574 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



ture be asked by this Academy to pass au amendment to the present 

 ' Game Laws ' of the State. Provision substantially in the following 

 form: 



Section 1. "Wild birds shall not be killed or caught at any time, or 

 possessed after the same are dead. This provision does not affect any 

 birds the killing of which is prohibited between certain dates, under acts 

 of the Legislature now in force, nor does it protect the ' English sparrow,' 

 and it does not apply to any person holding a certificate under the provis- 

 ions of Section 3 of this Act. Whoever shall violate or attempt to violate 

 the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and 

 in addition thereto, shall be liable to a penalty of $25 for each bird killed, 

 trapped or destroyed contrary to the provisions of this section." 



Sec. 2. "The eggs of wild birds shall not be offered for sale, or their 

 nests robbed or willfully or needlessly destroyed, unless when necessary to 

 protect buildings or prevent their defacement. This section does not 

 apply to the 'English sparrow.' Whoever shall violate or attempt to vio- 

 late the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misde- 

 meanor, and in addition thereto, shall be liable to a penalty of $25 for 

 each nest robbed or destroyed, contrary to the provisions of this section." 

 Sec. 3. " Certificates may be granted by any university, college or in- 

 corporated society of natural history in this State through such persons 

 or officers as such society may designate to any properly accredited person, 

 permitting the holder thereof to collect birds, their nests or eggs, for 

 strictly scientific purposes only. In order to obtain such certificate, the 

 applicant for the same must present to the person or persons having the 

 power to grant such certificates, written testimonials from two well-known 

 scientific men, certifying to the good character and fitness of said applicant 

 to be entrusted with such privilege. Such certificates to be in force for 

 one year and no longer." 



Sec. 4. " This Act shall take effect and be in force from and after its 

 passage." 



Doubtless, the form of legislation suggested by your committee will be 

 subject to modification, and your committee therefore recommends that a 

 new committee be appointed with power to formulate such appropriate leg- 

 islation as may be necessary, substantially covering the ground above 

 suggested, and with power to present the same to the Legislature and urge 

 its adoption. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Wm. S. Chapman, 

 W. M. Pierson, 



Committee. 



It was moved and seconded that the report be accepted and adopted, 

 and that the committee be continued and take charge of the matter of 

 procuring the necessary legislation. 



