DIAGRAM SHOWING OPEN SEASONS FOR QUAIL IN 1900. The shaded areas show the months when shooting is permitted: the unshaded areas, the time when the birds are protected by law. Spring shooting is prohibited in practically all of the Northern States, in New Mexico, and several of the Pacific States. 1 Seasons vary in different counties. thirty States, but no protection is afforded these or other shore birds in the South, except in Oklahoma and a few counties of Tennessee. South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nevada protect curlew; North and South Dakota, Colorado, Nevada, and Washington protect cranes, but only six States-New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Illinois, and Wyoming-protect shore birds in general. In these six States the close seasons are short, varying from two months and a half in Massachusetts to six months in Rhode Island; the open seasons begin from July 15 to September 1, and as a rule continue until the first of the following April or May. No game is more in need of protection than shore birds, and unless close seasons are more generally observed, the effect of unrestricted slaughter will soon be apparent. DUCKS. Comparison of the diagrams showing open seasons for ducks and quail brings out the great disparity in the protection afforded these two kinds of birds. Notwithstanding their abundance in many localities, waterfowl are in great need of protection, but receive comparatively little, and in nine States apparently none at all at the present time. With few exceptions the open seasons begin the 1st of September and extend to the 1st of April or May-a period of seven or eight months, or nearly three times as long as the average quail season in the North. In New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Kentucky, North Dakota, Idaho, and Washington the seasons open as early as August, but, on the other hand, in Vermont, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota they close before the end of the year, and thus do away with spring shooting. The shortest open season (53 days) is that of Ohio. (See Pl. VI.) Close and open seasons for deer, quail, woodcock, and ducks in 1900. Nov. 1-Oct. 22 Until Nov. 1, setts. 1903. Rhode Island Until Feb. 1, 1905. Connecticut. Until Oct. 1, 1903. New York... Nov. 16-Sept. 1 New Jersey Until Mar. 24, Maine shire. Vermont Massachu. Dec. 15-Oct. 1 Dec. 1-Oct. 1 Dec. 1-Sept. 15 May 1-Sept. 1 77 0 0 0 1902. Pennsylva- Dec. 1-Nov. 1 2 Except month of July. Close and open seasons for deer, quail, woodcock, and ducks in 1900-Continued. Jan. 1-Sept. 1 Mar.15-Sept.15 Mar. 15-Sept. 15 Apr. 1-Sept. 15 || 122 California Oct. 15-July 15 4 Mar. 1-Oct. 1 (Apr. 1-Sept.15 } Dec. 15-Mar. 1 1901. 92 31 122 151 181 198 122 198 195 198 * Mountain quail Feb. 15-Sept. 1. |