BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



27 



counterbalanced, by the use <>f other feathers or of 



artificial flowers. 



4. On the question of the extermination of rare 

 birds, the Committee have received valuable 

 evidence from persons acquainted with tho con- 

 ditions in Australia, India, South America, and 

 other countries from which plumage is sent to 

 Great Britain. This evidence has been such as 

 to show conclusively, in the opinion of the Com- 

 mittee, that not only are birds of many species 

 slaughtered recklessly, but also that the methods 

 employed for slaughter are such as in many cases, 

 and especially in that of Egrets, involve the 

 destruction of the young birds and eggs. Birds 

 are, as a rule, in their finest plumage at the time of 

 nesting, and have been shown to be especially the 

 prey of hunters at that season. The Committee 

 have carefully considered the facts submitted to 

 them, and they are satisfied that while many birds 

 are being greatly reduced in number, others are in 

 danger of being actually exterminated. They are 

 also of opinion that the feathers of Egrets imported 

 into Great Britain are obtained by killing the birds 

 during the breeding season, and that few, if any, 

 are moulted plumes. 



5. The Committee have therefore had to con- 

 sider whether it is possible, by a Bill prohibiting 

 the import of the plumage, skins or bodies into 

 Great Britain, to reduce the destruction of the birds 

 within reasonable limits. It appears clearly from 

 the evidence that the enactments of British Colonies 

 and certain foreign countries, which provide a close 

 season for wild birds, and of India, which prohibits 

 their export, are to a considerable extent ineffective, 

 partly on account of the open market in this and 

 other countries. Mr. Todhunter, who attended on 

 behalf of the India Office, showed the difficulties 

 of preventing illicit exportation. He also quoted 

 instances to prove that the Bill would be of the 

 greatest assistance to the Government of India- 

 Colonel Ryan, who was recpiested to give evidence 

 by the Representative of the Commonwealth of 

 Australia, expressed similar views with regard to 

 the Australian Colonies. Mr. Barratt, to whom 

 the Committee were referred by the American 

 Embassy, set out very clearly the laws of the United 

 States of America upon the subject, and he stated 

 that the Bill would very much strengthen the laws 

 of that country. The Committee believe, therefore, 

 that the Bill would not only be of general advantage, 

 but would also render more effective the legislation 

 of India, of Australia, and of the United States. 



6. As regards the third objection, while the 

 Committee are strongly of opinion that the Bill 

 would be useful in itself, they consider that it would 

 be more effective if legislation of the same kind 



were adopted by other countries. They trust, 

 therefore, that His Majesty's Government will 

 endeavour to secure international action with a 

 view to the preservation of rare and beautiful birds, 

 and that the Bill may be mad'- the basis of repre- 

 sentations to other Governments in order to induce 

 them to pass similar laws. 



7. Tho Committee have been impressed by 

 representations made to them on behalf of fly f< 



^n Great Britain, and having regard to the very 

 small quantity of feathers used for the manufacture 

 of artificial fishing flies, they have inserted in tho 

 Bill amendments for their protection. 



8. Evidence has been given as to the practical 

 working of the Measure by representatives of the 

 Board of Trade and of the Board of Customs. Tin- 

 Home Office has also submitted a memorandum 

 on the subject. The Committee are satisfied that 

 its provisions are such as can be carried out in 

 practice and without difficulty by the public 

 Departments concerned. They are indebted to 

 Sir Nathaniel Highmore, Solicitor to the Board of 

 Customs, for his assistance in suggesting amend- 

 ments to bring about this object, which they bave 

 been glad to adopt. 



The Bill, as amended and strengthened in 

 Committee, was read a third time on July 

 21st. It was introduced into the House of 

 Commons on July 22nd by Lord Robert Cecil, 

 and read a first time. 



The principal clauses now stand thus : — 



1. Any person who, after the commencement 

 of this Act, shall have in his possession for the 

 purpose of sale or exchange the plumage, skin, or 

 body, or any part of the plumage, skin, or body, 

 of any dead wild bird imported or brought into the 

 United Kingdom on or after the first day of January, 

 1909, which is not included in the schedule to thi^ 

 Act, or otherwise exempted from the operation of 

 this Act, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall on 

 summary conviction be liable for the first offence 

 to a penalty of not exceeding five pounds, and for 

 every subsequent offence to a penalty of not ex- 

 ceeding twenty-five jjounds, and in every case the 

 Court shall order the forfeiture and destruction of 

 the articles in resi>ect of which the offence has been 

 committed. 



2. The Privy Council may at any time, by notice 

 published in the London Gazette, add to, or remove 

 from, the schedule to this Act the name of any 

 other foreign wild bird, and thereupon the pro- 

 visions of this Act shall take effect as if such bird 

 had been included in or removed from the schedule 

 to this Act . 



5. (1) Subject to the provision in sub-section (2) 

 of this section nothing in this Act shall apply 

 to— 



(a) wild birds imported or brought into the 

 United Kingdom for use as articles of 

 diet ; 



