THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
and we are that much ahead of our eastern 
brothers. Ile is a beauty: a fighter: and is use- 
ful as well as ornamental. 
F. S. MATTESON 
Turner, Or. 
May 23rd, 1895. 
There are two authentic cases in Portland of half breeds, 
resulting from a cross of the Denny cock with the domes- 
tic hen. Two cases also are reported from the valley. 
Eb. 
WRITTEN FOR THE OREGON NATURALIST: 
LEGAL PROTECTION FOR BIRDS AND 
THEIR NESTS. 
The Legislature of Florida has beeen severely 
criticised Jately for passing a law absolutely 
prohibiting the robbing or destroying of birds 
nests and thekilling ofbirds, The mania for 
collecting nests and eggs merely as curiosities 
has become so widespread and destructive of 
late that [am very glad to find that public 
opinion is becoming aroused on the subject. 
Many an owner of a fine oological collection 
would be quite as well off with a cabinet filled 
with glass marbles, The students who can 
make a private collection really useful are few, 
very few indeed yet assuredly the aims and ob- 
jects of these few should be respected, and an 
investigator ought notte treated as a criminal 
for unselfishly working for the advancement of 
science, 
It is quite possible however to frame a law 
which would afford birds full protection against 
curio hunters without interfering with the 
scientific studies of real naturalists, as was by 
Otto Bullis in a paper published in th Proceed- 
ings of the Minnesota fiorticultural Suciety for 
1892. 
Discussing a bird law then in force in that 
state Mr, Bullis said that it stated in effect that 
specimens of all species of native fauna might 
be collected fcr the natural history department 
of the State University, and for exchange with 
other universities, but that there was no law 
granting permits for the collection of specimens 
to any, or saying who might do the collecting. 
75 
From this it appeared that the many specimens 
in the University museum had been unlawfully 
collected, making it apparent that those most 
interested in framing the law had _ themselves 
violated it and so could not consistently expect 
others to respect it. 
In some states, Mr, Bullis said, there is a 
law by which permits may be granted to suit- 
able persons to collect specimens not to exceed 
a certain number, provided the person request- 
ing such a permit furnish a proper reference and 
bond. 
It is generally thought that persons sufficient- 
ly interested in Ornithology and Oology to take 
the trouble to obtain such a permit would use it 
judiciously and would do all in their power to 
uphold the law and prevent the useless destruc- 
tion of birds, 
The framezs of a bill now before the Illinois 
Legislature, however, appear to believe that 
giving bond and furnishing references would 
not be sufficient guarantee of good intentions 
and they propose to charge twenty dollars for 
permits to collect. This, however well meant, 
is going to extremes and is equal to the complete 
prohibition of collecting. If permits were grant- 
ed for a reasonable fee the new law, if passed, 
would be useful, effective, and entitled to re- 
spect instead of defeating its own ends. 
The Illinois bill, as reported in a Chicago 
paper, is not altogether destitute of picturesque 
elements, For example it is forbidden to col- 
lect nests or eggs of the Bull-finch, Canary and 
Linnet, This part of the law will probably 
be strictly observed in that state, whether it is 
passed or not, 
ANGUS GAINES 
Vincennes, Indiana 
Platinum has been discovered on the land of 
William Lewthwaite, on the north side of the 
Clackamas river, about three miles from Ore- 
gon City. 
Remember that to contribute an unknown 
fact to the life history of a bird, is of more con- 
sequence than to add its eggs to your collection. 
