384 
useful and harmless and deserving of protection, and those of doubtful or bad 
character in this respect. Most of the rapacious birds even, are useful to some 
extent in destroying mice and other pests of the farm. And -when we come to 
those which are partly insectivorous, and partly granivorous, it is often difficult 
to determine whether the benefits or mischiefs predominate. The wood-pecker 
lives upon insects in the spring — but when the cherry, the peach, the apple, and 
the corn arrive in succession — he is a constant pilferer of each. He flies for miles 
to suit himself with the choicest fruit, and destroys by tasting more than he actu- 
ally devours. So the blue jay, black-bird, the cherry-bird, and others, have a 
mixed character, and there will be a difference of opinion as to whether their 
merits or defects predominate. Where there is evident doubt, it is better to let 
them take their chance. 
As to legislation in regard to game proper — that is, such animals and birds as 
are fit for food and are pursued for that purpose — there are great differences of 
opinion among sportsmen themselves, and still greater between sportsmen and the 
public. 
The desire of the sportsman is to forbid the killing of game during the breed- 
ing season — to limit it to those periods when the flesh is best fitted for food, and 
generally so to regulate the time and manner of pursuing or killing as to preserve 
and, if possible, increase the quantity. Keeping the sportsman’s idea in view, the 
proper time for killing game in Ohio would seem to be as follows : 
Deer, from the first day of September to the first day of February ; but neither 
this nor any other protection can preserve them long. 
Wild turkeys during the same period ; but they too must gradually disappear 
as their haunts are disturbed in the progress of improvement. Perhaps the time 
of killing both should be shortened if it could be enforced. 
The pinnated grouse or prairie hen may be shot from the first of September to 
the first of February ; but for shooting on the wing, the early part of the season 
is much the best, as it will not lie well before the dog at any other t : me. 
The ruffed grouse or pheasant may be shot during the same time, but neither 
of the two last birds can be preserved long in Ohio, except in particular localities. 
The quail, or Virginia partridge, is the best true game bird, native to the State, 
which can be permanently preserved and increased. Coveys of these are often 
found full grown by the first of September, but so many remain undeveloped, and 
so many gunners are given to indiscriminate slaughter, that they should be pro- 
tected till the first of October. The time too should close by the first of Febru- 
ary, for it is during the latter part of the winter that they are in most danger of 
being too much thinned. 
The ground then becomes bare, so that they lack proper cover ; the corn, grain 
