The Zoologist— April, 1869. 1633 



Many species of gulls follow the plough, and destroy quantities of 

 grubs and worms, which they snatch from the upturned soil. As 

 scavengers, these birds are most useful in removing various kinds of 

 offal from our shores and harbours. In addition to this, who will not 

 readily admit that the presence of these wild birds on our coast con- 

 tributes very greatly to the beauty of the scenery. 



On all or any of these grounds, they deserve protection. And what 

 is this to amount to ? Simply the appointment and observance of a 

 " fence time," as in the case of game and fish. Let them be unmolested 

 for a certain period of the year, to rear their young and perpetuate 

 their species. 



In furtherance of these views, the following draft of a Bill has been 

 prepared by Mr. J. E. Harting, and submitted to the House of 

 Commons : — 



" Whereas large numbers of sea-fowl are wantonly every year 

 taken and destroyed on the coasts of England and Wales, without 

 any regard to season, whereby the extinction of such sea-fowl is 

 threatened: and whereas the said sea-fowl are of signal service to 

 mariners on the said coasts, in warning them off rocks, shoals and 

 other dangers of the sea; and also to fishermen on the said coasts, 

 in directing them to the most productive fishing-grounds ; and the 

 said sea-fowl are also of use for sanitary purposes in removing various 

 kinds of offal from the harbours and shores of sea-port towns ; and 

 further, that the said sea-fowl contribute much to the beauty of coast- 

 scenery : and it is therefore expedient to protect such sea-fowl during 

 the breeding season, and to prevent their eggs from being taken or 

 destroyed : 



" Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, 

 by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and tem- 

 poral, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by 

 the authority of the same, as follows : — 



" 1.— This Act may be cited as ' The Sea-Fowl Preservation Act, 

 1869.' 



" 2.— The words ' sea-fowl' shall for all the purposes of this Act be 

 deemed to include the' different species of gulls, auks, guillemots, 

 cormorants, puffins, terns, skuas, petrels, ganuets, divers, razorbills, 

 shearwaters and grebes. 



" 3. — Any person who shall kill, wound or take any sea-fowl, or 

 use any boat, gun, net or other engine or instrument, for the purpose 



SECOND SEKIES — VOL. IV. U 



