THE CONSERVATION OF BIRDS. 285 



is no reason why Stairs should not and cannot agree to 

 concerted legislation. In this, as in all movements involving 

 numbers, there must be pioneers, — individuals to move first. 

 There have been pioneers. New York was the first one. 

 To-day there are all degrees of protection offered. In a few- 

 States it is nearly or quite up to the desires of those who have 

 given the subject most thought. It now remains for others 

 to get in line. 



A suggestion made by Mr. Charles Hallock, in an address 

 to the National Game, Bird, and Fish Protective Association, in 

 1897, relative to uniform laws, is worthy of notice. He pro- 

 posed a division of the United States into three districts which 

 might readily adopt game laws of the same general tenor, if not 

 actually identical. The original scheme of Mr. Hallock, some- 

 what modified as to boundaries, was presented by Messrs. 

 Palmer and Olds, of the Biological Survey, in Bulletin No. 16, 

 United States Department of Agriculture, from which the map 

 at the beginning of this chapter is taken. The Rocky Mountains 

 form a natural barrier between the Northern and Pacific divi- 

 sions, while the line between the Northern and Southern 

 divisions is established with reference to climate. This plan 

 is worth trying, if not in detail, at least as a working basis. 

 Undoubtedly as soon as those interested in the preservation 

 of game thoughout the Union are better organized, some such 

 scheme for securing a reasonable uniformity will be carried 

 into effect. 



An important piece of legislation in favor of birds is the 

 Lacey Act, so called, a national law, approved May 25, 1900. 

 By the provisions of this act the preservation, distribution, 

 introduction, and restoration of game-birds and other birds is 

 included in the duties and powers of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to purchase 

 and distribute such birds as may be required, subject to the 

 laws of the various States and Territories ; and also from time 

 to time to collect and publish useful information as to their 



