7 MARCH 1941, Page 14

COUNTRY LIFE The British Trust for Ornithology Perhaps an organisation

devoted largely to watching and counting birds and compiling reports from the resultant data would seem to have little appeal during war-time. Yet on agricultural grounds alone. I think, bird observation, intelligently and scientifically carried out' has a claim to be called work of national importance. The organisa. tion which prompts these remarks is The British Trust for One. thology. Formed seven years ago, it has conducted a serio of field investigations that are all too little appreciated. This is reflected in the membership figures of the latest report, and it seems a strange and regrettable thing that this society should still possess less than the thousand members it feels are neces- sary for the successful continuance of its work. Its aims are simple, yet important—" to promote, organise, carry on and encourage, study and research and particularly field work for the advancement of knowledge in all branches of the Science of Ornithology, including the investigation of, and publication of reports on, the effect of bird life in regard to agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fisheries," and "permanently to preserve and protect lands and objects which hr their natural features are suitable for the preservation and study of bird life and of fauna and flora generally " The trust urgently needs, and of course deserves, more funds and more members (Pas. yearly, km life membership), and I suggest all those who are interested should write to the secretary, James Fisher, British Trust for Orni- thology, Zoological Society, Regent's Park, N.W. 8.