10 
As the subject of legislation has been largely touched on, I 
should like to make one or two remarks thereon. My name was on 
the back of the Bill introduced a few years ago by Mr. A. Pease* 
The circumstances which led up to the introduction of that measure 
were somewhat striking. An advertisement appeared in a public- 
newspaper, that a certain syndicate had been formed, with the 
object of securing the services of trained “ oologists,” for the purpose 
of making a raid on the most valuable eggs that could be found, the 
profits derived from the sale of these to be divided among the 
shareholders. It was felt that if that sort of thing could happen/ 
some kind of Bill ought to be passed, which would check such cruel 
devastation, and the result was that Mr. Pease introduced his Bill. 
On a change of Government taking place, Sir Herbert Maxwell 
consented to take the question up, and passed a Bill through the 
House of Commons last year. Unfortunately, there is some contro¬ 
versy as to the shape which the Bill ought to assume, I know too 
little about birds to offer myself as a mediator between Professor 
Newton and Sir Herbert Maxwell. (Laughter). Anyone must at 
once see that what Professor Newton has said to-day, carries a great 
deal of force with it, but on the other hand, I think Sir Herbert 
Maxwell must be fully alive to the arguments against his proposal, 
and he has expressed his views in answer to them elsewhere. But 
leaving aside for the moment the particular shape the Bill ought to 
take, anyone who knows how difficult it is to interest members of 
the House of Commons on any subject which is non-political, ought 
to feel very grateful to Sir Herbert Maxwell for the energy and good¬ 
will which he has shown in this matter. (Cheer). Let us now hope 
that Sir Herbert Maxwell, Professor Newton, the House of Commons 
and the House of Lords will come to an agreement which will 
satisfy bird lovers as well as scientists, and that this understanding will 
result in the enactment of a Bill, which shall be useful and at the 
same time thoroughly workable. (Loud cheers). 
With your permission I will now say one word on the general 
bond that holds us together, and which makes me take an interest 
in the Society, and wish to do what I can in furtherance of its aims. 
Surely the love and appreciation of living birds, and the observation 
of their habits, and faculties, surely that is a thing that takes a person 
out of the common, and is something fresher and brighter than the 
second-hand and artificial interests and conventional amusements, in 
which so many people in these days try to live. The real love of 
birds, which takes delight in the study of them, where it does exist, 
is a gift which I regard as on the same level with a love of books and 
music and other things that are exquisite and rare. Though my 
own knowledge of birds is very slight, the pleasure of seeing and 
listening to them is one which I would on no account forego, for I 
believe it to be purer and more lasting than any pleasures of excite¬ 
ment, and, in the long run, happier than personal success. The 
object of our Society is to preserve these living creatures, most of 
which are harmless, many of which are useful, and all, in some kind 
or degree, beautiful, in order that our opportunities of enjoying this 
