134 
REP OR T. 
tors of eggs. and specimens of birds, and to create a healthy public 
opinion in favour of natural history in schools and elsewhere. The way 
to instruct children in natural history was to make them love animals and 
flowers, and take an interest in them, but not to collect eggs and birds 
and take flowers. 
Colonel Bingham Wright suggested that a great many birds should 
be added to the schedule, and, though he was a sportsman, he would like 
to see birds of prey included. He would sooner they lost a few partridges 
or pheasants than that birds of prey should become extinct. He, how- 
ever, thought sparrows should not be on the list. 
Mrs. Ashworth Hallett thought the owl was increasing in number, 
which was rather curious, seeing that it was not protected. She had 
never heard so many owls before as during the last year. 
Mr. George Norman read the list of birds protected under the Act, 
and added that the County Councils had power to add to this list. He 
showed how this had been done in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. 
Colonel Bingham Wright suggested that a list of protected birds 
should be given to every gamekeeper with their license. 
The President proposed, Mr. Norman seconded, and it was agreed, 
that the Committee be requested to draw up a list of birds which they 
thought should be added to the schedule. 
Birmingham. — The annual meeting of the Birmingham Branch was 
held at the Council House, the Mayor (Councillor James Smith) presiding. 
There were also present Alderman Johnson, Councillor Martineau, Pro- 
fessors Hillhouse and Windle, Messrs. A. W. Wills and Oliver, Mrs. C. 
Dixon (treasurer), Miss D. C. Sturge (hon. secretary), and a number of 
ladies. In their annual report the Committee stated that there had been 
a slight increase of members, but as there had been several resignations 
the net gain was only five. They felt that much might be done to 
forward the principles of the Society by lectures to children in the towns, 
with the object of teaching them not to destroy plants, flowers, and bird 
life when they visited the country, and as a means of enlisting the 
sympathies of the children in the aims of the Society, they decided 
to offer prizes in the various schools for the best essays on Selbornian 
subjects. Essays were received from Bloomsbury Board Schools, St. 
Thomas’s School, King’s Norton and Bewdley, and at the end of 
February more were promised. The subjects chosen by the cliildrcn 
were mostly connected with bird life. It did not seem at all easy to 
m:ike the general public understand that everyone had a certain amount 
of responsibility with regard to taking care of plants and animals, 
whether they belonged to themselves or to other people. 
The balance sheet showed receipts amounting to ^49 los. id., and 
an expenditure of ^31 14s. i id. 
The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the Rejrort, said they all 
apjrreciated anything which tended to increase their love of nature 
and their better knowledge of animals and birds. The Sciborne 
Society, by promoting those objects, deserved their heartiest support. 
Me was sure the lectures given at the Board Schools were most valutible. 
