KINDNESS, AND SYMPATHIES 259 



owners are still permitted to do (in the unconfiscated parts 

 of our possessions) with regard to feathered fowl." * 



"June 3/tf, 1892. 



" 1 would not altogether prohibit the taking of eggs ; 

 it should be done under expert supervision, as is done on 

 many peewit breeding-places, to the material increase of 

 healthy birds." 2 



"May 2tfh. 



" I am glad to find that Lord R appears to be 



quite inclined to protect the terns as far as possible ; with 

 regard to his legal rights, I suggested to him, in my reply, 

 the formation of a local association for the protection of 

 these terns during the breeding season, adding that should 

 such an association be formed, I would gladly contribute 

 5 annually to its funds.* But what is urgently needed 

 in these special cases is an extension of the close time. 

 There is no season for killing terns at all, but I do not 

 think that even the all-powerful ' Arry ' could effectually 

 resist local extensions of close time if the inhabitants of 

 the localities supported them with vigour. Judicious egg- 

 taking really does little, if any harm to well-stocked bird 

 colonies ; but it is the indiscriminate slaughter of the 



1 To G. Hope, Esq. 



2 To the same. 



* In reference to this correspondence Mr. Hope writes : (July 

 14?%, 1896), "His aid and suggestions in 1892, though perhaps 

 not recognised, certainly helped to sow the seeds of which the present 

 societies on our East coast are the outcome." 



