17 2 DuTciiER, Refiort of Coiiiin/ffee on Bird Protection. F ja^ 



only 80 members, and has done no active work during the past 

 year. The National Committee will make an effort during the 

 coming season to enlarge and build upon the existing nucleus. 

 The city of Baltimore, being a large distributing center, needs an 

 active and aggressive body of Audubon workers to see that the 

 wholesale millinery establishments do not deal in illegal plumage. 

 An effort should also be made to improve the present bird law, 

 as suggested under the head of legislation. The Maryland 

 members of the A. O. U. are urged to take a personal interest in 

 this matter and push bird protection work in their State. 



Massachusei-ts. 



Legislation. — The bird law in this State may and should be 

 improved. It does not protect the beneficial hawks and owls, nor 

 does it protect the Herring Gull and Black-backed Gull between 

 November i and May i, practically the only season when they 

 are resident in Massachusetts. In this connection it is but just 

 to call attention to the fact that the Audubon Society, thrpugh its 

 Protective Committee, has made earnest and repeated efforts to 

 improve the law and promises renewed efforts during the coming 

 legislative session. 



Warden Work. — Mr. Mackay, who has for so many years 

 energetically and successfully protected the tern colonies on 

 Muskeget Island, reports that during the past season they were 

 cared for in the usual manner, and he also reports that the tern 

 colony on Penikese Island was protected by the owners, the Messrs. 

 Homer. By permission of the owner of Naushon Island, Mr. J. 

 M. Forbes, his manager, Charles O. Olsen, was appointed warden 

 for the Wepeckets Islands. The islands were liberally posted 

 with warning notices and the warden reports that this colony of 

 terns has not been disturbed to any extent this year. On June 15 

 he counted 860 eggs and found four young birds just hatched. 



Mr. J. E. Howland of Vineyard Haven, an ardent sportsman and 

 an earnest bird protector, volunteered to post warning notices in 

 the growing colony of Least Terns on Marthas Vineyard. He 

 reports: "I have a number of times visited the shore and have 

 seen a good many Least Terns about; they nest in limited 



