viii PREFACE. 



is coming this way next week, and he will." 

 And, without question, this is actually what 

 happens. On one occasion my brother and I in- 

 duced an exceedingly careful and genuine collector 

 to leave a clutch of rare eggs, of a variety which 

 I know would have much enhanced the value 

 of his cabinet ; but a day or two afterwards 

 another collector chanced to pass that way, and 

 secured them without let or hindrance, although 

 they were under the supposed double protection 

 of an Act of Parliament and the guardianship of 

 the owner of the land, who, however, had no 

 watcher of any kind near. 



As a mere matter of fact, instead of the law 

 helping to preserve our rarer breeding birds, it 

 would, if put in motion against an offender, 

 actually help forward their destruction. Legal 

 procedure would mean publicity; and, once a place 

 now only known to a few became notorious to the 

 many, it would attract a crowd of people who 

 would, without the restraining influence of a 

 watcher, soon work havoc with the subject of 

 litigation, especially if there was anything to be 

 made out of it. Anyone doubting this need only 

 turn to the case of the slaughtering pot-hunters 

 who were prosecuted for the damage they did 

 to the sea-fowl breeding on Grasholme Island ; 

 I have been told by several Welsh naturalists 

 that they are sorry action was ever instituted, as 

 it has done incalculable harm to the birds by 

 advertising the island, and thus attracting other 

 evil-doers. 



