NOTES. 



Note A, p. 9. 



I originally intended to have added a short chapter to the book upon the 

 Wild Birds Act and the results obtainable from it ; but aa other chapters 

 have grown to greater length than I expected, I confine myself to giving 

 in this note, for the convenience of those who are kindly disposed towards 

 the birds, the substance of the Act of 1 880, with a few words of explanation. 

 Those who wish for more complete information should send for ' The Wild 

 Birds Protection Acts 1880 and 1881, with explanatory notes ' (pub. by 

 Horace Cox, the Field Office, 346 Strand, W.C., price is.) 



The Act in question, which was the result of most careful consideration, 

 by experts outside as well as inside Parliament, and was seen through the 

 House of Commons by L. L. Dillwyn, Esq., M.P., one of a family of 

 naturalists, repealed the then existing Acts relating to Wild Birds, which 

 had been passed in the previous years without sufficient care for all 

 interests. Its main provisions were as follows : — 



1 . To protect all wild birds of every description from being caught or 

 killed between the ist of March and the ist of August. 



2. To except from the above plain rule birds caught or killed by the owner 

 or occupier of land on his own land, or by some person authorised by him. 



3. To affix as penalties for offences against the above, for first offence, 

 reprimand and discharge on payment of costs ; for subsequent offences, a fine 

 not exceeding five shillings. 



4. To schedule a number of birds which may not be caught or killed even 

 on his own land, by owner or occupier, during the close time, and for 

 the catching or killing of which the penalty is a summoi exceeding one pound. 

 These are chiefly rare birds, and a certain number of sea-birds ; but 

 among them are Cuckoo, Curlew, Dotterel, Fern-owl or Goatsucker, Gold- 

 finch, Kingfisher, Lark, Nightingale, Plover, Sandpiper, and Woodpecker. 



