2 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



birds on the British list. Thus, at the Scottish National 

 Cage-Bird Society's Show in Edinburgh in January, in an 

 entry of 2060 birds, there were 60 Goldfinches, 82 Bull- 

 finches, and 68 Linnets ; but it is likely that some of these 

 may have been imported, and not home-caught individuals. 

 It is clear, however, that there exists a regular and consider- 

 able demand for living specimens, for which the bird-catcher 

 caters. Now, there has never been any convincing demand 

 for the total prohibition of caged-birds ; for under proper 

 conditions of space, light, warmth, and food, there is no 

 reason why the practice should be associated with dis- 

 comforts any greater than those of the wild. It is, un- 

 fortunately, the case that these conditions are not always 

 met ; but, notwithstanding, so far as the writer knows, no 

 legislature has ever set an embargo upon the keeping of 

 birds in cages. 



It is a very different matter with bird-catching. Many 

 countries have made enactments against bird-catching, and 

 although several of the American States have created 

 special exceptions in favour of bird-catchers who aim at 

 " domestication, propagation, or breeding purposes," yet the 

 general tendency in both America and Europe is towards 

 the general prohibition of the trapping, netting, or snaring 

 of wild birds, not recognised as pests. 



In the British Isles the law lags behind public opinion. 

 The greater part of our bird-catching is carried on during 

 the autumn migration and throughout the winter months, 

 after the cessation of the legal close-time and during a 

 period when only such birds are protected as are mentioned 

 in special orders. Unless, therefore, the bird-catcher is 

 capturing specially protected birds, or is contravening (where 

 it has been adopted) Sunday protection, he may catch how 

 and when he pleases, so far as the Wild Birds' Protection 

 Acts are concerned. This state of affairs is far from satis- 

 factory ; for it is incontestable that bird-catching often 

 involves a considerable amount of cruelty. 



What remedies may be sought against the abuses of an 

 ancient trade ? As the law exists, much power lies with 

 Scottish County Councils ; for, on satisfactory evidence 



