2 
Mr. Lemon having read the salient points of the Report, copies- 
of which had been previously distributed to the audience ; 
Canon Rawnsley moved the first resolution and said that the 
gravamen attached to the last clause in the excellent Report came 
very heavily home to him, as he felt from his heart that the clergy 
as a body were not at all aware of the amount of power the pulpit 
had in protecting the lower creation against cruelty and wrong. 
Everybody must rejoice to feel that the Society was increasing in 
numbers, and he hoped its supporters would continue to increase, for 
all who have hearts cannot fail to take an interest in those creatures 
which form the jewellery of our English woodland and the songsters 
of our English nature. Many men as well as women needed to be 
educated in this matter of bird life; the Society had the power to do 
this important work and it should aim at spreading an accurate 
knowledge concerning bird life. It should not forget our “little 
men ; ” in the elementary schools, the young should be taught the 
worth of the birds to their native country. He suggested that the 
Society should have some excellent slides prepared so that by means 
of magic lantern exhibitions the subject might be brought vividly 
before the minds of children, whose heart and intelligence would be 
stimulated by such exact representations of nature. With reference 
to the carrying out of the Act of 1894, the meeting would be glad to- 
learn that the County Council Association had formed a committee 
to deal with the question. This Committee had appointed Mr. 
Howard Saunders and Lt.-Col. Irby to discharge the task of preparing 
for distribution amongst County Councillors full particulars con¬ 
cerning the wild birds of England and Wales, their habits, food and 
usefulness. They will also consider the desirability of making 
certain recommendations regarding sea-birds protection and the 
prohibition of “ egging” after June 15th, which is a very important 
matter; also the extension of the close time of 1880 to either August 
12th, or September 1st. Those who know the tremendous harm- 
done by a too short close time will recognize this as a step in the 
right direction. The landlords must be won over in the matter of 
protection of nesting areas, the areas in which the birds breed ; what 
is wanted is to arouse the intelligent sense of England. Schools, 
Urban Councils, Parish Councils, and other rural authorities needed 
to be made to understand that wild birds are the friends of man and 
need and deserve his protection. Canon Rawnsley concluded by 
moving that the Report as presented by the Committee be adopted 
and circulated.” 
Sir William Flower seconded the resolution and said he 
supposed he had been asked to speak because for many years he had 
been the custodian of dead birds, which had not received protection 
during their lives! All would agree that the infinitesimial number 
of birds that are sacrificed for instruction in the Natural History 
Museum meet with a fate that can hardly be regretted. Once when 
passing through the Museum he heard a lady say “Oh! what a pity 
