Utility and Economy of Birds 



twelve birds ; and QUAIL and SNIPE, one 

 coupon for each sixteen birds. The scale for 

 those in receipt of " direct supplies " was 

 halved : thus, PHEASANT, WILD DUCK, etc., 

 one coupon for each bird ; PLOVER, one 

 coupon for each six birds, and so on (The 

 Field, 3.viii.i8, p. 103). 



The inclusion of GUINEA-FOWL among 

 GAME BIRDS provoked humorous queries as 

 to where the best shooting might be obtained, 

 on what date the shooting opened, and 

 whether it was legitimate to shoot them on 

 the ground. It was even suggested that the 

 Ministry of Food had been rearing GUINEA- 

 FOWL with a view to increasing the food- 

 supply of the country (The Times, S.viii.iS). 

 Shortly afterwards a ludicrous statement 

 appeared in print that WILD DUCK, PLOVER, 

 SNIPE, and WATER-HENS were being bred at 

 the Edmonton District Council's sewage farm 

 (Evening News, ig.viii.iS). 



In July 1918 the Board of Agriculture 

 authorised the killing of GROUSE and BLACK- 

 GAME in England and Wales as from Au- 

 gust 6th, and the Board of Agriculture of 



56 



