2 Massachusetts Audubon Society 



THE ENABLING ACT. 



The Enabling Act, giving force to the Migratory Bird Treaty with 

 Great Britain, was passed at 5 o'clock, Thursday, June 6th, by the Con- 

 gress at Washington, D. C. The final vote was overwhelmingly in favor 

 of the Act, something like six to one of those voting on a roll call. New 

 England deserves great credit for the successful outcome of this long 

 struggle. In January the Secretary went to Washington and made a care- 

 ful poll of the New England Congressmen, who were nearly unanimous 

 in favor of the bill. There was at the time little hope that the bill would 

 be got before the House in the overwhelming rush of war legislation. 

 Some weeks ago Mr. Forbush returned from Washington and reported 

 that there was a chance if vigorous work were once again undertaken, and 

 by the advice of Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, a general request was sent out 

 from this office to all New England Bird Protection Associations that they 

 communicate to Hon. Edward Pou, Chairman of the Rules Committee, 

 their desire that the bill be considered. Telegrams and letters pouring 

 in from all New England had their effect, and on Sunday, June 2nd, the 

 Secretary received word from Washington that the bill would be con- 

 sidered on the following Tuesday. He immediately went to Washington 

 and took charge of rounding up the New England delegation in favor of 

 the bill. In this he was successful and the opposition was entirely con- 

 fined to certain portions of the West and Southwest. This opposition was 

 vigorous and prolonged for two days on the floor of the House. The bill 

 was slightly amended and in this amendment the Senate has since failed 

 to concur. This takes it to a conference of the Senate and House, the 

 outcome of which is expected to be favorable to the bill. 



CHECK LISTS. 



Check lists received and number of birds noted are as follows: Ed- 

 win H. Merrill, Winchendon, 54; Bessie M. Graves, Southampton, 107; 

 Lyman E. Nivling, Newton, 102; Robert L. Coffin, Amherst, 99; Annie W. 

 Cobb, Arlington, 190; Eleanor E. Barry, Melrose, 125. 



Miss Cobb, easily the leader, is a very keen student of birds and an 

 enthusiastically persistent observer. Among other rarities she notes Bar- 

 row's golden-eye, seen at Nahant; the seaside sparrow at Martha's Vine- 

 yard; Brewster's warbler, at Marlboro; the Hudsonian chickadee, at the 

 Arboretum. 



Edwin H. Merrill, of Winchendon, though his list is smallest, per- 

 haps deserves greatest credit, for he is an invalid, scarcely able to move 

 from the house, and the birds must come to him to be recognized. Even 

 so, he has heard the clear joy of the white-throat's song and the mystery of 



