Vol. xli.] 40 



Some years ago the supply of Plovers^ ^ggs from Holland 

 tended to diminish, but the authorities there, instead of 

 stopping the trade, which is very large and might have 

 seriously affected certain districts and islands, allowed the 

 taking of eggs up to a certain date, and gave the adult birds 

 absolute protection during the breeding season. The result 

 was that although more eggs were taken every year the 

 number of pairs increased until the country is now holding 

 its maximum quantity of birds, and the number of egiis 

 taken yearly runs into hundreds of thousands. Normally, 

 each pair hatches four young a year, of which probably 50 

 per cent, die before leaving for their winter quarters. Under 

 the protection some eight eggs or two layings are taken from 

 each pair, that finally lays a third clutch of four eggs, of 

 which, as they are more carefully watched, we may assume 

 that 25 per cent, only die young, leaving a net increase of 

 25 per cent, on the birds in normal conditions, and, in 

 addition, man has taken his stock of eggs, which has thus 

 given employment and food to hundreds. Yet in the face of 

 this example we still have sentimentalists in England who 

 wish to prevent us eating Plovers' eggs. 



The same policy has been applied to the feather trade, and 

 laws prohibiting the export and import of feathers have been 

 passed in some countries, e. g., India and the United States, 

 but I am afraid that these laws will be evaded, and so far I 

 have noticed no diminution in the wearing of aigrettes on 

 ladies' hats. 



Let us now consider more particularly the Protection of 

 Birds from the more strictly economical aspect — when we may 

 wish to increase or diminish a species that is already fairly 

 numerous. 



Before commencing to frame any laws, we must first 

 study and understand the Laws of Nature, which are para- 

 mount, and it can only be by acting through these laws that 

 we can hope for any chance of success. 



The first and most important of these Laws is that with 

 every species its rate of increase is direotly dependent on its 

 food-supply. 



