Vol. XXIin Notes and News. Ill 



1905 J 



is probable that Laughing Gulls and Terns will eventually cease to breed 

 in the State, although by careful protection this unfortunate result can 

 be indefinitely postponed. 



In Virginia it is believed that the birds are not only holding their own 

 but are slowly gaining in numbers ; this applies especially to the Laugh- 

 ing Gull and Least Tern ; the Chairman made an extended trip along the 

 Virginia coast during the past breeding season and was astonished to 

 note the extent of the territory occupied by the birds ; it is practically 

 worthless for any purpose except as a breeding resort. With care and 

 the creation of a proper sentiment regarding the aesthetic and economic 

 value of birds it will be easy to not only maintain but rapidly increase 

 the birds of this coast. 



In North Carolina all of the colonies made a large increase, owing to 

 the splendid work of the Audubon Society. This Society is unique in its 

 character, as its charter confers on it the powers of a Fish and Game 

 Commission. 



In Florida four wardens were employed ; one during the entire year and 

 the others during the breeding season only. In the localities in charge 

 of these wardens the birds made a normal increase ; in other parts of the 

 State, however, the conditions were not so satisfactory. A commercial 

 collector was detected shipping skins of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers from 

 the State contrary to law ; he was arrested, but has not yet been tried. 

 As the Ivory-bills are on the verge of extinction it is extremely important 

 that this man should be convicted as a warning to all persons who collect 

 birds for commercial rather than scientific purposes. 



A warden was employed in Texas for the first time during the past 

 year; he was stationed near Matagorda Bay. Undoubtedly there are a 

 number of colonies of birds on the Texas coast that should be protected 

 but they cannot be located unless a bird survey is made; it was impos- 

 sible to make such a survey during the past year owing to lack of funds. 

 The large colony of Herring Gulls in Lake Superior was again pro- 

 tected, and the Committee joined with the game commission of Oregon 

 in giving special protection to the water birds that breed in the numerous 

 shallow lakes in the southeastern portion of that State. 



Several other colonies of birds were discovered during the past year 

 that it is purposed to protect with wardens during the coming season. 



The second line of work is legislation. During the past year the 

 A. O. U. model law was adopted in two very important States, viz.,. 

 Mississippi and Louisiana. In the latter State, in addition to the law 

 protecting the non-game birds, a very drastic statute was passed pro- 

 tecting game birds. 



This new legislation in Louisiana has an influence reaching far beyond 

 the confines of the Stale, inasmuch as it stops the sale of native caged 

 birds throughout the United States ; nearly all of the Mockingbirds, 

 Cardinals, Nonpareils, and Indigo Buntings that were sold by dealers 

 came from Louisiana, and the cutting off of the supply of these birds 

 actually stops the traffic in other parts of the country. 



