122 ON THE SEA-BIRDS PHESEHVATION ACT, 



summer. Almost all her productions are similar according to the 

 seasons, ages, and sexes, but why some species vary more than 

 others according to age, sex, or season, is perhaps what we can 

 never find out. All Nature's species were created perfect, and if 

 left to themselves remain so and constant. The several varieties 

 produced by man's intervention, and such as he takes piide in 

 producing and keeping up are not so ; if they were left to them- 

 selves they would soon cease to exist as such. 



There are large tracts of land in England now which were 

 formerly and ai'e still inhabited by birds in summer. The re- 

 cent acts perhaps prevent the destruction of the old birds, but if 

 the eggs are constantly gathered you may almost as well be with- 

 out the old birds. They, in consequence of their eggs being 

 taken, after a time assemble in flocks, leave the places, and are 

 as wild as in winter; whilst if the eggs and young were pro- 

 tected, any one would have the pleasure of seeing the old bii'ds 

 near when attending to their young. 



It is perhaps little use trying to alter this state of things. 

 Civilization and population increase so rapidly that the wild birds 

 must give way, but it is a pity not to help them as much as pos- 

 sible, and this should be done by the owner of the land, who 

 should legally have the power. 



All laws should be made to inflict as little injury as possible 

 on individuals, and they should not be made at all unless for the 

 public good in some way or other. I cannot sec how any pos- 

 sible good arises by preventing birds being shot during their mi- 

 grations, and which are here to day and probably hundreds of 

 miles away to-morrow. 



Ileal injury accrues to individuals when resident birds arc 

 shot, or their nests taken in private grounds. Most persons wlio 

 have any kindly feeling generally take interest in liaving birds 

 and their nests in tlieir grounds, and liaving them often destroyed 

 is as gi'cat an injuiy to them as it would be in having something 

 generally thought much more valuable taken away or stolen. 



It would I tliink be better not to have a close time at all for 

 mud flats and such like places. No bii-ds breed on these, and as 

 soon OS the birds disperse to breed, then such places are almost 



