8 
as a religious duty, and generally from tlieir repugnance to the 
taking away of life. Any measure, therefore, instituted with the 
object of preventing the killing of birds, would naturally be 
welcomed by the peasant farmers of India. After this rebuff, the 
question was not revived until 1884, when another local Govern¬ 
ment asked permission to impose, under the Cantonment Act, a 
tax of Rs. 5 on every bird and hare brought during the close 
season into Kasauli, a Punjab station. To this the reply was, 
that the proposed tax could not be legally imposed under the Act 
specified, but, at the same time, an opening was given for further 
discussion, which had the usual ending. The matter was “ not 
considered of much importance or urgency,” and it was further 
remarked that “ His Excellency in Council does not consider that 
any strong case has been made out for legislation.” 
Meanwhile Indian birds found sympathetic friends in England, 
as in July, 1884, the East India Association of London, after full 
discussion of the subject, passed a resolution that it was “ very 
“ desirable that the local authorities throughout India should be 
“ empowered to at once frame and put in force such regulations 
“ as may seem to them advisable for protecting the wild birds of 
“ India.” 
This respectful but firm appeal put fresh vitality into the 
subject, and so it was once more sent out for consideration, but 
in a very cautious and restricted fashion, so as to avoid any 
possible misconception “ as to the intention and wishes of the 
Government of India.” Circulated with such a warning, the 
action on this order was in some cases rather dilatory and luke¬ 
warm, but the discussion proved so far successful that it led the 
Government of India in 1887 to circulate for the criticism of local 
authorities a “ Bill for the protection of game ” throughout the 
whole of India. This Act when finally passed had its scope 
somewhat extended, being then entitled “ The Wild Birds Protec- 
“ tion Act ” of 1887. It gives to local government and cantonment 
