102 Bird Notes and News 



approved by the Secretary of State." Obviously this clause will require very careful watching, 

 and needs to be more clearly expressed and more strongly hedged about. 



The use of mechanically-propelled boats and aircraft, and of bird-lime and braced or maimed 

 decoy-birds, for killing or taking wild birds, is prohibited. 



The sale of Lapwings for food in close-time, and the taking of their eggs, except by owner 

 or occupier of the land before April 15th, is prohibited. 



The suppression of birdcatching on highways and commons is a concession to that public 

 opinion which one trade cannot expect to defy for ever. 



The suggestion of a licence for catchers is a more debatable matter. Presumably the idea 

 is to place names and addresses in the possession of the authorities and weed out a certain number 

 of back-yard " aviaries " ; but the proposed payment is only 5s. for a first and Is. for subsequent 

 annual payments, and it is hard to imagine that any benefit can accrue to set against the grave 

 objection to " licensed " birdcatchers. 



The liberation of imported birds of any species is prohibited except by leave of the Secretary 

 of State. (Probably birds other than British birds is intended.) 



HOW THE ACTS HAVE BEEN UTILISED 



It is interesting to examine into the extent to which Local Authorities have 

 availed themselves of the power placed in their hands by the Acts of 1894 and 1896, 

 particularly as this has direct bearing upon the question of the Scheduled birds, the 

 composition of the Schedules being the most vexed portion of the Bill. In drawing 

 these up no heed has been paid to the old Schedule of 1880 (admittedly a defective 

 one) ; but it is worth while considering the birds that figure most often in County 

 Council Orders and those listed for the County Councils Association in 1895 by Mr. 

 Howard Saunders and Colonel Irby as deserving of complete close-time protection. 



Sixty-two County Councils in England and Wales (including all the English 

 ones), 32 in Scotland, and 60 County Borough Councils have obtained Orders for 

 the furthering of bird-protection ; 51 of the English and Welsh Orders, and all the 

 Scottish ones, add species to the schedule of those completely protected during the 

 nesting season ; 62 English and Welsh Orders, and 32 Scottish, protect some birds 

 all the year round. The lists vary enormously in length and in the species selected, 

 but the tendency has been to extend them more and more as time has gone on. The 

 diversity of choice suggests that many considerations and local conditions have been 

 taken into account. 



Close-Time Protection. 



In England and Wales, where no attempt has been made (as in Scotland) to 

 introduce uniformity, and each county has acted entirely " on its own," the species 

 which figure most frequently on the lists for close-time protection over and above 

 those scheduled by the Act (which were not then discussed) are : *Buzzard, 

 added by 39 County Councils ; *Hobby, 35 ; *Swallow, 35 ; *House-Martin, 35 ; 

 ♦Kestrel, 33 ; *Sand-Martin, 33 ; *Merlin, 32 ; *Swift, 32 ; *Honey Buzzard, 31 ; 

 Kite, 29 ; Wryneck, 29 ; *Osprey, 27 ; Goldcrest, 26 ; Redbacked Shrike, 26 ; Pied 

 Flycatcher, 26 ; Peregrine Falcon, 25 ; Yellow Wagtail, 25 ; Bearded Tit, 25 ; Pied 

 and Grey Wagtails, each 24 ; Spotted Flycatcher, 24 ; Blackcap-Warbler, 22 ; Grass- 

 hopper Warbler, 22 ; Wheatear, 21 ; Chiff chaff, 21 ; Raven, Redstart, Sedge- Warbler, 

 Wood- Warbler, Treecreeper, Wren, each 20. 



* Kecommended as additions to the Schedule by the C.C. Association. 



All-the-year Protection 



The species which have obtained the widest suffrage in England and Wales 

 for protection throughout the year are : fGoldfinch, 55 ; fKingfisher, 52 ; fBarn 



