ECONOMIC VALUE OF BIRDS TO THE STATE. 21 



them are well-fed pets, the larger proportion are to a greater or less extent 

 dependent on their own efforts, often preferably so, for food. A single cat has been 

 known to catch sixty wild birds in a season, and a well-known naturalist and 

 authority on the birds of New England estimates that at least 1,500,000 birds are 

 killed annually by cats in the New England States. 



It is unnecessary here to dwell on the decrease in bird-life following the clearing 

 of forests, draining of land, accompanying the growth in our population, for this, in 

 a measure, is unavoidable, it being my object only to show that so far as the State 

 assumes an attitude towards the birds, that attitude is one of destruction. 



Wl)at tbe 3tate 3r>oald Do for the I^ird. 



It being demonstrated that, in the main, birds are of great value to the State, it 

 follows that the State should spare no effort to afford its citizens of the air the 

 protection they deserve. How, then, may we most effectively prevent the great 

 destruction of bird-life which occurs in this State? The most rational methods 

 would appear to be : (I) Enforcement of the law ; (2) licensing of cats and destruc- 

 tion of all non-licensed cats; (3) teaching children to realize the economic and 

 aesthetic value of birds ; (4) leaving hedge rows, undergrowth, and clumps of trees 

 as resorts for birds. The laws of the State of New York relating to birds are so 

 well drawn that their enforcement would give our non-game birds complete legal 

 protection from their enemy man. Hut, as has been said, the present force of game 

 wardens is far too small to afford our birds the protection which is their due. 

 What is needed, however, is not an addition to the number of game wardens, but a 

 new officer who shall be known as a bird warden, and whose especial duty shall be 

 to enforce the laws designed to protect non-game birds. Such officer should not 

 only prevent the illegal killing and trapping of birds, but should examine the stock 

 of milliners and others who offer plumage for sale. 



The growing interest in the study of nature and the establishment of nature 

 study courses in our schools, in connection with the admirable campaign to teach 

 the people the value of birds, inaugurated by the Audubon societies and the 

 American Ornithologists' Union, has already created a sentiment in favor of bird 

 protection without which the best of laws are practically ineffective. 



Teachers have been quick to realize that the inherent, universal interest in bird- 

 life can be made of great educational and moral value in the training of children. 

 No force at the State's command could effectually prevent boys from robbing nests 

 and killing birds. Nor should the boy be prevented by force from giving this wholly 



