200 Notes and News. ren 
this connection the Protection Committee consider it the urgent duty of 
every member of the American Ornithologists’ Union, to write at once 
to his representative in Congress requesting him to help the passage of 
House Bill No. 6634, introduced by the Hon. Mr. Lacey of Iowa, which 
is to enlarge the powers of the Department of Agriculture, to prohibit the 
interstate transportation of game killed in violation of local laws, and for 
other purposes. It provides ‘that it shall be unlawful for any person or 
persons to deliver to any common carrier, or for any common carrier to 
transport from one State or Territory to another State or Territory.... 
the dead bodies or farts thereof of any wild animals or birds, where such 
animals or birds have been killed in violation of the laws of the State or 
Territory in which the same were killed.” If this bill becomes a law it 
will do much to stop the traffic in bird skins for commercial purposes ; 
and it will then be necessary to have uniform bird laws in all the States 
and Territories. The Protection Committee therefore request that mem- 
bers of the Union in the several States take up the matter of local bird 
laws and consult with the Committee preparatory to a concerted move- 
ment in the fall and winter of 1900-01. 
The New York Audubon Society introduced a billin the Legislature 
in January, through Assemblyman Hallock, amending sections 33 and 39, 
Chapter 20 of the laws of 1900, ‘Certain Wild Birds Protected,’ by adding 
the words: “No part of the plumage, skin or body of any bird protected 
by this section shall be sold or had in possession for sale.” There is 
every prospect that this amendment will become a law. 
Commission houses in New York City, in their endeavor to obtain 
bird skins for millinery purposes, send out many circulars offering vary- 
ing scales of prices for bird skins. Recently a postal card was sent by 
one of these firms to postmasters along the Gulf coast soliciting Gulls, 
Terns, Grebes, Barn Owls, etc. Our member, Dr. T S. Palmer of Wash- 
ington, brought this matter to the attention of the Hon. Jas. Wilson, 
Secretary of Agriculture, who at once sent a very urgent letter to 
Hon.*Chas. Emory Smith, Postmaster General, calling his attention to 
this direct violation of the law. His response was quick and direct: 
“Caution to Postmasters — Protest against collection of plumed birds 
through Postmasters. 
“ Post Office Department, Washington, D. C., Feb. 2, 1900. 
“The attention of postmasters is called to a letter received from the 
Secretary of Agriculture, which is printed herewith. 
“Postmasters are expressly enjoined against being parties to any 
transaction that violates State law. 
Cu. Emory SmMIrH, 
Postmaster-General.” 
The recent activity of dealers in bird skins for millinery purpose has 
thus happily done much to arouse public sentiment in behalf of the birds, 
and has led to renewed and successful action against their nefarious 
business. — WILLIAM DuTCHER. 
