Massachusetts Audubon Society 3 



FORM OF BEQUEST 



/ give and bequeath to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Incor- 

 porated, the sum of Dollars for its 



Reserve Fund. 



LEGISLATION 

 YELLOWSTONE PARK 



The "Smith of Idaho Bill" is no longer on the Unanimous Consent 

 Calendar of the Congress at Washington, having been removed when it 

 came up for consideration through the objection of Representative Siegel of 

 New York. At least two of our Massachusetts Representatives — Walsh of 

 New Bedford and Tague of Boston — were on hand and ready to make ob- 

 jection if necessary. Vigilance on the part of the Aububon Societies and 

 their prompt action in taking up the matter with their Congressmen had 

 much to do with this setback to a pernicious piece of proposed legislation. 

 The bill, if passed, not only would turn over a part of Yellowstone National 

 Park to irrigation schemes — harmful to the wild life of the place — but 

 would be a most unfortunate precedent tending to destroy the rights of the 

 general public in these playground spots, which should be, in all respect, 

 the property of the whole nation. It is to be hoped that the career of this 

 Bill is ended. The thanks of the Society are due to all who responded to 

 the call of alarm. 



ITHE WOODCOCK BILL 



A bill that would unwisely extend the open season on woodcock in 

 Massachusetts was proposed this winter. The bill would have given the 

 hunters an opportunity to shoot the locally hatched birds on the breeding 

 grounds, and it is believed would have resulted in great reduction in the 

 number of these valuable birds. Because they have been safe on the breed- 

 ing grounds until the young were fully grown and ready for the fall migra- 

 tion, the woodcock are beginning to breed again rather numerously in 

 Massachusetts. The bill could but result in great harm to this desirable 

 condition, and it was vigorously opposed in the Committee. It failed of 

 favorable action, and was referred to the next General Court. It will be 

 watched for next year and again opposed if it comes up. 



THE FORESTRY BILL 



Bird protectionists take great interest in the bill of the Massachusetts 

 Forestry Association, providing for the purchase of large areas of waste 

 land by the State and converting them into State forests along lines and 

 by methods proved effective in other countries. The Society's representa- 

 tive advocated it before the Ways and Means Committee at the hearing in 

 its behalf, and the Society stands ready to do all it can to aid in making this 

 Bill a law. It was enthusiastically endorsed by a large attendance at the 

 hearing. No opposition developed there, and it received only favorable 

 comment from members of the Committee at that time. The Ways and 

 Means Committee have not yet reported. 



