46 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



extending its scope, and is interested in all methods adopted for 

 the preservation of the feathered race. It is now a strong and 

 well-organised body, having many well-known ornithologists on 

 its committee. It has branches all over the Kingdom, and is 

 sowing its educational leaflets broadcast throughout the land. 



Much as we rejoice at the bright prospect which is opening up 

 for the birds, and at the defeat of the greedy and mercenary egg 

 collectors, by whose action the new legislation has been rendered 

 necessary, we cannot refrain from sympathising with the hona- 

 Jide naturalist, whose collection is the fruit of earnest study, and 

 to whom the contents of his cabinets are not merely an 

 accumulation of items measured by quantity or by price, but 

 are valuable contributions to his own practical knowledge and 

 experience, records of hard work accomplished, results of many a 

 carefully-planned expedition, representing to him, as do the rows 

 of stags' heads in the Highland shooting lodge to the stalker, 

 trophies of victories gained over wild nature and self. 



Bird-nesting, if judiciously carried out, is a sport in every sense 

 of the word, and all the best qualities of a good sportsman are 

 required in a successful bird-nester — patience, endurance, courage 

 a sharp eye and sensitive ear to detect the slightest movement oi 

 faintest sound, and, above all, the instinct of keen observation. 



The effect of the Act will be keenly felt by our schoolboys. To 

 many of these, bird-nesting becomes a passion, partly on account 

 of a certain spice of danger which often accompanies it, for, 

 besides the feat of climbing a difficult tree, or the sensation of 

 hanging in mid-air from the top of a high clifi^, there are the 

 minor excitements which are attractive, such as the risk of being 

 caught out of bounds, the fun of outwdtting an irate farmer, and 

 the agonising suspense of waiting concealed in a wet ditch until 

 the gamekeeper and his dog are out of sight. 



The spirit of emulation runs high at school, and the possessor 

 of certain rare eggs occupies an envied place in the ranks of 

 vouthful oolof^jists. 



All ornithologists of note, and probably most naturalists, were 

 bird-nesters in their youth, and it was in those early days that 

 the germs of acute observation were developed, and the habit of 

 accurately noting down facts M^as acquired. 



AH this will now be changed. The eggs of the rarest British 



