620 Frani' E. Lemon: 



Protection of Wild Birds throughout the 

 British Empire. 1 



Throughout the greater part of the British Empire, efforts 

 are being made to preserve and protect Wild Birds by legisla- 

 tion, whether on account of their utility, beauty, or rarity, 

 or as game. A brief summary of the methods pursued and 

 of the laws and ordinances in force may be of interest as 

 showing practically the position of Bird-protection through- 

 out the Empire, account being taken only of those which 

 have reference to birds other than game. In addition to the 

 Houses of Parliament meeting in London, there are about 

 seventy Legislative Assemblies in the British Empire. A law 

 is passed by a Legislative Assembly; an Ordinance is enacted 

 by a Governor, either on his own responsibility or " in 

 Council." 



In the majority of cases birds to be specially protected are 

 named in a schedule ; but in one or two instances the method 

 proposed for future legislation in England is adopted, 

 viz., protecting all birds and proscribing certain named 

 species. 



The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will be veiy 

 glad to receive any information and copies of enactments from 

 friends in the Colonies, in order that this tabulation of the 

 Society's records may be continually revised and kept up to 

 date; and particulars as to Bird Protection in other lands 

 will also be most welcome. 



Europe. 



United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. — By the 

 Acts of 1880 and 1881 a Close Time (breeding-season) is 

 provided for all wild birds, but farmers and occupiers of land 

 are allowed to kill any bird not named in the "Schedule/' 

 Provision is made for the variation of Close Time, and the 

 offering for sale of birds, recently taken, is forbidden. 



By the Act of 1894 power is given to prohibit the taking 

 of eggs, and to amend the " Schedule " for any district. 



By the Act of 1896 birds can be protected during that 

 portion of the year not covered by the Close Time. " Sane- 



1 From the Supplement to " Bird Notes and ]Vew9." July, 1905. 



