452 Correspondence. lo^x' 



Game Protector, behind closed doors at the offices of the Commission. 

 They are seated and facing each other. One of the aforesaid boxes, with 

 a certain air of mystery, and perhaps grave doubts on the part of the 

 Protector as to the result, is produced, and its contents spread out upon a 

 sheet of paper before the expert. An examination something after the 

 following order ensues: — 



Protector: — Can you tell me what these are? 



Expert: — Certainly, they are the bones of some bird or other. 



Protector (evidently encouraged): — Yes? — and supposing they are, 

 can you tell me, as to the species of bird they probably belonged to? 



Expert: — Certainly, I can do better than that, for I can state positively 

 that they belonged to some species, or subspecies perhaps, of an American 

 quail of the genus Colinus. 



Protector (showing marked astonishment) : — Could you demonstrate 

 that fact to a judge and jury and swear to it as a witness in a court? 



Expert: — Yes, certainly, provided the State makes it worth my while. 



Protector (producing another box): — What would you say of this bone? 



Expert: — It is part of a sternum of a grouse, — probably a Bonasa; I 

 could make absolutely certain by comparing it with material in my own 

 possession.' 



Protector: — And this? 



Expert: — Proximal half of a humerus of a domestic fowl, — chicken — 

 let me see, — yes, the left one. 



Protector: — There is a big case, and a big question to be decided here; 

 can you make enlarged drawings of these bones? Are you a good demon- 

 strator? Do you become "rattled" in court? Can you name the bones 

 of any fowl, game or domestic one, as easily as you have these? 



Expert: — Better try me! No, I'm not perturbed in court (!), and 

 some of these bones I can correctly pass upon in the dark by digital ex- 

 amination alone. 



Protector: — Thank you, — that will do. You will hear from me later. 



Now when such testimony as this is brought before judge and jury in 

 a court, backed by the material and the affidavits of the detectives or 

 their testimony as witnesses, there can be but one decision, — a verdict 

 for the State. And, when the fines may run all the way from $500.00 

 to $4500.00 it is certain of having its influence in the matter of the pro- 

 tection of our game birds. Such methods should be encouraged in every 

 possible way, and pushed to the very limit of their usefulness. Woodcock 

 especially stand in need of just such additional protection to prevent 

 their utter extinction. 



Very faithfully yours, 



R. W. Shtjfeldt. 

 Washington, D. C. 

 14th Aug., 1909. 



