Welsh Journals

ately removed, represents about 85%. To show the force of the above statement, this year the writer found the nests of the wild duck, oyster-catcher, five ringed- plovers, a lapwing, and three linnets all of which nests were robbed. Amongst the few birds successful in rearing their young were two sheldrakes, a rock and meadow pipit, the former's subterranean domestic arrangements standing them in good stead, while the latter owed their salvation to their wonderful power of concealment. The kestrels, who nested there of yore, and who might often be observed hovering over the island on lightly moving pinions, have now sought a home where the odds against them are not quite so des- perate, the rockdoves having also departed in com- pany with a pair of redbacked shrikes, whose sole relic is a hawthorn bush-their erstwhile larder. The above facts are mentioned to indicate the golden opportunity for the Society to regain for Wales these departed birds, as they have been regained in Somerset, across the Channel. The fact that rare birds have nested there in the past, seems to indicate that they will nest there again if sufficient opportunity and inducement be offered them. If only the above mentioned birds can be induced to return to their former native haunts, Sully Island will have in a few years become a recognised bird haven, and another link will have been added to the chain, which the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are moulding, with the magnificent aim of saving and reconstituting the bird-life of Great Britain. Welsh A limited company, with Lord National Howard de Walden as its chairman Drama of directors, has now been incor- porated, boldly, and with confidence in its destiny, adopting the title of the Welsh National Drama Company. In the first instance it is intended to engage an efficient company of professional actors, preferably capable of performing in Welsh or in English, to tour those towns in North and South Wales which are possessed of a theatre or other suitable building. This tour will open in May, with a week at the New Theatre, Cardiff, when six plays will be produced, at least one of them being in Welsh. Other large towns in South Wales such as Swansea, Llanelly, Newport, will be visited. About six weeks will, in all probability, be devoted to South Wales and a month to North Wales. After the conclusion of this tour it is the present intention that a travelling theatre, capable of accommo- dating an audience of about eight hundred, shall be purchased, and a second touring company engaged, to give performances at those smaller towns which do not possess a theatre or other building where stage plays can conveniently be performed. At the present time, however, no definite arrangements have been made beyond the conclusion of the first tour. It would not perhaps be amiss to refer here to the award of £ 100 offered by Lord Howard de Walden for the best play, submitted for adjudication, which shall be suitable for the repertory of the Company. The play may be written either in English or Welsh, but must deal with Wales or things Welsh. The winner of this prize does not forfeit his rights to the play, but the Welsh National Drama Company have certain rights of producing such play, subject to the payment to the author of the usual royalties. The Secretary of the Company will furnish any person interested with full particulars of this award if application be made to him at 6, High St., Cardiff. H. O. Jones Humphrey Owen Jones and Muriel Memorial Gwendolen Edwards were among the ablest students ever sent forth from the University of Wales. Their tragic death on the Alps, 18 months ago, when on their honeymoon will long be remembered, as one of the saddest events in the history of mountaineering. Their friends at Cambridge and elsewhere have commemorated his service to science by founding a lectureship in chemistry. On March 4th, his old schoolfellows will place a tablet to his memory at Lewis's Endowed School, Pengam. H. 0. Jones was born at Goginan in Cardiganshire in 1878. He entered the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth with a scholarship in 1894, and graduated as Bachelor of Science in the newly constituted University of Wales, at its first congrega- tion in 1897. In the same year he gained a scholar- ship at Clare College, Cambridge. His record as an undergraduate was exceptionally brilliant. In 1901 he was appointed Demonstrator to Sir James Dewar, and in 1902 he was elected to a fellowship at Clare. In 1904 he prepared a report on the Stereochemistry of Nitrogen for the British Association. In the twelve years 1900-1912 his name appeared on no less than 60 separate publications. His eminence as an investigator was recognised in election to the Royal Society at the extraordinary early age of 34. He married, on August 1st, 1912, Muriel Gwendo- len Edwards who had studied chemistry at Newnham College, and was the first woman to be elected a fellow of the University of Wales. On August 15th, while ascending the Mont Rouge de Peteret, their guide slipped and fell on Jones; the three dropped nearly 1000ft. to the Fresnay Glacier.