president's address. 203 



I regret the growing scarcity of many of our birds, and I 

 think some simple measures could readily be devised for 

 their protection. The growing scarcity is no doubt in some 

 instances brought about by increase of population and 

 drainage of marshy lands. Deliberate and unnecessary 

 destruction however is most to blame. As a slight set off 

 against this it must be gratifying to all lovers of our larger 

 and most picturesque birds of prey to know that the Golden 

 Eagle is not only holding its own, but is increasing in numbers 

 in the fastnesses of Scotland. I scarcely think intentional 

 protection can take much credit for this, but that it is rather 

 the advantages conferred upon the deerstalker by the destruc- 

 tion of the blue hare, which, to a large extent, provides food 

 for the birds. The White-tailed Eagle, whose nesting place is 

 generally more inaccessible than the eyrie of the Golden Eagle, 

 has almost disappeared, though a quarter of a century ago it 

 was by far the more numerous bird. In a recent visit I paid 

 to Shetland I made most careful enquiries as to whether any 

 nesting birds were to be found there in the season, but I could 

 in no case obtain any reliable assurance of any young birds 

 being hatched that year. There may have been some, but I 

 am quite satisfied that in the whole of these Islands, if any 

 birds other than accidental visitors exist, there are not more 

 than three or four eyries. 



In Orkney I found the once numerous Hen-harrier and 

 Short-eared Owl being destroyed as quickly as possible by 

 the gamekeepers. Over the whole of our Islands everything 

 possible is being done by gamekeepers to destroy such birds 

 as the Peregrine Falcon, the Raven, the Hooded and Carrion 

 Crows, the Merlin, the Kestrel, the Sparrow Hawk, the 

 Magpie and Jay. Even war is waged against the almost 

 entirely innocent Owls. This in some cases is done in- 

 tentionally by the gamekeeper with or without instructions 

 from his employer, but in many cases the birds are taken in 

 pole-traps erected for such birds as Sparrow Hawks. This 

 wilful destruction is in some cases carried out by the express 

 orders of the owner or tenant of shootings, but in some cases 



