Utility and Economy of Birds 



scattered nesting-places of such species as 

 COOTS, MOORHENS, MALLARD, and even scarce 

 DUCKS prohibited any idea of taking their 

 eggs on anything like a commercial basis. 

 We were told that PHEASANTS' eggs were 

 eaten by the Royal Family, while at Windsor 

 in 1916, instead of PLOVERS' eggs (Daily Mail, 

 8.v.i6), and these latter, being regarded as 

 absolute luxuries, found but few buyers in 

 the shops at 8d. instead of the pre-war 2s. 6d. 

 apiece. 



Early in 1918 the newspapers again re- 

 sounded the cry, urging the collection of SEA- 

 GULLS', GUILLEMOTS', and PUFFINS' eggs 

 (Daily Mail, 25.1.18). On February 22nd 

 the Board of Agriculture for Scotland issued 

 a circular suggesting the taking of the eggs 

 of the BLACK-BACKED, LESSER BLACK- 

 BACKED, HERRING, and COMMON GULLS for 

 food, but advised that the BLACK-HEADED 

 GULL, in view of its predominating insec- 

 tivorous diet, should not be molested. With- 

 in six weeks, however, the restriction regard- 

 ing the collection of the eggs of the last- 

 named species was removed. In May 1918 



62 



