PREFACE. 



It is generally admitted that birds which are neither fit for food nor 

 injurious to crops, and more especially species which are insectivorous, 

 are entitled to protection, but the laws enacted for their preservation 

 lack uniformity, and many useful species are not now protected. Fully 

 90 percent of existing bird legislation has been enacted for the benefit 

 of game birds, which comprise less than 20 percent of all the birds 

 of North America. The other species, which are of special interest to 

 the farmer and the general public, have, until recent years, received 

 scant protection. It is the legislation afl'ecting this large group (more 

 than 80 percent of the species on the Continent) which forms the sub- 

 ject of the present bulletin. 



The complicated regulations for the preservation of game birds do 

 not come within the limits of this discussion ; hence, such topics as 

 open seasons, swivel guns, night shooting, fire hunting, gun licenses, 

 nonresident licenses, appointment and duties of game wardens, cold- 

 storage traflic, nonexport clauses, and similar matters relating properly 

 to game, receive merely incidental notice. Full information on these 

 questions maj- be obtained from the laws themselves, or from the very 

 convenient abstract of game legislation published quarterly in ' Game 

 Laws in Brief and Woodcraft Magazine,' which has been freely used 

 in the preparation of this bulletin. 



An attempt has been made to bring together in convenient form the 

 various State laws, and in such a compilation it is possible that in spite 

 of all precautions some paragraphs may have been omitted which 

 should have been included, or later amendments than those here given 

 have been overlooked. It is hoped that such omissions will not detract 

 seriously from the value of the work; but any suggestions as to 

 inaccuracies or important additions will be welcomed. 



T. S. Palmer. 



