116 BIRDS FROM THE LIFE 



weather of March and the first half of April so greatly 

 hindered farm operations that, in the north at least, 

 no seed was sown until the latter half of April. Con- 

 sequently many thousands of eggs must have been 

 crushed by the harrows and rollers; and as if this 

 were not sufficient adversity, intense frost and four 

 days' snowstorm at Eastertide must have destroyed 

 thousands more. There must therefore be expected 

 a considerable diminution in the lapwing population 

 for some time to come. All the greater reason for 

 urging upon county councils the expediency of pro- 

 hibiting the slaughter of lapwings at all times of 

 the year. The most effective way of stopping the 

 mischief would be to prevent this most useful bird 

 being offered for sale within the United Kingdom; 

 but this could only be done by Act of Parliament. 

 In furthering such a measure the Board of Agri- 

 culture would be acting directly in the interest of 

 farmers. 



XXVII 



At the monthly meeting of the British Ornitholo- 

 Birdsfrom gists' Club in April 1908, members and their 



the Life guests enjoyed one of the most novel and 

 instructive entertainments that can be imagined. 

 The public have learnt, by means of illustrated books 

 and journals, to appreciate the skill and patience with 

 which Mr. Cherry Kearton has applied photography to 

 the portraiture of wild birds and their nests. He has 

 now succeeded by means of the cinematograph not 



