A. JO Recent Literature. I bet 



' Two Vanishing Game Birds.' — Under this title ^ Dr. A. K. Fisher has 

 made a strong plea for the protection of the Woodcock and the Wood 

 Duck, at the same time pointing out the causes of their "impending 

 extinction," and suggesting means for their preservation. "These game 

 birds," he sajs, "differ materially in habits as well as in other particulars, 

 but the conditions affecting their increase are very similar. As winter 

 approaches they leave their summer homes, where they have been scattered 

 over broad areas and gradually work southward imtil finally they become 

 more or less concentrated in their respective haunts in the Southern 

 States. Within the confines of this winter home, where no protection is 

 afforded them, they are slaughtered in large numbers ; and as the South- 

 ern States place little restriction on their export, they are shipped North 

 in quantities limited mainly by the demands of the market or the endur- 

 ance of the gunners. Not only are the birds subjected to this exterminat- 

 ing treatment throughout the winter, but when the season of migration 

 comes and they return to their summer homes they fare little better ; for 

 a majority of the States in which they are found permit them to be shot 

 while nesting or at the time when the young are unable to properly care 

 for themselves. In view of these facts it is not surprising that the Wood- 

 cock, with its limited distribution and moderate fecundity, is very rapidly 

 passing away, and that the Wood Duck has disappeared or become rare in 

 many places where it was once common." 



The distribution, habits, and natural enemies of these species and the 

 part man plays in their destruction are considered, and ' pi-eventive meas- 

 ures ' are suggested for checking their decrease. In the case of the 

 Woodcock, steps should be taken "to abolish all spring and summer 

 shooting," and their protection in the Southern States in winter by the 

 enactment and enforcement of proper laws for their protection, including 

 a short open season, restriction of the size of the bag, and the prohibition 

 of shipment for sale. If in addition there could be "a universal close 

 season covering two or three years, the restoration of this noble bird 

 would be assured." 



The decline of the Wood Duck is considered in much the same manner, 

 and similar measures are urged for its rehabilitation. 



The paper is illustrated with drawings of each species by Mr. L. A. 

 Fuertes, by a map showing the distribution of the Woodcock, and by a 

 diagram showing the open and close seasons for each bird in the States 

 and Territories, and the Canadian Provinces the species respectively 

 inhabit. From these diagrams it appears that the Woodcock has no pro- 

 tection at any season in Delaware, Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska, nor in 

 any of the Southern States except South Carolina, and Alabama, where 



1 Two Vanishing Game Birds : the Woodcock and the Wood Duck. By 

 A. K. Fisher, Ornithologist, Biological Survey. Yearbook of Department of 

 Agriculture for 1901, pp. 447-45S, pll. Lxiii, Ixiv. Also separate. 



