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238 
THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS’ EGGS. 
Rev. E. P. KNUBLEY, M.A. ; Uy 
Rector of Staveley; Chai: of the as Naturalists Union's Wild 
Birds Eggs Committee. 
In presenting the report of the Committee appointed to discuss the 
advisability or not of providing protection for the eggs of wild birds 
by legislative enactment, it may be well to state at the outset that 
at present certain birds are protected by a close time in the nesting 
season, during which it is illegal to kill them, but that this protection 
does not extend to their eggs. The eggs, in fact, of every kind of 
wild bird, whether common or uncommon, useful or otherwise, are 
liable to be destroyed through thoughtless carelessness, wanton 
mischief or sordid greed. 
At present there is nothing to prevent whole areas from being 
systematically plundered of every egg of every bird—and it is done. 
Again, certain of our British birds nest in colonies in a few known 
localities; and as the law now stands there is nothing to hinder the 
taking of the eggs of these birds to such an extent as to prevent the = 
hatching of a single young bird. It requires no prophet to foretell _ 
what will be the result of this system of pillage if it is allowed to 
proceed unchecked. a. 
The question has been asked—Has the time come when legis- __ 
lative protection is required for wild birds’ eggs? A committee of the 
British Association was appointed at its Cardiff meeting, with So 
a view to inquiring into this subject; but it has not yet felt itself in 
a position to make any recommendations. The committee, which 
includes the names of Professor Newton and Canon Tristram, waS 
re-appointed at the Edinburgh Meeting; and it is hoped that next 
year it may feel in a pone to offer suggestions on this extremely oe 
difficult subject. oe 
A committee of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union with similar . 
objects was appointed at the annual meeting last year. No meetings — 
have been held, but the Chairman addressed a letter to each member 
of the committee, and from the replies received from these and 
other members of the Union, he obtained much valuable information, 
and many useful suggestions. Fortified with the matter thus plac a 
at his disposal, he, as delegate of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union, 
was able to bring this important subject before the Edinburgh 
meeting of the British Association at ‘the conference of the delegates 
of th t interesting discussion, — 
he following resolution, proposed by Mr. Knubley, seconded = 
 MrEB tbiseieis and | ag fesse by Canon Lesa was ¢ C 
