Part L 



WILD BIRD PROTECTION. 



"TN those early times, closely following the Norman 

 conquest, we find that it soon became necessary 

 to pass laws for the protection of certain species of 

 our wild birds, in order to preserve them, not only 

 for the purposes of sjDort, but also no doubt as a 

 source of food supply. 



At the time of the conquest the right of taking 

 or pursuing all wild beasts of the chase and game 

 appears to have belonged to the King alone, and this 

 state of the law continued until the passing of the 

 Charta Forestse (9 Henry III.) in the year 1225. 

 This Charta Forestas is the first of a long series of 

 laws called by the general name of the Game Laws, 

 which have been passed from time to time for the 

 following, amongst other reasons (as stated by 

 Blackstone), 



For the preservation of the several species of 

 animals which would soon become extirpated 

 by a general liberty. 



