyman who would care to have them, I will have them bound in a case 
and forward them to any given address. ” In this case the .Secretary should be 
communicated with. 
Jfiss M. C. Iluish, of Torquay, regularly returns her back numbers for 
redistribution. 
Such good examples might be imitated with advantage. 
We have received the report of the second annual meeting of the Birmingham 
and Midland Branch, held in the Midland Institute, on the i6th of October last, 
and regret that we can do no more than refer to it. The meeting was very 
successful and well attended. Mr. Lawson Tait offered to the Society a donation 
of ;i^lo, to be used in distributing literature to children of the Board Schools — an 
example which might well be followed on a smaller scale by many branches, 
although there is no reason why Selbornian teaching should be restricted to Board 
Schools. ^Irs. W. A. .Smith has resigned the hon. secretaryship of this Branch, 
and is succeeded by Mrs. Dixon, 99, Harborne Road, Edgbaston. 
