EDENMOUTH AND THE LOWER TAY. 



xliii 



with birds," etc., though, of course, these conditions depend greatly 

 on the nature of the winter. 



But not only is there vast bulk of Wild-fowl on the water, 

 but also great store of Waders on the shores. At the same time Mr, 

 Evans witnessed the above assemblage of Ducks, the mussel-scalps 

 of Edenmouth below Guardbridge and lying off the end of the golf- 

 course were packed with Oyster-catchers, and were reckoned by Mr. 

 Evans to number over 1000. There were also Curlews in numbers, 

 Bar-tailed Godwits (about two dozen), Grey Plover (about 20 or 30), 

 Eedshanks (100), and several hundreds of Dunlins. 



Many of the Water-fowl were seen also below Balmanno ; and 

 on the occasion above instanced for midwinter, fifty-four species of 

 birds were identified. 



improbable, and from their names in some cases calculated to confuse the judges 

 and thereby induce unnecessary expenses for expert evidence. 



Then came the inevitable change of Government, i.e. from Radical to Conserva- 

 tive ; and by changes instituted in the Scottish Office, all this well-considered work- 

 as I feel entitled to claim it was — was pigeon-holed or cast aside, and a new boundary 

 for the whole of Great Scotland and the lists of its protected birds was formed 

 which cut the country into two by a line between the Firths of Forth and Clyde. 

 Very fortunately, one most important exception was secured, however, and that was 

 the Tents Muir ; and as already said, ornithologists have to thank the county of Fife 

 and its principal adviser, Mr. W. Berry, for perhaps the most successful and 

 useful delimitation (resembling in no small degree a somewhat similar defined area, 

 viz. that of Spurn Point in Yorkshire), and which was sent to Lord Balfour of 

 Burleigh, the successor in the office of Scottish Secretary. 



I cannot refrain from expressing my fixed opinion that the preservation of our 

 rarest birds and others most requiring such preservation would be better served by 

 such delimitations carefully thought out, than by attempting to preserve wholesale 

 all areas and all species indiscriminately. If there was more delimitation of areas 

 to be scheduled for protection, there would be less excuse for expenses, and also for 

 ignorance of local magistrates and even of higher officials, which cause such wholly 

 uncalled-for burdens upon the counties concerned. I wish we had more of these 

 ** sanctuaries," and less absurd generalisations and useless repetitions of long lists of 

 species which are in no need at all of present preservation ; and some of which 

 indeed would be far better omitted altogether as worse vermin than much of what 

 adorns the gamekeepers' larders. There are some species which have become the 

 veriest vermin since they have been injudiciously protected, amongst which I have 

 not the slightest hesitation in naming the Lesser Black backed Gull and the 

 Starling. 



I am glad to add to the above the following appreciation of the present system, 

 by Professor A. Newton, than whom no living ornithologist has a better right to 

 express an opinion : " There is no greater absurdity than leaving it to County 

 Councils to draw up lists of birds to be protected. That is why I do not interfere 

 in any of their cases" {in lit., Aug. 14, 1906). 



