vi. Preface. 



When we come to deal with local option in protection 

 within the United Kingdom, the complexity of regulation is 

 still more apparent. Mr. Macpherson's observations on 

 this point are particularly well worthy of perusal (pp. 33-36). 

 He neither overlooks nor underrates the hardship which 

 would be inflicted upon fruit-growers in certain districts by 

 enforcing uniform protection, say, of bullfinches, although 

 that beautiful bird may be encouraged in other districts 

 where corn and turnips are the principal. 



To mention another instance : upon no class of birds 

 has protective legislation taken more notable effect than 

 upon gulls. Various species of gull have multiplied to such 

 an extent in certain districts as to cause serious destruction 

 of other desirable forms of life ; for gulls are practically 

 omnivorous. It would be unreasonable to enact that, 

 because gulls are innocuous in Middlesex and Warwickshire, 

 that they are not to be interfered with when they assemble 

 in multitudes, as I have often seen them, on the shallows 

 of Scottish salmon rivers in April and May, picking out 

 thousands of salmon smolts descending to the sea. To 

 enforce their protection when so engaged is to bring discredit 

 upon all bird-protection whatsoever. 



When I was conducting the Act of 1904 through the House 

 of Commons, I was strongly urged to make the restrictions 

 uniform throughout the United Kingdom. I declined to 

 do so, for the very reasons so well expressed in Mr. 

 Macpherson's essay ; and although I cannot complain of 

 his criticism of the discretion of some County Councils in 

 exercising their powers of local option, on the whole I 

 consider that their action has been beneficial and that, as 

 time goes on and experience accumulates, still better results 

 may be expected. I have known several County Councils 

 anxious for guidance in drafting regulations and most 

 willing to accept advice from experienced ornithologists, 

 such as are to be found in most counties. 



I am very glad that the Society has decided to print 

 extracts from Colonel Member's essay as well as Mr. 



