Ix Journal of Proceedings. 



" (II.) — That this Court do apply to the Secretary of State for the 

 Home Department to vary the close time under the Wild Birds 

 Protection Act, 1880, for this county in manner following, that is to 

 say : That the close tim.e as regards all Wild Birds extend annually 

 between the 15th day of March and the ist day of August." 



In the discussion which followed, Mr. J. E. Harting, F.L.S., 

 remarked that although in the recently passed " Wild Birds Protec- 

 tion Act, 18S0," which repealed the three Acts of 1869, 1872, and 1876 

 an endeavour had been made to fix such a close time as would be most 

 generally acceptable throughout the United Kingdom, it was quite 

 possible that in some parts of the country a different close time would 

 be more suitable. It was well known to naturalists that some species 

 of birds begin to nest earlier in some counties than they do in others ; 

 and it was also well ascertained that certain species, like the Wood- 

 cock, whose protection during the breeding season was very desirable, 

 were very early breeders. He had observed in certain districts that 

 where owners of game preserves had given orders not to have the 

 coverts disturbed after the ist of February, Woodcocks had remained 

 to breed. It was to meet cases of this kind that the close time fixed by 

 the Act now in force had been made to commence early, usually from 

 the ist March to the ist August. But he was quite prepared to hear 

 that this was too early a commencement for some counties, and they had 

 just learnt from Lieut. -Col. Russell's letter that in his opinion this 

 was the case in the county of Essex. If so, the Act provided a remedy 

 by enabling the Home Secretary, upon application of the Justices at 



communicate with the Home Secretary in regard to the close time for wildfowl, 

 with power to make any slight changes necessary to meet the views of the Home 

 Secretary : — Messrs. C. P. Wood, E. N.Buxton, J. O. Parker, R. Woodhouse, T. C. 

 Baring, M.P., J. Round, M.P., and I,ieut.-Col. Russell ; and it was further agreed, on 

 the motion of Lieut. -Col. Russell, seconded by Major Tufnell-Tyrell, that, if thought 

 advisable, the Committee be empowered to ask for a close time for all wild birds in 

 the county from the 15th March to the ist August. In a further letter, dated 

 December loth, Col. Russell remarks : — " I do not know whether I made it clear that 

 we could probably get a change for all birds to 15th March and ist August, and this 

 would suit fairly well both birds and shooters ; but it seems to me better to let all the 

 birds have protection from ist of March, except the few which perhaps once in 

 several years give a chance in passing in March, such birds being worth shooting, 

 and, as I am satisfied, will not have their numbers sensibly diminished by what 

 are killed here, vastly greater numbers passing than can find accommodation or 

 inducement to remain." Referring to the Wild Birds Act he adds : " I should have 

 been glad to see eggs protected, but there are several objections, some of which were 

 several years back well pointed out by Professor Newton — so I did not see my way 

 to advise this. I suggested some limit of time being put to the sale of foreign fowl. 

 This was not done, and if the killing or taking of migrants, as Widgeons, is stopped 

 many weeks earlier than in JHolland (ist April in one part, 15th April in another) 

 so that our shops are full of Dutch birds, there will be great dissatisfaction and 

 temptation to break the law, and many opportunities of doing so profitably, by pass- 

 ing oft our few birds as Dutch. Tnis is one great reason for extending the time of 

 killing such birds." — Ed. 



