246 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



not only to prohibit gunning and the destruction of birds on their prem- 

 ises, but also induce them to nest in the orchards by placing nest boxes 

 in the trees. They might even go farther, and introduce the English 

 sparrow, and thus test by experiment its value. When it is possible thus 

 to test this question practically, without any great outlay, it appears to 

 me to be unnecessary to theorize and discuss, year after year, the character 

 of this or that bird. 



I have more I should be glad to add on this subject, but I have, 

 perhaps, already said too much, unless it had been better digested and 

 more systematically presented. I will, therefore, close, with the earnest 

 request that you befriend the birds. They will richly repay you for any 

 care you may take for their protection. 



CYRUS THOMAS. 



BILL FOR A BIRD LAW. 



Prof. Thomas also forwarded the following text for a bill, which was 



also read ; and this, together with the essay, was approved by vote of the 



Society, and the Secretary instructed to forward the bill to some member 



or members of the General A.ssembly, with the request of the Society that 



^be enacted into a law : 



A Bill for an Act to amend Chapter 6i of the Revised Statutes of i86i, 



entitled "Game.^^ 



Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General 

 Assembly : 



That chapter sixty-one of the Revised Statutes of 1874, entitled " Game," be 

 amended by the addition of the following section : 



Section 16. The county court, in counties not adopting township organiza- 

 tion, and the board of supervisors in counties adopting township orrjanization, be 

 and the same are hereby authorized, whenever such court or board may deem it ex- 

 pedient to do so, to extend the time during which it shall be unlawful to destroy birds, 

 as set forth in said statute. And the provisions of said statute as to penalties, and in 

 all other resi)ects, so far as applicable, shall apply as fully and completely to any such 

 destruction of birds during such extended time as they now do to such destruction 

 during the time or times as limited in said first section of said statute. 



Accompanying the text for a bill was a request from Prof. Thomas, 

 that the Society indorse the bill by resolutions, if they agree to it, and 

 forward it with such indorsement to some member or members of the 

 General Assembly. 



This letter was also read by the Secretary. 



Mr. Galusha moved that a consideration of the proposition of Prof. 

 Thomas be made the special order of business for to-morrow at nine 

 o'clock, which was agreed to. 



