7 
Federal Protection of Migratory Birds. 
THE MIGRATORY-BIRD TREATY. 
When the migratory-bird law was passed, sportsmen and 
conservationists had in mind the enactment not only of a 
more comprehensive Federal statute but of uniform inter¬ 
national legislation, such legislation as would insure ade¬ 
quate protection to birds on their breeding grounds and in 
their winter homes. To this end the United States Senate 
in 1913 adopted a resolution memorializing the President to 
negotiate treaties with other countries for the protection of 
migratory birds. As a result of negotiation thus initiated 
a treaty between the United States and Great Britain for the 
protection of birds migrating between the United States and 
Canada was concluded at Washington, August 16, 1916, and 
ratified December 7 of the same year. Altogether, 537 
species of migratory birds are included in the various fami¬ 
lies protected by the treaty, and all individual birds of 
each of these families or species are included, even though 
a few individuals may be found within the borders of any 
State the entire year. In other words, if a few individuals 
of any species of migratory bird remain for an indefinite 
period in a particular State this fact does not take from 
them their migratory character and thus remove them from 
the operation of the law. 
BIRDS NOT PROTECTED BY THE TREATY. 
The treaty does not, however, include the gallinaceous 
birds, as quail, pheasants, grouse, and wild turkeys, and 
these still remain wholly within the jurisdiction of the sev¬ 
eral States. Approximately 220 species of migratory birds 
also are excluded from the terms of the treaty because they 
are not specifically named or do not feed chiefly or entirely 
on insects. Included among the unprotected birds are the 
dovekie, skimmer, albatross, tropic bird, anhinga, cormorant, 
pelican, man-o’-war bird, flamingo, spoonbill, ibis, jabiru, 
limpkin, hawk, owl, parrot, trogon, kingfisher, cotinga, 
horned lark, crow, jay, starling, blackbird, sparrow, phino- 
pela, thrasher, and mockingbird. 
