134 



THE CANADIAN SPORTSMAN AND NATURALIST. 



densis), two species of Ptarmigan (Lagopus 

 Americanns), and (Lagojms rupestris), both 

 winter visitors; the former common, the latter 

 rare. "Wild Swan should not be included in 

 the Bill as all the North American species are 

 vara avies in this Province. The Canada 

 Goose (Bernicla Canadensis) is a wild goose ; 

 the Widgeon (Mareca penelope) — a rare 'visi- 

 tor in Quebec — and Teal (of which there are 

 two species) deserve protection. The Black 

 Duck (Anas obscura) is certainty the duck of 

 the sportsman, because it is the most game 

 and prolific of all the wild ducks. The Mal- 

 lard, Canvas-back Duck and Pintail are not 

 specially protected although they are sometimes 

 abundant on Quebec waters. But as this Bill 

 protects all the wild ducks (fish and vegetable 

 eaters) we will not further pause to point out 

 mistakes in regard to what constitutes aquatic 

 game. There is a vast difference between 

 birds (ducks) that are good food and those 

 that are not, the latter are allowed by law to 

 live and destroy the fry of salmon and other 

 valuable food fishes. "Why this portion of the 

 Bill is not properly put together, we cannot 

 understand. The laws of Ontario regarding 

 wild ducks, merely protect those that are 

 thoroughly game, such as Mallard, Black 

 Duck, Wood or Summer Duck, and Gray 

 Duck, the latter, so far, is not identified or 

 determined. All other species are classed as 

 sea ducks, although not game, they 

 are protected between 1st May and 15th of 

 August. "We are as anxious as the Provincial 

 Government to protect insectivorous birds, and 

 would be greatly pleased to see this portion of 

 the Bill perfect. There are birds in this sec- 

 tion of curious nomenclature — " Grives," we 

 know them not. "Cow buntings," — thank 

 Providence, there is only one species in Can- 

 ada ; it is a parasite : a robber among its 

 kind, and if the Hon. framer of the Bill, knew 

 what it was, he would not have classed it as he 

 has. " Bobolinks," the Bice Bird ; what is 

 extraordinary is that in the Hon. Mr. Flynn's 



Bill, the scientific name given to this bird is 

 not correct, (Dolichonyx oryzivorus,) of dear 

 old Swainson is now converted into Dolychonix 

 orizivorus by a Quebec legislator, and to add 

 agony farther, the Starling (commonly known 

 as the Marsh Blackbird), our two species of 

 Grakle and the two species of Grosbeak (one 

 a winter, the other a summer visitor), are 

 classed as insect eating birds. We can prove 

 that certain species of Falconid^: or Hawks 

 are insectivorous ; that Crows, Waxwings and 

 Shrikes are insects destroyers, and further- 

 more that we have two species of Shrike in 

 the neighbourhood of Montreal — the Logger- 

 head (common), and the Great Northern Shrike 

 (rare), both of which destroy insects during 

 certain portions of their residence with us. By 

 the way the latter is another species to which 

 the scientific name is given wrongly. Com- 

 pare text of the Bill. C. 



THE NEW GAME LAWS FOR THE 

 PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. 



A bill to amend and consolidate the Game 

 Laws is now before the Quebec Legislature. 

 The principal changes are as follows : — 



Moose, Caribou and Virginian Deer. — 

 Present close season, 1st February to 1st 

 September; proposed close season, 1st Janu- 

 ary to 1st September, 



Wild Ducks and Geese. — Present close sea- 

 son, 1st May to 1st September, west of Three 

 Rivers, and 15th May to 1st September east of 

 Three Rivers; proposed close season, 1st May 

 to 1st September throughout the Province. 



Ruffed Grouse. — Present close season, 1st 

 March to 1st September ; proposed close sea- 

 son, 1st January to 20th August. 



Canada Grouse, Ptarmigan. — Present close 

 season, 1st March to 1st September; proposed 

 close season, 1st February to 1st September. 



Hares, snaring (this is permitted by the 

 present Act) to be prohibited. 



By the new Act, all persons who shoot are 

 required to take out license, non-residents of 

 the Province to pay $20 for a license to hunt 



