ORNITHOLOGY 



127 



special effort to promote proper protec- 

 tion and care of birds." 



It is indeed gratifying to note the in- 

 terest being- shown in this subject by 

 such magazines, and denotes an awaken- 

 ing which is becoming wide-spread and 

 must certainly result in a great deal of 

 good. Publicity means education, and 

 education means progress. 



Dr. Arthur W. King of Jacksonville. 

 Fla., who has recently returned from a 

 motor-boat trip around the lower part 

 of that state, brings back well authenti- 

 cated reports of a good-sized colony of 

 Roseate Spoonbills on an island near 

 Caxambas on the west coast, and it is 

 hoped arrangements may be made at 

 once for the protection of these beauti- 

 ful birds, which were formerly so abun- 

 dant but had become nearly extermin- 

 ated throughout the state. It is grati- 

 fying also to learn of the large rook- 

 eries of the "great white" and snowy 

 egrets in regions through which he 

 passed, the recent increase of these 

 birds being largely due, no doubt, to the 

 excellent work of the Audubon Society 

 wdiich has done so much to stop the 

 plumage traffic and to protect the fast- 

 disappearing birds of this region. 



Two recent publications by the ]\Iass. 

 State Board of Agriculture of especial 

 interest to bird students are Circular 

 No. 45, entitled "The Starling" and Cir- 

 cular No. 47 on Bird Houses and nest- 

 ing Boxes." The former gives a his- 

 tory of the introduction of the Starling 

 into America and the increase, dis- 

 tribution, food and habits of this bird of 

 questionable character, while the latter 

 covers well the subject of which it 

 treats, and being fully illustrated 

 should be of valuable assistance to 

 those contemplating erecting bird boxes 

 on their gromids. 



Both circulars are l:)y Edward Howe 

 Forbush. the State Ornithologist, 

 known throughout the country for his 

 painstaking work and valuable con- 

 tributions on eccjnomic ornitholoe:^^ 



sistants to our agriculture. We are de- 

 pendent upon the birds much more 

 than the average person has realized, 

 and their protection and increase about 

 our homes has a large bearing upon the 

 insect problem, which is so vital to any 

 lover of trees. Let us not forget them 

 when we plan our grounds. 



The many attractive appliances in 

 the natv:re of feeding stations, nesting- 

 boxes and bird-l)aths now oft'ered the 

 bird-loving ]n:blic are doing much to 

 stimulate an interest in our feathered 

 friends and to bring us into a right 

 relation with these most valuable as- 



Beautiful Photograph of Snowy Owl. 



Ebensl)urg, Pennsylvania. 



To the Editor : 



I am sending the photograph of a 

 snowv owl, which I took some time 

 ago. Experts say that this species of 



A SX(:)\N"Y 0\VL. 



owl is rare in Pennsylvania, and is 

 usually found in the state of }^Iaine. 



The bird is one of the most beautiful 

 specimens of this type ever seen. It 

 was shot and slightly injured near 

 Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, and upon 

 discovery that the l>ird was in the pro- 

 tected class, was turned over to the 

 state game warden for this district. 



Yours ver}- truly. 



Deck Laxe. 



A Four }klonth's Trial Sul)scri])tior 

 for onlv 2SC. Send to a friend. 



