222 
NATURE NOTES 
fine points de vue. It is all done very unobtrusively, the paths are generally the 
natural colour of the soil, while the way is pointed out by slight blazoning of trees 
and stones : these silent waymarks are most useful where few people are met 
with, and to those ignorant of the language. The walks vary in length and 
difficulty, so that those who are infirm can enjoy beautiful spots, secure of smooth 
paths and frequent seats, while mountain ascents are directed by the Alpine Club. 
A little book with a map and all particulars can be obtained at places like 
Madonna di Campiglio and S. Martino in Castrozza. In many beautiful parts of 
England there are few finger-posts and a sparse population, and where paths are 
made they are often obtrusive and serve the purpose of advertisement. The 
various Footpath Societies have done much, especially in the neighbourhood of 
London : it might be possible that members of the Selborne and other kindred 
Societies might unite for the purpjse of developing certain rural parts of 
England in this attractive fashion, and at the same time strengthen the hands of 
those who are fighting the battle of rights of way through country paths.” 
The Wild Birds’ Protection Act. — We have received 
the following from Mr. Hiam as to Sunday bird-catching: — 
“ I understand this is prohibited in some parts of Warwickshire and not in 
others. It would be interesting to have an explanation. A few Sundays ago 
I happened to see a man with his nets and cages, and about a dozen goldfinches 
and linnets just caught, which he had caught on the border of Worcestershire. 
It appears curious how mixed the law is on this point, and that one man may 
come on a Sunday morning and clear off all the goldfinches from a neighbour- 
hood which have been a pleasure to watch and listen to. Some time ago the 
Worcestershire County Council appealed to me on the subject of the pro- 
tection of wild birds, and I recommended Sunday closing, and an extension 
of the close time, as the goldfinches breed in September. I have heard nothing 
further on the subject, so conclude nothing was done in the matter.” 
At the same time a well-known and active ornithologist, Mr. 
Oliver G. Pike, in a recent work writes : — 
“ The Wild Birds’ Protection Act is a dead letter as far as all the more rare 
birds are concerned. . . . Merely putting up printed notices in fields, at 
railway stations, and in other places is altogether very ineffective. . . . One 
cannot severely blame those who take the eggs, for these are in many cases 
mere poor rustics to whom the large rewards offered by collectors is a windfall. 
. Certain professional naturalists and their agents are the chief offenders. 
I heard of one dealer who wrote to a man living near one of the haunts of that 
now most rare British-breeding species, the Kentish plover, offering a substantial 
sum for every clutch of these eggs that the fisherman might be able to send. 
When it is realised that only about twenty-five pairs of these plovers breed in the 
whole of England during each year, and that this man would have been able to 
discover nearly every nest, he acted right nobly when he refused to respond in 
any sense to the proposal. ... In the event of Parliament declining to 
interfere, I would like to see our British ornithologists, and all other bird lovers, 
combine to form a Society for the protection of these rarer birds to which I refer. 
For an inconsiderable sum of money, reliable watchers could be sent to the 
nesting grounds of at least twenty of the rarest species. If publicity was given 
to such a proposal, I am sure subscriptions would be forthcoming.” 
