DECEMBER 247 



claim recognised by civilised lawgivers and converted 

 into legal rights. 



The praiseworthy anxiety which has been shown of 

 recent years for the protection of wild birds has 

 resulted in the enaction of a close-time ; that is, Parlia- 

 ment has conferred upon certain species the right to 

 rear their young without molestation during a pre- 

 scribed period. This has been done in recognition of 

 the benefit derived from the presence in our land of the 

 subjects of this legislation. We recognise, that without 

 song-birds, the country would be a less desirable place 

 of abode without insectivorous birds, a far less profit- 

 able field for agriculture and gardening without birds 

 of brilliant plumage or graceful form and flight, a much 

 less interesting place to spend a holiday : therefore the 

 Legislature has undertaken to protect nightingales as 

 long as they do not forget their melody and do not 

 exchange a diet of caterpillars for one of wheat and 

 strawberries, and swallows as long as they skim about 

 in their own enchanting way and confine their voracity 

 to insect life. But the right thus conferred is based on 

 utilitarian, and therefore selfish grounds, and falls far 

 short of what ultra-humanitarians demand. 



Parliament has often been invited to go further to 

 pass a measure which would make it illegal to kill, 

 capture, or take the eggs of any wild birds, other than 

 game, at any season of the year. Imagine what this 

 bill would lead to if it became law in the absence of any 

 power to enforce a corresponding obligation upon the 

 subj ects of it. If Parliament could enforce an obligation 

 upon wood-pigeons and sparrows that theyshould respect 



