156 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 
birds has suffered so serious a reduction in abundance, and 
no class stands in so great need of vigorous protective mea- 
sures. Their serious reduction in numbers has been brought 
about largely by the same causes that have affected our 
own game-birds, namely, the destruction of their former 
haunts by agricultural development and the extension of 
settlement both in their summer haunts in Canada and 
their winter habitat in such parts of South America as the 
Argentine, the increase in the number of gunners and the 
better facilities that now exist for hunting. 
The only manner in which the influence of these adverse 
factors can be offset to an extent that will prevent reduc- 
tion in the numbers of shore-birds to the point of extermina- 
tion, is by stringent protection—short open seasons and 
small bag limits; and such protection must necessarily be of 
ap international character. 
Under the Migratory Birds Convention, a close season 
for a period of five years is provided for all shore-birds, with 
the exception of the woodcock, the Wilson or jack snipe, 
the black-breasted and golden plover, and the greater and 
lesser yellowlegs. The curlews, sandpipers, other species 
of plover, and the rest of the shore-birds are now protected 
absolutely north of Mexico, and it is to be hoped that our 
South American bird-lovers will secure some measures of 
protection for all these birds in their winter homes in the 
South. 
Woodcock.—But a remnant of the former numbers of 
this bird now remains in eastern Canada, where it breeds in 
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and the more south- 
ern portions of Ontario. As it breeds on land unsuitable for 
agriculture, there is no reason why it should not increase in 
numbers with adequate protection and provide sport for 
those real sportsmen who prefer the difficult shot to the 
easy mark. 
Snipe.—The Wilson or jack snipe is considered by many 
