Page:Bird-lore Vol 08.djvu/280

 230 Bird - Lore will be held in forty-two states and the District. To give the proper atten- tion to such a mass of legislative matter requires herculean effort. A bureau devoted to this branch of bird protection alone could be kept busy the entire time, especially if it also gave some attention to the enforcement of the laws. A brief resume of the successes and disappointments of 1906 is as follows: The state of Iowa adopted the Model Law in its most advanced form. (For details, see Bird-Lore, VIII, p. 144.) This law is now in force in thirty-five states and in some portions of British North America. Massachusetts. — In Massachusetts an act was passed protecting the Heath Hen until November, 191 1, and a movement is now on foot to give additional and effective protection to these interesting birds, the sole remain- ing individuals of a race that once were found in a large section of the Middle Atlantic States. The matter is now in a formative condition, but is in charge of Dr. Field of the Massachusetts Game Commission. A law was passed prohibiting the sale at any time of Prairie Chickens or Sharp-tailed Grouse. While these birds are not found in Massachusetts, yet the statute is in line with the most advanced game legislation, i. e., the pro- hibition of all sale, and will be of great value to the states where these birds are found, as it closes an important market. A closed season until November, 191 1, was made on the Wood Duck; this will give that fast-disappearing, and by far the most beautiful of all the water-fowl, a chance to increase, while the action of the Massachusetts legislators will serve as an example for other legislative bodies when they are asked to take the same action. A law was also passed prohibiting the sale of Quail taken in the state and restricting the sale of those taken in other states to November and December. In addition, Ducks brought into Massa- chusetts from other localities cannot be sold in the closed season. There can be no doubt that this admirable record is due, to no small extent, to the educational work of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, in connection with the efforts of the large number of prominent ornithologists who are citizens of this Commonwealth. Louisiana. — The Model Law was reenacted with some important im- provements which were dictated by experience. We are compelled, how- ever, to record a set-back, as both the Robin and Cedar Waxwing were removed from the non-game-bird class and were made game-birds with an open season. These birds had been so long considered game that the pres- ent generation of adult citizens were not willing to relinquish their privilege of shooting them. The coming generation will have to be educated in order to have them look at these birds from a different viewpoint. Mississippi. — While there is no Audubon Society in this state, yet the influence of the work done in nearby states, especially in Louisiana, is tell- ing, for in 1906 the sale and export of all protected game was prohibited and a non-resident license law was adopted.