318 BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



March, wood pigeons may be shot by special permission in 

 places where it is customary to do so. 



Special permission may also be obtained to shoot water- 

 fowl until the 14th of April,' on lakes, marshes, and ponds, 

 on the Arno, the Serchio, the Chiara Canal from the Lake 

 of Chiusi to the Arno, the Tiber from Piene S. Stefano to 

 the Pontifical frontier, the Ombrone from the confluence of 

 the Arbia to the sea, and on the Cecina from the confluence 

 of the Possera to the sea. 



During the period above specified, woodcock shooting 

 is permitted only on lakes, marshes, and ponds. 



During the same period, ending 14th of April, it is lawful 

 for any person to catch lapwings, plovers, starlings, and 

 " gambette ; " but the use of lime-twigs, traps, or nets with 

 close meshes, is forbidden, under pain of fine, from forty 

 to one hundred lire. 



TUSCANY. 



From and after the 8th of August, quails, turtle doves, 

 fig-eaters ("beccafichi "), ortolans, nightingales, gulls (?), 

 and other small birds which leave Tuscany in the course of 

 the summer, may be caught with open nets, lime twigs, and 

 in other ways specified in the law. 



Quails may be shot by special permission from the 16th 

 to the 31st of August. 



NEAPOLITAN PROVINCES. 



The regulations in force are mainly founded on a decree 

 of Ferdinand I., dated 18th of August, 1819. They are to 

 the following effect : 



No one may shoot, or go in pursuit of game at any 

 season, or in any place, without a licence, under pain of 

 forfeiture of gun, etc., and a fine of fifty ducats (about 

 8 10s.), besides the punishment awarded by the penal 



