HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
NOTICE. 
The subscription for Vol. III., 1917 — 18, is 
10/'-, post free. All subscriptions commence with 
No. 1, Vol. 3. Yearly subscriptions only received. 
Specimen copies can be sent post free on receipt 
of twelve penny stamps. Subscribers not receiv- 
ing' their Magazine should communicate at once 
with the Editor. 
All letters to be addressed in future : — 
JOHN q. hamlyn, 
221, St. George's Street, London Bocks, E 1, 
London. 
Telephone, Avenue 43(S0. 
Telegrams, Hainlyn, London Docks, London 
The Editor will be pleased to receive sport- 
ing articles and reminiscences, as well as items of 
news and reports of sport from all parts of the 
world. If stamped directed envelope be enclosed, 
the contributions will be returned if unsuitable. 
IMPORTANT NOTICE. 
All Subscribers in Norway, Sweden, Den- 
mark, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Holland and 
United States, who have not received their usual 
numbers, are requested to communicate at once 
with the Editor. They will in future receive the 
Magazine through the Office of Messrs. W. H. 
Smith and Son, Strand, W.C. 
By arrangement with Messrs. W. H. Smith 
& Son, 186, Strand, W.C., "Hamlyn's Menagerie 
Magazine," is on sale on the 16th of each month 
at the following Railway Stations : — 
Charing Cross (South Eastern and Chatham 
Railway),. 
King's Cross (Great Northern Railway). 
Liverpool Street (Great Eastern Railway). 
St. Pancras (Midland Railway). 
Victoria (South Eastern and Chatham Rail- 
way). 
Waterloo -(South Western Railway). 
THE BIRD LAWS SIMPLIFIED. 
By the Editor of "Cage Birds." 
So many enquiries are being received relating 
to the regulations restricting bird-catching that it 
may be as well to give a general summary of the 
position as affecting those who may wish to catch 
birds for their own keeping or for disposal to 
others. 
The principal Act of Parliament, that of I860, 
specifies the close season as commencing on March 
1, and ending on August 1, and it is illegal to 
shoot or attempt to shoot, or catch or attempt to 
catch by lime, trap, or any other instrument, any- 
wild bird whatever during that time, or to expose 
or offer for sale, or have in one's possession after 
the 15th day of March, any wild bird "recently 
killed or taken." 
Then a schedule is given, and an offender in 
respect of any of the birds therein named is liable 
to a fine not exceeding £1 for each bird, and in 
respect of any other wild bird to a reprimand' and 
payment of costs for a first offence and a fine not 
exceeding 5/- per bird, and costs, for any subse- 
quent offence. 
CURIOSITIES OF THE SCHEDULE. 
In this schedule the only birds, except one 
named as Stonehatch which may mean the Wheat- 
ear (although the Wheatear is not mentioned in 
the schedule), that come into the category of cage 
birds are the Cornish Chough, Cuckoo, Goldfinch, 
Hoopoe, Woodpecker, Nightingale and Oriole, 
but a clause in the Act of 1881 says that the Act 
of 1880 shall be read as if the word Lark, had been 
inserted therein, and that would presumably mean 
any kind of Lark, such as Skylark, Woodlark, or 
Shorelark, and perhaps the Pipits. The others are 
mainly sea birds, and the schedule is swelled out 
in consequence of these being named over and over 
again under different synonyms. The Puffin, for 
instance, appears six times : as Coulterneb, Mar- 
rot, Sea Parrot, Puffin, Scout and Willock. 
Among the curiosities of the schedule it may 
be noted that, while the Nightingale is included, 
no mention is made of the Blackcap, Swallow, 
Martins, Wagtails or Warblers, all purely insecti- 
vorous birds. 
Whether a bird is or is not in the schedule is 
not, however, a matter of great importance, for it 
is only the penalty which varies; it is an offence to 
kill or take, or be in possession of, any w r ild bird 
during the period set forth. It would cost jQ\ to 
be discovered trying to catch a Nightingale, but 
if a Blackcap' were the object of one's efforts the 
result would be only a reprimand and costs. 
DIFFERENT COUNTIES, DIFFERENT 
SCHEDULES. 
Further, the schedule also, varies in different 
counties, for a local authority may be authorised 
by the Secretary of State to except any species 
from, or to add any species to, the schedule so far 
as concerns their own district. This, again, on!}' 
