312 Correspondence. [.sfA^rii 



our Blackwood district, and extending from this part of the 

 Adelaide Hills northwards. The back was almost uniformly dull 

 green and black ; only an odd feather or so showed any red at all. 

 The breast was the brick to orange-red of our ordinary bird ; no 

 suggestion of the high colouring of the sub-species, P. flettrieuensis, 

 Ashby.— Yours, &c., 



EDWIN ASHBY. 



Bird Protection. 



Bird Protection in New South Wales. 



The new Birds and Animals Protection Act, passed by Parliament 

 at the last session, and which came into force on ist January, 

 1919, provides for the protection of all birds and animals except 

 those mentioned in the schedule. These are Sparrows, Silver- 

 eyes, Shags, Crows, Pied Crow-Shrikes, Leatherheads, Garrulous 

 Honey-eaters, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Galahs, Pennant's 

 Parrot, Rosella, Blue Mountain Lorikeet, Red-rumped Parrakeet, 

 Wedge-tailed Eagles, Snipe, Gill-Birds, Starlings, all Falcons and 

 Goshawks. It also provides for the absolute protection of all 

 birds except Sparrows, Silver-eyes, Crows, Starlings, and Cor- 

 morants in certain districts, including all the county of Cumberland 

 (Sydney and Hawkesbury River), all Government reserves and 

 forests, all inland lakes and islands therein, and also all islands 

 off the coast of the State. 



The Act is administered by the Chief Secretary, who is 

 empowered to appoint rangers, who will have all the powers of a 

 police constable for the purpose of enforcing the Act. 



Possession of skins, eggs, feathers, &c., of protected birds is 

 prohibited except under licence from the Chief Secretary, and 

 dealing in same and also in live birds is also prohibited except 

 under licence. Sportsmen or dealers for the market are not 

 allowed to kill more than fifty Ducks, or one hundred Quail, or 

 twenty of any other bird, in twenty-four hours. Dealers in live 

 birds must take out a licence each year, at a cost of £5. 



The open season for Quail is from the ist day of February to 

 the 31st of July, but this is varied in specified districts where 

 experience has shown that the birds are earlier or later in nesting. 

 For Ducks the season is from the ist of February to the 30th of 

 June. The following birds are also allowed to be taken for the 

 same period : — All Pigeons and Doves except the Wonga and 

 Bronzewings, Coots, Moor-Hens, Mallee-Fowls, Pied Geese, 

 Diamond Finches, Zebra Finches, Firetails, and the Red-browed 

 and the Chestnut-breasted Finches. 



This Act is a great advance on the previous one. It provides 

 for large sanctuaries throughout the State, greatly reduces the 

 birds that can be killed or caught, brings under licence all dealers, 

 and shortens the open seasons of the game birds. Its effectiveness 



