The Oologisis' Record, September 1, 1923. 59 



at the doors of the " Protectionists " in more cases than one. As a 

 matter of fact, in spite of all the R.S.P.B. may say to the contrary, 

 Lundy does not and, without special legislation, cannot come under 

 the laws relating to the protection of birds in Great Britain, so there 

 is still some hope left. And it is not only our rarer birds that are 

 threatened. 



Last year (1922) was the first in which the protection of Lapwings 

 was enforced in Somerset. On an estate of some 5,000 acres well 

 known to the writer, the result was that during the summer never 

 had so many Lapwings been seen in the locality. This spring never 

 had so few been known to nest — the inevitable result of over-stocking 

 — and the eggs of the majority of those few were destroyed by roller, 

 plough or harrow. The police do their best to assist the R.S.P.B. 

 but very few of them have any knowledge of ornithology. One 

 conscientious constable informed me that the three kinds of birds he 

 was most concerned in protecting w^ere the Lapwing, the Peewit and 

 the Green Plover. Had he been stationed further north and east 

 his attention would doubtless have been claimed by three other 

 kinds — all equally rare — the Thick-knee, the Stone Curlews and the 

 Norfolk Plover. A farmer who has land in Wiltshire and Somerset 

 may take Lapwings' eggs from one of his fields but not from the 

 one next to it. Was ever anything so utterly futile ? 



An impassioned appeal by a gentleman at a recent meeting of a 

 well-known Natural History Society may be mentioned. The 

 appeal (for funds for watchers) was earnest and convincing. Brean 

 Down and the protection of a pair of Ravens there was particularly 

 mentioned,and financial assistance might well have been forthcoming 

 had it not been that many of those present were aware that the 

 Ravens' eggs had been taken a few days before. The fact that this 

 nest had been robbed had caused universal indignation and was a 

 common topic of conversation and knowledge except, apparently, 

 to the R.S.P.B., whose particular business it would seem to be. 

 Have dozens and dozens of eggs been consumed and otherwise 

 disposed of by some of the Society's watchers ? Ask the Light- 

 keepers. I do not know and would never attempt to prove that a 

 single one had been either sold or eaten — firstly because the accusa- 

 tion may be unjust, secondly because it is no business of mine 

 and I hate the idea of separating a man from his job anyhow, and 

 thirdly because I very sincerely believe that the action would be 

 beneficial to the birds if not altogether honest. 



