44 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



(IV.) A certain area is described, within which all wild 

 birds' eggs are protected ; and also a list is given of 

 birds, the eggs of which are protected throughout the 

 entire county. 



The time durinsj which the orders remain in force varies in 

 different counties. In some, it is limited to a period of one, three, 

 or five years, and is renewable ; in others, no limit is given, the 

 Act in such cases holding good till it is modified or repealed. On 

 examination of the schedules, we find some of the lists of birds 

 are made out with no great ornithological knowledge, while in 

 others it is easy to trace the revising pen of an expert. All differ 

 more or less with regard to the species selected for protection, 

 according to the geographical position of the several counties and 

 other local and traditional causes, but there are certain families 

 and individuals which have a j^rominent position in all. 



There is an almost unanimous opinion in favour of all species 

 of Owls. In one county (Oxfordshire) the eggs of " the Owls" are 

 alone protected. Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons are also well 

 looked after, especially the Kestrel and Buzzards, which appear 

 on nearly every list ; but the Sparrow Hawk appears on none. 



Among the Corvidse, the Raven and Magpie have no friends in 

 Scotland, but in England each can reckon on five counties willing 

 to spare their eggs, while Midlothian and Haddington alone in 

 Great Britain offer protection to the Jay. The Carrion and 

 Hooded Crows and the Jackdaw receive no mention ; the only 

 sure refuge for these and other birds omitted from the lists is, 

 therefore, within areas where the eggs of all birds are protected. 



Such general favourites as the Skylark^ Goldfinch, and King- 

 fisher, and all Warblers, also Woodpeckers and the Titmouse 

 family, are made as safe as possible. In Scotland, several counties 

 have inserted a separate clause for the protection of Lapwings' 

 eggs after the 15th April in each year. 



We are glad to miss none of our rare and local nesting birds on 

 those lists in which we expect to find them, such as the Chough, 

 the Golden Oriole, the Kite, and the Kentish Plover; and, in 

 addition, we notice that several vagrant visitors, which formerly 

 nested with us, are promised a welcome should they care to do so 

 again. Eggs of the Great Bustard were taken in the neighbour- 

 hood of Thetford within the last sixty years, and Suffolk, bearing 



