Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-17
PROTECTION OF BIRDS.


An Act in the Passage OF Which the Audu-
bon Society Is Interested.
Special Correspondence 81 Gazette and Journal
Dover, Jan. 10. = Representative Bay.
pard, on behalf Of the Delaware Audi
bon Society, will introduce an act for
the protection Of birds and their nests
and eggs.
Section says no person shall, within
the State of Delaware, kill or catch or
have in his or her possession, living or
dead, any wild bird other than a game
bird, nor shall purchase, offer or expose
for sale any such wild bird after 1t has
been killed or caught. No part Of the
plumage, skin or body Of any bird pro-
tected by this section shall be sold or
had in possession for sale. For the pur-
poses OF this act, the following only
shall. be considered az game birds: The
Apatidae, commonly known as swans.
geese, brant and river aud sea ducks !;
the Rallidae, commonly known as rails,
coots, mud hens and galliuules; the
Limicolae, commonly known as shore,
birds, plovers, surf birds, snipe, wood.
SOCK, sandpipers, tatlers and curlews !;
the GallinRe, commonly known as wild
turkeys, grouse, prairie chickens,
,heasants, partridges and quails; slso.
he reed bird and red wing black Eird
II the lcteridae.
Section says no person shall, within
he State Of Delaware, take or need
lessly destroy the nest or the eggs Of
any wild bird, nor shall Lave such nest
or eggs in his or her possession.
Any person who violates any of the
provisions of this act, says section 3,
shall be guilty Of misdemeanor, and
shall be liable to q fine of S. for each
offence, and an additional fine Of s. for
each bird, living or dead, or part of
bird, or nest or eggs possessed In viola
ton Of this act, or to imprisonment for
10 days, or both, at the discretion of
the court
Certificates may be granted, the act
continues, by the associate judge resi-
dent In each county, or by any incor-
porated society of natural history 10 the
State, through such person or officers
as said society may designate to any
properly accredited person OF the age OF
10 years or upward permitting the
holder thereof to collect birds, their
nests or eggs for strictly scientific pur
poses only. In order to obtain such
certificate, the applicant for the same
must present to the person or persons
having the power to grant said certifi.
cate written testimonials from two we'll
known scientific men certifying to tht
good character and fitness OF said ap
pIicant to be intrusted with such prIyil
eye 4 must pay to said persons or Office
81 to defray the necessary expenses at
tending the granting Of such certifi
Gates, and must file, with said person.
or officers properly executed bond il
the sum OF $500, signed by two re
sponsible citizens OF the State a.
sdreties. This bond shall be forfeited
to the State and the certificate becom,
void upon proof that the holder Of such
certificate has killed any bird or takeI
the nest or eggs Of any bird for othe
than the purposes named in sections
and 5 Of this act, and shall be furthe
subject for each such offence to tn
penalties provided in section 3. Th
Certificates authorized by this act shal
be in force for, one year only from th
date of their issue, and shall not b
transferable. The English or Eurorea
house sparrow lpssser domesticus)
not included among the birds protecte,
by. this act, nor shall this act prohibi
any person from killing any bird on hi
own premises when in the act of do
!, stfoyipg his grain, fruit, berries @
boulsry, = gss9p rg
Section 8 authorizes the governor {
set apart each year by proclamatio
one day to be, designated at Arbor an
Bird Day, and to request its observauc
by all public schools, private schools
culleges and other institutions by tn
planting of trees and the adornment q
tine school and public grounds and b
suitable exercises having for their OF
jeot the advancement OF the study q
Arboriculture and promotion OF tn
spirit Of protection to birds and tree
and the cultivation of an appreeiativ
sentiment concerning them. 4
Sand cells hurry themselves in the mu
hp rna,,na Of fhair -lonor. hnrn%. s,raianI