List of Birds Examined. 



6 9 



PLOVER. 



Vanellus vulgaris, Bechstein. 



It would be difficult to exaggerate the value of this bird to 

 the agriculturist. In many districts it has been greatly reduced 

 in numbers owing to the destruction of its eggs. " There is no 

 bird," writes Theobald (109) "more beneficial to the cultivator 

 than the Lapwing. Its food consists entirely of wireworms, leather- 

 jackets, surface larvae, snails, slugs, and many other injurious 

 animals. The good done by the Lapwing cannot be overestimated : 

 no one has said, or can say, a bad word against it. In spite of this, 

 people are allowed to collect the eggs wholesale, and the demand 

 increases, and, in consequence, in many parts the bird is decreas- 

 ing. With this decrease goes a concomitant increase of wireworm 

 and other grubs. 



"Surely where, as in this case, we have an unanimous opinion, 

 the somewhat useless and seldom-enforced Wild Birds' Protection 

 Acts might be employed, so as to make it not only illegal to take 

 the eggs, but to offer them for sale in shops." 



The apathy displayed by agriculturists in regard to this very 

 valuable bird forms a most striking illustration of how little they 

 are able to help themselves, and the uselessness of their Chambers 

 and Societies. Long ago the bird and its eggs should have been 

 more strictly protected than game or any other birds. It is the. 

 farmer's best friend, and whilst his crops annually suffer more and 

 more from wireworms and surface larvae, he stands and watches 

 its gradual reduction with indifference. 



Post-mortem Records. 



I have purposely avoided destroying any large number of birds, 

 only twelve examinations have, therefore, been made. 



