SlEUR DE MONTS NATIONAL MONUMENT 9 



but it is highly probable that further research will show that 

 it is far from being the least among their many valuable 

 services. 



HOW BIRDS ARE PROTECTED 



We have seen, in brief outline, how important is the 

 problem of bird-conservation for economic, as well as sci- 

 entific, and aesthetic reasons. 



How, then, is their conservation to be insured? 



For this purpose there are three principal agencies: 

 Legislation, Education, and Sequestration. 



PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION 



Almost every State has enacted more or less stringent 

 laws for the protection of its birds; and recently the Federal 

 Government, in the Migratory Bird Act, has taken a much 

 needed step in the cause of inter-state protective legislation. 



In general the statutes provide for a limited open season 

 for most game birds, both of sea and land; and, in many 

 states, a prohibition against shooting for the market at any 

 season, as well as against the killing of songbirds at all times. 

 In this way a great deal, undoubtedly, has been accom- 

 plished; and if the laws were indeed strictly observed, there 

 would be much less left for private endeavor to achieve. It 

 is to be regretted, however, that they are honored more large- 

 ly in the breach than in the observance. 



For this reason the campaign of education, waged now 

 for some years, has proved of the greatest significance in 

 the cause of bird protection. 



EDUCATION 



It is, in fact, due principally to the growing efficiency of 

 this instructive campaign that the laws which are already 

 upon the various statute books have been obtained ; and it 

 will, without doubt, be by reason of a still more wide-spread 

 appreciation of the value of our birds that these laws will in 



