546 Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 



even so far on its way, and Ave are glad to see that it has met 

 with approval from every side. The following is an extract 

 from the explanatory memorandum prefixed to the Bill : — 



" The object o£ this Act is to check the wanton and whole- 

 sale destruction of birds which is being carried on every- 

 where throughout the British Empire, and in all parts of 

 the world, without regard to the agricultural, educational, 

 and sesthetic value of birds. As a proof of the extent of 

 the destruction that at present goes on, and which is 

 threatening the extinction of some of the most beautiful 

 species, it may be mentioned that at the plume-auctions 

 held in London during the last six months of 1907 there 

 were catalogued 19,742 skins of the Birds of Paradise, 1411 

 packages of the nesting plumes of the White Heron 

 (representing the feathers of nearly 115,000 birds), besides 

 immense numbers of the feathers and skins of almost every 

 known species of oruamental-plumaged bird. At the June 

 sale, held at the Commercial Sale Rooms, 1386 Crowned 

 Pigeons' heads were sold, while among miscellaneous bird- 

 skins one firm of auctioneers alone catalogued over 20,000 

 Kingfishers. A deplorable feature of the recent sales is the 

 offer of large numbers of Lyre-birds' tails and of Albatross' 

 quills. The constant repetition of such figures as those 

 given above — and these plume-sales take place at least 

 every two months — shews that the Legislature must choose 

 between the extermination or the protection of the birds in 

 question." 



The operative clauses of the Bill are : — 



" 1. Any person who, after January first, one thousand 

 nine hundred and nine, shall import or bring into the 

 United Kingdom 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 which is not included in the 

 schedule of exemption to this Act, shall be guilty of an 

 offence, and shall on summary conviction be liable to a 

 penalty of not exceeding five pounds, and for every subse- 

 quent offence to a penalty of not exceeding twenty-five 

 pounds, and in every case the Court shall order the forfeiture 



