8 Massachusetts Audubon Society 



and smaller shore birds to congregate early in the season. When the writer 

 first used to gun at this slough about ten years ago but few sportsmen went 

 to it. In recent years, however, the number of gunners has increased, and 

 competition for blinds has become so keen that gunners went to the slough 

 and camped there 48 hours before the open season last year in order to have 

 a place from which to shoot. On the opening day of the season there were 

 at least thirty-five gunners around this small area, and the birds coming 

 into it were practically exterminated. 



This is a very favorable spot around which to establish a bird sanctuary, 

 and on behalf of our board I call your attention to the desirability of estab- 

 lishing it as such. I have sounded out the sentiment among a number of 

 sportsmen who have frequented this place in years gone by, and they are of 

 the opinion that things have come to such a pass that this is the only practical 

 thing to do, and will result in the saving of a substantial number of birds. 

 We would suggest that the whole farm be made a bird sanctuary. We will 

 undertake to stock it with pheasants and quail. At this time we cannot state 

 how far our finances will enable us to provide a deputy who will patrol the 

 whole area throughout the entire open season, but we certainly will make a 

 special point to protect it during the early part of the season. 



The foregoing is sufficient to give you briefly our ideas on the subject, 

 and we would be pleased to amplify them either in coming before your hon- 

 orable board or in answering any specific questions which you may wish to 

 put to us. We have great sympathy with the sportsmen's point of view, and 

 it is not our purpose to use this as an entering wedge to the shutting off" of 

 more territory in this locality. We believe that the preservation of the birds 

 in this small area from which they can work out into the surrounding country 

 will still provide a reasonable amount of shooting, and protection thus af- 

 forded should tend to a substantial increase of the game in that region. 



Assuring you that we shall be pleased to co-operate with you fully in 



reference to the above plan, we are, 



(Signed), William C. Adams, 



Chairman. 



A FRIENDLY NUTHATCH. Miss Katrine Blackinton writes: "Tlie feed- 

 ing-stations and seeds have been a great 

 source of pleasure to us. I now have a nuthatch who comes into my bed- 

 room, where the long French windows stand always open, and takes nuts 

 from all places in the room. If I happen to be there, he usually helps him- 

 self at my dressing-table, which stands near the window. He has grown to 

 be quite a member of the family. I mention this because it seems interesting 

 to know that that sort of relationship may be established with a wild bird in 

 the winter. It was due in the beginning largely to your sunflower seeds." 



