" A BILL TO AMEND THE WILD BIRDS' PROTECTION ACT " 77 



except one of the most severe character, could stop it; while 

 any enactment of that kind would, by filling the gaols with 

 boys (often of a tender age), excite a strong and uniform 

 hostility against all measures for the protection of indigenous 

 animals, even among many of those who are at present 

 favourably disposed to it." They proceed to say : " Your 

 committee believe that the effect of birds'-nesting on such 

 kinds of birds as are known to be diminishing in numbers is 

 altogether inappreciable, while its effect on those whose 

 numbers are not decreasing may be safely disregarded ; and 

 consequently that there is no need of any legislative inter- 

 ference with the practice. They again repeat their conviction 

 that the only practicable mode of checking the diminution 

 of such birds as have been proved to be decreasing is the 

 effectual protection of the adults from destruction during the 

 breeding-season." 



In their preceding Report (for 1873) they na d submitted 

 for consideration, among other remarks as to future legislation 

 for the Protection of Birds, the following : 



" A Law protecting birds which cannot be shewn to want 

 protection is a mistake. The crucial test of whether a bird 

 wants protection or not, is whether its numbers are decreasing 

 or on the contrary. With some very few exceptions (nearly 

 each of which can be satisfactorily explained), none of what 

 are commonly known as 'Small Birds' are decreasing through- 

 out the United Kingdom generally. Most ' Small Birds ' are 

 generally increasing in numbers ; some remarkably so." 



Now it seems to be admitted that the chief object of the 

 introducers of the present Bill is the protection of " Small 

 Birds," which the " Close Time " Committee found was not in 

 a general way needed. 



Nevertheless, since that Committee ceased to exist, the 

 question has been revived ; and in 1891, as well as in 1892, 

 the British Association appointed a Committee " to consider 

 proposals for the Legislative Protection of Wild Birds' Eggs." 

 It undoubtedly appears that it might be advisable to some 

 extent to give effect to the desire expressed by many people, 

 that some restrictions on what, for brevity's sake, may be 

 called " egging," should be enacted. The question then 

 arises of what nature these restrictions should be. It seems 



