Xo. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xxxi 



of State Ornithologist should be established, if this work is to 

 be properly carried on. Mr. Forbush has very generously 

 given his time for the past fifteen years to doing this work for 

 the Board. Further demands upon nim would be in the 

 nature of an imposition, and it seems that the State could very 

 well recognize his valuable services, and insure their continu- 

 ance, by the establishment of such an office, to be filled by 

 the State Board of Agriculture. It is therefore recommended 

 that the Board instruct its secretary to prepare a bill providing 

 for the establishment of the office of State Ornithologist, to be 

 elected by the Board of Agriculture, with a small appropria- 

 tion for expenses and per diem compensation, and to present 

 the same to the Legislature and urge its passage. The need 

 of the work being placed on a permanent basis will be seen the 

 more clearly when it is known that there is no work being done 

 on birds by the Agricultural College, the experiment station or 

 any other official body. The nearest approach to official work 

 has been the unpaid work of Mr. Forbush as Ornithologist to 

 this Board. 



Respectfully submitted, 



J. LEWIS ELLSWORTH, 



Secretary. 



Boston, Jan. 7, 190S. 



