Legislation for the Protection of Birds (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Macpherson, Arthur Holte

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1334458774 ISBN 13: 9781334458774

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2019

Synopsis

Excerpt from Legislation for the Protection of Birds

To mention another instance: upon no class of birds has protective legislation taken more notable effect than upon gulls. Various species of gull have multiplied to such an extent in certain districts as to cause serious destruction of other desirable forms of life; for gulls are practically omnivorous. It would be unreasonable to enact that, because gulls are innocuous in Middlesex and Warwickshire, that they are not to be interfered with when they assemble in multitudes, as I have often seen them, on the shallows of Scottish salmon rivers in April and May, picking out thousands of salmon smolts descending to the sea. To enforce their protection when so engaged is to bring discredit upon all bird-protection whatsoever.

When I was conducting the Act of 1904 through the House of Commons, I was strongly urged to make the restrictions uniform throughout the United Kingdom. I declined to do so, for the very reasons so well expressed in Mr. Macpherson's essay; and although I cannot complain of his criticism of the discretion of some County Councils in exercising their powers of local option, on the whole I consider that their action has been beneficial and that, as time goes on and experience accumulates, still better results may be expected. I have known several County Councils anxious for guidance in drafting regulations and most willing to accept advice from experienced Ornithologists, such as are to be found in most counties.

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Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1334458774
• ISBN 13: 9781334458774
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 82