42 Y>VTCHKR, Protectio/i of Gulls a>/d Tei-fis. [^^^ 



to be designated as "arbor and bird day," and to request its 

 observance in all public schools, private schools, colleges and 

 other educational institutions by the planting of trees and the 

 adornment of the school and other public grounds, and by suitable 

 exercises, having for their object the promotion of arboriculture,, 

 and the protection of birds and trees. 



District of Columbia. — The vital portions of the A. O. U. 

 model law were embodied as a part of a new law for the protec- 

 tion of birds, game, and fish, passed by Congress, and approved 

 March 3, igoi. The whole law was due to the united efforts 

 and earnest work of Dr. Palmer of our Committee and the District 

 Audubon Society. 



Very recently Dr. Palmer, accompanied by a police officer 

 assigned as his aid, visited every millinery establishment in the 

 District and served a printed notice consisting of extracts from the 

 law. This action resulted in the return to New York, and other 

 wholesale centers of a large amount of illegal millinery ornaments, 

 /. (?., plumage of wild birds. It is thought by the Committee that 

 this is one of the best methods for breaking up the trade in wild 

 bird plumage; if the retailers will not handle it because they fear 

 arrest and fines, the wholesale dealers will have no market and 

 consequently will cease to employ plume hunters along the coast. 



Florida. — In this State the A. O. U. model law was submitted 

 as a bill through the influence of Mr. Robert W. Williams, Jr., a 

 member of this Union and also a member of its Bird Protection 

 Committee. It is largely due to the persistent, unflagging and 

 earnest work of Mr. Williams that the state of Florida now has 

 such an excellent bird law. Notwithstanding all that was done 

 and said by Mr. Williams, the bill at first received an adverse 

 report, and it became necessary for your committee to start on 

 telegraphic notice for Tallahassee. 'Jlie bill was recommitted, and 

 after it had been thoroughly explained to the committee of both 

 houses, and some slight amendments added to make it conform to 

 local necessities, it received favorable report and was subse- 

 quently passed and became an operative law in sixty days, the 

 statutory limit. While in Tallahassee the visiting members of 

 this Committee took the occasion to give a bird talk to a large 

 audience, among whom were the Governor and many members of 

 the legislature. 



