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Birds as Crop Protectors — 
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tion of ‘‘SpARROW CLUBS ”’ throughout the 
country was recommended, and raids against 
the BULLFINCH, HAWFINCH, JAY, BLACK- 
BIRD, THRUSH, and STARLING were widely 
advocated. As a set-off to the Wild Birds 
Protection Act it was suggested that there 
should be a ‘‘ Tame Humans Preservation 
Act” (Daily Mail, 10.i1.17). To this outcry 
against all birds Sir Herbert Maxwell pub- 
lished a well-reasoned answer, drawing at- 
tention to the number of destructive insects 
consumed by birds, and pointing out that 
the indiscriminate destruction of small birds 
would result in as much harm as good (7 7imes, 
31.i.17). The SEA-GULL was accused not 
only of taking trout but also of taking valu- 
able manure in collaboration with the Rook 
(Glasgow Herald, 15.iii.17); and it was an- 
nounced in May 1917 that soldiers training 
in England were to go on official birds-nest- 
ing expeditions, and that ‘“‘as the season is 
well advanced troops are to go birds-nesting 
at once’? (Daily Mail, 26.v.17). The Board 
of Agriculture, besides acquiescing in this 
persecution of birds, advised War Agricul- 
D 33 
