The Annals 



of 



Scottish Natural History 



No. 4] 18 9 2 [October. 



IS LEGISLATIVE PROTECTION REQUIRED 

 FOR WILD BIRDS' EGGS? 



By Rev. E. P. Knubley, M.A., M.B.O.U. 



It may be well to state at the outset that at present certain 

 birds are protected by a close time in the nesting season, 

 during which it is illegal to kill them, but that this protection 

 does not extend to their eggs. The eggs, in fact, of every 

 kind of wild bird, whether common or uncommon, useful or 

 otherwise, are liable to be destroyed through thoughtless 

 carelessness, wanton mischief, or sordid greed. 



At present there is nothing to prevent whole areas from 

 being systematically plundered of every egg of every bird — 

 and it is done. Again, certain of our British birds — for 

 instance, the Great Skua and some of the Terns — nest in 

 colonies in a few known localities ; and as the law now stands 

 there is nothing to hinder the taking of the eggs of these 

 birds to such an extent as to prevent the hatching of a single 

 young bird. It requires no prophet to foretell what will be 

 the result of this system of pillage, if it is allowed to proceed 

 unchecked. 



The question has been asked, Has the time come when 

 legislative protection is required for wild birds' egg>? A 

 committee of the British Association was appointed at the 

 Cardiff meeting, with a view to inquiring into this subject ; 



4 B 



