Vol.XVIII 

 1901 



Report of Committee on Bird Protection. "7-7 



ested in bird and game preservation and cannot help but bring 

 the various organizations into closer touch. In connection with 

 cage birds, Mrs. Edw. Robins reports that in a conversation with 

 one of the largest bird dealers in Philadelphia he voluntarily told 

 her, without any idea that he was talking to one of your Com- 

 mittee, that his firm had recently shipped to Germany 150 Blue- 

 birds, 300 Cardinals, and 500 Mockingbirds, and stated that all 

 the large importers were also exporters, that this was one of the 

 necessities of the trade. This, it seems to me, is one of the 

 strongest arguments against the clause allowing the keeping of 

 native cage birds which exists in the Pennsylvania law and that 

 of many other States. 



While considering cage birds another provision of the Lacey 

 Act should be noticed ; namely, the prohibiting of the importation 

 of foreign birds and mammals unless under permit from the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. This is merely a safeguard against the 

 introduction of such a pest as the English Sparrow, This species, 

 together with the Starling, are now absolutely forbidden entry into 

 this country, although there is no trouble about importing other 

 species if the proper permit is requested. 



Respecting bird protection in Illinois, Mr. Ruthven Dean of 

 your Committee, reports as follows : 



" Illinois has not been idle in the past year in taking every pos- 

 sible step towards the protection of our game and song birds. 

 Much credit is due to our Game Commissioner, H. W. Loveday, 

 and his many deputies for their untiring efforts and many arrests 

 and prosecutions. There have now been appointed throughout 

 the State 274 wardens and deputy wardens and the results of 

 their work will be felt in every county. 



" The Commissioner states in his coming report that many of 

 the wardens in the service are business men of means who have 

 not accepted the positions for gain, but simply because they love 

 the birds and desire to see them protected. The close watch 

 kept at all railroad stations by the wardens during the past year 

 has stopped, to a large degree, the shipping of game out of season 

 to points within the State. 



" During the year that the new law has been in effect there has 

 been a total of 142 convictions out of 203 cases brought to trial 



