612 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. D«c. 



The woi'k of societies and lecturers is wortby of our attention. 

 The American Ornilholoyists' Union has been progressive, and has 

 bt;^=n successful in having a mutual bird law of the Union established 

 as a law in almost every state east of the Mississippi, except Penn- 

 sylvania and Mrginia. The Audubon Society has also main- 

 tained its activity, and has published many tracts upon the sesthetie 

 features and economic value of our birds and the necessity' of pre- 

 serving them. Individual organizations have been active, and birds 

 are receiving greater thought now than ever before. For example, 

 ''Bird Preservation" has been made one of the necessary and funda- 

 mental features of growers, as the Ceylon Tea Association in India 

 has found it necessary to make a special feature of "bird protection'' 

 to rid plantations of the pests of the tea. At the antipodal point 

 of- the earth,from India, farmers of Chester county, Pa., have or- 

 ganized themselves into clubs in order to reduce the losses from _ 

 the attacks of insects by the protection of birds. The work of the 

 Pennsvlvania State officers has been worthv of attention. Dr. 

 Kalbfus, Secretary of the Game Commission, has been making vig- 

 orous enforcement of the laws against the destruction of song and 

 insectivorous birds, and is making foreigners and careless gunners 

 understand that these birds must be preserved. He has, also, writ- 

 ten several articles bearing upon this important subject, one of 

 which was published, at our request, in the January issue of the 

 monthly bulletin of the Division of Zoology. As Economic Zoolo- 

 gist of the State Department of Agriculture, your Ornithologist has 

 found opportunity to investigate problems concerning bird life, and 

 to publish the results of these investigations in bulletins, which will 

 be sent free to yourselves and your friends upon receipt of names and 

 addresses. Several such bulletins have been issued, and the original 

 illustrations by Mrs. H. A. Surface have been highly commended. 



The individual work of the Ornithologist has been along the fol- 

 lowing lines: 



First. Specimens have been sent by persons in the various parts 

 of the State, as well as in other states, with the request that he 

 name them, and give other information. This has been done, and 

 apparent satisfaction has been given. 



Second. Questions, oral and written. A great many questions 

 have been received by your Ornithologist, and these always have 

 been given careful attention, and the replies have been sent in such 

 detail that the desired information was doubtless conveyed. 



Third. Making investigations. Many investigations must be 

 made, an^l new fad:', must be obtained before making due mention 

 of any statement in a publication for the benefit or aid of readers. 

 We have had an opportunity to examine original material, such 

 ^s stomach contents of birds, and also to learn what other invest?- 



