9 
you must extend the same favour to the Redshank and the Lapwing, 
-and then you interfere with the Plover’s egg trade. The idea of 
the Committee of the British Association is to give local authorities 
power to protect certain areas, in which you must prohibit the 
taking of all eggs within certain dates. (Cheers). 
I am most anxious to see that experiment tried. We have 
successfully carried it out on a small scale in various parts of the 
country, as in the Fame Islands and two places in Norfolk. 
I have said that such a Bill as Sir Herbert Maxwell’s would be 
mischievous, and I have, I think, proved that to a large extent it 
would be inoperative, while it would only take effect by the prose¬ 
cution of those who are too poor or uneducated to defend themselves. 
The grown up collector would be practically exempt from its pains 
and penalties ; but the school-boy would come under its lash most 
unquestionably. It would be quite easy to convict him, but then 
look at the consequence. A fine would be imposed which the boy 
could not pay, and he would have to go to gaol. And what would 
be the public outcry on hearing the announcement that a boy had 
heen sent to prison for taking a bird’s nest ? These considerations 
last year influenced the Committe to which I belong ; and I do 
trust that if a Bill be introduced into the House of Commons in the 
next session, it will be framed on the lines I have ventured to 
suggest, that is, the protection of areas, and not of species by name. 
I yield to no one here or elsewhere in my ardent desire to afford real 
protection to birds, and it is that wish alone which has prompted me 
to express, so unreservedly, my views on a measure which, designed 
with the best possible motives, would, I feel persuaded, fail to effect 
the object we all have at heart. (Loud cheers). 
The Resolution was carried unanimously. 
Sir Edward Grey, Bart.:—I have much pleasure in moving 
the Resolution which has been placed in my hands, although when 
I came here this afternoon, I did not expect to take part in any of 
the proceedings. The Resolution is “ That the following be elected 
as the Committe for the ensuing year (for names see Report, p. i). 
These ladies and gentlemen are, as I understand, the Committee 
who have done the committee work up to the present time. The 
question for you to consider is whether they have shown capacity 
and good judgement, as well as enthusiasm, in the work which they 
have done. 
The success of a Society like this depends greatly on the 
working of its Committee. (Cheers). Anyone who has witnessed 
the interest shown to-day in these proceedings, must be convinced 
that your cause has a considerable amount of vitality in it—in fact, 
that it has abundant life and vigour. And anyone who reads this 
interesting book (the Report), put into our hands, must feel that the 
Committee are to be congratulated on the good work they have 
already accomplished, and also on the influential support they have 
heen able to enlist into their ranks, which justly gives them ground 
for indulging good hopes of the future progress that may be realised, 
(Cheers). 
