16 ox Tin: SEA-BIRDS ruF.s-ERVATiox ACT, 



entirely forsaken by them. Let the landed proprietors look after 

 their own grounds, give them the birds and eggs on them, but 

 make laws so as to enable them to punish trespassers and rob- 

 bers, at any rate if they choose, and if they do, the birds will in- 

 crease. It is no use protecting such birds as have ceased to 

 breed in England from altered conditions of the face of the 

 country, such as drainage of fens, and certainly none whatever 

 protecting such birds as never did breed in this country. Xo 

 protection will make them do this, and all the protection you can 

 give is not even likely to increase their numbers here. 



All naturalists must regret the circumstances which have ren- 

 dered it impossible for such species as the Spoonbill, Avocet, 

 Black Tern, Black-tailed Godwit, Bustard, etc., to remain and 

 breed with us ; but these altered circumstances were for the good 

 of the country generally, and the consequent loss cannot be 

 helped. How much more should we regret the extinction of the 

 Kite, Moor Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Hen Harrier, and some 

 other equally ornamental species, which have nearly become ex- 

 tinct from man's personal greed: birds, too, which frequently 

 were satisfied with food which was entirely useless to man. 



There is one thing I think which good taste should imme- 

 diately put a stop to, and that is, the extensive slaughter of 

 game by persons in high position, so often reported in news- 

 papers. It is said imitation is the sincerest flattery. If an ig- 

 norant man reads that some great man has killed several hundred 

 head of game or Pigeons, if he thinks at all, he must see that it 

 was done merely for the love of slaughter and not for love of 

 manly sport. "Well, he of course has not the game to shoot at, 

 nor can he pay for the Pigeons, but instead of these he gets 

 amongst some unfortunate young Gulls or Terns, and he goes on 

 slaughtering them till he has, as far as he can, matched his beau 

 ideal of a shooter; and how can we blame the one without con- 

 demning the other? If persons having the means and the desire 

 to kill such numbers of birds or beasts do it, it would be well if 

 they kept tln-ir exploits to themselves. Besides this, by inform- 

 ing the public they invite poachers to try their preserves, and 

 thus often get their keepers into trouble. 



