§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ LORD HENNIKER,in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, it was a Bill to prevent the present rapid decrease of wild fowl in this country. There were two causes of decrease, one indirect—namely, the increase of drainage and the reclamation of waste lands. This, of course, could not be dealt with; but the other, the direct cause, could be dealt with—namely, the shooting and destroying these birds during the breeding season. These birds had been included in the Small Birds Protection Act of 1872; but that Act had been spoilt, as far as these birds were concerned, in Committee in the House of Commons, for the penalties had been made so low to meet the case of the small birds, that the value of these birds themselves was greater than the penalty imposed. This Bill had been approved by the House of Commons this Session by a majority of 339 to 15, and it was drawn on the lines of the Sea Bird Preservation Act, 1869, which had worked very well, and led to a very satisfactory result. He might add, that the Committee of the British Association, on the close time for these and other birds, had gone very carefully into the list of birds included in the Bill.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.