INTRODUCTION 17 



ened the open season on certain species, notably doves, pre- 

 scribed bag limits and restrictions on methods of hunting, 

 regulated possession and transportation, and prohibited the 

 sale of migratory game birds; these regulations, in conjunc- 

 tion with the police powers conferred by the act upon officers 

 appointed to enforce the law, have resulted in greatly restrict- 

 ing the slaughter of migratory game. 



The beneficial effect of Federal protection is seen in a 

 marked increase in many species of waterfowl and shorebirds, 

 not only in Alabama, but throughout the country. Much still 

 remains to be done in the complete enforcement of the game 

 laws, but a long step forward has been taken, and with a con- 

 tinuation of the present enlightened policy, the bird life of the 

 State seems likely to be preserved and increased for the use 

 of the present and future generations. 



Faunal Areas of the State. 



The life zones and physiographic features of Alabama have 

 already been treated.^ As there shown, the greater part of 

 the State is included in the Lower Austral Zone (Austro- 

 riparian Division), the upper slopes of the mountains above 

 1,500 feet altitude being in the Upper Austral Zone (Caro- 

 linian Division). The physiographic divisions listed are the 

 Mountain Region, Tennessee Valley, Warrior Tableland, Cen- 

 tral Prairie Belt, Coast Pine Belt, and Coast Plain or Gulf 

 Strip. 



Only a few of the birds found on the lowlands push up to the 

 summits of the higher ridges. Among these are the blue jay, 

 crested flycatcher, Bachman sparrow, indigo bird, and Caro- 

 lina wren. Of the few species found on the mountains and 

 not to any extent in the valleys may be mentioned the ruffed 

 grouse, whip-poor-will, scarlet tanager, oven-bird, and black- 

 throated green warbler. 



The Warrior Tableland marks the southern limit in the 

 breeding season of certain northern types, including the 

 phoebe, scarlet tanager, worm-eating warbler, and black- 

 throated green warbler. 



The Central Prairie Belt limits the northward range of the 



tNorth American Fauna No. 45, pp. 7-16, 1921. 



