The RaUonale of Bird Protection. 617 



The large number of birds exported weekly from Europe 

 for caging purposes in America is an indication that European 

 countries should take some action similar to that of the 

 United States of America. 



I am aware that this is not a full programme nor one that 

 would satisfy the wishes of many bird-lovers, and, moreover, 

 it is so far only restrictive and needs the aid of legislation. 



We must further and above all look to public opinion and 

 to education to bring about the results we are aiming at ; and 

 bird-protectors must strive to encourage a friendly feeling 

 towards feathered life in both adults and children, and must 

 endeavour- to inculcate some appreciation for a bird as a bird. 

 Bird-protection Societies and the efforts made to promote 

 nature-study are or should be working towards this end. 

 Many nations are, with beneficial results, including the study 

 of birds in the curriculum of their schools of all grades. In 

 America, in some of the Colonies, and of late years in parts 

 of England, instruction about birds has centred round what 

 might usefully become in every country a national institution, 

 viz., Bird and Arbor Day. 



It is because public opinion is not yet ripe and education 

 not sufficiently advanced and extended, that need for restric- 

 tive legislation exists. 



For detailed particulars of what is being attempted for 

 bird-protection by legislation throughout the British Empire 

 I would venture to refer to the Summary of the numerous 

 legislative Acts in force, which has been printed as a supple- 

 ment to the current number of "Bird Notes and News," the 

 organ of the Boy al Society for the Protection of Birds. 



A glance at this Summary will show that it is a subject 

 which has received much careful considération at the hands 

 of legislators and rulers ; the enactments make it evident 

 that nearly every form of protection that may be required 

 or desired has found support in one or more of the Colonies, 

 and they also serve to indicate that measures may become 

 necessary to keep in check the increase of certain species. 



Much of the legislation emanating from central bodies is 

 permissive, and rightly so, the needs of different districts 

 being so various and so varying. 



The bird-protection laws enacted by the British Parliament 



p p 



