The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-07-27
PROTECTION OF SONGBIRDS
AND GAME BIRDS.


AND GAME BIRDS.
Game Warden Dennis plea for the
protection of songbirds, published in
"The Sun" day or two ago, ought to
have a wholesome effect in this COM
munity and vicinity. There can be
no excuse for the slaughter of our
feathered songsters either by boys or
adults, and Mr.. Dennis will do what is
right if he enforces the law rigidly
against those who at any season-and
especially at his season-destroy
birds which ought to be joy and in
SEPARATION to all lovers of beauty and
melody. 81 do not believe" says
Warden Dennis, "that the destruction
of songbirds is done by grown persons,
but by our youth" 1t is almost in
conceivable that any man, except one
utterly thoughtless and pos sessing no
humane and refined feelings, would
deliberately kill creatures that appeal
to all that is tender and beautiful in
human nature. Certainly, no man
who makes the least claim to sport
manlike instincts would like to have it
known that be had slaughtered from
sheer wantonness the feathered music
makers of forest and hedge. A man
might we'll hide his head in shame at
being caught in so unmanly, unsports.
manlike and mean an act. Parents
should impress upon their sons that
the slaughter of songbirds is unworthy
of boy of refined feelings; that it is
no evidence of skill with rifle or slung
shot to kill birds that have been al
most domesticated. Of course, boys
should also be informed that there is
penalty for the destruction of song
birds, but the plea should be mainly to
the finer side of their natures. AL
English poet wrote that he would not
enter on his list of friends, though
graced with polished manners and fine
sense, yet wanting sensibility, the man
who needlessly sets his foot upon q
worm. The boy who turns his rifle
or slungshot upon every bird he comes
across ought to be deprived of his
engines of destruction until he acquires
either sufficient sensibility or discre-
ton to keep within the law in his bird
killing expeditions.
Deputy Warden Malcolm, of Balti-
more county, has made public through
"The Sun" letter which he received
recently from State Game Warden
Dennis. The law permits the breeders
of hunting dogs to train them in the
field after September l. 1t has come
to the knowledge of Mr.. Dennis that
already "a number of persons are train
ing their dogs over the fields where
woodcock, pheasants and quail are
breeding" The Game Warden has,
therefore, instructed Mr.. Malcolm to
enforce the law against those who
have been violating it after warning.
Sportsmen generally will approve Mr.
Dennis action in this matter. Game
birds ought not to be molested in any
way now, and even on September l
the young birds are not strong enough
to be hunted, if only for the training of
dogs. Mr.. Dennis appeals to "that
class of hunters who always respect
the law" to postpone until October l
their right to train dogs in the field.
To this request true sportsmen sh ould
readily accede. That it will be to
their benefit eventually is unquestion
able. To put dogs in the field on Sep
TENDER l to scatter coveys of half
grown cartridges may possibly be
good for the dogs. but it certainly
does not tend to increase the number
of birds. Even on October | part
ridges have not acquired their full
strength and siza, as every sportsman
knows who has hunted them thus
early. Il is not uncommon in Mary
land to find in November partrldges
which are too small to be shot, owing
to late breeding. Mr.. Dennis recon-
mendations are timely and practical.
Tue game birds ought to be protected
from the premature activities Of train
ers of dogs, otherwise they will not
flourish. Call off the dogs and give
the birds chance to grow, Otherwise
there may be few game birds to shoot
when the season opens.-Baltimor
Sun.
1t is stated that the general strike