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NATURE NOTES 
170 
Bird Protection Orders. — We have received from the 
Home Office an Order, dated November 17, 1906, referring to 
Northumberland, repealing that of January i, 1902, extending 
the close time, prohibiting the taking of any eggs on Holy 
Island for five years, or the eggs of the chief sea-birds on the 
Fame Islands, or those of owls, hawks, kingfisher, gold-crest, 
snipe, woodcock, or golden plover in any part of the county. 
We have also received an Order, dated August 9, referring 
to Northamptonshire, repealing that of January 15, 1896, extend- 
ing the close time for the heron from the last day of February 
to September 2, adding owls, hawks, heron, kingfisher, nuthatch 
and wryneck to the Schedule, protecting all owls and the king- 
fisher throughout the year, and prohibiting the taking of their 
eggs or those of the goldfinch, woodpeckers, or sandpiper. 
Bird Protection in Hungary. — “The cause of bird protec- 
tion is being energetically advocated in Hungary. An instance 
of this is to be noted in an official publication issued by the 
Department of Agriculture in Budapest, giving in a concise form 
the history of the International Convention for the Protection 
of Birds, and also a description of the present state of interna- 
tional protection of birds useful to agriculture. It is noteworthy 
that the volume in question is written in English, in order, it is 
stated, to make the facts accessible to the knowledge of as many 
persons as possible, and also ‘ to serve the cause of progress.’ 
The Hungarian Minister for Agriculture gives an interesting 
account of what has been done as regards international measures 
for the protection of birds useful to agriculture, and points out 
that much still remains to do before a perfectly satisfactory 
state of things can be attained on an international basis. Some 
countries still hold aloof from the Convention, among these 
being Italy, which is the one country where bird protection may 
be expected to bring about the most satisfactory results.” — 
Scotsman. 
Conviction for Taking Skuas’ Eggs. — .\t Lerwick Sheriff's 
Court, on July 15, Major Sterling, of Dingwall, and A. L. Jessop, 
of Leasingham, near Sleaford, were charged with having on 
June 3, being a date within the time specified in the order after 
mentioned at a part of the island of Hascosay, at the East 
Banks, being a place within the area specified in the order, 
taken two eggs of the great skua, a species of wild bird specified 
in the said order, and at a part of the said island did take four 
eggs of Richardson’s skua, a species of wild bird named in the 
said order, contrary to the Wild Birds Protection County of 
Zetland Order, 1905. Accused failed to appear and proof was 
led in absence. Sheriff Brown imposed a fine of for each 
egg taken, and also declared each egg forfeited, three to be sent 
to the Edinburgh Museum, and three to be sent to Christ’s 
Hospital, London . — The Field. 
