Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-11
THE DOVE AND THE LAW.


In the legislative discussion as to
| when the open season." the time when
legal sanction Of the killing OF mourn
| ing doves should begin, the main ques-
| ton was as to whether or not these
birds eat enough fall grain to occasion
| any real damage. The conclusion was
reached that since the doves take some
grain. they should be destroyed Tho
grain taken by these birds, mainly
waste and CLEANED after harvest. is
trlfling IN amount: but apart from
this fact, there are sufficient reasons,
founded in history and literature. why
the dove should be both spared and
protected And as matter Of sentl-
ment and humanity. boys should not be
permitted to kill doves for any reason.
Many youths were afeld about this
city last Sunday morning. with No
20 rifles, shooting at whatever they
could find In the way OF bird or beast
The writer encountered two Of them
aged ~ and is years respectively.
shooting ground squirrels. for no other
purpose as they explained, than "jugt
for the fun OF IT," They made no use
OF their game. letting the bodies lie
to rot IN the sunshine. 1t was on an
incloscd pasture, and not In any ouiti-
waited field. that they were hunting; 50
that there was no useful purpose In
their sport-only the mere unlawful
practice with firearms unlawfully held
by minors. The paltry but lamentable
10 40 fttrf Of
desolate and all but llfeless hillsides OF
the remnant OF wild life that stu re-
mains upon them. The little ground
squirrel Is a most interesting and COM
zeal fellow; II Is a real entertainment
to see him sit erect and listen and
watch IL you come near or 10 OBJ
serve his amusing antics In eating as
he holds his vegetable food in his paws
and munches IL with dainty nibblins
Why land owners OF uncultivated fields
should be so ready To sacrifice this in
teresting animal where it is not a
nuisance. we fail TO understand OF
course, II might be otherwise in grain
fields and orchards or even when there
Is any danger of the squirrels spread
ing the bubonic plague. as they have
been accused OF doing In California.
The boys mentioned the fact that the
open season for doves would soon be
here, and then they could have great
FUN shooting these birds. Asked
when the open season began, they an
swered. In August" they also knew
and admitted that the doves still have
broods OF nestllngs long after the open
season." as given by our state law
aug l5) has commenced
4 pair OF these birds, alighting on
a wire fence, rested there d long time.
and as the writer studied their ex-
quisite beauty through bird glasses.
the wonder arose anew as to how
Legislators could be so thoughtless, SO
cruel. AS to permit the destruction OF
these pretty creatures for the triflng
harm they are suspected of doing in
grain fields, How men could bring
their consciences to the point OF
opening the gates for the slaughter
OF these innocents at such time
as TO permit the unhedged young TO
starve in the nests, is further
enigma
The law Of Moses was more humane.
In biblical times wild doves OF three
species were common. We have but
one kind since the determination Of
the passenger pigeon. Doves we're so
numerous In Palestine as to be used
for articles Of commerce and for tenn
pie offerings during thousands OF
Years, and apparently without dlminu-
ton of their numbers. The law es-
pecialy stipulated that brooding
bird should not be disturbed. This was
Of course in order that the birds
might continue reproduction and not
diminish in number. only young
birds were used for sacrifice. Luke
records that, at the birth of Jesus.
Mary went up To Jerusalem Ito offer
4. sacrifice to that which Is said in
the law OF the Lord, pair OF turtle
doves or two young pigeons" For the
doves migrated. while pigeons re-
NAMED all the year. so that. when
the doves had departed there
were stll pigeons in abundance.
Another reason for the require
ment that this Offering should toe
young may have been TO represent
innocence and purity. At all events.
this was what the dove always signi-
ned TO the prophets and poets OF the
Bible David lIkened the people Of
God TO the bird preferred In sacri-
fice. 20 deliver not the soul OF thy
turtle-doVe unto the wild beast. for
get not the life OF thy poor forever"
Isaiah in his fine imagery describing
the accession Of gentiles to the
Church. asks. who are these that