Vol. XIX"j Stone, Report of Committee on Bird Protectiott. 'l\ 



84. Merula migratoria. Robix. — Locally common. Several large 

 flocks appeared at Port Manvers on September 6, apparently from the 

 North. 



85. Saxicola oenanthe. Wheatear. — Nests near Nachvak, for the 

 Hudson Bay Company factor there had nests which he had taken. I did 

 not observe the bird. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROTECTION 

 OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



During the past year bird protective work in America has been 

 more effectively systematized than ever before and the results 

 have been correspondingly definite and far-reaching. The vigorous 

 and efficient enforcement of the Lacey Act, by the Division of the 

 Biological Survey of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, under 

 the personal direction of Dr. T. S. Palmer, has gone far toward 

 suppressing the trade in sea birds for millinery purposes and has 

 spread consternation among illicit game dealers throughout the 

 country. The firm backing thus furnished by the Federal govern- 

 ment has spurred on the State Game Protective Societies to 

 renewed efforts and stimulated game protection all along the line. 

 In this connection we cannot too highly praise the several ' Bulle- 

 tins ' prepared by Dr. Palmer and Mr. H. W. Olds, and issued by 

 the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, giving concise abstracts of the 

 game and bird laws of the several States. 



The operations under the Thayer Fund for the protection of 

 Gulls and Terns have been, as heretofore, under the able direction 

 of Mr. William Dutcher. The protection afforded the sea birds of 

 our Atlantic Coast last year has been continued and extended 

 with gratifying results. 



In addition Mr. Dutcher and Dr. Palmer have personally 

 appeared before the legislatures of most of the States from Maine 

 to Florida in the interests of better State bird laws, and in every 

 instance their efforts were crowned with success. 



The work of the Audubon Societies has continued on the same 

 lines as heretofore and has been reported upon from time to time 



