62 The Oologists' Record, September 1, 1923. 



such a name was published. Then follows a list of species and 

 sub-species similarly treated, and which Mr. Swann calls a " Chrono- 

 logical List of British Birds." Finally there are lists of generic 

 names discarded and specific names discarded with their correct 

 equivalents and the dates for them. 



THE DARTFORD WARBLER. 



Mr. C. J. Bellamy writes : 



It may interest you to know that I have examined a good many 

 nests of the Dartford Warbler this season containing both eggs and 

 young ; but neither this year, nor in previous years, have I found 

 a nest containing 5 eggs or 5 young. My experience is that the usual 

 set is 3 or 4, and you find more threes than fours with the early 

 nests. 



BREVITIES. 



The New Protection Bill, 1923. — Mr. Carter's trenchant 

 criticisms of the Wild Birds Protection Bill, 1923, which appear in 

 this issue, may very likely be for many of our readers the first news, 

 of this projected measure. Why is it, one wonders, that the authors 

 of this Bill have so little regard for the protection of the adult rare 

 bird at all seasons and such an irrational view as to the relative 

 importance of preserving the eggs. We would like to refer them 

 to the Mosaic law on the subject as laid down in Deuteronomy 

 XXn, 6, 7 : " If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way 

 " in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or 

 " eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou 

 " shalt not take the dam with the young : but thou shalt in any 

 " wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee ; that it may be 

 " well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days." Moses, 

 whose vision was so clear in regard to all the basic facts of life, 

 knew the many chances against an e^g or a young bird reaching the 

 adult state, but he appreciated the fact that the dam was to be 

 safeguarded always, for upon her devolved the duty of continuing 

 to produce offspring. The modern oologist knows that it has been 

 conclusively proved that a hen bird will make good the loss of her 

 eggs as many as six times in succession although, normally, she 



