334



The Society's Medal



of observing many birds that were entirely new to him. On returning to

England and engaging in business he was unable to do much travelling,

except purely on business, for some time, but subsequently he was

able to pay visits to Norway, Brazil, Holland, Spain, France, and the

Canaries, on all of which he took the keenest interest in studying the

birds. In 1910 he commenced keeping birds in captivity and he joined

the Avicultural Society in 1920. His large garden at Westbury was

well suited for the construction of aviaries of the kind he specially

liked—very large wired-in enclosures through which streams flowed

and vegetation grew luxuriantly and where his birds would be in

practically a state of nature. Several such aviaries were built and

their success is proved by the fact that he was awarded no less than

thirty-six medals for breeding foreign birds for the first time in the

United Kingdom. At one time he had nearly a thousand birds in

outdoor aviaries. Some would disappear and be almost forgotten

when, one day, the hidden nest, containing eggs or young birds, would

be discovered amidst the dense foliage. Often a strange bird would

be observed and its identity not be discovered until careful watching

showed it to be the offspring of some bird whose nest was not suspected.


Mr. Shore-Baily was very interested in the eggs of birds, especially

those of the Waders and the Birds of Prey of which he owned a valuable

collection.



THE SOCIETY’S MEDAL


It is proposed to award Medals in the following cases, but if any

member or reader should know of a previous instance it is requested

that the Honorary Secretary be informed at once :—


Mr. G-. H. Gurney, for breeding Bamhusicola thoracica, reported in

the September number.


Mr. Alfred Ezra, for breeding Bamhusicola fytchii and Sturnia

nemoricola, reported in the present number.



