BIRDS REQUIRING PROTECTION IN YORKSHIRE. 



RILEY FORTUNE, F.Z.S., 



Harrogate. 



Hon. Sec. Wild Birds' and Eggs' Protection Committee, Y.N.U. 



Hon. Sec. Vertebrate Section, Y.N.U. 



Meivibers of the Yorkshire NaturaUsts' Union, and naturalists 

 g-enerally, will be g-reatly disappointed with the conduct of the 

 County Council of the West Riding- in shelving the proposed 

 new Bird Protection Order, which has been drawn up with the 

 utmost care by the Wild Birds and Egg-s Protection Committee 

 of the Union. 



When, in conjunction with Mr. Nelson, I called a meeting of 

 gentlemen interested in this subject, I felt that it was quite time 

 something w as done if the extermination of several most interest- 

 ing species as residents in the county was to be prevented. 



One of the principal points in view was to have a uniform 

 order for the whole of the county, and when a meeting had been 

 arranged of representatives from each of the County Councils to 

 consider the proposal from the Y.N.U., all were very hopeful 

 that the results of their deliberation would be satisfactory. 



This Committee agreed practically to the whole of our 

 proposals, and, from what we understood, the matter was 

 settled, and we congratulated ourselves upon the good work 

 done. 



Just when we were expecting the new order to be issued, we 

 learn with consternation that the County Council of the West 

 Riding has shelved the whole matter, and without giving any 

 reason. 



Their action is extremely disappointing ; a body of men, 

 perfectly competent in every way to deal with the subject, drew 

 up the proposed schedule with the utmost care, and it is 

 inconceivable why the County Council have not followed out 

 their suggestion. 



The worst enemies to our rare birds are collectors. Personally 

 I have no objection to anyone making a collection of eggs in a 

 modest way, but I think the wholesale taking of the eggs of rare 

 birds in clutches is deplorable, and especially when the collector 

 is not satisfied with taking what he requires for his own cabinet, 

 but continues to harry the nests for the purpose of selling the 

 eggs outright, or, what is quite as bad, using them for the 

 purpose of exchange. There are " naturalists " in our own 



1906 March i. 



