12 DIGEST OF GAME LAWS FOR 1901. 



define game birds as "any birds protected by this act," and those 

 of Nova Scotia as certain enumerated birds and animals. Such 

 detinitions are open to the objections that the}^ may include many 

 species wliich are not legitimate game, that they ma}^ not include one- 

 half or even one-fourth of the kinds of game actuall}^ found within the 

 State, and furthermore that the}" are subject to constant change with 

 each new amendment as species are added to or stricken from the list.^ 

 The groups of animals and birds which may be considered legitimate 

 game are well marked and comparatively few in number and may easily 

 be so defined as to avoid the objections just mentioned. 



The game of North America is practically limited to four groups 

 of mammals and four of birds. The game mammals are (1) ' big 

 game' or ruminants and peccaries (Ungulata); (2) bears and raccoons^ 

 (Carnivora) ; (3) rabbits and squirrels (Rodentia); and (4) opossums^ 

 (Marsupialia). Game birds, as defined by the American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union, comprise (1) Anatid^e, commonl}" known as swans, geese, 

 brant, and ducks; (2) Rallidae, including rails, coots, mud hens, and 

 gallinules; (3) Limicol^e, or shore birds, comprising plover, snipe, 

 woodcock, sandpipers, and curlew; and (1) Gallinae, including wild 

 turke3^s, grouse, prairie chickens, pheasants, partridges, and quail. 

 Certain mammals and birds are sometimes classed as game which, for 

 various reasons, might preferably be otherwise regarded. Among 

 such mammals may be mentioned ground squirrels, muskrats, and 

 woodchucks; and among birds, cranes, wild pigeons, doves, flickers, 

 night hawks or bull bats, meadowlarks, reedbirds, blackbirds, and 

 robins. Ground squirrels, muskrats, and woodchucks are not held in 

 high estimation for the table, nor are they usually hunted for sport. 

 Cranes, pigeons, and doves are ordinarily considered legitimate game, 

 but are now so rare that in many States they have been practically 

 removed from the game list. Flickers, night hawks, meadowlarks, 

 blackbirds,^ and robins are insectivorous, and although considered 

 good eating, are far too valuable to be killed for sport or market. 

 Reedbirds or bobolinks, while regarded as pests in the South and highly 

 esteemed as song birds in the North, are treated as game in five States 

 along the middle Atlantic coast, where they are neither particularly 

 beneficial nor injurious. They may, perhaps, be properly added to 

 the list in those States. 



^ A good illustration is the case of New Jersey. Deer are omitted from the list of game 

 in the act of 1901, but are still protected under the clause ' other game animals. ' Had 

 New Jersey defined game as ' animals and birds mentioned in this act,' deer would 

 now have no protection. 



■^ These animals are seldom mentioned in game laws. As a rule, bears are accorded 

 no protection, though in Quebec they have a close season like other game. 



^ In certain localities where blackbirds congregate in such numbers as to damage 

 crops, it is probably best to deprive them, for the present at least, of all protection. 



