CRUELTY TO BIRDS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—All lovers of nature must have read the correspondence in your columns relative to the Plumage Bill with interest; but if there be cruelty on the frOntiers of India, there is plenty of it here at home. As a legacy from D.O.R.A. and war- time legislation farmers in Scotland lie permitted to burn heather until the end of April instead of up to the 10th or 11th of the month as before 1914. This extra fortnight makes all the difference, as it represents the height of the nesting season.
On Monday, April 26th, my keeper found a grouse nest, wood- cock's nest, moorhen's nest and other nests on the hill. On Thursday, the 29th, we saw three hill fires burning. Think of the wholesale incineration of young birds and young rabbits, Lc., all alive. It is well known that many a faithful mother dies trying to shield her nest and young from the ever-devouring flames. This is downright cruelty, and all calmly tolerated by British people. The Wild Birds Nest Protection Act is pure humbug while this sort of thing is allowed to continue.—I am, Sir, &c., GRAHAM.
Brodick Castle, Brodick, Isle of Arran.
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