Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-18
FOR PROTECTION OF BIRDS
Good Work of the Delaware
Audubon Society.
ITS MEMBERSHIP ALMOST 800
Although 1t is Only One Year
Old.


The Text OF the Act for the protection OF
birds Passed at the Late session Of the
General Assembly and Approved by Gov.
Hunn--No Cost for Membership,
Communicated.
The Delaware Audubon Society is
one year old, and has membership of
nearly 500. This is a tine showing.
To this number it is hoped to add
many more. Let US have the names of
all who want to save our birds 1t
costs nothing to become memher of
the society Send name and address
10 Mrs. William S. Hilles, No. 904
Market street, Wilmington, and in
return you Will reoeiYe q membership
card. What schuol in the State will
send in the largest list Of namess
The president of this society will
always be willing to answer any ques-
tilns that the readers of this column
may wish to know. Address all let
tiers to President Delaware Audubon
Society, No. 1919 Delaware avenue,
Wilmington.
. The members Of the Audubon
Society, as we'll as other bird lovers,
will no doubt be pleased to read the
new law for the protection of birds in
Delaware, which was approved by Gov.
HUM the day after the adjournment OF
the General Assembly. A certified copy
| of the act appears below. We trust
that all the newspapers tf tho State
| will print it. 1t Ia as follows;
! Section |. No person shall, within the
State of Delaware, Kill or catch or have in
his or her possessionj living or dead, any
wild hird other than a game bird, nor shall
| nIaea ~ fAH ~ " mi 70
wild bird after It has been killed or caught,
! For the purposes Of this act, the following
| only shall be considered game birds; The
| Hnatidaa, commonly known as swans, geese,
brant and river and sea ducks; the rallide,
commonly known as rails. coots, mudhens
and galinues; the limicolas, commonly
known as shore birds, ployers, surf birds,
snipe, woodceck, sandpipers, tatlers aud
curlews; the galline. commonly known Of
wild turkeys. grouse, prairie chickens,
| pheasants, parJridges and quails; also, tht
reed bird of the icterida...
Sec. 2. No person shall, within the State
of Delaware, take or needlessly destroy the
nests or eggs of any wild bird, nor shal
have such nests or eggs 10 bis or her posses
sion. t'ag
Sec. 8. Any person who violates any o.
the provisions of this act shall be guilty o.
misdemeanor, and shall be liable ~ a 8nt
of SIS tor each offence, and an additiona
fine of SIS for each bird, living or dead, Of
part of bird, or nest or eggs possessed II
| violation OF this act, or to imprisonment
for 10 days, OF both, at the discretion of thu
court.
Sec. A. Sections /, 2 and 8 of this &c
shall nut apply to any person holding q Ger
tificate giving the right to take birds ant
their nests and eggs for scientific purposes
as provided for in section 8 of this act,
Sec. 8. Certificates may be granted by thu
associate judge resident In each county, o.
by any incorporated society OF natural his
tory in the State, through such persons o
officers as snid society may designate, to an.
properly accredited person of the age OF Il
years or upward, permitting the holde
thereof to collect birds, ther nests or eggs
for strictly scientific purposes only. In orde
to obtain such certificate, the applicant 10
the same must present to the person or per
sons, having power to grant said certificate
written testimonials from two well-knowl
scientific men, certifying to the good char
acter and fitness OF said applicant to be in
! trusted with such privilege, must pay &
, said persons or officers 81 to defray th
necessary expenses attending the granting Q
, persons or officers a properly executed bon
In the sum of 5000, signed by two RESPONSE
BILE citizens of the State as sureties. Thi
bond shall be forfeited to the State, and tn
certificate become void, upon proof that til
holder of such certificate has killed an
Difn, OF taken tne nest or eggs OF any Dire
, for other than the purposes named iu section
, and of this act, and shall BIZ further sui
,, ject for each such offence to the penaltie
provided therefor in section ) of this act.
Sec. 6. The certificates authorized by thi
D act shall be in force for one year only frol
. the date OF their issue, and shall not
transferable.
! Sec. z. The English or European hous
i sparrow (passer doinesticus), the red win
black bird, the purple gtackle, sometime
2 known as the crow backbird, are not II
! cluded among the birds protected by tn
. act; nor shall this act prohibit any perso
0 from killing any bird on his own premise
2 when In the act of destroying his grail
fruit, berries or poultry, such birds 60 kille
shall not be offered for sale.
Sec. 8. The governor Is hereby authorize
! to set apart each year by proclamation or
8 day to be designated as arbor and bird da,
, and to request its Observance by all publ
schools, private schools colleges and 9th,
I institutions, by the planting of trees and IL
, adornment of the school and public grount
= and by suitable exercises, having for the
object the advancement of the study
' arbor culture and promotion of the spir
/. of protection 70 birds and trees and the Gu
8 tiyation Of an apprecatiye sentiment col
r corning them.
Sec. 8. All acts or parts of acts, heretofo
a passed, inconsistent with or contrary to d
. provisions of this act, are hereby repealed
4