BIRDS AS FOOD 217 



consternation follows the report. The birds scat- 

 ter, panic-stricken, in all directions, and many are 

 enmeshed in the netting. 



These two means of trapping afford an excellent 

 living to the bird-catchers. Five hundred birds 

 may be secured in a single trap within a week. 

 Some roccolos have been known to take 10,000 in 

 a season. 



Concerning Norway and Sweden there is a dif- 

 ferent tale to tell. There birds are protected by 

 most stringent laws. Song-birds have a perma- 

 nently closed season, but game in the form of 

 grouse, pheasants, ducks, and geese is marketed 

 in large quantities. The sale is limited to short 

 seasons and care is taken to avoid too heavy 

 slaughter. Game-birds are sold to the value of 

 several million dollars annually. 



Under the British law, during the autumn 

 months the shops of England are also filled with 

 pheasants, grouse, and partridge. The majority 

 of game lands in that country are privately owned 

 and the birds are carefully reared and guarded for 

 shooting. Care is taken not to kill more than the 

 preserves will easily afford, and the surplus bag 

 which cannot be consumed by the sportsmen is 

 sold. 



A definite market has thus been developed in 

 England, one which is not detrimental to the in- 

 crease of game-birds and yet is of actual commer- 

 cial importance. During the World War, when 



