( 434 
["July, 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
*,* The Editor does not hold himself responsible for statements of fads or 
opinions expressed in Correspondence, or in Articles bearing the signature 
of their respective authors. 
PROCESSION OF CATERPILLARS. 
The other day, whilst walking over the plain here, I came upon 
a string of long hairy caterpillars, of a whitish, or rather pepper 
and salt, colour. They were following each other so closely that 
a little way off it looked like a big snake. No matter what was 
in the road, they kept strictly together. The procession was at 
the very least 12 feet long. 
O. H. L. Slater. 
Port Augusta, South Australia. 
THE WILD BIRDS PRESERVATION ACT. 
To the Editor. 
Sir, — A llow me to ask the question why it is that the above A eft 
appears to be in some districts comparatively a dead letter ? I 
happen to live in such a neighbourhood where this law is allowed 
to be broken with impunity, although we have a policeman to 
enforce it. What I refer chiefly to here is “ birdnesting,” which 
is not only destructive to the brood of our “ meadow songsters,” 
but is also most annoying to the farmer, who has the mortifica- 
tion of having his fences trampled down by perhaps a dozen 
boys. Should a farmer be seen crossing the road with his gun, 
the police will in this instance be down upon him. Now what I 
say is this : if we observe one part of a law and discard the rest, 
as in this case (for a farmer is not allowed to shoot birds), let us 
do away with such an A 6 i altogether.— I remain yours, &c., 
Sub-Rosa. 
May 25th, 1885. 
[We copy this letter from the “Warrington Guardian ” in 
proof that we are not singular in pronouncing the “ Wild Birds’ 
Preservation A (ft ” a dead letter. — E d. J. S.] 
