6 Massachusetts Audubon Society 



Block Island. This flight of Northern hawks and owls probably was caused 

 by the great scarcity of rabbits or hares in the Hudson Bay country. These 

 form a large part of the food of great horned owls and goshawks in winter. 

 These birds will decrease the numbers of grouse and quail in Massachu- 

 setts. Already grouse are scarce over a large part of the State. 



The Commissioners on Fisheries and Game have placed a warden on 

 Martha's Vineyard, whose principal duty will be to defend the heath hen 

 from its many enemies. The numbers of the bird have been reduced now 

 so low that they need special protection. 



Northern shrikes were reported throughout the State, in some sections 

 in greater numbers than usual. Pine siskins were noted first in Massachu- 

 setts at Provincetown, at the end of Cape Cod, and in other outer towns of 

 the Cape, but no great numbers have been reported as yet. During the 

 latter part of December a few redpolls appeared in some localities. They 

 were first noted in Maine and are now reported in Massachusetts. Snow 

 buntings came as early as usual along the coast, and they, with the horned 

 larks, appeared in considerable numbers. In December, however, they were 

 noted nearly the entire length of the State, and one large flock of Lapland 

 longspurs was reported. Thus far pine grosbeaks and crossbills have not 

 been heard from in any numbers; only a few are noted. Reports of winter- 

 ing robins come from nearly all parts of the State. Meadowlarks and flickers 

 were noted through December west to the Connecticut Valley and some even 

 farther west. A number of mockingbirds have been reported wintering in 

 the eastern part of the State and in Rhode Island and Connecticut. 



On the whole, the winter birds have not been as common as usual. 

 Early in December chickadees appeared in rather large numbers, but have 

 decreased, until late in the month nearly all reports told of decreasing num- 

 bers. It is quite possible that they may have moved farther south. The 

 only small bird that has appeared from the north in large numbers is the 

 tree sparrow. This is reported almost everywhere in greater numbers than 

 last year. 



The State Ornithologist is anxious to receive reports on the movements 

 of winter birds. Correspondents should address him at Room 136, State 

 House, Boston, Massachusetts. 



FEDERAL SHOOTING REGULATIONS. 



A single change in the Federal shooting regulations has been made. It 

 pertains to shooting before sunrise. Under the former regulations, shooting 

 before sunrise was forbidden; but there was a great demand, especially from 

 Western States, for a change in this regulation. The representation was 

 made that in many of these States ducks left the lakes early in the morning 

 to feed in the fields, and did not return until nightfall. This was particu- 

 larly the case in the inter-mountain States, where there is not a great deal 

 of water and the opportunities to shoot waterfowl are few. The Secretary 

 of Agriculture therefore has announced a change in this regulation to per- 

 mit shooting from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. This applies 

 to the entire country, and became eff^ective on October 15, 1917. It does 

 not, however, replace the State law where the State law imposes a stricter 

 prohibition. 



The law making effective the treaty with Canada has not yet been 



