INTRODUCTION 
xli 
the close season begin as near the first of January as possible. Big 
guns are very properly made illegal, and an unsucces*sful attempt 
was recently made in California to prevent the use of magazine or 
‘ pump guns,’ on the ground that they were too destructive. The 
same might be said of the air gun or parlor rifle, which in the 
hands of the reckless small boy is not only an effective but a dan¬ 
gerous weapon of destruction. Night hunting in all its forms, bait¬ 
ing, pursuing game with launches Or even sailboats, are condemned 
by true sportsmen, and should all be prohibited. Trapping and 
netting should likewise be made illegal, but with some provision for 
taking a reasonable number of birds for propagation under the super¬ 
vision of competent state officers. Restrictions on the trade are 
becoming more general and more necessary every year. Prohibition 
of shipment out of the state is effective if it can be enforced, and it 
can be made easier to enforce if transportation of all game for market 
purposes is prohibited, as is done in Iowa and Texas, but with some 
provision for carrying a limited amount of game for private pur¬ 
poses. Sale is the keynote to the situation, and if it can be pro¬ 
hibited the question of protection will be greatly simplified. It is 
now prohibited in a number of states, and probably the day is not 
far distant when most if not all game birds will be withdrawn from 
sale. 
Non-game Birds. — Even more important than laws for the pro¬ 
tection of game birds (because applying to a much larger number 
of species) are the statutes for the preservation of birds which are 
not game, and which apply to ‘ song,’ ‘insectivorous,’ and ‘ plume’ 
birds. In order to accomplish their purpose they must be compre¬ 
hensive, and as already stated they should cover all birds except 
game birds and a few injurious species mentioned by name. If 
made applicable to certain species, or even to song, insectivorous, or 
plume birds, some species are sure to be omitted, and often these 
will be the very ones most in need of protection. Not only killing, 
but also nest robbing, trapping, possession, shipment, and sale 
should be prohibited. The traffic in cage birds, unless checked by 
strict regulations, may sometimes decimate certain species, particu¬ 
larly those distinguished for their vocal powers or bright colors. A 
provision prohibiting possession of plumage or ‘ any part of a bird ’ 
is necessary to prevent sale of birds for millinery purposes, and 
overcome the objection which is sometimes raised that prohibitions 
against the killing and possession of a bird do not apply to its 
plumage or to one of its wings when used as a hat decoration. 
