10 SOME USEFUL AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



useful to agriculture was founded, and rules for their protection drawn up. 

 A movement of a related character was started at Berne, in 1913, its object 

 being the consideration of the best methods to be adopted to preserve the 

 natural beauty of the world, and to prevent the rapid extermination of both 

 animal and plant life threatened by the expansion of civilisation and 

 agriculture. Further developments were interrupted by the war. 



In British possessions much has been attempted by legislation to protect 

 useful birds. The Wild Birds Protection Act came into force in British 

 India in 1887, prohibiting the possession or importation of birds into 

 municipal and cantonment areas during the close season. As it was found 

 that this Act did not protect the birds with feathers or skins of commercial 

 value, a notification was issued in 1902, under a section of the Sea Customs 

 Act. which stopped the export by land or sea of any plumes or feathers of 

 useful birds. In Great Britain the Wild Birds Protection Act, of 1880, 

 prohibited the taking or killing of wild birds between March and August, 

 so that they were protected during the breeding season. Eighty-six species 

 were listed under this act, but as sixty were game birds or sea birds, a very 

 small number of insectivorous birds obtained legal protection. In 1894 

 another Act was brought into force with the object of protecting the eggs 

 and nestlings ; but it was only a partial protection, and as the administration 

 was left in the hands of the county councils no one saw that the clauses 

 were carried out. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has taken 

 up the movement of providing nesting boxes in the forests, and issues 

 quarterly reports on " Bird Notes and News." A strong popular sentiment 

 is fostered by " Bird Days," and by the society giving prizes for the best 

 essays on bird protection. 



Sanctuaries. 



One of the most practical and effective ways of stopping the rapid 

 extinction of wild life is to create sanctuaries, where, under natural 

 conditions, " man is passive and the rest of nature is active." With 

 their natural food supplies in these reservations, animals and birds breed 

 freely, and as they increase in numbers and outstrip the food supplies, they 

 overflow into the surrounding country. This applies to all kinds of birds 

 and animals, but particularly to game ; and while sanctuaries should protect 

 wild fowl there is no reason why the overflow of game outside them should 

 not be shot, and so form a valuable addition to the food supplies of the State, 

 just as fish supplies do. Thus a well-situated sanctuary, besides being a 

 home for all kinds of useful birds, would be a depdt for the breeding up of 

 our game birds a point that is sometimes lost sight of by sentimental bird 

 lovers. There is no reason why the true sportsman should not be a nature 

 lover. 



In Great Britain many of the large landed estates are virtually 

 sanctuaries. Several societies have also been formed to protect both the 

 flora and fauna, one of the latest being the Society for the Promotion of 



