THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS IN ESSEX. 47
or diminishing in numbers, it would be superfluous to give additional
protection.
" In the Metropolitan District, however, there is no doubt that special protec-
tion is required, and you will find the result of the deliberations of the four
counties in the last County Council Report (see below). I fear that a good many
of the birds mentioned may never come to find out that they are protected in the
neighbourhood of London, although after the sudden conversion of the London
ringdove and the tameness of the London wild-duck, it is best not to
prophesy.
" I do not know if you have noticed that there is no permanent close time
for any wild bird under the present state of the law. A Bill is awaiting its
turn [Mr. Russell is writing before the General Election] providing 'that the
powers of the Secretary of State,' under the 1894 Act, 'may be exercised
throughout the year as regards any or all descriptions of wild birds, and in
respect of any particular month or months, and any particular day or days ;
provided that nothing herein contained shall vary or alter any provision of any
Act relating to game.' This Bill might (if passed) be used to stop the Sunday
plague of bird-catchers.
" It is to be hoped that the objects of the Field Club may soon be so far
attained that people may take more pride in the protection of rare birds than
in their destruction. The caretaker of a ruined castle, who kept pigeons which
he would neither kill nor sell, used to give as his reason, 'when I die their wings
will carry me to heaven!' The quaint thought contains a truth."
The above letter of Mr. Russell's, who from his official position
is so well qualified to express opinions on the subject, contains so
many interesting and valuable observations that no apology is neces-
sary for quoting from it at length.
It remains to record two very important steps that have recently
been taken with respect to the protection of wild birds within the
Metropolitan districts of Essex and in the Epping Forest districts.
At the meeting of the County Council on July 2nd, Mr. Russell's
Committee reported that the Chairman and Alderman Buxton had
attended a Conference held at the Guildhall, Westminster, on the
27th of May last, between representatives of the County Councils of
Essex, Middlesex, Herts, and Surrey, with reference to uniformity of
action being taken as regards these counties or parts of counties
which are within the Metropolitan Police District, and in accordance
with resolutions passed at the Conference the Wild Birds Protection
Committee recommended that the Essex County Council should
apply to the Secretary of State for an Extension of the Close Time for
Wild Birds as regards that fart of the County which is within the
Metropolitan Police District, so as to include the months of February
and August.
The Committee also recommended that the Council should apply