THE LAPWING 285 



Sir Herbert Maxwell, writing last autumn, 1908, in 

 the Pall Mall Gazette, after referring to another species, 

 says: "There is another bird equally industrious in 

 ridding the farm of insect pests and with no fruit or 

 grain eating propensities whatever, which we allow each 

 year to be slain in increasing numbers. Already in 

 poulterers' shops, not of the first class, may be seen 

 strings of Lapwings exposed for sale, and this will 

 continue till far on in next spring. May I make my 

 annual protest against this mischievous traffic? Great 

 Britain has held aloof from the Convention of Continental 

 States formed for the protection of birds useful to 

 agriculture. Her Government decided upon this 

 attitude on the ground that Parliament had already 

 effected by legislation most of the objects which the 

 Convention has in view. But the continued slaughter 

 of Lapwings is altogether at variance with nay, is in 

 direct opposition to the main provisions of the Con- 

 vention. It is true that powers have been conferred 

 upon County Councils enabling them to prohibit the 

 killing, capture or exposure for sale, of Lapwdngs or 

 any other kind of bird at any or every season ; but so 

 long as these powers are not exercised this senseless 

 slaughter will go on. For, unhappily, there is a ready 

 market for the carcases of these useful birds. People 

 whose palates are so gross as to be gratified by the flesh 

 of carnivorous birds eat Lapwings greedily enough. 

 Why not compel them to be content with their eggs? 

 seeing that every Lapwing destroyed means the preserva- 

 tion of hundreds of noxious insects, such as leather 

 grubs, wiremorms, click-beetles, caterpillars, and such 

 like." 



In England drainage and the improvement of waste 



