44 
NATURE NOTES. 
This method of procuring protection for wild birds is, of 
course, closely connected with the second way which has been 
adopted by fifteen counties. In Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Devon- 
shire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, the parts of 
Kesteven, Lincolnshire, London, Middlesex, Norfolk, Northamp- 
tonshire, Somersetshire, Staffordshire, West Suffolk and Wilt- 
shire a considerable number of birds — too numerous to enumerate 
here — have been added to the Schedule of the Act of 1880. 
Since, as has been already indicated, it may be expected that 
these two methods will prove the most easy to administer 
efficiently, it is worth while to direct rather particular atten- 
tion to their effect. During the close time — whether as fixed 
by the Act of 1880 or as extended by the Home Secretary 
— the taking or killing of any wild bird is punishable by a 
fine of five shillings, save and except that owners or occupiers of 
any land may take or kill on such land any birds not included in 
the Schedule to the Act of 1880, or added thereto under the Act 
of 1894, with impunity. Birds so included or added are pro- 
tected by a penalty of one pound from everybody, even includ- 
ing owners and occupiers. There ought to be little difficulty in 
enforcing these provisions, and every help should be given to 
the authorities by private persons interested — and who is not ? — 
in the preservation of our birds. 
Then comes the type of Order in the administration of which 
the greatest scope for activity is afforded, but at the same time 
the greatest difficulty presented. Twenty counties have promul- 
gated lists of birds, the taking or destroying of whose eggs is to 
expose the culprit to a fine of one pound for each egg. Bedford- 
shire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Devonshire, Essex, Glamorganshire, 
Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, the parts of 
Kesteven, London, Middlesex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, 
Oxfordshire, Southamptonshire, Staffordshire, Warwick, West 
Suffolk and Westmoreland have charged themselves with duties 
of this kind. The birds of which the extinction or serious 
diminution is sought to be prevented in this manner vary, 
of course, with the parts of the country. And we have no 
space to give anything like a complete list of them. A few, 
however, which have found favour in the majority of the 
counties may be mentioned. The buzzards and various kinds 
of hawks, goldfinches, kingfishers, nightjars, nightingales, nut- 
hatches, owls (of nearly all kinds), woodpeckers (the three main 
varieties), sundry warblers and wrynecks will pretty generally 
hencefortli be relieved of anxiety as to the safety of their eggs. 
For more detailed information we must refer the reader to the 
actual Orders; and we would earnestly urge all Selbornians to 
make themselves well acquainted with the lists in force in the 
counties in which they may happen to live. Before leaving 
this branch of the subject it is worth while observing that 
somewhat special treatment has been meted out to the six 
counties of London, Middlesex, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire and 
