Page:Bird-lore Vol 05.djvu/187

 I7-1-

The animals and birds accorded protec- tion are mentioned by name in two sched- ules of ‘game' and ‘ native game.’ Game includes Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse, Ptarmigan. Quail, Snipe, Plot-er, Swans and imported wild Ducks: native game comprises Quail. Pigeon. ‘Tui ' or Parson Bird. Curlew, Dutterell. Pied and Black Stilt, Plover, Bittern. Geese and Wild Duck. These stunt-what meager lists can be extender! or cultailzd by declaration of the Governor, who. under an important amend-

ment made in t886. is authorized to prohibit the killing of any native bird absoluter or for such time as tnay be deemed necessary. Under the act of 1880 the open season for game was limited to three monthsI May, June and july (corresponding to an open season during November, Dcrtmher and January in the I’nitcd States), while that for native game lasted four months. and was ﬁxed by notiﬁcation of tlte Governor. This arrangement was changed in rooo by mak- ing one ﬁxed season for both game and native game in May. june and jttly, ext-opt tor the District of Orange. in the smltliern~ most part of the South island, where the season begins in April and closes on the last day of jttne. Poisoning, trapping. snaring, hunting at night, or rising swivel guns in the capture of game are all pro- hibited under the original law. tions relating to birds kept in conﬁnement are explicit but liberal. allowing birds to be domesticated ur kept for propagation, and in such cases to be bought or sold at any time. Under permits from the colonial secretary, eggs or birds may be taken tor distribution to other parts of the colony. An important provislon prohibits absolutely the introduction of certain species which are considered injurious. namely: Foxes. hawks, vulturesorotherbirds of prey and venomous violation of section is punishable by the heaviest penalty men» tioned in the act, a title not exceeding ,(‘roo (22500) or imprisonment for not more than six months.

he sec-

this

reptiles. A

The enforcement or the law is provided for by heav tines, appointmentoi rangers, and by nthoial recognition or acclimatization societie. Fines range from [5 to ,{fzo

Bird- Lore

(325 to $100), and are graded according to the offense Thus, the penalty for destroy- ing eggs or selling game in close season is not more than [5; tor using a swivel gnn, not more than [10; and for capturing or selling game without a license, not more than [20. is paid in part to rangers, in part to persons instrumental in securing convictions, and in part to registered acclimatization societies. One or more rangers [corresponding to our game wardens) may be appointed for each district by the Governor, and any acclima- tization society may become a registered soc ty entitled to all the privileges appet- taining thereto, by depositing a copy of its rules in the otﬁce of the colonial secretary. It may be interesting to note that ﬁsh and game associations are rarely given such oil-i— cial recognition in the United States or Canada; the most notable exceptions being the Delaware Game Protective Association, the Audubon Society of North Carolina. and the Nova Scotia Game and Inland Fishery Protective Society. In these three cases these associations are the ofﬁcial repre» sentatives of the state in enforcing the game lans. (To 112‘ rant/odor.)

The money obtained trom ﬁnes

Annual Conference of Audubon Societies

The Annual of Audubon Socieli s will be held in Philadelphia some time during the week beginning November rt, Igogl Due notice of the place and ex- act time of the meeting will be sent to the secretaries of all the societies by the chair- man of the National Committee.

Conference

Protection for the Night»hawlt in the South

The Night-hawk, or Bullbat, has been so long considered a legitimate target for shot- gun practice, in the south, that a report of prosecution tor killing these birds at Greens» boro, North Carolina, marks the beginning of a new epoch of bird protection in our southern states. Incidentally, we may add, it is evidence of the eﬂective aetivity of the North Carolina Audubon Society under Professor Pearson’s leadership.