B I RD- P ROT ECT I V E LAWS 



peckers, and all other perching birds that feed en- 

 tirely or chiefly on insects. 



Having thus conveniently classified migratory 

 birds into two easily comprehensible and distin- 

 guishable groups, the way was open to deal with 

 them separately and distinctively. Therefore, after 

 declaring it to be illegal to kill any bird of either class 

 between sunset and sunrise, the regulations went on 

 to state that insect-eating birds shall not be killed 

 in any place or in any manner, even in the daytime. 



Among other things this provision, by one stroke, 

 completed the campaign which the Audubon Society 

 had been waging for long years on behalf of the Robin. 

 In Maryland, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana 

 and Tennessee, the Robin-potpie-loving inhabitants 

 must in future content themselves with such game 

 birds as Quail, Grouse, Wild Turkeys, and Ducks. 

 The life of Sir Robin Redbreast has now been de- 

 clared to be sacred everywhere. He and his mate 

 are to dwell beneath the protection of the strong 

 arm of the United States Government. 

 [183] 



