COUNTRY LIFE
A Great Observatory The Skokholm bird observatory (which was equipped largely through the generosity of readers of The Spectator) has- been well established. -Altogether the sum of 1:88. was collected. A great cage on the model of the famous cage at Heligoland (where bird migration has been most fruitfully studied since the time of the great Gadke) is in being on a favourite scoop of the ground in Skokholm which we may call the British (or Cymric) 'Heligoland. Without suffering any hardship, birds fly into this cage, are easily caught by an ingenious device, and ringed ; and are then released after a very short detention. They sometimes, though their incarceration is so short, resemble the prisoner of Chillon " Even I regained my freedom with a sigh." They come back to the cage to be caught a Second time. The cage and rings are a great contrii bution to the science. of ornithology and, ultimatelY, to the preservation of birds. It not Mr. 'Lockley himself honorary watcher on this coast on behalf of the R.S.P.B. ? But observers are more important than apparatus. Volunteers are called for ; and all those who offer their personal services will feel that a week or two at Skokholm is a liberal education. The place has become a great scientific observatory with an international reputation.
West Coast Sanctuaries I hear that a scheme for making the islands off Pembroke- shire and the coastline of the county into one great sanctuary has been making some headway. The word sanctuary has, of course, a variety of signilications. It may be general or particular, strict or partial. What matters most is the efficiency of the guardian, of the watcher, especially in the breeding season ; and observers in the migration seasons are of no little importance. It has more than once been urged upon. the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds that they should contribute a small sum towards the guardianship of this district ; but the society finds itself much cramped in according such subventions. It has a great number of supporters who subscribe not ungenerously ; but pretty well half the income is spent in London. The society is at present experiencing an internal crisis. Whatever the exact issue, it is to be hoped that over centralisation, one might almost say urbanisation, will be avoided. Bird protection, like the French philosopher's universe, should have its centre nowhere and its circumference everywhere. Warding off collectors in Pembrokeshire is much more important than typewriting in Victoria Street. The society has done much splendid work externally. It has, for example, helped to build defensive perches on lighthouses and supports watchers ; but it is felt by many, who are far from being rebels, that such work may be more widely extended and more scientifically devised.
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Ramsey Island Of all the delectable places for a sanctuary none excels Ramsey, an island of magnificent cliffs just south of St. David's Head, whence in the hawking days the best peregrine falcons were procured. This island is described by Mr. I.ockley in the latest number of The Countownan. Now that he has made Skokholm—not so many miles away—both a sanctuary and a ringing centre, the need for a sanctuary at Ramsey grows less, but it nurtures birds that are scarcely seen elsewhere. I saw there my first and latest—I hope not last --though. Happily for the West a great number of the islands are virtual sanctuaries, though not dedicated in perpetuity. They have fallen most fortunately into the hands of private owners who delight in their birds and seals.
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The Horse in Action Some while ago a letter reached me containing this question, this very technical question : Does a human athlete quite straighten his leg before touching the ground at the end of his stride ? The object of the question was to find an analogy for the action of a horse. The magnum opus that settles the question how a horse moves (Faber and Faber, I5s.) has now been published, The Horse in Action and Anatomy, by an artist. It is full of nice points charmingly illustrated by the artist- author. It has often been discussed by horsemen whether such a typical hunters' artist as Aiken had any excuse for extending his horse into the rhythmic and spacious span that he preferred. The hackney, in which Britain excels, has often been accused of sheer artificiality because it straightens the forelegs with an ostentation that almost conceals the truth that the drive and pace come froni further back. The essential facts settling such disputed points are both popularly and scientifically settled by Mr. Lowes Luard, whose original love for the Shire horse has not excluded study of the thoroughbred or the- pony.
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Hunting the Deer
Something was said last week of the need of some revision in the dates of close seasons. Of all animals the deer have perhaps the shortest respite. There are some autumn and winter intermissions, but only three months of the twelve can be called close. Indeed, the only wholly virgin months are June and July. The fox has of course ousted the deer from most of his haunts. The Enclosure Acts and the change in the face of the country that they entailed killed the deer and favoured the conditions most beloved of the .foxInuder, good grass fields, stiff hedges and small woods ; but there are still some sixteen different deer hunts, and the sport shows no sign of declining. No meet of any hunt is more widely popular than the meets on and about Exmoor in early autumn days before even cub-hunting is thought of.
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New Flowers for London Queen Mary's Garden in the Regent's Park is now being planted with the finest herbaceous plants that our gardeners can grow. Each big firm is sending its speciality. The new border will especially display delphiniums, lilies, scabious, lupins, phloxes and Michaelmas daisies of the best of the newest -varieties. This border is a novelty. The garden is already famouS for its roses, all supplied by our commercial rosarians. The flower and plants committee of the Ministry of Agriculture hope as much from the herbaceous border which is to rival the famouS half mile or so at Southport—one of the sights of the town= or the border under the wall at Hampton Court. The Ministry has indeed advanced since its days as a mere Board; When its functions were held to be merely negative and defensive. The flower and plants committee have themselves broken new ground, as behoves people interested in gardens and their propaganda.
Gamekeepers and Oologists The protection of birds has a host of advocates this spring, most of them making a different point. Mr. Edgar Chance, who has made fame as an of logist of exceptional zeal, begs magistrates and local bodies to see to it that the close. season is strictly observed, especially by gamekeepers and their masters. Doubtless it is most logical as well as most humane that the breeding season among all birds should be sacrosanct. There is certainly no good reason why hawks and owls should be excepted; in any event they do at. least as much good as harm. Possibly some exceptions may be permitted ; and to my thinking the birds most destructive of other birds' nests, small birds as well as game birds, are jackdaws (which have quite expelled the choughs from many haunts), magpies, jays and carrion crows. In no case should any hawk be killed in the close season ; - nor is there any reason why an exception should be made (as in practice it is made) in favour of game-.
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A Pedestrians' Easter
An old Oxford tutor complained not long since that walking was a lost art or amusement ; there were no Matthew- Arnolds or scholar gipsies left. When he spoke the revival was begin- ning; and the walkers' cult grows very-rapidly. It is being encouraged in many ways : by the building of hostels, by the admirable documenting (best of all in Essex) of footpaths, and by books and other literature. England itself is enjoying a singular boom in literature. Recent books with England in the title need a bibliography to themselves. Several new ones make their appearance ready for this Easter's walkers. -A very good-one concerns Dorset or the best part of the Hardy-country. It is -by Joan- Beghie, daughter of Harold Begbie, who had an exceptional love for that part of England. How well I remem- ber seeing the-goldfinches come to drink at a tiny-lily pond-in a house of his on the Dorset coast! W. BEA( il Tnom-ss.
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