258 TRIBUTES TO KNOWLEDGE, 



On the protection of terns on our coast, he writes as 

 follows : — 



" May \2th, 1892. 

 "I quite sympathise in your indignation at the de- 

 struction and harassing of the terns on the Suffolk coast, 

 but I fear that it is all but impossible to stop it, as I 

 presume that even the owner or lessee of the land cannot 

 warn people off the foreshores, and our legislators have 

 repeatedly declined to protect any eggs but those of game 



birds. I am not personally acquainted with Lord R , 



and before writing to him should like to have your 

 permission to send your letter to him, as I cannot speak 

 on my own experience with regard to this lamentable 

 state of affairs." ^ 



" May \6th., 1892. 

 " As perhaps you know, the Fame Islands Bird Pro- 

 tection Association has done infinite good, and I cannot 

 see why similar local associations should not be formed, 

 as they might be, at a very small expense, and work 

 most beneficially in the interest of breeding, and often, of 

 now uncommon birds. At the Fame Islands the expense 

 isj of course, much heavier than it need be on a mainland 

 locality, as we have to pay the wages of several boatmen 

 and watchers, and for the maintenance of boats in good 

 repair, etc. In Scilly the Lord-Lieutenant is absolute, 

 and can permit or forbid whatever he likes, as we land- 



1 To G. Hope, Esq. 



