Xxii IJTTEODrCTIOlS". 



which, on accotmt of their breeding in society in vast numbers, 

 fell an easy prey to the gunner, and were fast disappearing. 

 This Act will no doubt do much to save the few nesting stations 

 still left on om- seaboard. But I fear, notwithstanding, that the 

 Black -headed Gull, which nests inland, will soon be entirely 

 exterminated in our district, where it is the greatest ornament 

 of our moor-lands, for the gamekeeper is everywhere destroying 

 its eggs. The inland colonies also of the Lesser Black-backed 

 GruU are likewise fast disappearing. These two species, being 

 ranked with ''vermin," for they are accused of destroying the 

 eggs of the Grouse, must soon perish accordingly. 



The second Act came into operation on the 15th of March, 

 1873, and is for the protection of the small or land birds, but it is 

 drawn up in the most inefficient manner possible, and it is diffi- 

 cult to see on what principle it is based. The schedule of the 

 species to be protected shows nothing so clearly as the extreme 

 ignorance on the subject of those who drew it up. Some species 

 stand in it under two, three, or even four different names, as if 

 they were so many distinct species : and it is altogether so imper- 

 fect, that it will be difficult to convict under it. The endeavour 

 seems to be to exclude the gTanivorous birds ; but not half the in- 

 sectivorous species are included. It is very well to protect the 

 latter, such as the Swallows and the Warblers ; but as they are 

 migrants, any diminution in their numbers would soon be restored. 

 The resident species are those that most requii-e protection, and 

 yet these are, to a great extent, left beyond the pale of the Act. 

 How the magistrate is to determine the species it is difficult to 

 say. Even had the schedule been all that could be desired this 

 would not be an easy matter, unless he be an ornithologist. The 

 Chiff Chaff, for instance, will have to be discriminated from the 

 Willow Wren, the former being included in the schedule, the 

 latter left out. 



The most lamentable feature however of the Act is that some 

 species, the gi-catest favourites of the public, are excluded : the 

 Lai'k, the Thrush, and the Blackbird, for instance, the most 

 charming songsters wc have, arc to perish. 



There should also have been a clause in the Act permitting 



