4 
some notice should be given before prosecuting any one for killing a 
bird, and therefore a six weeks delay had to be submitted to at the 
end of which time all the Pallas sand grouse had been shot and there 
were none left to protect! However the Act was still in operation 
should any more of those beautiful birds visit this country. There 
were one or two alterations in the list of Members of Committee ; Mrs. 
Edward Phillips, who hitherto had so efficiently presided over it as 
Chairman, and might he believed be called the mother of the Society, 
had resigned that responsible post of which Mr. Hudson had kindly 
consented to relieve her. Every one who knew Mr. Hudson’s work 
in regard to birds and the pleasure and instruction his books afforded 
must congratulate the Society on having acquired him as Chairman 
for the ensuing year. Two welcome additions to the Committee were 
Mr. O V. Aplin, author of the “ Birds of Oxfordshire,” and Mrs. Owen 
Visger, who as J. A. Owen edits the books of the Son of the Marshes. 
It was the desire of the Society in all things to go slowly and 
temperately and not to ride rough shod over any one’s desires and 
interests, feeling that it was more important to educate people up to 
the Society’s standard than drive them into an adverse camp. 
With reference to the bird catching carried on by a low class 
set of people in country and suburban districts, he gave it as his 
opinion that a bill should be introduced into Parliament dealing 
with this important question, for it was monstrous that public roads 
and walks should be utilized by trappers with all the cruelties 
attendant on their practices, such as the torture of the decoy birds, 
and the captivity of the victims in suffocating little cages. If the 
Society could promote any Bill on this matter he promised it his 
earnest support and felt sure the measure would be welcomed by a 
large majority of the House of Commons. A Society such as 
this must necessarily have a considerable effect on public opinion. 
He ventured to suggest to the Committee the desirability of 
promoting the acclimatisation of strange birds in England, and the 
encouraging of any attempt to re-introduce those that have become 
extinct . He congratulated the Soceity upon its success during the 
past year, and hoped that its principles would be multiplied and 
extended throughout the country. 
Mr. Montague Sharp in seconding the motion said that it 
would be an excellent thing to have a list of British birds drawn up, 
showing their habits, what they eat and other particulars in as 
concise a form as possible, and that copies should be distributed as a 
guide and authority to the County Councils, for when these Councils 
understood a little more about birds they would not be hostile to 
this matter, but insist on the fullest schedule and protected areas. 
Dr. Bowdler Sharpe had informed him that in his opinion birds 
should be protected throughout the year, and he considered more 
harm was done by firing shot into a fruit tree, than anything the 
birds could do. 
