The Rationale of Bird Protection. 623 



may be declared. Persons may be authorised to " collect 

 specimens of natural history for any scientific institution or 

 museum." 



Queensland. — By the Native Birds Protection Act of 1877, 

 chap. 7, a Close Season (October 1st to March 1st) is provided 

 for 30 birds and species named in a Schedule. The Governor 

 in Council may extend the Act to other birds, may alter the 

 date of the Close Season, and may appoint rangers. A moiety 

 of the penalty goes to the informer. By the Amending Act of 

 1877, chap. 16, it was enacted that the regulations were not 

 to apply to farmers as regards the protection of crops on their 

 land, nor to the aborigines as regards food. By the Act of 

 1884, chap. 12, the Governor may proclaim reserves. 



South Australia. — The Act of 1900 (No. 745) declares a 

 perpetual Close Season [all the year round] for certain 

 species (1st Schedule) ; declares no Close Time at all for 

 other species (3rd Schedule) ; declares various Close Seasons 

 for all other species (2nd Schedule) . It empowers the pro- 

 clamation of portions f the Crown Lands, and the sea 

 shore, and public reserves as "bird protected districts." 



Killing, possessing, selling, or exporting protected birds, and 

 destroying or selling their eggs, or selling articles made from 

 their skin or feathers, are made offences punishable by pro- 

 gressive fines, which when received are payable, one half to 

 the Zoological Society, and the other half to the Govern- 

 ment. The penalties are — for first offence, not less than 

 £1 nor more than £2 ; for second offence, not less than £2 

 nor more than £25 ; and in addition in every case £5 to be 

 paid in respect of any bird in the 1st Schedule, and £2 if in 

 the 2nd Schedule. 



Swivel- and punt-guns and the like are declared illegal 

 devices, and may be forfeited. 



By the Act of 1900, the Governor has power to transfer a 

 bird from one Schedule to another, and in 1903 received 

 power to vary the Close Times. 



By the Amending Act, 1903, the need was established 

 for bird-catchers' licences in respect of birds in the 2nd 

 Schedule in the Northern Territory. 



Tasmania. — By the Acts of 1895 (cap. 26) and 1896 (cap. 12\ 



