1 82 COUNTRY ESSAYS. 



who were compelled, according to Procopius, to cross the straits 

 for interment in Cornwall, and who wailed dismally as they 

 made their last voyage. 



All who love birds have much reason to be thankful to the 

 legislature for the passing of the three Bird Bills. The wanton 

 and continued massacres of sea-birds, especially on the York- 

 shire coast, and the complaints of mariners that they thereby 

 lost the invaluable assistance of the seamews' screams in warn- 

 ing them off rocks during foggy weather, created so strong a 

 feeling throughout the country that the Act which establishes 

 a close season for seabirds during their breeding time (April i 

 Aug. i) was passed in 1869. How well this Act has worked 

 in increasing both the numbers and the confidence of that 

 beautiful class of birds which frequent the waves must be ap- 

 parent to any one who spends a summer at the seaside. The 

 persistent efforts of enlightened agriculturists and lovers of the 

 country succeeded in 1872 in obtaining a similar Bill for the 

 protection of the land-birds. Some seventy-nine of the birds 

 most commonly seen round our habitations are thus guarded 

 during their breeding season (March i Aug. i), and although 

 opinions may differ upon some of the birds included and others 

 which are left unprotected, the Act is unquestionably of the 

 utmost gain to every admirer of birds and to the cause of orni- 

 thology at large. Wild fowl are now preserved during certain 

 fence months by a third Act. The necessity of taking out a 

 gun licence protects the denizens of our fields and lanes at 

 other seasons from many a pot-hunting gunner, and if the fair 

 sex would only be true to their tender instincts and refrain from 

 wearing skins or feathers of wild birds in their hats or on their 

 dress generally, as has lately been so well pointed out by the 

 Baroness Burdett-Coutts in her pathetic plea for the humming- 

 birds, the last obstacle would be removed from the free and 

 full enjoyment of their lives on the part of our native birds, 

 and a very large element of pleasure would be added to the 



