THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
and ending at the beginning of the last hour before sunrise; and Section 13 
defines game to include “ hares» pheasants, partridges, grouse, black 
game and bustards.” It is well to note the inclusion of bustards, because 
some persons are under the impression that since these birds ceased to 
breed in England, about 1838, no penalty can attach for killing any stray 
example that may happen to visit this country. This, however, is a 
mistaken notion, and the protection afforded to bustards by this Act is 
confirmed by the principal Game Act next to be considered. The close 
time in England is from March 1 to September 1, and in Ireland from 
January 10 to September 1. 
THE GAME ACT, 1831 
1 & 2 Will. IV, c. 32 
This Act repeals a number of statutes which had become obsolete, 
ranging from the time of Richard II to 59 Geo. Ill, and in Section 2 follows 
the language of the Night Poaching Act in the definition of game, as above 
quoted. 
Section 3 prohibits the killing or taking of game on a Sunday or on 
Christmas Day, and fixes the various periods of close time as follows : — 
Partridges . . . . between February 1 and September 1 
Pheasants .. .. ,, February 1 and October 1 
Grouse .. .. ,, December 10 and August 12 
Black Game. . ,, December 10 and August 20 
(Except in Somerset and Devon or in the New Forest, 
where it is between December 10 and September 1.) 
Bustards . . . . between March 1 and September 1 
A person killing or taking any of these birds between the dates specified 
is liable on conviction to a penalty not exceeding £5. 
In this list of close times for game it will be seen that hares, although 
game, are not included, but this has been remedied by the Hares Preserva- 
tion Act, 1892, to which reference will be made later under the head of 
“ Ground Game.” 
Another important detail in Section 3 is the prohibition against laying 
poison on any ground frequented by game, whether enclosed or not, 
under a penalty not exceeding £1 for each bird killed. In connexion with 
this it may be mentioned that the Poisoned Grain Prohibition Act, 1863, 
forbade the use of grain steeped in poison calculated to destroy life on 
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