GAME LAWS ABE AD. 293 



does the season for this kind of sport extend beyond six 

 weeks. Water fowl can be shot at all times, except between 

 the 15th of April and the 1st of September. The season for 

 killing deer, roe, and chamois extends from the beginning 

 of September to the middle or end of October; but this 

 description of game has of late become so exceedingly scarce 

 that the great majority of the cantons have resolved to put 

 a complete stop to its further destruction for a period of 

 several years to come. 



The sale of game out of the proper season, unless it can 

 be proved to have been imported from abroad, is strictly 

 forbidden, and both the vendor and buyer incur a heavy 

 fine. 



On Sundays and other holidays, shooting is likewise pro- 

 hibited in every part of Switzerland. 



Landed proprietors, farmers, and farm labourers may at 

 any time destroy within the boundaries of their land, but 

 without the aid of dogs ; and either in any wood or public 

 or private grazing-ground, all beasts and birds of prey, and 

 destructive birds, game, or vermin, except hares. Polecats, 

 martens, otters, foxes,, wolves, lynxes, wild boars, bears, 

 eagles, vultures, hawks, ravens, crows, magpies, sparrows, 

 etc., are considered as vermin. 



The destruction of singing birds, or such as are useful 

 for agricultural purposes, as starlings, finches, titmice, larks, 

 woodpeckers, etc., as well as their eggs and young, is a 

 punishable offence. 



Certain portions of the cantons where licences are granted 

 are temporarily set apart as game preserves, and called 

 " Yagdbaunbezirke." For a certain period, arbitrarily fixed 

 by the authorities, no one is allowed to shoot in these 

 districts, 



No one is allowed to shoot near a house, within en- 

 closures, or on fields and vineyards before the crop is 

 removed. 



