40 CIVIC J510L0GV 



snakes, they are, on account of tins value, accorded the protec- 

 tion of the law in Massachusetts. As examples we may take : 



Night heron — Nycticorax ncevius — a generally common species. 

 Snowy egret — Egretta candidissima — a Southern species, but one 



which ought to be known to every American Xorth and South, in 



ordin- to save it from extermination by the milliners. 



Order Limicolce (limusj "mud"; colerey "to dwell") — shore 

 birds. Many of these birds of our marshes and muddy shores, 

 wet brook beds, and upland pastures, merit protection on ac- 

 count of their valuable service as insect destroyers, and also 

 because of the imminent danger of extermination in ^\'hich 

 several of the best species stand. The argument given for the 

 wood duck applies with more than double force to the wood- 

 cock, because the former produces from eight to fourteen eggs 

 to the woodcock's four. The same preserves would serve for 

 the waterfowl and shore birds as ^^'ell. Several of the plover are 

 in great need of protection, but the five species that follow 

 are possibly all Ave can begin with, and will serve to illus-trate 

 the problems of the group: 



Woodcock — Phildhela minor. Spotted sandpiper — A ctitis maciddria. 



Wilson snipe — Gallindgo delicdta. Eskimo curlew — Xumenius horedlh. 



(iolden plover — Charddrius dominicus. 



Order Galling {gallus^ "a cock") — grouse, pheasants. The 

 problem in regard to all the birds of this order is again that of 

 protectmg those that remain, and of reestablishing in their 

 original ranges such species as have already been exterminated 

 from certain regions. Were it not for stray and uncontrolled 

 cats we could make town and city parks — in fact, the limits 

 of all villages, towns, and even cities — preserves for grouse 

 and waterfowl. We could in this way place them AA'here the 

 greatest number might enjoy seeing and hearing them ; while 

 a constant supply would overflow the preserve limits for our 

 sportsmen. Special problems occur with each of the five follow- 

 ing types suggested for study. 



