170 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Mar. 



the aesthetic motives, the practical value of the encouragement of 

 birds in both these places is of inestimable importance, as they 

 constitute the most efficient protective agencies of the trees 

 that can be secured, and the cost of their assistance the cost 

 of the nesting boxes, etc. regarded in the light of an insurance 

 premium against insect depredations, is at the lowest rate imagin- 

 able. 



The existence of two such bird sanctuaries will undoubtedlv 

 tend to prevent the gradual disappearance from the Ottawa 

 district of a number of birds which are becoming less abundant 

 than formerly. Further, it is reasonable to expect that when 



the northerlv migrations are taking place in the spring, the en- 

 couragement we are arranging to offer will meet with a response, 

 and birds which otherwise would have passed on will stay with 

 us through the season to our profit in every way. The scheme 

 will afford the best check that we can adopt in preventing, 

 so far as is possible, the gradual departure of a number of our 

 native birds from the Ottawa district. 



The successful carrying out of this scheme will require the 

 sympathy and willing co-operation of all. The Field-Naturalists' 

 Club is honoured by having as its patron H.R.H. the Duke of 

 Connaught, Governor-General of Canada, who has requested 

 me to express his warm sympathy and interest in this proposal. 

 Mr. Borden, the Prime Minister, to whom I explained the scheme 

 wrote: "It is needless to say that the proposal which you have 

 in hand commands my entire sympathy." Sir Wilfrid Laurier 

 has for some time urged the adoption of such a scheme. The 

 Field-Naturalists' Club feels that it can rely upon the assistance 

 of all those who have the preservation of the beaut}- and charm 

 of our city and its surroundings at heart. With a view to assist- 

 ing in the suppression of the wanton destruction of nests by 

 robbing and birds by small rifle shooting on the part of boys in 

 and around the city, the assistance of the Boy Scouts is being 

 secured. Col. A. P. Sherwood, Commissioner of Dominion 

 Police, writes: "I assure you that you could not have appealed 

 to anybody more sympathetic in regard to the protection of 

 our native birds, and I will certainly have this matter taken 

 up at once by the Local Council of Boy Scouts". It seemed to 

 to mc that as protectors of bird life and as policemen, the Boy 

 Scouts would furnish an unrivalled auxiliary in this work. 

 The idea is in accord with the spirit of the Boy Scout movement 

 and the influence of such boys upon their more wayward and 

 less enlightened brothers would undoubtedly be beneficial. 



Finally, we must remember that the results of our action 

 along the lines I have indicated will not influence Ottawa alone. 



