there is a close season from the 1st February to the 1st October, 

 and for Terns from the 1st February to the 16th September. 

 Sparrows, Rooks and Crows receive no protection. Fines varying 

 from two to two hundred kroner (2s. 3d. to £11) are inflicted 

 for infringement of the law, while the culprit has the option of 

 imprisonment instead of paying the fine.* 



BELGIUM. 



The subject is dealt with in Belgium by a Royal Ordinance of 

 the 15tli August, 1906. This is a consolidating measure, very 

 comprehensive in its scope, bringing the law into harmony with 

 the terms of the Paris Convention of 1902 and repealing various 

 prior enactments. f Bird protection had been dealt with by 

 legislation in Belgium for a good many years, the first law having 

 been made over thirty years ago, J and by a Game law of the 

 28th February, 1882, the Government was expressly empowered 

 to prevent the destruction of insectivorous species. § 



The Royal Ordinance of 1906 forbids the taking, shooting, 

 exposing for sale, hawking and transporting of insectivorous 

 birds, as well as their eggs and young. 1] 



The list of birds considered insectivorous is divided into two 

 parts. ^ First, those Avhich are to be considered insectivorous 

 at all times ; these include the Cuckoo, Goatsucker, the Swallows, 

 SA\ift, Hoopoe, the Tits, Warblers, Wryneck, Woodpeckers, 

 Nuthatch, Wagtails, Redstarts and others. Secondly, all other 

 wild birds apart from those named in Article 6, except from the 

 15th September (included) to the 15th November (excluded). 

 The birds referred to in Article 6 are the diurnal birds of prey, 

 the Eagle, Owl, the Jay, the Magpie and the Crows ; also exotic 

 species, water and shore birds, and those birds to which certain 

 sections of the Game Law of 1882 applies. Certain further excep- 

 tions are made in favour of live birds and Linnets and Chaffinches 

 destined for prize competitions. Birds on the property of another 

 may not be taken, shot or destroyed at any time or in any way 

 without his consent,** nor any Owls, lime, traps or gins be used to 

 take birds. Certain exceptions to this are allowed with regard to 

 Thrushes generally, which may be taken in the manner described 

 by the Articles in question from the middle of September to the 

 middle of November ; while the taking of Fieldfares and Mistle 



* Law of the 11th May, 1894. f These repealed enactments are dated 



14th August and 5th September, 1889, 28th April, 1891, 6th September, 

 1896, 6th June, 1904, and 16th January, 1906. J 21st April, 



1873. § Law of the 28th February, 1882, Article 31. || Article 1. 

 1[ Article 2. ** Article 3. 



