Protecting the Kite
At one time I used to lament that the west of Britain cared much less for its natural history than the east. Perhaps Norfolk, with its Naturalists' Trust, still stands supreme, but it has had a close rival in Pembrokeshire ; and now the Council of the West Wales Field Society is beginning to do notable work. Like the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, with its company of nesting avocets, it has one particular triumph to record in detail thanks to protective methods. The kite was once very common in our island, and our literature has quantities of references to it, as a " common object." Later it totally disappeared. Last winter over a score of kites were counted In one district, and the bird may be said to be re-establishing itself successfully as a native. However, it is still in danger from the activities of foresters as well as from guns and, collectors and perhaps photographers ; and so a special " kite committee " has been formed for its protection ; and its multiplication may be expected. The general public—on the banks of the Towy as by Hickling—grows more keen on protection ; and there is no defence so good as the sym- pathy of local residents.
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