246 BIRDS AND MAN 



three pairs — existed at one spot, and he was 

 anxious to finish the business he had on hand 

 so as to go there and secure them. In answer 

 to further questions, he said that the birds were 

 in a place where they could not very well be 

 shot, but that made no difference ; he had a 

 simple, effective way of getting them without 

 a gun, and he was sure that not one would 

 escape him. 



On my mentioning the fact that the Kent 

 County Council had obtained an order for an 

 all -the -year -round protection of this very bird, 

 he looked at me out of the corners of his eyes 

 and laughed, but said nothing. He took it as 

 a rather good joke on my part. 



There is not the slightest doubt that our 

 wealthy private collectors have created the class 

 of injurious wretches to which this man belonged. 



To some who have glanced at a little 

 dusty, out-of-shape mummy of a bird, labelled 

 "Dartford Warbler," in a museum, or private 

 collection, or under a glass shade, it may seem 

 that I speak too warmly of the pleasure which 



