i8j. Dutcher, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. ft"^ 



" A constant watch is kept at Albany upon all bills introduced 

 in the legislature, that no backward step shall be taken to disturb 

 the present law. 



" Owing, undoubtedly, to the general circulation of the ' posters,' 

 many complaints of illegal shooting have been reported. In one 

 instance a farmer was charged with boasting of having shot 25 

 robins in one morning ; due steps were taken, the local warden 

 informed, and Audubon leaflets sent to the offender. A letter has 

 been received from the latter saying that he had been maligned, 

 that he realized now the value of the birds to agriculture ; whether 

 this change of opinion is due entirely to the higher education pro- 

 duced by reading Audubon leaflets, or comes from a salutary fear 

 of legal action on the part of the Society, the result is satisfactory, 

 in that the popping of the gun is diminished. 



"The New York Society has lately run upon a rock which has 

 for a time wrecked our hopes in one community. A local secre- 

 tary had succeeded in attracting a little group of children and was 

 Altering enthusiastically upon the work when a man appeared 

 shooting promiscuously, and telling the inhabitants the secretary^ 

 had no business to interfere with him, as he had a ' permit.' In 

 a short time the town was demoralized, and the secretary disheart- 

 ened. The matter ought to meet with the utter disapprobation of 

 all bird lovers, for it shows a serious danger which in its moral 

 effects might prove of even greater harm than ' murderous 

 millinery.' " 



North Carolina. — Legislation. — During the last session of 

 the legislature a game and non-game bird law was enacted which 

 embodied all the main features of the A. O. U. model law. In 

 other respects the game law is far in advance of any law that has 

 ever before been in force in this State. 



Warden system. — During the past breeding season three wardens 

 were employed, all of whom did effective and valuable service. 

 From their very frequent reports to Secretary Pearson of the 

 Audubon Society, under whose direction they worked, we have the 

 assurance that the coast breeding birds, such as gulls, terns, skim- 

 mers and snipe, have enjoyed a freedom from persecution that has 

 long been absent. The reports show a very material increase in 

 the bird life of the coast region. It is proposed, as far as the 



