Vol i909" VI ] Recent Literature. 101 



unguarded moment an amendment may be passed thai will undo the work 

 of years." And there are forty-four legislatures to watch! 



Reservations, to be effective, must be patrolled by wardens, and whether 

 the refuges are established by the Federal Government or are held under 

 leases by the Association, the necessary wardens have to be supplied by 

 the Association. Hence with the setting aside of each new reservation the 

 responsibilities and expenses of the Association are proportionately in- 

 creased. "How rapidly this work may be extended," says Mr. Dutcher, 

 "depends entirely upon the public itself. If this appeal falls upon un- 

 willing ears and hearts, our progress will be slow, but if, on the other hand, 

 our plans and suggestions meet with the sympathy and support they 

 deserve, progress will be very rapid." The Secretary's report states that 

 "nine additional reservations have been formed during the past year by 

 President Roosevelt upon the recommendation of President Dutcher"; 

 and that, in all, "there are now twenty-three National Reservations under 

 the care of this Association." 



The reports of field agents include a report by Edward Howe Forbush 

 for New England, and by William B. Finley for Oregon and the Northwest 

 Coast region. Mr. Finley gives a detailed account of his and Mr. Bohlman's 

 exploration of the bird life of the lakes of southern Oregon, which is not 

 only important from the view point of bird protection but is of special 

 interest as a sort of census of the water bird colonies of the extensive lakes 

 and marshes of southern Oregon and northern California. Here the 

 plume hunters have remained at work continually, killing thousands of 

 Grebes and other birds. "It is," says Mr. Finley, "a difficult matter to 

 stop shooting in such a vast area that is so profitable to the plume hunter, 

 but we expect to succeed. There are at present six indictments against 

 plume hunters filed in the District Attorney's office at Burns, for shooting 

 Grebes on Malheur Lake." He adds: " To show how little observance has 

 been given to the game laws in southeastern Oregon, it has been the 

 custom for parties to go down to Malheur Lake in the fall when Swan, 

 Snow Geese and other birds are migrating, and kill these birds merely for 

 the feathers, winch are sold at so much per pound." 



Such facts indicate the necessity for a strong central organization of 

 bird protectors, like the National Association, and how essential it is that 

 greatly increased funds be made available for its work. — J. A. A. 



Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Biological Survey for 1908. ' — Dr 



Merriam's report summarizes briefly the work of the Bureau of Biological 

 Survey for the year ending June 30, 1908. This includes: "(1) Investi- 

 gation of the economic relations of birds and mammals to agriculture; 

 (2) investigations concerning the geographic distribution of animals and 

 plants with reference to the determination of the life and crop belts of the 

 country; (3) supervision of matters relating to game preservation and 

 protection, and the importation of foreign birds and mammals." Among 



1 From Annual Reports of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1908. Pp. 22. 



