326



The Society's Medal



the Natural History of our birds. He first deals with the question

as to What is a British Bird ? and goes on to tell his readers about

seasonal changes of plumage, protective coloration, territory, courtship,

nesting habits, juvenile plumage, flight, swimming, migration,

classification, and economic ornithology. We have only space here to

refer in detail to one particular chapter, that headed “ Puzzles ”, and

there are many of these in the study of Nature’s ways. Dealing with

the Owls the author refers to their silent flight, “ but the Owl needs

something more than muffled wings. Yet what other aid, or aids,

has he at his command ? Here is a matter for those who have the

leisure, and the dogged perseverance, to investigate.” Some have dark

eyes and some golden yellow, but all have an extraordinary development

of the ears, and curiously enough this is not the same on each side of

the head.


The Cormorant and the Guillemot obtain their food in the same

manner ; both are web-footed but the one when swimming under

water uses only its feet, the other its wings.


Why should the Whooper and Bewicks Swans develop a windpipe

too long for the neck, which has to be arranged in coils in a special

cavity in the sternum ? These and many other puzzles are dealt with

by one thoroughly qualified for the task. D. S-S.



THE SOCIETY’S MEDAL


It is proposed to award medals to the following members for breeding

the birds named, but if any member or reader should know of a previous

case of any one of the species having been previously bred in Great

Britain, it is requested that the Hon. Secretary be advised immediately.

Captain Stokes, the Mourning Dove, p. 188.


Mrs. K. Drake, the Yellow-winged Sugar Bird, p. 219.


Mrs. S. A. Pearce, the Festive Tanager, p. 220.


Mr. T. W. Taylor, the New Zealand Zosterops, p. 246.


Miss Elsie Kobinson, Dufresne’s Waxbill, p. 249.


The Marquess of Tavistock, the Yellow-bellied Parrakeet, p. 261.

Mr. E. J. Boosey, the Splendid Grass Parrakeet, p. 289.


Mr. Alfred Ezra, the Water Thick-knee, p. 301.



