80 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



terms does not permit hunting in violation of Federal regula- 

 tions, and any hunting of wild fowl after January 1 would con- 

 stitute a violation of these regulations. An act closing the 

 season on bobwhites or quail for five years in Middlesex and 

 Hampden counties was enacted (chapter 157). Another change 

 was made in the season on upland game from October to 

 November, except in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hamp- 

 shire counties, and providing in these counties that the open 

 season on woodcock shall be between October 20 and November 

 30 (chapter 170). 



In the last annual report of the State Ornithologist a brief 

 history was given of the legislation enacted by Congress in 

 connection with the Federal protection of migratory birds. At 

 that time the Federal law which provided for the conservation 

 of these birds had been brought to the attention of the Supreme 

 Court of the United States on the question of its constitution- 

 ality through an appealed case, action on which had been post- 

 poned. No further action on the case has been taken by the 

 court. In the meantime, the treaty with Great Britain having 

 been ratified under which migratory birds are to be protected 

 in the United States and Canada, the Canadian Parliament has 

 passed an enabling act putting the treaty into effect in Canada, 

 but the Congress of the United States has not yet enacted such 

 a statute. At the last session of Congress identical enabling 

 bills were introduced in both the House and the Senate, which 

 were known as the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This 

 act was passed in the Senate, but failed in the House, and must 

 come up again at the next session of Congress. 



Great Britain prohibits the Importation of Plumage 



DURING THE WaR. 



It has been illegal for years to export the plumage of wild 

 birds from colonies of Great Britain, but, nevertheless, large 

 quantities of feathers have been smuggled out of the colonies to 

 England by people most of whom are believed to work in the 

 interest of German feather dealers in England. A large part of 

 this plumage formerh' was "manufactured" in Germany. The 

 importation of these feathers into the British Isles during the 

 war was prohibited early in 1917 by an order in Council. Mr. 



