THE CONSERVATION OF BIRDS. 267 



of the evil few have so blackened the reputation of the whole 

 family, that it is not probable that hawks and owls will be 

 protected generally or specifically in most States for a long 

 time to come. Few States grant protection to the whole 

 tribe. Some protect all but " chicken-hawks.' 1 One or two 

 protect fish-hawks. Several States have prescribed fines 

 for killing bald eagles. The turkey buzzards (Cathartes aura), 

 which prefer carrion to freshly-killed meat, are useful as scav- 

 engers and are protected in the District of Columbia and in 

 the Southern States. They ought to be protected wherever 

 they occur. 



Besides birds of prey there are a number of other birds 

 to which several States have thus far denied protection. 

 Of such are the grain-eating birds, crows, blackbirds, etc.; 

 those which live upon fish, loons, auks, mergansers, herons, 

 and kingfishers ; and English sparrows. The last-named is 

 the one most generally condemned ; only a few States have 

 exempted fish-eating birds from protection, and less than half 

 have announced a prejudice against crows and blackbirds. 



Legislation primarily intended for game has in a few instances 

 afforded protection to all birds. Laws prohibiting shooting on 

 Sunday and those requiring gun licenses are of this sort, Speak- 

 ing of gun licenses, the protection of non-game-birds is the only 

 reason that can be logically urged in their favor. The declara- 

 tion that game is the property of the State is the foundation 

 of all game legislation. That all citizens of the State have 

 equal right to it must be conceded. A game law establishing 

 a gun license discriminates against the poor sportsman and in 

 favor of the rich one. On the other hand, a gun license re- 

 quirement would undoubtedly delay the day when precocious 

 youngsters go forth with two-dollar guns until many of them, 

 at least, are old enough to be out of the bird-killing stage. 



In the vicinity of some of our larger cities trapping native 

 song-birds to sell as pets has been carried on to such an 

 extent that several States have prohibited it by law, so they 



