I8O FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



CHAPTER V. 

 THE WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACTS. 



By Watkin Watkins, B.A., Cantab, of the Inner Temple ; 

 Member of the British Ornithologists Union ; Barrister-at-Law. 



IT is proposed here to give a slight sketch of the general 

 law relating to the protection of wild birds throughout 

 Great Britain and to draw attention to the special regulations 

 now in force in Shropshire. 



The general law on the subject of the protection of Wild 

 birds other than game birds is to be found in the Wild Birds 

 Protection Acts, 1880, 1881, 1894 and l8 9 6 - The principal 

 Act, the Act of 1880, establishes a close time, between March 

 ist and August ist in each year, within which it is unlawful 

 to shoot, or attempt to shoot, Wild birds, or to use any boat 

 for the purpose of shooting, or causing to be shot, any Wild 

 bird, or to use any lime, trap, snare, net, or other instrument, 

 for the purpose of taking any Wild bird, or to expose or offer 

 for sale, or to have in ones control or possession any wild bird. 

 Certain Wild birds are included in the schedule to the Act and 

 these scheduled birds are protected even against owners and 

 occupiers of land and persons licensed by them. Birds not in 

 the schedule are only protected as against persons who are 

 not owners or occupiers of land, or who are not acting with 

 their permission. Orders may be made, on the application of 

 County Councils, to extend or vary the close time prescribed 

 by the Act, and to exempt the whole, or a part of a County, 

 from the operation of the Act. 



