GAME
—for the preservation of which such a succession of LAWS have been enacted, were, in many of the former preambles to the different ACTS of Parliament, extended to "the Heron, Pigeon, Mallard, Duck, Teal, Widgeon, or any such Fowl;" but in the present construction, GAME is generally considered to imply no more than the HARE, PHEASANT, PARTRIDGE, HEATH-FOWL, and MOOR GAME, which are the whole of what is intentionally included in the GAME LAWS; and what persons possessed of certain qualifications, as well as an ANNUAL CERTIFICATE, are empowered to kill. Deer of every description are also denominated GAME; but they are protected by LAWS appropriate to their peculiar preservation. Rabbits were also included in many of the earliest acts relating to GAME, but are now considered of no consequence, except in WARRENS, where being private property, and productive of annual profit, they have LAWS for the security of THE OWNER, with very heavy penalties annexed to their destruction. Proprietors of DOVE-HOUSE PIGEONS have likewise legal means of redress, upon their pigeons being wantonly shot at or destroyed. The mallard, wild-duck, widgeon, teal, &c. are not without LAWS for their increase, and proportional preservation. See Decoy.