xii PREFACE. 



nests containing young. We ourselves could once boast of 

 the siskin, the darling goldie, the blackcap, the sedge- 

 warbler, the whitethroat, and the flycatchers. I remember 

 with what joy and pleasure I used to hear their annual 

 return. But the destroyer, in the shape of the bird-catcher, 

 came and cleaned almost the whole country. 



" It is the custom now, that in spring large gangs of idle 

 fellows scour the whole kingdom, and systematically pillage 

 every nest. I say every nest they find with eggs. It 

 matters not game or no game it goes. Domestic hen or 

 duck : it's all one. Nothing of that nature comes amiss to 

 these renegades. But the worst sufferer in this abominable 

 work is the lapwing, one of the most useful and harmless 

 birds on the face of the earth. The eggs thus stolen are 

 sent off in thousands to the large towns, principally to 

 London, where they are sold as plovers' eggs, and, I have 

 just been informed, bring from six to ten shillings a dozen. 

 Other, and no less remorseless persons, search along our 

 cliffs and beaches, and rob all the sea-birds' nests they can 

 reach. These eggs, too, are sold as luxuries for the gour- 

 mands or epicures. Is not this of itself sufficient to rouse 

 your indignation ?" 



Mr. Edward followed this paper with others On 

 the Skylark, and the rapid disappearance of the 

 bird; An Appeal on behalf of our Song and other 

 useful Birds ; and finally, with another paper upon 

 The Wild Birds Act, and the necessity for its 

 improvement. 



Since the publication of his life, Mr. Edward has 

 been elected an honorary or corresponding member 



