The true sportsman is one of the first to preserve all song birds, and give even game birds a fair chance for life; he is thus very different from the cruel man who, simply because he owns a gun, shoots everything, from a Robin to a Quail, and even in the nesting season." "Please, what is a pot-hunter ?" asked Dodo.
"A pot-hunter is one who kills birds and other game at any time, regardless of the law, merely for the sake of money-making." "Is there a law about killing birds ?" asked Nat.
"Certainly.

All really civilized States have their game-laws, and I hope the time is near when all our States will unite in this matter.

Where there is a good law no wild bird or beast, even those which are suitable and intended for food, may be killed in its nesting or breeding season, or for some time afterward.

Also, these creatures must only be killed by fair hunting, not with snares or traps or by any foul means; and even fishes are thus protected against wanton or excessive destruction." "But if there is a law is some places and not in others, why don't the birds that travel get shot when they go about ?" asked Rap.
"They do, my boy, and that is the pity of it.

Some people seem to think there are so many birds in this great country that they cannot be killed out; and others are brutal, or do not think at all, but kill for the sake of killing.