BIRDS. 147 



but, being so highly prized for food, they have 

 become favorite game birds. Nothing but the 

 most stringent game laws will ever stop their 

 slaughter. 



Most States now have laws which prohibit the 

 killing of quails except for a few weeks of each 

 year. During those few weeks of non-protection, 

 however, they are shot or trapped in such large 

 numbers that it is. a wonder any remain for the 

 next season's breeding. If the maximum amount 

 of good is to be derived from these birds, laws 

 must be enacted to prevent their being killed at 

 any season of the year. 



Quails, like a number of other useful birds, eat 

 some wheat, oats, and corn; but the grains are 

 mostly those that shatter off in the fields and 

 would never be utilized. When undisturbed for 

 several months, quails grow very tame, and will 

 feed near dwellings, or bathe in the dust of coun- 

 try roads almost within arm's reach of the passer- 

 by. They are very prolific, and would soon 

 increase to sufficient numbers to do a vast amount 

 of good if they were not annually killed down to 

 comparatively a few individuals. 



Sparrows are also very useful birds. In addition 

 to the many noxious insects taken, they eat large 

 quantities of the seeds of worthless weeds. Few 

 seeds of useful plants are eaten by them. The 

 much-despised English sparrow probably does 

 much more good than harm. It does not drive 



