218 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



England was on a ration basis, this additional food 

 product proved of great value. Because of pre- 

 vious conservation of game there was a large 

 quantity of food on hand which now could be util- 

 ized. 



Early in the war the Ministry of Food issued 

 regulations regarding the disposal of game. The 

 owner, or occupier, of a "shooting" was per- 

 mitted to keep enough birds for himself and 

 family, but all that were left over must be shipped 

 to the market. The sportsman had no option 

 whatever in the disposal of his bag. The price of 

 cock-pheasants, in 1918, was officially set at five 

 shillings eightpence each; hen-pheasants at five 

 shillings twopence ; old partridges at one shilling 

 ninepence ; young partridges at three shillings six- 

 pence; old grouse at two shillings sixpence; and 

 young grouse at five shillings. 



Song-birds, while protected in most parts of 

 Great Britain, are still killed and eaten in some 

 regions. When the war was being fought, crows, 

 rooks, sparrows, starlings, and storks could offi- 

 cially be taken as food; but many other birds 

 found their way to the market. Gull eggs were 

 also consumed in large numbers. 



2 



Bird Eggs 

 While a promiscuous destruction of eggs is the 



