204 Cindnuati Society of Natiiial History, 



SIXTH PAPER. 



By VVm. HuniiKr.L Fisher, F^sc]. 



(Read June i6, iS86.) 



Ladies and (Jentlenien, fellow members of this Society, we 

 have assembled to discuss a very interesting subject, pregnant with 

 influence for good or evil to the farmer, the horticulturist, the fash- 

 ionable classes of our land, and to all who love and enjoy our 

 birds and their melody of song. 



Our first meeting held under the aus])ices of this Society, on 

 evening of the 25th of May last, grew out of an appeal from the 

 Audubon Society. This Society was^ begun in New York City in 

 February of this year. 



What is the object of this Society? Its purj^ose, as it states, 

 is the protection of American birds, not used for food, from de- 

 struction, chiefly for mercantile purposes. 



How came this Society to be ? Because the leading ornithol- 

 ogists of America, in the American Ornithologists Union, discov- 

 ered that an immense number of our native birds were every year 

 destroyed. The majority of these birds thus killed were used to 

 trim hats, muffs and dresses; sometimes the wings, but oftener the 

 head and body. 



Fellow-members, I intend to discuss this subject broadly, and 

 to base what I have to say upon facts of science and upon such 

 well known facts belonging to our nature, that shall, I trust, con- 

 vince you that it is now desirable to create a pul)lic sentiment in 

 favor of the protection of our birds. 



Of what avail is any science? Certainly a science confers 

 most benefit upon a commonwealth, just so far as it most con- 

 tributes to the economies and substantial welfare of the people. 



It will be observed that the cjuestion I discuss to-night does 

 not include the birds used for food. 



Organizations, like our Cuvier Club, are found in every large 

 city, who contribute their money and use their influence to secure 

 proper protective legislation for the preservation of the game of our 

 country, and to prosecute the offenders of such laws. 



So we can, as the Audubon Society does, well afford to leave 



the care of game birds in the hands of their organized protectors. 



But, alas, the other birds have had but few to act for their 



