156 CONSERVATION OF CANADIAN WILD LIFE 



birds has suffered so serious a reduction in abundance, and 

 no class stands in so great need of vigorous protective mea- 

 sures. Their serious reduction in numbers has been brought 

 about largely by the same causes that have affected our 

 own game-birds, namely, the destruction of their former 

 haunts by agricultural development and the extension of 

 settlement both in their sunmier haunts in Canada and 

 their winter habitat in such parts of South America as the 

 Argentine, the increase in the number of gunners and the 

 better faciUties that now exist for hunting. 



The only manner in which the influence of these adverse 

 factors can be offset to an extent that will prevent reduc- 

 tion in the numbers of shore-birds to the point of extermina- 

 tion, is by stringent protection — short open seasons and 

 small bag limits; and such protection must necessarily be of 

 an international character. 



Under the Migratory Birds Convention, a close season 

 for a period of five years is provided for all shore-birds, with 

 the exception of the woodcock, the Wilson or jack snipe, 

 the black-breasted and golden plover, and the greater and 

 lesser yellowlegs. The curlews, sandpipers, other species 

 of plover, and the rest of the shore-birds are now protected 

 absolutely north of Mexico, and it is to be hoped that our 

 South American bird-lovers will secure some measures of 

 protection for all these birds in their winter homes in the 

 South. 



Woodcock. — But a remnant of the former numbers of 

 this bird now remains in eastern Canada, where it breeds in 

 Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and the more south- 

 ern portions of Ontario. As it breeds on land unsuitable for 

 agriculture, there is no reason why it should not increase in 

 numbers with adequate protection and provide sport for 

 those real sportsmen who prefer the difficult shot to the 

 easy mark. 



Snipe. — The Wilson or jack snipe is considered by many 



