14 BIRD SANCTUARIES. 



In this State much could be done, even under the present admittedly inadequate law, by 

 enlisting the co-operation of the larger land owners, and appointing them honorary wardens of 

 the reserves in the neighbourhood of their estates, with power to take the names of offenders 

 with a view to prosecution. The police (who at present are the only officials who have the 

 necessary authority) might be armed with fuller powers and provided with concise descrip- 

 tions or illustrations of scheduled birds; and lighthouse keepers could be appointed wardens of 

 the lighted Islands on the Coast. 



But above all the law must be amended so as to more fully protect all birds other than 

 game or noxious birds. Both of these classes require very considerable reduction in the num- 

 ber of species hitherto included in the respective categories. "Game" birds should be restricted 

 to those actually of a substantial food value, and the smaller Doves, Bitterns, Coots, Dotterel, 

 Gill Birds, and such species should be excluded. I would even advocate the exclusion of the 

 Black Swan from the list of Game birds, and the placing of this handsome species on the abso- 

 lutely protected list. 



Many birds, hitherto regarded as "noxious," might safely be protected, for the good they 

 do far outweighs the mischief they occasionally wreak. All the Kites, Hawks, and Eagles are 

 such keen and active destroyers of vermin that their services in this respect should entitle them 

 to plenary indulgence in regard to their peccadilloes amongst the lambs and chickens. Even 

 the Crow should be protected in all coastal districts, and the Cockatoos, Parrots, Silver-eyes, 

 and other much maligned birds, should be afforded the protection enjoyed by the average 

 human criminal, and only punished when caught in flagrante delicto. 



