17 



and three weeks' public notice must be given before its 

 operation. 



There is no doubt that if properly and fairly applied, this 

 Act may do some good in special cases ; but it has been 

 pointed out that it is more important that the Wild Birds' 

 Protection Act itself should be properly carried out in order 

 that birds may be thoroughly protected during the breeding 

 season. If this is done, it is a matter of minor importance 

 whether a bird's eggs be taken or not, for in most cases she 

 will immediately begin laying again. Further, it may be 

 observed that those species which suffer an enormous loss of 

 eggs at the hands of schoolboys every season are just those 

 that are most plentiful. Again, since the sea-birds were 

 protected from wholesale slaughter by those who called 

 themselves sportsmen, they have greatly increased all round 

 our coast. At the same time, few naturalists will be inclined 

 to cavil at the action of the Cornwall County Council, at 

 whose instigation the Home Secretary has proclaimed the 

 protection of the eggs of the chough throughout the county. 

 This appears to have been a very necessary proceeding, 

 owing to the onslaught made upon its breeding places. If 

 the Act is put' in force only in this spirit, it will probably be 

 welcomed by ornithologists. What is sadly needed is a 

 law to make penal the destruction of those distinguished 

 visitors in feathers who cannot alight in our fields or woods 

 or even fly over them without falling victims to some 

 miserable gunner, who considers the possession of their 

 stuffed skins as so many certificates of his prowess as a true 

 sportsman ! 



Gentlemen, I set out with the intention of making this 

 address a very brief one, but have only succeeded in saying 

 little in many words. I will inflict but a little more upon 

 you, I cannot conclude without thanking my colleagues for 

 their hearty co-operation during my term of office. To my 

 worthy successor my thanks are specially due for his kindness 

 in fulfilling my duties in the chair since I took up my 

 residence in Cornwall ; but I have to acknowledge much kind 

 consideration during the whole of my official connection with 

 the Society. I trust the new year will be one of continued 

 prosperity and extended usefulness to the Society and to 

 every member. 



EDWARD STEP. 



