THE WILD birds' PROTECTION ACT OF 1894. 43 



The Wild Birds' Protection Act of 1894, and the 

 Future of British Oolog-y. 



By Colonel W. H. M. Duthie, 



[Read 23rd February, 1897-] 



It was natural that the Wild Birds' Protection Act of 1880 

 should be followed by further legislation with a view of protecting 

 the eggs of certain species, for it was obviously futile to attempt 

 to preserve our rare birds while at the same time their eggs were 

 liable to be taken; so, in due time, the amended Act of 1894 

 was passed into law. 



This Act empowers a Secretary of State, on application by a 

 County Council, to prohibit the taking or destroying the eggs of 

 any species of wdld bird in any place within the county — forfeiture 

 of the eggs, and the payment of a sum not exceeding one pound 

 for every egg taken, is the penalty on conviction. 



Up to the present date the Act has been taken advantage of 

 by the County Councils of thirty-seven counties in England and 

 Wales, and by a dozen in Scotland. Each of these counties has 

 promulgated an order explaining the meaning of the Act, and 

 clearly defining the manner in which it is to be carried out. 



One or other of the four following plans has been adopted as 

 a basis for framinsj these orders : — 



(T.) A specified list of birds is given, the taking or destroying 

 the eggs of which in any part of the county is 

 prohibited. 



(XL) A list of birds is given, the eggs of which are protected 

 withi7i certain fixed limits. 

 (III.) Certain areas are described, within which the taking 

 of all wild birds' eggs is prohibited. 



