A Palestine Incident
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X5402700213 |
| Published date | 01 April 1954 |
| Author | H. Conway |
| Date | 01 April 1954 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
A
PALESTINE
INCIDENT
152
were linnets.
The
layout
of
these nets is shown in
the
two
photographs
(collapsed
and
set positions)
and
it was interesting to examine them,
for this was certainly bird-catching in a big way.
The
linnets were
coming
to
the
dew-pond,
being
attracted
by their captive friend,
and
when close to him they
found
themselves
trapped
in fine nets released
from a distance by a man. Being fond
of
birds I
admit
I felt a bit
'hot
and
cold'
towards
our two 'friends'.
The
plain clothes
man
showed me
another
bird with its entrails
hanging
out
which he
had
picked up in
the
field. Both this
bird
and
the
one
I
had
found
had
been the 'Jive
bait'
and
when
snatched
from
the
twine in a
hurry
on
our
approach
their insides
had
been
cruelly pulled
out.
After
the
two 'bird-fanciers'
had
been told certain things
about
their future,
together
with a suitable
statement
about
their gear
of
which they were relieved, we
continued
on
our
way, myself deep in
thought
about
the
wild creatures
of
the
countryside--had
I
done
sufficient in
the
past
in this matter"
of
their welfare? And so
hack
to
the office to have alook at the Acts.
A day or
two
later I
attended
Rench with my
companion,
when
our
two bird-catchers were
summoned
for
"Using
nets for
taking
wild
birds"
and
"Having
possession
of
wild
birds",
the
younger
man
being
charged
with
the
additional
offence
of
"Cruelty
to wild
birds".
Happily
the
Court
convicted
and
hetween
them
the
men were fined
£14
and
their
equipment
confiscated. This
equipment
is now in
the
black museum at
Headquarters
and
there is
one
young
P.c.
thankful
to a senior friend for his help
and
attention
in an
unusual
case,
and
nothing will
take
away the practical knowledge stored in my memory
for future reference.
The
birds in this case were identified by a local gentleman
(one
of
a
panel
of
ornithologists whose services are available to Police
of
East
Sussex
County
by
arrangement
with
the
Royal Society for
the
Pro-
tection
of
Birds) whose assistance is gratefully acknowledged.
It
is
understood
that
there
is a
market
for certain live wild birds which
pays up to 25s. per bird.
What
an unholy
trade
it is!
A
Palestine
Incident
By H.
CONWAY,
Colonial Police Service, Aden
THE Palestine Police was a
remarkably
efficient
Force
both
in its
administration
and
its investigation. Even so, mistakes were made.
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