PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOLL WEEVIL CONVENTION. 59 



Texas and this State, I know it is hard to accomplish. But, my friends, 

 you remember that our great leader Robert E. Lee in his farewell address 

 at Appomatox said human fortitude was equal to human calamity, and the 

 day that we undertake this task, each more than ever determined to do 

 his duty, I believe we can overcome this calamity and accomplish a great 

 victory. 



The President Gentlemen, Mr. Muller, of the Audubon Society, s 

 now here, and will address the Convention on the subject of "Birds in 

 Relation to the Boll Weevil." I take great pleasure in introducing to the 

 Convention the gentleman whom I have just named. 



Mr. Muller. I wish to make a correction. I am ; not the president,, 

 but I am a member of the Audubon Society, and I think everyone inter- 

 ested in bird protection should be a member of this society. 



Yesterday, I sat here and listened to the addresses of all the gentle- 

 men who addressed you, and as one after the other concluded and no 

 reference was made to the question of bird protection, my amazement 

 turned into despair ; and when I left here last night, I felt very bad about 

 it, that birds had no champion at all. I learned, however, that the birds 

 have friends, although they did not express their sentiments yesterday, 

 'and that their interests will be protected. 



With these few words of introduction, I will make what few remarks 

 I am permitted to make. To express myself in scientific terms, so that 

 you would understand thoroughly this question, would take a long time, 

 probably two hours. But I shall confine myself within the limits of a very 

 short address, and I have taken the liberty to jot down the few things 

 which I will read to you, regarding this question. I think, in my humble 

 opinion, it is the most important one before this Convention. 



MR. F. M. MULLENS PAPER. 



Among the students of bird life past and present, there is no name 

 of greater honor, of more varied attainments, or of more diligence in the 

 search after truth than that of the great son of Louisiana after whom the 

 society is named of which I have the honor to be president. And although 

 Audubon carried his investigations to distinguished lengths and left an 

 imperishable name upon the page of history, yet nevertheless within re- 

 cent years there has occurred a development of that particular branch of 

 science that bids fair to produce the most astonishing results and which 

 it is no longer possible to ignore. I refer to the study of the economic 

 importance of bird life to man, a study which was as unknown to Audubon 

 as it is to the most of people to-day. 



Within the last five years there has sprung up a body of observers 

 who have noticed and noted the intimate relationship which exists be- 

 tween birds and insects, and the tremendous economic importance of the 



