WILD BIRDS' PROTECTION ACT 89 



Curlew The Bustard A Rara Avis Extinction of 

 Bustards in Britain Flight of Bustards Size of Bustards 

 Food-Supply of Birds Birds affected by their Surround- 

 ings. 



IT is now several years since an Act was passed 

 to ensure the protection of certain wild birds 

 during the breeding season ; penalties were pro- 

 vided for its infringement, and one of its clauses 

 set forth that * any persons found offending must 

 furnish their names and addresses to anyone 

 requesting them, or be liable to an additional 

 penalty often shillings.' 



It was hoped and supposed that, by means of 

 the Act referred to, the wild birds mentioned in 

 the schedule would escape molestation during the 

 breeding-season, i.e , between March 15 and 

 August i. It has always appeared to me that 

 the schedule is somewhat scanty, and that protec- 

 tion might very justly have been extended to 

 several of our feathered friends whose names do 

 not appear in its columns. Indeed, with the 

 exception of some five or six varieties, it might 

 have freely been accorded to all birds, seeing that 

 they do more good than harm. I have seen it 

 stated that the object of the Act was, principally, 

 to afford protection to those birds which were in 

 danger of becoming extinct. Allowing this to be 

 reasonable and fitting, I fail to understand why 

 the moor-hen should receive greater consideration 

 than the water-rail, or the Dartford, reed, and 

 sedge warblers than the marsh, garden, or grass- 



