INTRODUCTION. 
xxxvu. 
White says in his Letter XL. to Pennant (dated 
September 2nd, 1774), that Selborne has produced more 
than a hundred and twenty species. The above list gives 
us a hundred and eighteen, from which we must deduct 
the Lesser Whitethroat, the Dipper and the Curlew, 
discovered at a later date. But we may add the Ring-tail, 
which he considered as distinct from the Hen Harrier, and 
we thus reach a number only four short of a hundred and 
twenty. We may suppose that the two spotted Wood- 
peckers and the two Eared Owls made up his total. 
PROTECTION. 
Efforts have been made in the county, chiefly through 
the medium of the County Council, to protect the birds 
found within its area ; in consequence of this and other 
contributing causes many species have increased consider- 
ably. We are disposed, on the whole, to agree with Mr. 
Meade-Waldo when he says that all small birds are 
increasing, except the Dartford Warbler. 
W^e regret, however, to notice that the Common Heron 
is not protected, though its eggs are. It is one of our 
finest and largest wild birds, and the little harm it does 
to our fisheries might surely be condoned. 
We add a copy of the Wild Birds Protection Act as 
applied to the county. 
In the Isle of Wight a different Schedule is in force, 
and a copy is added ; the Peregrine and Raven are specially 
protected there. 
