ASSOCIATION 
POE, THE 
PROTECTION OF SEA BIRDS 
ON THE 
English Coast. 
The Sea Birds on the English Coast are rapidly disap¬ 
pearing. This fact was substantiated at the last Annual 
Meeting of the British Association. Not only was public 
interest excited by the statements then made, public sympathy 
was also largely evoked. Mr. Buckland, Dr. Tristram, and 
other eminent Naturalists, were requested to investigate the 
matter. Some able letters were addressed by the Rev. E. O. 
Morris and others to the daily papers. Commander H. H. 
Knocker, R.N., drew up a paper proving that on about 18 
miles of the Yorkshire Coast, viz. between Scarborough and 
Bridlington, upwards of 100,000 Sea Birds are annually de¬ 
stroyed, not for purposes of trade, but by pleasure seekers 
only. Connected with, and partly resulting from these 
movements, an Association has been formed, having for 
its object the procuring an Act of Parliament to pre¬ 
vent this destruction, at least during the breeding season. It 
would be well if some restriction could be imposed at other 
times, as for instance when, in the way of mere brutal pastime, 
a “ sea pie ” is made—on a ealin day—by constructing a sort 
of platform of dead birds fastened together, on which other 
birds are piled up as high as the pyramid (or supply of birds) 
will allow! The Members of the Association do not wish to 
interfere with any legitimate trade which may be carried on in 
the supply of feathers and plumes ; they only propose to give 
the Sea Birds a time of rest and quietness during the season 
of incubation, and while rearing their young. At present, the 
claims of mercy are so utterly disregarded that parent birds are 
frequently shot on their nests, when the young are necsesarily 
left to starve upon the rocks. Nor is this the only cruelty to 
which they are often subjected. As the wings of Sea Birds 
have become an article of commerce, (contracts being taken 
for the supply of thousands at a time) birds have been found 
floating helplessly on the water, still alive, but with both wings 
violently torn off! Of course no one would suppose that this 
is the usual mode of taking them, but it would be well if such 
atrocious cruelty could be met by some corresponding penalty. 
