INTRODUCTION xli 



the close season begin as near the first of January as possible. Big- 

 guns are very properly made illegal, and an unsuccessful attempt 

 was recently made in California to prevent the use of magazine or 

 ' pump guns,' on the ground that they were too destructive. The 

 same might be said of the air gun or parlor rifle, which in the 

 hands of the reckless small boy is not only an effective but a dan- 

 gerous weapon of destruction. Night hunting in all its forms, bait- 

 ing, pursuing game with launches or even sailboats, are condemned 

 by true sportsmen, and should all be prohibited. Trapjiing and 

 netting should likewise be made illegal, but with some provision for 

 taking a reasonable number of birds for propagation under the super- 

 vision of competent state officers. Restrictions on the trade are 

 becoming more general and more necessary every year. Prohibition 

 of shipment out of the state is effective if it can be enforced, and it 

 can be made easier to enforce if transportation of all game for market 

 purposes is prohibited, as is done in Iowa and Texas, but with some 

 provision for carrying a limited amount of game for private pur- 

 poses. Sale is the keynote to the situation, and if it can be pro- 

 hibited the question of protection will be greatly simplified. It is 

 now prohibited in a number of states, and probably the day is not 

 far distant when most if not all game birds will be withdrawn from 

 sale. 



Non-game Birds. — Even more important than laws for the pro- 

 tection of game birds (because applying to a much larger number 

 of species) are the statutes for the preservation of birds which are 

 not game, and which apply to ' song,' 'insectivorous,' and ' plume' 

 birds. In order to accomplish their purpose they must be compre- 

 hensive, and as already stated the}' should cover all birds except 

 game birds and a few injurious species mentioned by name. If 

 made applicable to certain species, or even to song, insectivorous, or 

 plume birds, some species are sure to be omitted, and often these 

 will be the very ones most in need of protection. Not only killing, 

 but also nest robbing, trapping, possession, shipment, and sale 

 should be prohibited. The traffic in cage birds, unless clieckcd by 

 strict regulations, may sometimes decimate certain species, particu- 

 larly those distinguished for their vocal powers or bright colors. A 

 provision prohibiting possession of plumage or ' any part of a bird ' 

 is necessary to prevent sale of birds for millinery purposes, and 

 overcome the objection which is sonu'times raised that proliibitions 

 against th(! killing and possession of a bird do not apply to its 

 plumage or to one of its wings when used as a hat decoration. 



