424 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE _ Off. Doc. 



lining- auimals by poisou. It is antiquated, and does not meet the 

 approval of modern scientists. 



Third: 1 do not think that blackbirds should be listed as game 

 birds. They are not game birds anyhow; whoever heard of shooting 

 a blackbird for food? 



Fourth: I do not think a fifteen-day sale should be permitted. I 

 think a three-day sale is long enough after the end of the hunting 

 season. 



Fifth: A statement of the law as drawn up provides for the killing 

 of birds at anytime they are destroying crojjs. I think the robin, 

 the bluebird, the thrush and other birds will occasionally take a 

 cherry or other fruit, but not to any great extent if properly pro- 

 vided otherwise. I do not think the average farmer or fruit-grower, 

 should be permitted to kill any and every bird just because it takes 

 a little fruit. He can better atford to lose the fruit than to de- 

 stroy all the birds. The kinds or species of birds to be killed should 

 be limited to as few as possible. 



The CHAIR: You have heard the remarks and paper of Prof. Sur- 

 face. What is your pleasure in the matter for the disposition of 

 this address? 



It was moved and seconded that it be embodied in the report of 

 the meeting, which was agreed to. 



MR. NELSON: I want a little information on the sap-sucker. I 

 should like to ask Prof. Surface why they tap trees in the spring? 

 There is one variety of apple tree that they make a regular business 

 of it in the spring. I have tried to find out whether they get any 

 insects or not, but they don't; they seem to do it on warm days 

 when the sap flows, and I would like to know the reason. 



PROF. SURFACE: That is done by the true sap-sucker, a bird 

 that migrates through this State in the spring and fall; that is not 

 the bird to which I have referred. The reason why he does that is 

 that he uses some of the sap for food, and also takes some insects 

 for the same purpose. 



The CHAIR: The next thing in order is the report of the Com- 

 mittee on Poultrj', Norris G. Temple, Chairman. 



Mr Temple read his paper which is as follows: 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON POULTRY. 



Bt Nobkis G. Temple, Chairman. 



The year just closed was, for the poultry fraternity, one of un- 

 precendented success. This was made possible by the favorable 

 conditions during the hatching and rearing season, and the unusual 

 high prices prevailing both for fancy and market purposes and eggs. 



