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Vol.. II. MARCH, 1893. No. 3. 



EGG-COIvI.HCTlNG AND HGG-DESTRUCTION. 



Thk last two issues of our contemporary T/ic Annah of 

 Scottish Nattcral History contain articles upon this subject by 

 Rev. E. P. Knubley, M.A., and Eieut-Colonel Duthie, R.A . 

 which we would commend to the serious attention of our 

 readers, especiall}^ since the nesting season is again at hand. 

 The rapid disappearance of many of our rarer birds, owing to 

 the S5^stematic and ruthless plundering of their breeding- 

 stations, has of late been prominently before a number of our 

 leading naturalists and scientific societies, and the pressing 

 importance of the question is shown by the resolution passed 

 at the meeting of Delegates at the last meeting of the British 

 Association : — 



" The Conference of Delegates having heard of the threatened extermi- 

 nation of certain birds, as British breeding species, through the destruc- 

 tion of their eggs, deprecates the encouragement given to dealers by 

 collectors through their demands for British-taken eggs, and trusts that 

 the Corresponding Societies will do all that lies in their power to interest 

 and influence naturalists, landowners, and others, in the preservation of 

 such birds and their eggs." 



It is quite possible that in the near future legislative protec- 

 tion will be extended to the eggs of our rarer birds, as it is at 

 present, during the breeding season, to the birds themselves, 

 but meanwhile the danger impends. As Mr. Knubley says :— 



"The eggs of every kind of wild bird, whether common or uncommon, 

 useful or otherwise, are Hable to be destroyed through thoughtless care- 

 lessness, wanton mischief, or sordid greed. At present there is nothing 

 to prevent whole areas from being systematically plundered of every c^g 

 of every bird— and it is done. ... It requires no prophet to foretell 

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

 unchecked." 



