Bird Notes and News 103 



Owl, 50 ; fLongeared Owl, 48 ; fTawny Owl, 47 ; fShorteared Owl, 46 ; fOreen Wood- 

 pecker, 39 ; fSpotted Woodpeckers, 37 ; fLapwiiig, 33 ; tBittern, 31 ; Buzzard, 29 ; 

 fNightjar, 26 ; Kite, 24 ; Honey Buzzard, 24 ; Goldcrest, 24 ; Hobby, 22 ; Merlin, 22 ; 

 Kestrel, 21 ; Osprey, 20 ; Lesser Redpoll, 20 ; Wren, 20. 



fThese species are in the 1880 schedule, so that it is illegal for any person to kill them at 

 any time where this additional protection is given to them. 



Protection of Eggs 



The opportunity for constituting areas in which all birds or all eggs are protected 

 has not been so much utilised as might have been expected. Probably it is felt that 

 unless watchers can be appointed, as is done by the R.S.P.B. and by local bodies 

 in various instances, "paper" protection only informs the collector that something 

 of value is to be found there. In 19 counties there are " protected areas," 

 nearly all of them being on the coast. 



A REASONABLE BILL 



The proposals made by the Bill unquestionably mark a considerable advance 

 upon present legislation. It may a23pear to many people regrettable that the 

 opportunity was not taken to remodel and simplify the whole law after the manner 

 broached by Sir Montagu Sharpe, but the majority of the Advisory Committee con- 

 sidered amendment on the old lines more judicious. In seeking to make the law 

 more uniform they have happily retained one of the best features of the present law — 

 that elasticity which permits of variation to suit varying conditions in different parts 

 of the country — and they have provided for alteration where and when needed, by 

 the Home Office Advisory Committee as well as by local authorities. 



That there will be doubts and objections raised in regard to certain provisions, 

 or the want of them, is inevitable. A few suggestions that seem most essential have 

 been put forward by the R.S.P.B. There will also be opposition from parties who 

 are, or think themselves to be, adversely affected in pursuit or pocket. But it is 

 earnestly to be hoped that the measure, to the consideration and constitution of 

 which so much time has been given by highly qualified men, will have thorough and 

 practical support from all who are interested in the right and reasonable protection 

 of our wild birds. Members of the Society and others interested, should see to it 

 that the Bill is loyally supported by their representatives in the House of Commons. 



Readers of Bird Notes and News who desire to recall the history of the Bird 

 Protection Laws of Great Britain, or to compare existing legislation with that proposed, 

 or with that of other countries, can obtain from the R.S.P.B. The Story of 

 Bird Protection in Great Britain (6d.), giving a brief account of the various enactments 

 from early times ; Acts and Orders, with text of the Acts in force and notes by Mr. 

 F. E. Lemon, LL.B., C.A. (3d.) ; Chart List of Birds, mth summary of the Acts (3d.) 

 and (6d.) indicating the birds named in the schedules of the Bill ; Comparative Legis- 

 lation for the Protection of Birds, by Mr. A. Holte Macpherson ; The Rationale of Bird 

 Protection, with notes on legislation in Greater Britain, by Mr. F. E. Lemon. The 

 two last-named are rendered somewhat out of date by more recent legislation and 

 by the war, but the various views held in European countries and in our Colonies 

 upon the protection of birds, afford interesting comparisons and suggestions. 



