BIBB NOTES ANB NEWS. 



83 



time, but with exceptions. The more general 

 ideal, favoured by the Convention proposals, 

 is full protection for certain species, with 

 their nests and eggs, the selection of species 

 resting, as Mr. Macpherson points out, on 

 utilitarian principles. In the present state 

 of knowledge, there is not, and is indeed 

 never likely to be, a wholly satisfactory 

 definition of the "useful" or "noxious" 

 bi d. " The contradictory pronouncements 

 for and against certain birds in different 

 countries of Europe," remarks Colonel 

 Momber, " are almost startling." Even if 

 thousands of birds were shot for examination, 

 the question would still not be conclusively 

 settled, " because of the impossibility of 

 weighing the profit against the loss, and 

 because the adaptability of Nature defies a 

 rigid category." With regard to nests 

 and eggs, our neighbours' methods appear 

 simpler and more rational. With us eggs are 

 protected by species under Bird Protection 

 Orders ; but County Councils might easily 

 see to it that, in the case of rare species at 

 least, the scheduling of the bird and pro- 

 tection of the egg go together. Various rare 

 species have been lost to us, Mr. Macpherson 

 remarks, which might have been saved if the 

 eggs had shared the protection given to the 

 bird ; and, conversely, it is not reasonable 

 to penalise the taking of eggs where the 

 parent-birds may be killed by any landlord 

 or tenant, or may be caught by any strolling 

 vagabond whom, owing to the loose terms 



of the Act of 1880, landowner or tenant 

 may " authorise" to take them. 



One of the practical suggestions made by 

 Mr. Macpherson is " the prohibition of any 

 dealings for profit in birds which have been 

 killed or taken by owners or occupiers of land 

 or their agents during the close season." 



Another suggestion is that existing Bird 

 Protection Orders should be revised by a 

 central authority, a subject on which some- 

 thing will be said in the Winter Number of 

 Bird Notes and News. 



The fact must not, however, be lost sight 

 of, adds Mr. Macpherson, that the stricter 

 enforcement of our existing laws is quite as 

 important as their alteration or revision. 

 Perhaps few persons realise what can be done 

 by full and careful utilisation of our Acts and 

 their permissive clauses. Alteration or 

 revision of the laws, indeed, should to a great 

 extent take the form of making them more 

 easily understood and enforced. It does not 

 by any means follow that this would entail 

 any whittling down of the provisions. 

 Rather the contrary. As Colonel Momber 

 shows, it is in the countries where the law 

 is most complete that it is best observed. It 

 is in the nature of things that a people wise 

 enough to make strong laws will be also wise 

 enough to see them obeyed. In Great 

 Britain statutes are allowed to remain to a 

 great extent a dead letter ; and the penalties 

 for conviction are, compared with those of 

 other nations, extraordinarily light. 



^sr Bird Protection Orders. ^sr 



The following County Council Orders have 

 been issued since June 20th, 1909 : 



Cambridge (Isle of Ely). June 21st. C F. 

 Renewal for five years of previous Order. Close Time, 

 March 15th to August 31st. 



London. July 17th. B C E F S. Lists of birds 

 added to schedule, birds protected all the year, and 

 eggs protected, as in previous Order. Sunday 

 protection throughout the county, instead of in 

 named parishes. 



Norfolk. July 30th. A (e) B C E F S. Renews 

 protection for all eggs in Broad areas and on fore- 

 shores until February, 1915. B F and E lists as 

 before. Close Time extended to September 1st for 

 birds in and added to Schedule, except for Woodcock 

 (February 1st to August 13th), and for Snipe, Teal, 

 and Wild Duck (March 1st to August 1st only). 



West Sussex. August 30th. A (e) B C E F S. 

 Renewal of the Order of 1904 with additions. Eggs 

 protected in three areas for a further period of five 

 years. Close Time extended to September 1st except 



