2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



London and elsewhere. Of course the results of such 

 practices as these could not but be injurious ; and, in fact, 

 they were too easily seen. The Common Terns seemed to 

 be able to hold their own in spite of any amount of persecu- 

 tion, and Sheldrakes were more numerous than was to have 

 been expected, but all other species were distinctly scarce. 

 There were a few Curlews and Golden Plovers struggling for 

 existence, a certain number of Lapwings, and on the northern 

 ' third ' perhaps five or six pairs of Eiders ; but most of the 

 nests were plundered one by one, and of the Eiders in 

 particular very few were ever able to hatch. 



Moreover, there was little that could then be done to 

 remedy this state of matters, though whatever could be done 

 was done ; but neither force nor argument are of much use 

 where there is not legal support in reserve behind them. 

 After a year or two of continual watching, some little improve- 

 ment was indeed perceptible ; a certain percentage of Eider 

 Ducks were now able to hatch out successfully, and the Terns 

 perhaps increased in numbers ; but the improvement was too 

 slight to permit of great hopes being entertained of anything 

 like a satisfactory result being attainable. Such improvement 

 as there was, was only secured at the cost of very much 

 uphill work. 



Such was the state of matters in 1894, when at length 

 an Act was passed which gave a little legal backing to those 

 who were interested in the protection of nesting wild birds ; 

 and Tentsmuir, which is an isolated and sparsely inhabited 

 tract lying within a highly populous district, seemed an 

 exceptionally suitable spot in which to test its efficacy. To 

 bring the Act into operation there, it was necessary to secure 

 the assistance of the County Council ; and there ensued a 

 lengthy correspondence with the County Authorities, firstly, 

 to satisfy certain members of the Council that no valuable 

 interest was in conflict with that of Wild Bird Protection, 

 and thereafter, as to the form in which a Protecting Order 

 should be drawn up, even such details as the Latinity of the 

 scientific nomenclature to be adopted being fully discussed. 

 However, in time all objectors were won over, the piloting of 

 the matter through its various stages in the Council being 

 kindly undertaken by Sir Ralph Anstruther, Bart, and an 



