Conservation Commission. 69 



" The term ' European black game ' is commonly applied to a 

 species of which the male is called the i black cock ' and the 

 female the ' grey hen,' and is classified scientifically as lyrurus 

 tetris. The designation i European black game ' describes the 

 particular species, and not the location where it is found. As a 

 matter of fact, this species is found in Norway and in most Euro- 

 pean countries and may be imported under the above section. 



" ' European red legged partridges ' refer to the several species 

 of this genus found in the various European countries north of 

 Belgium. It is also found to some extent in Great Britain, in the 

 mountains of Southern Europe and in Northern Africa and Sar- 

 dinia. The word is used in the plural for the purpose, apparently, 

 of including all species of the genus in which the partridge is in- 

 cluded. If found in Norway it would be admitted into this State. 

 The term ' Egyptian quail ' used in the section does not refer 

 to quail found in Egypt alone, but is the common migratory 

 quail of Europe. 



" The term ' European black plover ' used in the section, is un- 

 known to scientific classification. I am therefore unable to deter- 

 mine to what genus or species of birds it may be applied. 



"It will be seen from these specific classifications that the general 

 intent of the law is to admit or reject birds by families or species, 

 rather than by geographical territory, and this for the purpose, not 

 of granting favors to certain nations and withholding them from 

 others, but for the purpose of preventing the importation into this 

 State of birds so closely resembling our native species as to permit 

 the slaughtering of the native species and their possession for the 

 purpose of sale, under the claim that they are imported from for- 

 eign countries. 



" All of the species specified in section 96b are admitted, no mat- 

 ter in what part of the world they are found. Many of them, ac- 

 cording to climatic conditions may be, if they are not, native of 

 Norway. The learned Consul-General asks whether or not the 

 above section is meant to exclude Norwegian grouse or ptarmigan, 

 while admitting grouse from Scotland. The exclusion of Nor- 

 wegian grouse or ptarmigan is based upon the resemblance to birds 

 native of the State of New York. There are two species of the 

 Norwegian grouse or ptarmigan (the terms are used interchange- 



