320 REPORT— 1872. 



The action of zinc chloride on myristicol yields the same cymene together 

 with another product. 



The acids obtained by the action of nitric acid on hesperidene and myris- 

 ticene, as described in the above report, have been obtained in the pm'e 

 state, and are rexn-esented by the formulaj — 



Dried Dried over 



at 100°. sulphuric acid. 



Acid from hesperidene .... C,„H,,Oj, C,„H,,p,„ 2H,0 



Acid from myristicene .... C.^^R.^fi^^ ^-M^^fim' ^H^O 



It is hoped that a report on these and other points will be presented at the 

 next Meetin"' of the Association, 



C. II. A. WEicnr. 



St. Mary's Hospital, Feb. 28, 1873. 



Report of the Committee, consisting of the Rev. Canon Tristram, 

 Professor Newton, H. E. Dresser, J. S. Harting, and the 

 Rev. A. F. Barnes, appointed for the jmrpose of continuing the 

 investigation on the desirability of establishing a " Close Time " for 

 the preservation of indigenous animals. 



1. Bblievixg that the time had come for advantageonsly urging the Legis- 

 lature to take further action whereby the objects for which your Committee 

 was appointed might be promoted, your Committee, after due consideration, 

 prepared a Bill, intituled an Act for the Protection of Wild Fowl, which 

 being entrusted to the care of Mr. Andrew Johnston, M.P., was by him. 

 Colonel Toraline, M.P., and Mr. Brown, M.P., brought into the House of 

 Commons on February 15th, and read the first time. 



2. This Bill was based entirely on the ' Sea-Birds' Preservation Act ' of 

 1869, and, mutatis mutandis only, strictly followed the provisions of that Act, 

 which experience has shown to have fully effected the object for which it was 

 passed, and to have given very general satisfaction to the country at large. 



3. On the motion for the second reading of the Bill in the House of Com- 

 mons, June 12th, the Hon. Auberou Herbert, M.P., proposed as an amend- 

 ment that it was " desirable to provide for the protection of all wild birds 

 during the breeding-season ; " but this amendment, which would have been 

 fatal to the Bill, was withdrawn ; the BiU was read a second time and ordered 

 to be committed, June 21st. 



4. In the debate in the House of Commons on the notice for going into 

 Committee, Mr. Herbert moved, according to notice, " That it be an instruc- 

 tion to the Committee that they have power to extend the protection, given 

 under the Bill to Wild Fowl during the breeding-season, to other wild birds." 

 The House divided : Ayes 20, Noes 15 ; and thereupon Mr. Herbert moved 

 a number of other amendments of which he had given notice ; and these being 

 accepted by the House, the Bill, instead of being the moderate measure con- 

 templated by your Committee, became one of general and indefinite scope. 



5. By this means the fate of the Bill, which had hitherto met with no 

 serious opposition, was rendered very uncertain, and notice was given of a 

 motion to throw it out ; but on the report being taken, the Bill, on Mr. John- 

 ston's proposal, was referred to a Select Committee, by whom it was still 

 further modified, the objections xirged against its sweeping clauses being over- 

 come by limiting its effects to certain kinds of birds named in a Schedule, 



