Bird Notes and News loi 



Under the Acts of 1894 and 1896 it is required (13) The local authority is to exhibit and 

 (13) that County Councils should give public keep exhibited from Feb. 1st to Sept. 1st a 

 notice of any Order made under them, three summary of the provisions of the Act and of 

 weeks before it comes into operation each Orders imder it " in such manner and form 

 year by advertisements in local papers and as the Secretary may direct." No place or 

 " by fixing notices in conspicuous places, places are named, except the elementary 

 and in such other manner as the State Secretary schools or their vicinity, localities which bird- 

 may direct or the Council consider expedient." catcher and collector are not likely to frequent, 

 (Unfortunately full use has never been made There is no provision for making loiown 

 of this last provision.) winter protection. 



The penalty (14) for non-scheduled birds The penalty (14) for an offence under the 



is a reprimand and costs for a first offence, Act is a fine not exceeding £5, with a possible 



and not more than 5s. and costs subsequently ; £10 or a month's imprisonment for a subsequent 



in the case of a scheduled bird, or of eggs, a offence, 

 fine not exceeding £1. 



THE SCHEDULES 



The species on the list in the existing Acts, and therefore protected in every 

 county during close-time, include Owls, Kingfisher, Woodpeckers, Goldfinch, 

 Nightingale, Hoopoe, Oriole, Bee-eater, Bittern, Grebe, Phalarope, Greenshank, 

 Divers, Dotterel, Fulmar, Lapvsdng, Ruff, Skuas, Spoonbill, Stone Curlew, Terns, 

 Wild Duck, Whimbrel, and Woodcock. All of these are in one Schedule or other 

 of the new Bill. 



On the old list, but not in the new schedules are, among others, the Cuckoo, 

 Curlew, Gannet, Guillemot, Kittiwake and other Gulls, Nightjar, Puffin, Redshank, 

 Roller, Sandpiper, and Skylark. 



New names, placed on the Second or Close-time Schedule, include Cirl Bunting, 

 Crossbill, Marsh Warbler, Pied Fly-catcher, Rails, Capercaillie, Swans, and 

 Wild Goose. 



The First Schedule of the new Bill, giving complete protection all the year 

 from all persons, includes Bitterns, Buzzards, Woodpeckers, Owls (except Little 

 Owl), Shrikes, and Raven ; the majority of the birds named in it (about 25 species) 

 are extremely rare and local, such as Chough, Crested Tit, Bearded Tit, Dartford 

 Warbler, Golden Oriole, Kentish Plover, Kite, Waxwing, Black Redstart, Avocet, 

 Spoonbill, and Bustard. 



NEW FEATURES 



So far, then, the proposals are by way of variations on the existing law. There 

 are, however, a number of new features. 



A Wild Birds Advisory Committee is to be appointed by the Secretary of State to advise 

 with regard to the administration of the law and as to projected schemes for the protection of 

 Wild Birds, at home or internationally. 



The better protection of rare birds from private collectors is aimed at by a clause requiring 

 taxidermists, and dealers in birds' eggs, to keep a register of scheduled birds and eggs brought 

 to them, " with details of the locality from which they came and of the person from whom they 

 were procured," such register to be open to the police. 



The police are to have the right to stop and search persons reasonably suspected of committing 

 an offence ; also to enter upon land or premises where there is reasonable cause to suspect certain 

 offences are committed. 



Onus of proof is more fully thrown on the possessor of bird or egg where illegal taking is 

 suspected. 



Licences may be granted to kill or take birds or nests and eggs " for any scientific purpose, 

 or for the purpose of the protection of property, crops or fisheries, or for any other special purpose 



