THE LAW AS IT AFFECTS WILDFOWLERS = 59 
in each year. Certain birds which are said or thought to be in- 
jurious to crops and enemies of game may be killed at any time 
by owners or occupiers of land, or persons duly authorised by 
owners or occupiers of land. Certain species are scheduled 
and cannot be legally killed by anyone during the close season. 
The list of birds named is very unsatisfactory and incomplete 
from an ornithological standpoint. Local names being used, 
the same species is in some cases mentioned as many as three 
times under different names, and many birds needing protection 
are omitted. As this matter seriously affects country folk and 
others who are not conversant with matters ornithological, I 
suppose we cannot easily alter the present arrangement. Some 
day, when everyone is supposed to know the various species of 
birds, a more practical and comprehensive list may be adopted. 
With reference to the shooting of birds on free shores 
during the close season, it is important to note that no one 
can legally do so. Since a person, to shoot the unscheduled 
species of birds during the close season, must be either an 
owner or tenant of land, or duly authorised by such, it follows 
that no power exists with the free gunner to shoot unprotected 
wild birds in the close season, although many persons labour 
under an impression to the contrary, at the risk of being con- 
victed should they carry out their erroneous ideas. County 
and Borough Councils have power to frame orders extending 
or curtailing the close and open seasons for wild birds. These 
orders, if approved of and sanctioned, in the case of Great 
Britain, by a principal Secretary of State, or, as regards 
Ireland, the Lord Lieutenant, become law. This has brought 
about a very confusing state of affairs. In the different 
counties the open seasons commence according to local orders. 
Some birds are protected all the year round, the eggs of 
certain species of birds are protected until such-and-such a 
date, others the entire season. To speak of all quarters in 
detail would require a large volume to contain the matter. 
