GULLS AND TERNS OF NEW ENGLAND. 1 7 



Several states had laws protecting the biids during the 

 breeding season, but nobod}-, as a rule, looked after the ob- 

 servance of these laws. But bird-lovers began to think 

 hard when it became apparent that the beautiful sea birds 

 that had swarmed in front of their summer homes were rap- 

 idly disappearing. About two 3-ears ago, efficient action 

 toward their protection was begun. This section of bird 

 protection was managed by Mr. William Butcher, of New 

 York, and consisted of two departments. The first aimed 

 at stiffening the protecting laws, in some states, or procur- 

 ing proper legislation where there was none, a work re- 

 quiring much lobbjdng and lecturing. 



The second department was to see that the laws were en- 

 forced. A small fund was raised bj- contribution with con- 

 siderable difficulty, and work was begun in five states, 

 Virginia, Mar>-land, Xcav Jerse}', New York, and Connect- 

 icut. Massachusetts had alread}- protected the colonies of 

 gulls and terns on her islands. The ser\'ices of captains 

 of life-saving stations were obtained to act as wardens. 

 These stations are scattered all along the coast, and 

 one could usualh' be found sufficiently near any nest- 

 ing colony. In June or July the crews of the stations are 

 off on vacations, and the captain is left alone with little to 

 do. These men proved verj- efficient and became enthusi- 

 astic in the care of their wards. 



Their reports, and the statements of ornithologists who 

 super\dsed their work, show that nearh' all of the col- 

 onies protected throve wonderfulh*, and the increase in 

 numbers was all that could be expected. L,ast ^ear a great 

 step in advance was made bj' the passage of a protective 

 law in Maine, where there are large colonies of herring 

 gulls as well as terns. A short, but ver}' vigorous, cam- 

 paign bj- Mr. Butcher and other interested people, carried 

 the bill through, almost without opposition. Notices were 

 posted along the coast, and wardens appointed, who did 



