The Audubon Societies 



37 



Movement, so that it shall live up to its 

 title as the organ of these societies, and 

 furnish the necessary information and en- 

 couragement to those desiring to join in 

 the work. It is impossible for the editor 

 continuall)' to repeat what has appeared 

 for the last four years in these pages in 

 answer to personal letters asking, "What 

 is the Audubon movement ? How do you 

 join a society?" etc., etc.; and friends of 

 the work, or those desiring to become such, 

 are referred to the nearest library for files 

 of this magazine. 



In order that all may keep in touch 

 with similar work in other countries, 

 Bird-Lore has had the good fortune to 

 secure a series of papers upon Bird Pro- 

 tection Abroad, by Dr. T. S. Palmer, 

 the first, covering India, appearing in this 

 issue. 



Let us read them carefully, for the sooner 

 we learn that not only national but inter- 

 national cooperation is the only cement 

 that will hold together the stones of in- 

 dividual effort that are to build the protec- 

 tive wall against which the shot of plume- 

 and pot-hunter is to rattle in vain, the 

 sooner shall that wall rise in its might 

 to be one of the grandest monuments of 

 the best spirit of modern civilization. 



M. O. W. 



BIRD PROTECTION ABROAD 



I. Bird Protection in India* 

 By T. S. Palmer 



The large number of Indian birds used 

 by the millinery trade this season renders 

 the subject of bird protection in India one 

 of general interest. Apparently, the first 

 movement for the protection of birds in 

 British India was a proposal to secure the 

 passage of a game law, which was discussed 

 as early as 1869-72. Nothing came of 

 this movement until 1879, when the govern- 

 ment of Madras secured the passage of an 

 act "To provide for the protection of game 



*Based mainly on publications of the English 

 Society for the Protection of Birds. See Leaflets No. 36, 

 " India and her Wild Birds,' by Sir Charles Lawson ; 

 No. 37, 'The Protection of Wild Birds in India.' by 

 Surgeon-General G. Bidie ; Annual Reports for igoo 

 and iQOt. Copies of these publications may be obtained 

 through the Hon. Secretary of the Society, Mrs. F. E. 

 Lemon, ? Hanover Square, London, W. 



and acclimatized fish in the district of the 

 Nilgiris." The area thus protected com- 

 prised a vast mountain range with an 

 approximate area of 725 square miles and 

 supporting, in 1881, a population of about 

 91,000 persons, of which less than 2,000 were 

 Europeans. In 1881, at the suggestion of 

 Surgeon - General G. Bidie, the govern- 

 ment of Madras sought to extend similar 

 protection to birds other than game, and 

 especially to such species as were killed for 

 their plumage; but the proposal was not 

 regarded with favor by the government of 

 India. In the same year the government 

 of Bombay endeavored to secure sanction of 

 a bill to protect nine species of game birds 

 and such other species as were used for 

 food ; but this was also vetoed "on the 

 grounds that the public interests involved 

 did not appear sufficiently strong to warrant 

 interference with the habits of the rural 

 population, in the manner contemplated." 

 Three years later another local government 

 was refused permission to impose a tax of 

 five rupees on every bird and hare brought 

 into Kasauli, a Punjab station, during the 

 close season, ostensibly because the tax could 

 not be legally imposed. 



Meanwhile, in July, 1884, the East India 

 Association, of London, became interested 

 in bird protection and brought the subject 

 to the attention of the government of India. 

 This movement finally resulted Vn the pas- 

 sage, in October, 1887, oi 'The Wild 

 Birds' Protection Act,' which still remains 

 in force. This act contains four sections 

 with a number of provisions, among which 

 may be mentioned the following : (Sec. i) 

 The Act extends to the whole of British 

 India; (Sec. 2) The term 'Wild Birds' 

 includes the Peacock and every bird of 

 game; (Sec. 3) Local governments may 

 make rules for the territory under their 

 administration, defining a wild bird, de- 

 fining the breeding season for each species, 

 and prohibiting possession or sale during 

 the breeding season, or the importation of 

 the plumage of any wild bird during such 

 season; violations of the rules to be pun- 

 ished by a fine (not exceeding five rupees 

 for a first offense and ten rupees for a sec- 

 ond offense) for each bird, and confisca- 



