3 
not prove satisfactory, a manufactured imitation of them might be 
introduced. 
Mrs. Drewitt thought these shows could be tried in country 
towns, and ladies’ committees formed to assist. 
Bird Sanctuaries. —Mr. Masefield (N. Staffordshire) said that 
he did not propose to deal with such “protected areas” as were 
provided for under The Wild Birds Protection Acts, but with such as 
any of his hearers could form for themselves ; and he urged that 
Branch Secretaries should exert themselves to secure the absolute 
protection in small areas for all birds—all birds, that was to say, with 
the one exception he felt bound to make of the domestic sparrow. 
The area might be of any size, from the small villa garden to the 
estate of five hundred acres, provided it was free from two things, the 
prowling cat and casual gunner: It might be enclosed with small 
thickets of rhododendron, evergreen shrubs, brambles or the like, and 
completely protected by railing with outward turned spikes, and wire 
netting. Other and more easily formed areas were small islands 
surrounded by water, such as could be seen in London Parks, 
where the birds were so tame as to permit of approach within 
a few yards of them. In either case birds very quickly 
knew where they were safe from molestation, and might be trusted 
to resort there to build their nests and bring up their young. 
These .small areas were especially adapted for public gardens 
and parks, and afforded the greatest interest to all who lived in large 
towns. Within a limited area round his own residence, thirty- 
eight or forty species had nested during the last few years, the 
principal means used to attract them being the provision of nesting 
places and other conveniences. To the house itself and outbuildings 
came the spotted flycatcher—his favourite bird—who was readily 
induced to build if provided with a little ledge placed in a window or 
other angle where there was protection from rain overhead. It was a 
pretty sight to see this bird hawking for flies on the lawn, and if a 
small perch was put up it would be sure to find it. Boxes covered with 
bark or virgin cork would attract the tits, nuthatch, and redstart; holes 
in tin cans and kettles appeared to possess particular attractions for 
the robin; hedges, close]y cropped, of thorn and holly would afford 
homes for the greenfinch, and certainly for the thrush and blackbird; 
spruce fir and thick bushes would please the bullfinch, while privet 
and syringa would suit the other warblers, such as the blackcap, and 
almost any shrub the chaffinch. Long grass tempted the pipits; 
larger boxes might be provided for the starling, jackdaw, and 
stockdoves, and still larger ones for owls, whom everyone wished if 
possible, to attract and protect, but which, he regretted to say, were 
often bullied and driven out by the jackdaws. He strongly advised 
Branch Secretaries to adopt some such plan as he had sketched, and 
believed they would do so with success; and he recommended that 
in arranging lectures, local birds should be taken as the subject, as 
“ Our Local Birds,” would have far greater interest for the majority 
of people than those they had never seen and were never likely to see. 
Another thing wanted was that elementary school teachers should 
loarn something of the life history of birds, in order that they might 
