REPORT. 
131 
rambles this year, due notice of which will be given on the last page of 
the magazine. 
The Council is pleased to state that further donations of books have 
been received from members, and from the editor of the magazine, for 
the Central Library which is in process of formation. Mrs. Percy Myles 
has \ery kindly consented to accept the office of Honorary Librarian. 
Gifts of suitable books or donations towards the purchase of books will 
be gladly received. 
The Council has also in consideration the collection of lantern slides 
suitable for the illustration of lectures on natural history subjects for the 
use of the members, and would be glad to hear from any member who 
would be willing either to lend or present such slides to the Society. 
A number of very successful lectures have been given on behalf of the 
Society durfng the year. The Council is greatly indebted to those gen- 
tlemen who have so willingly given their valuable services, and as the 
number of lecturers at present available is insufficient to meet all the 
applications received, the names of any members willing to speak and 
lecture, especially out of London, will be gratefully received. 
Many County Councils have taken advantage of the opportunity 
afforded to them of enforcing the Wild Birds’ Protection Acts, by obtain- 
ing orders to allow the Acts to become operative within their jurisdiction. 
The enforcement of the penalty is left to the local authorities, or to private 
persons, and members are requested to strive to see that the orders 
obtained are duly administered. 
There is considerable scope for activity in the direction of the protect- 
ing of wild birds, and if in any county no steps have been taken under 
the Acts, the authorities should be stirred up at once to a sense of their 
duty. It is most important that wffiere an order has once been obtained 
it should be steadily enforced. The comparative failure of the Wild 
Birds’ Protection Act of 1880 was due to so few persons thinking it their 
business to get the infringements of the Act punished. 
In Suffolk an influential body has been formed for the purpose of 
seeing that the Protection Order, which has recently been granted, is 
enforced. It is hoped that whenever an order is obtained a similar body 
will be organised. 
Through the medium of the Society’s magazine an appeal has been 
made to the clergy and ministers of all denominations, to use their influenc 
against the fashion of bird and feather trimmings. It was hoped that 
the destruction of birds for adornment had almost ceased, but such wall 
appear to be far from the case. The Council urges members to use their 
best endeavours to discourage the detestable practice by ever)' means in 
their power. 
For a complete summary of the principles of law w'hich now govern 
the preservation of foot-paths, roadside wastes, commons and village 
greens, members are referred to Sir Robert Hunter’s Footpaths and Com- 
mons, and Parish and District Councils, published by Messrs. Cassell 
& Co. Sir Robert Hunter is a Vice-president of the Society, and an 
active member. District Councils, urban and rural, have now the power 
to purchase common rights, and once obtained, these rights may be 
