WILD fclRDS PROTECTION ACT AMENDMENT. 183 



Our practical neighbours in Holland have had the same 

 difficulty to face as ourselves, and have met it effectively by simple, 

 and, as I have been assured, popular laws, based on the common- 

 sense principle that — common law notwithstanding — a man has 

 as much right to protect the eggs laid on his ground as he has 

 to protect his gooseberries, and that any one taking the one or 

 the other without his leave is equally worthy of punishment. 



In case you should think them just now of sufficient interest 

 to be worth publication, I enclose two translations, the one an 

 extract from the Dutch Game Law, the other an Act now in force 

 in Holland 'for the preservation of animals of service to agri- 

 culture and woods.' 



Extract from the Dutch Game Law of June 13th, 1857 : — 



* Article 22. — It is forbidden to search for or to collect, to expose for 

 sale, or to carry away the eggs of wild birds. This prohibition does not 

 refer to the eggs of wild ducks, nor, during the months of February, March, 

 and April, to the eggs of Divers, Waterhens, Snipe, Curlews, Sandpipers, 

 and Plovers, or of Pewits, if the searching and collecting is undertaken in 

 company of the proprietor or rightful owner, or with a written permit from 

 the latter, to be shown on demand of any one of the officers appointed to 

 carry out this law. The buying, exposiDg for sale, or removal of the eggs 

 of Pewits is allowed up to and on May 5th.' 



Dutch Law of the 25th of May, 1880, for the protection of 

 species of animals useful for agriculture or woodcraft : — 



' Article 1. — It is forbidden to catch, to kill, to remove, to offer for 

 sale, to sell, to supply, or to possess for the purpose of delivery for sale 

 mammals or birds living wild, which are useful for agriculture or woodcraft. 



Article 2. — Of the birds referred to in Article 1 it is forbidden : — (1) To 

 remove, destroy, carry away, offer for sale, sell, deliver, or keep in readiness 

 for delivery the eggs. (2) To disturb or destroy the nests. 



Article 3. — A list will be drawn up and issued showing what mammals 

 and birds shall be considered, either for all time or for a section of the year, 

 as being useful for agriculture or woodcraft. This list will be obtainable 

 from our Commissioners in the provinces. 



Article 4. — The Minister is empowered, on special occasions for a 

 scientific purpose, to exempt certain persons from the penalties attached 

 to infraction of one or more of the clauses of Articles 1 and 2. 



Article 5.— The capture or slaughter of the animals referred to in this 

 law, when they are found on isolated private property, such as gardens, 

 crofts, or orchards, is permitted to the owner and employer of the ground, 

 and can by them be made over to a third party. The same exception 



