THE LAW AS IT AFFECTS WILDFOWLERS 59 



in each year. Certain birds which are said or thought to be in- 

 jurious to crops and enemies of game may be killed at any time 

 by owners or occupiers of land, or persons duly authorised by 

 owners or occupiers of land. Certain species are scheduled 

 and cannot be legally killed by anyone during the close season. 

 The list of birds named is very unsatisfactory and incomplete 

 from an ornithological standpoint. Local names being used, 

 the same species is in some cases mentioned as many as three 

 times under different names, and many birds needing protection 

 are omitted. As this matter seriously affects country folk and 

 others who are not conversant with matters ornithological, I 

 suppose we cannot easily alter the present arrangement. Some 

 day, when everyone is supposed to know the various species of 

 birds, a more practical and comprehensive list may be adopted. 

 With reference to the shooting of birds on free shores 

 during the close season, it is important to note that no one 

 can legally do so. Since a person, to shoot the unscheduled 

 species of birds during the close season, must be either an 

 owner or tenant of land, or duly authorised by such, it follows 

 that no power exists with the free gunner to shoot unprotected 

 wild birds in the close season, although many persons labour 

 under an impression to the contrary, at the risk of being con- 

 victed should they carry out their erroneous ideas. County 

 and Borough Councils have power to frame orders extending 

 or curtailing the close and open seasons for wild birds. These 

 orders, if approved of and sanctioned, in the case of Great 

 Britain, by a principal Secretary of State, or, as regards 

 Ireland, the Lord Lieutenant, become law. This has brought 

 about a very confusing state of affairs. In the different 

 counties the open seasons commence according to local orders. 

 Some birds are protected all the year round, the eggs of 

 certain species of birds are protected until such-and-such a 

 date, others the entire season. To speak of all quarters in 

 detail would require a large volume to contain the matter. 



