Wildlife Act, 1976
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Sale, purchase and possession of certain perching birds prohibited. |
31.—(1) It shall be an offence for any person to sell, purchase or have in his possession a live perching bird to which this section applies other than a close-ringed specimen bred in captivity. | |
(2) This section applies to any live perching bird (order Passeriformes) of a species which occurs in a wild state in the State, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and which is not a species specified in the Third Schedule to this Act. | ||
(3) In any proceedings for an offence under this section it shall be a defence for the defendant to prove that— | ||
(a) he lawfully acquired the relevant perching bird before the commencement of this section, or | ||
(b) he lawfully acquired such bird from a person who so acquired it before such commencement. | ||
(4) In this section “close-ringed specimen” means a specimen of live perching bird (order Passeriformes) fitted with a continuous metal band or ring which has been slipped over its foot and on to its leg while a fledgling. |