THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF WILD BIRDS 57 



then they have failed hopelessly, for many of our non- 

 injurious species are rarer to-day than in 1880, whilst many 

 other species have become so numerous as almost to 

 constitute a plague to the agriculturist. 



These Acts may have been framed with the best of 

 intentions, but there is no evidence to show that those who 

 framed them ever took into serious consideration what 

 would probably be the ultimate effect of such legislation. 

 The farmers, fruit-growers, and probably the fishermen of 

 this country are now suffering, and have done so for some 

 years past, from their effects. 



After reviewing these Acts at some length, a recent 

 writer states "that they were all passed, not in the interests 

 of agriculturists of any class, but to satisfy the outcry against 

 bird destruction raised by the bird-loving public at large." 



Most people are familiar to a certain extent with the 

 huge flocks of sea-birds that frequent our coasts, but how 

 few have any idea as to what they feed upon ! Some are 

 mere scavengers of the shore, devouring anything left by 

 the tide, others travel inland and feed upon different kinds 

 of insect larvae, some cause considerable damage on game 

 preserves, but the diet of the majority is marine organisms, 

 the bulk of which consists of fish. Very few systematic 

 investigations have been made upon the food of these birds, 

 in consequence of which our information is meagre and 

 often misleading. 



In a recent report of an investigation made on the 

 Suffolk and Essex coasts, the committee conclude by 

 stating "that it would be manifestly unfair to draw any 

 definite conclusions from it as to the feeding habits of gulls 

 in general. But since gulls have taken to feeding on grain 

 the balance would appear to be against the gull, and 

 from an economic point of view we consider an exhaustive 

 inquiry is indicated in consequence of the enormous rate 

 at which these birds are increasing throughout the land." 



Without thorough and exhaustive inquiry any legislation 



affecting our sea-birds, or even any wild birds, is both 



unscientific and likely to prove highly mischievous, and 



the longer such inquiry is deferred the poorer the country 



63 H 



