Monthly Bulletin 3 



a nuisance. The bird is insectivorous, but it is also destructive to apples 

 and other fruit. It monopolizes nesting boxes and drives better birds away. 

 The bill passed and the Starling is no longer protected. That does not mean 

 that everybody will get out and shoot Starlings. It merely means that in 

 case the birds, by their numbers, become an intolerable nuisance in this 

 State as they have already in some others, aggrieved householders may 

 legally defend their homes against them. Starlings seem as canny and as 

 well able to take care of themselves as crows. 



BIRD DAY. A law has been enacted fixing Arbor and Bird Day by 

 authority of the State. Arbor and Bird Day is to be cele- 

 brated on the last Saturday in April, this year on the 28th, and the statute 

 provides tliat exercises in the schools of the State shall be held on the 

 Friday before. The welfare of birds and trees is so closely connected that 

 it is appropriate that both should have the same day of the year set aside 

 for them. It will be appropriate on Arbor Day to plant trees and also to 

 put out bird-houses. 



THE STATE Mr. Forbush's bill for the publication of a book on 



ORNITHOLOGIST, the birds of Massachusetts, illustrated with colored 

 plates, still awaits enactment in spite of the enthusi- 

 asm for it in many quarters. After being considered by the Ways and 

 Means Committee it has been sent up to the Supervisor of Administration at 

 the State House, where it now rests. As such a book would in the end 

 repay its entire cost to the State and would be of inestimable value to bird- 

 students as well as an aid to Agriculture, it is earnestly hoped that it will 

 be reported favorably and will pass. The Bill for more power and an 

 increased appropriation for the State Ornithologist did not at first meet 

 favor with the Ways and Means Committee, which reduced the appropria- 

 tion from $3900 to $2600. After further consideration and much pressure 

 brought by the friends of the measure the amount was in part restored and 

 the bill became a law with the appropriation standing at $3500. The work 

 of the State Ornithologist has grown rapidly during the last few years and 

 is recognized everywhere as of great value to the Commonwealth. This 

 increased appropriation will provide a stenographer and general office assist- 

 ant, of which there has been great need. 



FEDERAL LEGISLATION. 



All forces working for Conservation in this country are to be con- 

 gratulated on the Ratification of the Treaty with Great Britain, making the 

 protection of our migratory birds uniform in Canada as well as in the 

 United States. This extends the Federal law protecting the migratory game 

 and insectivorous birds, and clinches it. Even if the Supreme Court should, 

 as opponents of the law have hoped, declare it unconstitutional, the law 

 will not fail of effect, for the treaty covers the same ground and is outside 

 the jurisdiction of the Court. In spite of the turmoil and anxiety of war, 

 King George signed the treaty promptly; it has been signed by the Cana- 

 dian and American plenipotentiaries and is now the law of the land. 



