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Bird -Lore 



several improvements. At the close of 

 the hearing your representatives were re- 

 quested to prepare a bill including all the 

 beneficial changes suggested. This was 

 done, and the remodeled bill is now be- 

 fore the legislature. If the bill becomes 

 a law it will give the Audubon Society 

 the right to appoint four special wardens 

 with all the powers of the state game 

 wardens. 



Minnesota. — A codification of the game 

 laws made at the last session of the legisla- 

 ture makes this statute probably the most 

 radical and advanced of any in force in 

 the United States. It shows the influence 

 of the highest type of sportsmen and bird 

 protectors on legislation. The wild-fowl 

 close season commences December i. 



Oklahoma. — While no bird or game 

 legislation of moment was secured, yet by 

 the persistent energy of Mrs. H. T. Foster, 

 of Tecumseh, a humane education law was 

 passed. This certainly will have a very 

 direct and beneficial influence on bird pro- 

 tection. Under its provisions the public 

 school teachers are compelled to instruct 

 pupils in humane ideas and kindness to 

 wild life, for one-half hour each week. A 

 teacher cannot draw pay unless the above 

 provision is carried out. This splendid law 

 will prevent the spoliation of unnumbered 

 nests and the abolition of boys' missiles, 

 catapults, etc. 



Texas.— In the last issue of Bird-Lore 

 a brief statement was given of the attempt 

 to repeal the wild-fowl law by selfishly 

 interested persons It is with great satis- 

 faction that we are able to report that the 

 attempt was a total failure, and the present 

 law is safe from further attacks for two 

 years Long before that time the Audubon 

 Society, which did such wonderful work in 

 the campaign just closed, will be thoroughly 

 organized. When men of the aggressive 

 character of Secretary Davis are at the head 

 of a movement for the benefit of a state, in 

 other words, good civics, they soon compel 

 the moral and financial support of the 

 public. Unselfish devotion to the good of 

 the commonwealth always attracts attention 

 and a following. 



California.— Owing to the great edu- 



cational work done by the Audubon people 

 of this state and the continuous agitation 

 for better bird protection that they have kept 

 up for the past year, a new law has just 

 been enacted. It contains so much of the 

 model law, and is so far in advance of any- 

 thing heretofore on the statute books relating 

 to birds, tiiat the Audubon Society is cer- 

 tainly to be congratulated on the result of 

 its eff^orts. The spirit that moves the workers 

 in this society will surely cause the new law 

 to be enforced. 



In addition many marked improvements 

 were made in the game sections, bag limits, 

 shorter seasons, etc. In a recent publication 

 of the Game Commission it is announced 

 that " it is always unlawful to buy, sell, ofler 

 for sale, barter or trade, at any time, any 

 Quail, Dove, Pheasant, Grouse, Sage Hen, 

 Snipe, Ibis, Plover, Rail, or any Deer meat 

 or skins." It is unfortunate that Ducks and 

 Geese are not included, but this will come in 

 time. In California the county supervisors 

 may pass special ordinances shortening the 

 open seasons, but cannot make them longer 

 than the state law. Secretary Way writes: 

 " We have just won a great victory in Los 

 Angeles county ; the open season for Doves 

 is one day, besides we have secured shorter 

 seasons for valley and mountain Quail and 

 Deer. This result is a most gratifying one, 

 for, two years ago, when I first took up the 

 fight for the Doves, they did not seem to 

 have a friend in the country. I shall now 

 place this matter before the people of some 

 other counties in the state, hoping to make 

 gains there also. I believe this is the begin- 

 ning of the end, and that public sentiment 

 will compel the next legislature to strike the 

 Dove from the game list." The State Chief 

 Deputy Commissioner, C. A. Vogelsang, 

 has promised to prevent the illegal traffic in 

 the San Francisco markets in sea birds' eggs 

 which has been heretofore carried on so 

 extensively. 



To our unbounded satisfaction, the 

 Bahaman government has passed a law pro- 

 tecting all song and insectivorous birds 

 throughout the year, while for the Flamingo 

 and some other species a close season has 

 been established. 



William Dutcher. 



