144 The Scottish Naturalist. 



of the Scottish Natural History Societies that publishes more useful and 

 interesting reports of its doings than the one in Glasgow. The society has 

 received an accession of strength by the incorporation into it of the younger 

 " Field Naturalists' Society ; " and we fancy that neither of the two societies 

 need regret the union. The contents of the part now under notice are of the 

 usual varied description, embracing subjects of a geological, botanical, zoo- 

 logical, and meteorological nature, and are illustrated by two excellent litho- 

 graphic plates. As usual, most of the papers relate to Scottish natural 

 history. 



Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club for 1879. 



Like the society just noticed, this club is one of which a Scottish naturalist 

 may be proud, but, unlike it, it adds archaeology to its natural history studies. 

 A large portion of the present part is occupied with antiquarian papers which, 

 while both valuable and interesting, cannot well be noticed here. In addi- 

 tion to these there are, however, a goodly number of natural history notes of 

 both local and general interest, including lengthy notices by the secretary 

 (Mr Hardy) of the effects of the winter of 1878-79. The part is illustrated 

 by four plates of archaeological subjects. 



The Grallatores and Natatores of the Estuary of the Tay ; the Great 

 Decrease in their Number of late years ; the Causes ; with Suggestions for 

 its Mitigation. By Colonel Drummond Hay. Dundee : Published by the 

 Dundee Naturalists' Society. 1 881. 



On the Protection of Wild Birds. By Thomas Edward. Banff: 1881. 



These two pamphlets, both relating to the same subject, and both by 

 authors than whom none are more competent to speak with the authority 

 that knowledge imparts, may well be considered together ; not that we have 

 sufficient space at present to deal with anything like justice to the strong 

 appeal for more and better protection for our wild birds, so feelingly made 

 by Colonel Drummond Hay and Mr Edward. By both these naturalists not 

 only is the utter absurdity, not to mention the unveracity, of the accusations so 

 often brought against the various kinds of water-fowl as destroyers of fisheries, 

 well shown up, but the various weak points in the recent Protection Act 

 are clearly pointed out. The weakest point of all is that the eggs and nests 

 are not covered by the Act, and till this is done, and more effectual means 

 taken for enforcing the law, wild birds cannot be said to be properly pro- 

 tected. Therefore, while thankful for such protection as has been accorded, 

 it is the duty of all lovers of birds, and in fact of all who have sense enough 

 to see that birds are in many ways a blessing, and not (as some foolish 

 people would have us believe) more or less of a curse, and who do not 

 grudge them a little fruit, — it is their duty to strenuously endeavour to get the 

 Act so amended as to include the eggs and nests. At the same time it is 

 not to Acts of Parliament that we ought to look for a radical cure. This 

 will only be brought about by the better education of the people of every 

 degree : and it is on this line that naturalists and natural history societies 

 ought to move. In the meantime we would urge on the various societies to 

 endeavour to see that the present Act is enforced. They might also advan- 

 tageously procure and circulate copies of the pamphlets above mentioned. 



