162 ANNUAL MEETING LORD LILFORd's ADDRESS. 



me say that with every word of the said letter I most cordially agree. 

 Accurate records of the appearance of rare birds in our country, with 

 original remarks on their habits, state of plumage, and apparent intentions, 

 are of great interest and value ; but their interest and value depend 

 upon their accuracy, and are in no way increased by immediate 

 publication, the slaughter of their subject, or the fact that Brown, Jones or 

 Robinson has become the proud possessor of ' one more unfortunate.' 



" As long as collectors are to be found who will pay pounds sterling 

 for a bird, because it is said to have been killed or caught in this country, 

 whilst they scoff at the idea of buying for a few shillings an equally good 

 specimen from abroad, so long will professional bird-stuffers be exposed 

 to temptation, to dishonesty, and to infringement of the various Acts of 

 Parliament relating to the protection of birds. Let us then take Capt. 

 Clark-Kennedy's advice to heart, and, when we have the good luck to 

 meet with a rare bird, do our best to cultivate its acquaintance in a 

 friendly and hospitable way, notebook in hand, and exercise our judg- 

 ment as to the proper time for requesting you to publish our observations. 



" As a bright example of the right line of conduct to follow in such 

 cases, let me briefly recall to the memory of your readers that which was 

 adopted by my friend Mr. H. M. Upcher, in the case of the Great Bustard 

 which made its appearance on his property in the early part of 1876. 

 Mr. Upcher is a keen Ornithologist, and a real sportsman in the best 

 sense of the word, and could no doubt have added this fine male 

 Bustard to his collection with very little difficulty ; but he did far better — 

 he prevented by all means in his power the disturbance of the bird, and 

 kept the fact of its appearance a secret from all but a select band of 

 friendly Ornithologists, some of whom he invited to come and watch his 

 stately visitor from a safe distance. The result was that the Bustard 

 remained for a considerable time in the district, was the subject of some 

 very interesting notes in The Field and other pubhcations, and, we have 

 reason to hope and believe, left our shores without injury. Mr. Upcher 

 was fortunate in being able to keep his visitor and his secret so long ; 

 for though a letter from a well-known writer appeared in the Times 

 announcing the fact of the bird's presence, the locality therein mentioned 

 was not the correct one, and the Bustard escaped the usual consequences 

 of such unfortunate and ill -timed communications." 



With reference to the birds I have sent down, I beg to present a 

 large majority of them to our society, and am glad to learn from Mr. 

 Crick that the society is provided with a proper receptacle for them.* 



In conclusion, let me thank you for your very kind reception and 

 attention, and repeat my hope that many more meetings of this sort may 

 be in store for us. 



On the motion of the Rev. C. F. Thornewill, seconded by Mr. 

 Lawson Tait, it was resolved : — " That the thanks of this meeting be 

 given to the Right Hon. Lord Lilford for his interesting address, and 

 that he be requested to allow it to be printed in the ' Midland 

 Naturalist.'" 



Lord Lilford, in giving his consent, took occasion to recommend the 

 study of the Cheiroptera, (Bats,) of which he had once taken six of the 

 dozen British species. 



* See "Rough Notes on Collection of Northamptonshire Birds, presented to 

 Northampton Natural History Society, June 17th, 1880," page 163. 



