PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 
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and pleasure in recording these acts, so worthy of imitation, but 
alas ! of such rare occurrence. 
Our efforts have also been directed to the abolition of the cruel 
practice of trapping the supposed enemies of the game preserver, 
but so deep is the prejudice against so called “winged vermin,” that 
T fear hitherto we have met with little success, except that perhaps 
the Barn Owl is regarded with somewhat less disfavour; but so long 
as the hateful pole-trap or the steel-fall is in use in one single instance, 
common humanity demands that we should denounce the practice. 
In another direction, although we have not been in a position to 
offer pecuniary assistance as a body, the excellent work done by the 
Breydon Bird Protection Society, and by Colonel Feilden at Wells, 
where some of us have seen the late all but extinct colony of shore- 
breeding birds restored to somewhat of its former numbers, has 
been mainly the work of our members, and possibly not a little 
owing to our influence. We also did our best to induce those in 
authority to render really effective the Bill which was introduced 
into Parliament last Session, with a view to protect the eggs of 
certain species of birds, and which was unfortunately rejected by 
the House of Commons in consequence of the amendments of the 
Lords, who reconstructed the Bill, on the only lines on which it is 
thought by us, and by many of those who have studied the subject 
deeply, that it can be effectually worked. I venture to think that 
it would be very much to the advantage of the promoters of a 
measure so excellent in its intention as the Bill referred to, to 
consult with Societies such as our own, as to the principles on 
which a really workable Act of Parliament (the want of which is 
so painfully evident in many parts of the country) should be based, 
and 1 cannot but regret the uncompromising spirit in which the 
Bill was withdrawn. 
Thus after twenty-five years our Society is full of activity, and 
to borrow the words of the President of the British Association 
(Dr. Burdon-Sanderson), “looking back with satisfaction to what 
it has accomplished in its youth, and forward to an even more 
efficient future.” 
Coming to the year just brought to a close, the event which calls 
