C6 DuTCHER, Protection of Gulls and Terns. f f "ti' 



the night and enjoyed a fine breeze and perfect freedom from the 

 insect pests. What deUghted me more than anything else during 

 the trip was to discover that there was some increase in the num- 

 bers of Least Terns (^Sterna anti/Iariim) which may in time restock 

 the entire coast. It is hoped that before the time for another 

 report is reached, the Commonwealth of Virginia will have upon 

 its statute books a law that will prevent the taking of wild birds' 

 eggs at any time. It is a practice that there is no reason for, and 

 is only indulged in by a few lawless persons who think that all wild 

 things may be taken at any and all times. The great majority of 

 the citizens of Virginia, it is believed, are heartily in favor of stop- 

 ping this w^asteful practice." 



Louisiana. — As the fund collected by Mr. Thayer this year 

 fully warranted the expenditure, the territory covered by wardens 

 was enlarged to embrace the coast of Louisiana, which was formerly 

 the home of immense numbers of sea birds. Owing to the depre- 

 dations of plume hunters, a great many of the outlying islands and 

 sand bars that had formerly been used as breeding places had 

 been deserted ; however, on investigation it was found that on 

 Timbalier Island there still remained a very considerable num- 

 ber of birds. The laws of Louisiana afford no protection for birds, 

 and it was found necessary to ascertain the ownership of this 

 island, which is some fifteen miles long and is located in the par- 

 ish of Terrebonne. At first it was supposed to be still State 

 property, but on investigation it was found to be owned by the 

 Terrebonne Land Company, one of the managers of which, Mr. 

 J. M. Dresser, wrote as follows : 



"We are perfectly willing to turn over to your society any rights 

 that we have, to use for the purpose that you require them, the 

 protecting of the sea birds. We think they ought not to be dis- 

 turbed during the nesting season. We are in full sympathy with 

 the purposes of your society and you can depend upon us to co- 

 operate with you. If you will write an article and send it to the 

 'Times Democrat,' the most influential paper in this city, they will 

 publish it and gladly aid in bringing the matter before the people, 

 and try to create a sentiment which will result in a law being 

 passed by the next legislature to protect the birds." 



The details of the protection work in Louisiana were referred to 



