SIR H. MAXWELL ON PROTECTION OF DIRDS. I49 



the avocct, the black-tailed godwit, the bittern, the great bustard, 

 and Savi's warbler must be reckoned extinct as breeding species ; 

 the first-named has ceased to exist anywhere ; the rest are known 

 to us only as vagrant individuals, almost invariably shot as soon as 

 their presence is detected, to be added to some private collection 

 or local museum. Other species, once very plentiful, have been 

 reduced to the verge of extermination, partly by the drainage of 

 their native swamps, partly by that rigour of game preservation 

 which has caused all birds of prey to be entered in the black list, 

 and, lastly, in the case of the ruff and reeve, by the diligence with 

 which they have been persecuted at all seasons because of their 

 edible qualities. In only one instance has the attempt to re- 

 establish a lost species been rewarded with success, that, namely, of 

 the capercaillie in Scottish woods. 



In one respect. Great Britain has shown itself more hospitable 

 to its native birds than has almost any other European land. It 

 has never become the fashion with us to shoot or capture many 

 species of small birds which are eagerly sought for on the Continent 

 for the table : and the destruction of birds of prey in this country 

 in the process of game preservation has tended to maintain an 

 abundant stock of song birds. So general has been the destruction 

 of small birds in parts of Europe, notably in France, parts of 

 Germany, and Italy, that agriculture and horticulture have suffered 

 seriously owing to the consequent increase of injurious insects 

 and land molluscs. In 1895 the French Government invited all 

 European Governments to send delegates to an International Con- 

 gress, to consider the question of concerted action for the purpose 

 of protecting birds useful to agriculture. M. Meline, the late Prime 

 Minister of France, acted as President of the Conference, at which 

 every European State, except Turkey and some of the Danubian 

 Principalities, was represented, Mr Howard Saunders, Mr F. D. 

 Harford of the British Embassy in Paris, and myself having been 

 appointed delegates by Her Majesty's Government. The pro- 

 ceedings were exceedingly earnest and harmonious, and resulted 

 in a series of very strong recommendations. It was gratifying to 

 the British delegates to know that the principles of these regula- 

 tions (except as regards prohibition of the importation of birds 

 killed in other countries) had already practically been carried into 

 effect in this country by the Wild Birds Protection Act of 1880, 

 followed by the amending Acts of 1894 and 1896. 



I have said except as regards the prohibition of importation of 

 birds killed in other countries during whatever close time may be 

 provided in those countries. That was a point strongly pressed 

 during the Conference by certain continental members thereof It is 

 little use, say the authorities in Holland, for us to prohibit the sale 

 of such useful species as, say, the lapwing, if you in England allow 

 lapwings shot in Holland during the close time to be exposed 

 for sale in England. It is quite true that bird protection, owing to 



