46 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
extending its scope, and is interested in all methods adopted for 
the preservation of the feathered race. It is now a strong and 
well-organised body, having many well-known ornithologists on 
its committee. It has branches all over the Kingdom, and is 
sowing its educational leaflets broadcast throughout the land. 
Much as we rejoice at the bright prospect which is opening up 
for the birds, and at the defeat of the greedy and mercenary egg 
collectors, by whose action the new legislation has been rendered 
necessary, we cannot refrain from sympathising with the bona- 
Jide naturalist, whose collection is the fruit of earnest study, and 
to whom the contents of his cabinets are not merely an 
accumulation of items measured by quantity or by price, but 
are valuable contributions to his own practical knowledge and 
experience, records of hard work accomplished, results of many a 
carefully-planned expedition, representing to him, as do the rows 
of stags’ heads in the Highland shooting lodge to the stalker, 
trophies of victories gained over wild nature and self. 
Bird-nesting, if judiciously carried out, is a sport in every sense 
of the word, and all the best qualities of a good sportsman are 
required in a successful bird-nester—patience, endurance, courage 
a sharp eye and sensitive ear to detect the slightest movement on 
faintest sound, and, above all, the instinct of keen observation. 
The effect of the Act will be keenly felt by our schoolboys. To 
many of these, bird-nesting becomes a passion, partly on account 
of a certain spice of danger which often accompanies it, for, 
besides the feat of climbing a difficult tree, or the sensation of 
hanging in mid-air from the top of a. high cliff, there are the 
minor excitements which are attractive, such as the risk of being 
caught out of bounds, the fun of outwitting an irate farmer, and 
the agonising suspense of waiting concealed in a wet ditch until 
the gamekeeper and his dog are out of sight. 
The spirit of emulation runs high at school, and the possessor 
of certain rare eggs occupies an envied place in the ranks of 
youthful oologists. 
All ornithologists of note, and probably most naturalists, were 
bird-nesters in their youth, and it was in those early days that 
the germs of acute observation were developed, and the habit of 
accurately noting down facts was acquired. 
All this will now be changed. The eggs of the rarest British 
