^°'i^io^"] ^'^^^^ ^^ ^^^'^- 243 



The offer of a reward for the discovery of any surviving representative 

 of the Passenger Pigeon, as pubUshed in the last number of this journal 

 (Jan., 1910, p. 112), naturally suggested to some minds that this offer 

 would prove a good method of exterminating the last survivors, should 

 any still remain, of this noble bird. But Dr. C. F. Hodge, of Clark Uni- 

 versity, Worcester, Mass., now in charge of the investigation, in reporting 

 progress in a recent issue of ' Forest and Stream' (for Feb. 12, 1910, pp. 253, 

 254), seems to give assurance that no such resvilt need be feared. After 

 stating that the total amount subscribed has reached the sum of $3,045, 

 he says: "None of this money has been paid in and none will be asked for 

 until nests have been reported and confirmed; or until office expenses have 

 exceeded .$100 which Dr. Hodge has agreed to contribute to the work. 



"The following points should also be emphasized: 



" 1 . All the above awards are offered solely and only for exclusive and 

 confidential information of the location of an undisturbed nesting pair 

 or colony of Passenger Pigeons discovered during the nesting season of 

 1910. 



"2. No one connected with this work wishes possession of any birds 

 alive or dead. We are working solely for the absolute and universal 

 protection of the free wild pigeon. 



"3. We can give no information as to the A^alue or price of skins, eggs 

 or mounted specimens. 



"4. All offers — that we know of — for freshly killed birds have been 

 withdrawn. ..." 



It is further stated that nine localities have been reported where pigeons 

 are said to have nested in 1909. These include points in New Hampshire, 

 Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Kansas. 

 None of the information secured as to nesting sites or places where pigeons 

 have been found will be published until after the nesting season of this year. 



The following sad tale of the wholesale destruction of seabirds by Japan- 

 ese poachers at Laysan Island and at Lisiansky Island needs no comment. 

 It is taken from the 'Army and Navy Register' of February 19, 1910, 

 and is based on an official report to the United States Treasury Depart- 

 ment by the Commander of the steamer 'Thetis' of the U. S. Revenue- 

 Cutter Service. 



" A vei-y interesting report has been received at the Treasury Department 

 from Captain W. V. E. Jacobs, U. S. Revenue-Cutter Service, command- 

 ing the Thetis, relative to the arrest of Japanese poachers and the seizure 

 of birds and plumage on Laysan and Lisiansky islands of the Midway group. 



"On the Island of Laysan fifteen Japanese subjects were found occupy- 

 ing and using for warehouses the thirteen buildings grouped on the west 

 side. One of the buildings was full of the breasts of feathers of birds in 

 bulk: another was two-thirds full of loose bird wings and a number of 

 stuffed birds of various species, while on the sand adjacent to the buildings 

 were about 200 mats held down by rocks, under which were laid out masses 



