262 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



based on the same principle, that all birds belong 

 to the state and not to the individual, differs mate- 

 rially from that of Great Britain. Owing to the 

 immense territorial size of the United States and 

 its comparatively sparse population, this country 

 has been enabled to devise certain variations in 

 the British system which are more equitable to the 

 people as a whole. On the other hand, there are 

 many excellent points of the British system which 

 are woefully lacking in America. 



The American form of government differs from 

 anything else of its kind in the world. Our United 

 States are literally States within a state, and each 

 State reserves certain rights for itself. These 

 States' rights, unfortunately, include, among 

 other things, the power to make game'-laws to fit 

 their own requirements regardless of how they 

 may affect neighboring States. 



Thus, a generation ago, the closed season for 

 ducks in Minnesota might be paralleled by an open 

 season in Iowa, or vice versa. Woodcock might 

 be shot in New Jersey during July, but not until 

 September in New York. Birds which, during the 

 migration seasons, traveled from one State to an- 

 other could find no permanent peace, and a 

 general thinning of their ranks was the result. 



Upon the gallinaceous game-birds, such as 

 grouse, turkeys, and quail, these ill-matched State 

 laws did not have the same effect. The birds 



