lx Journal of Proceedings.
" (II.)—That this Court do apply to the Secretary of State for the
Home Department to vary the close time under the Wild Birds
Protection Act, 1880, for this county in manner following, that is to
say: That the close time as regards all Wild Birds extend annually
between the 15th day of March and the 1st day of August."
In the discussion which followed, Mr. J. E. Harting, F.L.S.,
remarked that although in the recently passed "Wild Birds Protec-
tion Act, 1880," which repealed the three Acts of 1869, 1872, and 1876
an endeavour had been made to fix such a close time as would be most
generally acceptable throughout the United Kingdom, it was quite
possible that in some parts of the country a different close time would
be more suitable. It was well known to naturalists that some species
of birds begin to nest earlier in some counties than they do in others;
and it was also well ascertained that certain species, like the Wood-
cock, whose protection during the breeding season was very desirable,
were very early breeders. He had observed in certain districts that
where owners of game preserves had given orders not to have the
coverts disturbed after the 1st of February, Woodcocks had remained
to breed. It was to meet cases of this kind that the close time fixed by
the Act now in force had been made to commence early, usually from
the 1st March to the 1st August. But he was quite prepared to hear
that this was too early a commencement for some counties, and they had
just learnt from Lieut.-Col. Russell's letter that in his opinion this
was the case in the county of Essex. If so, the Act provided a remedy
by enabling the Home Secretary, upon application of the Justices at
communicate with the Home Secretary in regard to the close time for wildfowl,
with power to make any slight changes necessary to meet the views of the Home
Secretary :—Messrs. C. P. Wood, E. N.Buxton, J. O. Parker, R. Woodhouse, T. C.
Baring, M.P., J. Round, M.P., and Lieut.-Col. Russell; and it was further agreed, on
the motion of Lieut.-Col. Russell, seconded by Major Tufnell-Tyrell, that, if thought
advisable, the Committee be empowered to ask for a close time for all wild birds in
the county from the 15th March to the 1st August. In a further letter, dated
December 10th, Col. Russell remarks :—" I do not know whether I made it clear that
we could probably get a change for all birch to 15th March and 1st August, and this
would suit fairly well both birds and shooters ; but it seems to me better to let all the
birds have protection from 1st of March, except the few which perhaps once in
several years give a chance in passing in March, such birds being worth shooting,
and, as I am satisfied, will not have their numbers sensibly diminished by what
are killed here, vastly greater numbers passing than can find accommodation or
inducement to remain." Referring to the Wild Birds Act he adds : "I should have
been glad to see eggs protected, but there are several objections, some of which were
several years back well pointed out by Professor Newton—so I did not see my way
to advise this. I suggested some limit of time being put to the sale of foreign fowl.
This was not done, and if the killing or taking of migrants, as Widgeons, is stopped
many weeks earlier than in Holland (1st April in one part, 15th April in another)
so that our shops are full of Dutch birds, there will be great dissatisfaction and
temptation to break the law, and many opportunities of doing so profitably, by pass-
ing off our few birds as Dutch. This is one great reason for extending the time of
killing such birds."—Ed.