ON THE REPORT ON THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS ii 



(i) To collect and classify information of all kinds 

 relating to Wild Birds. 



(2) To carry on continuously investigations into the food 

 and habits of birds, and for this purpose to enlist and direct 

 the services of such bodies as Fishery Boards, Naturalists' 

 Societies, etc. 



(3) To advise the central authority as to the making of 

 orders. 



(4) To advise the central authority as to the granting 

 of licences. 



(5) To advise the central authority on any projected 

 scheme for the protection of birds either in the United 

 Kingdom or internationally. 



(6) To advise the central authority generally on all 

 ornithological questions. 



(7) To extend, encourage, and direct educational and 

 propagandist work in regard to birds. 



The Committee " regard the establishment of such an 

 Advisory Committee as an indispensable preliminary to the 

 scientific administration of the law relating to bird pro- 

 tection, and urge most strongly that it should be set up 

 without delay." This proposal seems to us to be of great 

 value, and with a small committee of expert, practical men, 

 we feel that much might be done not only in the cause of 

 bird protection but in that of ornithology generally. 



Further paragraphs relate to the extension of the powers 

 of the police, to the making and publication of Orders with 

 a view to minimising the administrative expenses, and to the 

 offences, which include possession and sale of illegally taken 

 birds and eggs, the transport, etc., of illegally taken birds 

 and eggs, the use of brace-birds, bird-lime, maimed or 

 blinded decoy birds, and the use of mechanically-propelled 

 boats and air-craft for the purpose of killing or taking wild 

 birds. The Committee are of opinion that the present 

 penalties for breaches of the laws on bird protection are 

 quite inadequate, and suggest that they be considerably 

 increased and graduated according to the seriousness ot 

 the offences. Lastly, there is a miscellaneous chapter deal- 

 ing with a wide range of subjects in which recommendations 



