236 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



sought for. Eeed-birds, robins, blackbirds, and 

 pigeons proved almost as delicious to the palate 

 as more legitimate game. 



Laws governing the killing of birds gradually 

 evolved in the various States, but these for a 

 long time proved ineffective. There was no set 

 definition of the difference between game and non- 

 game birds. The story of France and Italy was 

 reenacted. Robins and reed-birds were protected 

 in the North and slaughtered in the South. What 

 were considered song-birds in one State might 

 be much-sought-for game in the next. 



Finally, the American Ornithologists' Union 

 stepped in to relieve the chaotic situation. It pre- 

 pared, in 1886, a definition of game-birds which 

 since then has been generally accepted by the 

 United States as a whole. The definition was 

 based entirely upon the natural grouping of birds 

 and read as follows : 



The following shall be considered as game birds : The 

 Anatidae, commonly known as swans, geese, brant, and 

 river and sea ducks; the Rallidse, commonly known as 

 rails, coots, mudhens, and gallinules ; the Limicolae, com- 

 monly known as shore birds, plovers, surf birds, snipe, 

 woodcock, sandpipers, tattlers, and curlew ; and the Gal- 

 linse, commonly known as wild turkeys, grouse, prairie 

 chickens, pheasants, partridges, and quail. 



The Biological Survey of the Department of 

 Agriculture at Washington in 190O expanded this 



