48 



SPORT IN EUROPE 



these and so essential to an understanding of the subject.* Shooting 

 is prohibited in a general way from ist February to ist August, 

 the use of all manner of game dogs being prohibited during that 

 period. There are in addition special close times for the various 

 beasts and birds, of which the following is a convenient summary: — 



BEASTS. 



Red Deer. 

 (Stag) 15th Oct.— 1st July. 

 (Hind) 1st Jan.— 15th Oct. 



Fallow Deer. 

 (Buck) 15th Nov.— 1st July. 

 (Doe) 1st Jan.— 15th Oct. 



Roedeer. 



(Buck) 15th Jan. — ist April. 

 (Doe) 1st Jan.— 15th Oct. 



Chamois. 

 15th Dec. — 1st Aug. 



(Fawns always protected.) 



BIRDS. 

 Capercailzie and Blackcock. 

 1st Jan. — 1st March. 



(The hens always.) 



Heathcock. 

 1st Dec. — 15th Aug. 



Pheasant and Bustard. 

 1st Feb — 15th Aug. 



Partridge. 

 1st Jan. — 1st Aug. 

 (Song birds all the year round.) 



Migratory birds and water-fowl are protected in their breeding seasons. 



As regards shooting rights, a landed proprietor must possess at 

 the least 200 Jock {i.e., nearly 300 acres) of continuous property to 

 enjoy his own shooting rights, and even he would, of course, be 

 subject to the game laws. Proprietors of smaller estates than this 

 enjoy no shooting rights, but the community is compelled to put up 



* It will be seen, in the article on Spain, that the Uuke of Frias also pays a well- 

 deserved tribute to the game laws of Hungary, which he had ample opportunities of studying 

 during his residence in the country ; and he has often told me that if game were preserved in 

 Spain as it is in Austria- Hungary, his country would have no need to envy Central Europe 

 the quality of its sport. — Ed. 



