STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. I S3 



rays of the sun, but from insects and worms, which hung by threads or 

 webs and in festoons from these maple trees. We got the English 

 sparrow, and now we have no insect enemies, but all other birds are 

 fled." 



That's a woman's judgment of these birds. 



Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen^ if my poor opinion will add 

 anything to this honest, wise and just decision, I say let us still have^he 

 best specimens of men, women, children and birds from this grand old 

 isle of the ocean. 



Mr. Minier. — Mr. Fresidefit, I hold a little bit of paper which I 

 picked up somewhere ; it looks as though it had been in possession of a 

 member of the Legislature, and had fallen from his pocket. May I read 

 it? 



The President. — Read. 



Permission being given, he read as follows: 



Mr. President and Members of the lilinois State Horticultural Society, in 

 convention assembled : 



I present the following Bill, which I hope will pass this assembly, 

 and be re-enacted by the State Legislature: 



Section i. Be it enacted, etc.. That from and after the passage of this act it shall 

 be unlawful for any tramp, loafer, idler or other gunner to shoot, kill or disturb any 

 bird, snake, toad or other reptile on any lands not belonging to himself in fee simple, 

 without the express permission of the rightful owner or owners of said lands. 



Sec. 2. AnJ be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful, and it is hereby made 

 the duty of each and every owner of real estate in the State of Illinois, whose premises 

 shall have been trespassed upon by such tramp, loafer, idler or other gunner, to deprive 

 him or them of his or their fire-arms, and club, stone, kick or otherwise expel him or 

 them from his lands or tenements. 



Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That unlike all other laws and enactments, 

 said to be for the protection of birds and insect-destroying reptiles, but which are really 

 for the protection of the aforesaid tramps, loafers, idlers and hunters, this act shall 

 apply to every day in the year — Sundays especially. 



Sec. 4. This act shall be deemed an emergency, and shall be in force from and 

 after its passage. (Laughter and applause.) 



Mr. Dennis (to Mr. Minier). — Please look at the bottom of the paper 

 and see if Mr. Minier's signature is not there. (Laughter.) 



Mr. Minier. — Mr. President, the paper has no signature. 



Mr. Wier. — I hope this report will bring out discussion upon birds 

 as related to insects. I made some radical statements in my paper ; but 

 I know the English sparrow did not eat the worms, as mentioned by the 

 lady in Mr. Minier's paper. 



Prof. Thomas. — Yet the worms disappeared. 



