114 
our “ song and insectivorous birds/ 7 which are here pro- 
tected by law, will be comparatively safe when the law is 
fully enforced. But it is not difficult practically to ex- 
terminate or to drive out of a State a resident or migrant 
game bird; therefore, the game birds, the shore birds and 
all others that are killed for food or sport must now be 
protected by the most stringent laws, most rigidly enforced, 
or eventually they will be swept from the territory of this 
Commonwealth. 
Some Recent Improvements in Bird Laws. — A B our 
Years 7 Retrospect of Bird Legislation in Massa- 
chusetts, 1904-08. 
The first edition of this report was written in 1904. Since 
then many changes in bird legislation which were therein 
advocated have been made. Birds not then protected at all 
by law are now shielded by law all the year. 
The open seasons for some other birds have been shortened, 
and additional safeguards regarding sale and shipment of 
birds have been secured. Such new provisions regarding 
seasons and licenses as appear on the statute books of 1908 
are given below. 
Loons. 
Chapter 118 of the Acts of 1907 makes it unlawful to 
kill a loon on fresh water, and establishes a penalty of $20 
for violation of the act. 
Gulls. 
Chapter 414 of the Acts of 1905 prohibits the killing of 
any gull at any time. 
Ducks. 
Chapter 274 of the Acts of 1905 makes unlawful the pur- 
suit, wounding or killing of wood or summer duck until the 
year 1911, and provides a fine of not more than $50. Three 
local acts were passed in 1905, 1906 and 1908, regarding 
the “ County of Dukes County, 77 which restrict wild fowl 
shooting from boats, etc. ; and one was enacted in 1906, pro- 
hibiting the use of live duck decoys in the county of Nan- 
tucket. 
