Birds as Food 



injury to crops, trees, or pasturage by GAME, 

 hares, or rabbits, or to secure for the food- 

 supply of the country any migratory or wild 

 bird) depute any body to take such action as 

 might be necessary, provide for the disposing 

 of birds, hares, or rabbits thus killed, and 

 authorise the killing and selling of GAME at 

 any time which might otherwise be illegal. 

 Any one authorised to kill or dispose of GAME 

 was exempted from having a game licence, 

 but was granted no exemption from the Gun 

 Licence Act. The season for killing PHEA- 

 SANTS, but for no other GAME, was extended 

 to March 3ist in England and Wales, and for 

 selling up to April isth. 



With a view to increasing food production, 

 an Order in Council was made on March soth, 

 1917, legalising any occupier of land in 

 Scotland to "make muirburn," with certain 

 restrictions as to damage, at any time be- 

 tween October ist and April 30th. This 

 order might more reasonably have been re- 

 stricted to March 3ist, so as not to interfere 

 with the GROUSE when nesting, for, after all, 

 the GROUSE is a valuable bird. The Commis- 



51 



