ON THE EXISTING CLOSE TIME OF BIRDS AND ANIMALS. 219 



It is to be hoped that either the first or the last of these exceptions can 

 be so stretched as to cover our old friend " Corvus splendens." If not, he is 

 protected, with the rest from March 1st till October 1st. The Sambar may 

 not be shot between the 3lst of May and the Ist of November ; the " Bhekar " 

 between New Year's day and March 1st ; and other specie.s of deer from the 

 end of April to the beginning of December. The hare, in those lofty climes, 

 is said to breed from September 30th till March 1st. Probably she does, and 

 at all other periods of the year besides. 



Belgaum Cantonment has a list of its own, which presents no striking 

 features, except a certain vagueness of dates. Sind has many different lists ; 

 protecting, in different places, most of the birds in the Ahmedabad list, with 

 the local additions of Pigeons and Doves, Plovers and Paddy-birds. Like 

 Belgaixm it usually omits the hare. It shows no conspicuous variations in 

 dates. 



This practically exhausts the lists. It will be seen that the " sportsman " 

 who desires to kill feathered game out of season can do so with impunity, 

 provided that he keeps clear of Forest areas and does not bring his victims, 

 when secured, within Municipal or Cantonment limits. If he picks his Munici- 

 paUty, even the restriction last mentioned is removed. Finally, with the 

 exception of the hare in Mahableshwar and females in Forest limits, lie may 

 shoot anything that he can find, wherever he may be, between the 15th 

 October and the 15th March of every season. 



