6 PREFACE 



to nesting birds and nestlings ; for the killing of various 

 home-birds and migrants, and for the senseless shooting 

 of sea-birds and occasionally of rare visitants. 



" Secondly, the bird-catcher, responsible for the 

 decrease of all those birds sought for caging, such as 

 Goldfinch, Linnet, Siskin, Lark, etc. This class, like 

 the first-named, requires dealing with, chiefly because of 

 the intolerable amount of ill-treatment involved by the 

 methods employed in the catching, transit, and sale of 

 wild birds. The destruction of the useful Lapwing, and 

 of the Skylark for the table, is also a point in need of 

 attention ; and in the same category may be placed 

 the so-called sparrow-clubs, which encourage the in- 

 discriminate killing of many species of small birds. 



" Thirdly, the gamekeeper, responsible for the 

 extinction, or extreme rarity of most of our large birds, 

 especially predatory species and uncommon visitors. 



;t Fourthly, the private collector with a craze for rare 

 British-taken birds and eggs, or, in the case of the 

 humbler persecutor of beautiful species, for something 

 to put in a glass case. 



" Fifthly, the trader and the feathered woman, jointly 

 responsible for the devastation wrought among the 

 loveliest birds of all lands." 



We have included a few useful species here, which are 

 only visitants to our country, but which, with more 

 protection, might remain for part of the year with us 

 regularly. 



