282 Bird - Lore 



exists between them and agriculture. If we can devise some means of imparting 

 such knowledge to the whole mass of the jieople, we will most surely show them 

 that it is to their interest to preserve birds; and, when we have succeeded in 

 doing this, the result desired — the preservation of birds — will surely follow. 



That the present knowledge of this important economic subject is lamentably 

 deficient is a self-evident fact which is shown in many ways. 

 Present Lack Among a great many people, chiefly agriculturists, there still 

 exists a deep-seated prejudice against Hawks and Owls, which 

 are now known to be of the very highest value. In a recent government publi- 

 cation, Dr. Fisher says, "The sooner farmers, ranchmen, horticulturists and 

 nurserymen learn that the great majority of birds of prey are their friends and 

 deserve protection, the sooner will depredations by noxious rodents and insects 

 diminish." 



Unfortunately, this knowledge is still largely in the hands of a restricted 

 class of persons who have made a scientific stud\- of the habits of such birds, 

 and until it is widely diffused among the public it is of little value. It is our duty 

 to see that this knowledge is given to the people; when it is, prejudice will be 

 supplanted by protection to the inestimable benefit of agriculture. It is also 

 shown b\- the mass of contradictory bird laws now upon the statute books of 

 the Commonwealths of the country. Local and selfish interests are the basis 

 of many of the existing laws. The beneficial laws that have been secured in the 

 past decade are largely the result of the small measure of education that has been 

 imparted by this Association, and its allies, the scientists in the L^nited States, 

 who are slowlv but surely collecting and arranging facts and data of the utmost 

 value. When (his information lias been imparted to the jjublic, we hope, by this 

 Association, tlie ])eo]>le will voice their wishes to legislators; and, as a result, 

 laws will be enacted that will be national in their far-reaching effect, replacing 

 statutes which cover only restricted districts. Only ignorance and selfish local 

 interests permit entirely contradictory bird laws to control in areas separated 

 only by an imaginary line, or laws that permit the trafllc by a restricted class of 

 persons in assets that belong to the whole ])eopIe. Nor will it be possible for a 

 legislative body to be so controlled by partisan political influences that it defeats 

 measures introduced for the benefit of a Commonwealth. 



The conservation of the natural resources of the country is one of the sul)jects 

 tliat is now beginning to engage the attention of the public, and 

 Importance among its several divisions one of the most important is the careful 

 Knowledge '•''^'^ frugal use of its wild life. The vast imi)orlance of this move- 

 ment is just beginning to be realized. It is a fact not to the credit 

 of the j)ublic that the present generation is selfishly wasteful of the natural wealth 

 of the countr\-. The original owners of the land, we arc lold in ■" I'urchas Pil- 

 grimage," were (aughl to husl and the earth and the trees. Today wild life is 

 wasted to the point of extermii-'ation, in some instances; and within llie lifetime 

 of main of the members of this Association, several s])ecies of birds have become 



