Birds as Food 
injury to crops, trees, or pasturage by GAME, 
hares, or rabbits, or to secure for the food- 
supply of the country any migratory or wild 
bird) depute any body to take such action as 
might be necessary, provide for the disposing 
of birds, hares, or rabbits thus killed, and 
authorise the killing and selling of GAME at 
any time which might otherwise be illegal. 
Any one authorised to kill or dispose of GAME 
was exempted from having a game licence, 
but was granted no exemption from the Gun 
Licence Act. The season for killing PHEA- 
SANTS, but for no other GAME, was extended 
to March 31st in England and Wales, and for 
selling up to April 15th. 
With a view to increasing food production, 
an Order in Council was made on March 30th, 
1917, legalising any occupier of land in 
Scotland to ‘‘ make muirburn,”’ with certain 
restrictions as to damage, at any time be- 
tween October Ist and April 30th. This 
order might more reasonably have been re- 
stricted to March 31st, so as not to interfere 
with the GROUSE when nesting, for, after all, 
the GROUSE is a valuable bird. The Commis- 
51 
