THE reflections in a letter to NATURE (August 15) on shortcomings in the administration of the Wild Birds' Protection Acts, in so far as they relate to the eggs of the lapwing, which, it is stated, appear on the prohibited lists of only eight Scottish authorities, are now happily at variance with the facts. Far from such being the state of the case, at the present time and for more than ten years past no fewer than twenty-eight—out of thirty-four—Scottish county councils have protected the eggs of this bird, after certain dates which permit of only the first layings being taken for food purposes.