BIRDS IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE 191 



enlisted, and they should be asked to help the civic or other 

 authorities in the work of planting suitable fruit-bearing 

 and other shrubs and trees attractive to birds in the local 

 sanctuaries; or these associations could make themselve? 

 entirely responsible for such work. Prominent citizens 

 should then be encouraged to present bird fountains and 

 baths, to be placed in the bird sanctuaries. Each year, 

 preferably in the spring, a local ''bird day" might be in- 

 stituted. On that day the schools would devote special 

 attention to the subject of birds and bird protection, and 

 means could be taken to enlist the interest of the general 

 public. By these and other means that might be devised, 

 every section of the community could be called upon to 

 take a personal interest in the protection and encourage- 

 ment of the birds in the district, and the work would ex- 

 press the community spirit. I cannot conceive of any prac- 

 tical measure that would have a greater effect in stimulating 

 pubUc interest in this subject, and the value of such work 

 throughout Canada as a whole would be inestimable. Where 

 interest is kindled in the minds of young and old on the 

 subject of birds it increases with time, and few subj>ects have 

 a wider appeal, or elicit to a greater extent that sympathy 

 with and admiration for our wild Ufe. 



In the city of Ottawa bird sanctuaries have been estab- 

 lished through the efforts of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' 

 Club and the Ottawa Humane Society. The Ottawa Im- 

 provement Commission consented to make the beautiful 

 natural tract of land, Rockcliffe Park, a bird sanctuary, and 

 made and distributed nesting-boxes throughout the park. 

 The Dominion Department of Agriculture distributed nest- 

 ing-boxes throughout the grounds of the Central Experi- 

 mental Farm and the Botanical Garden, all of which con- 

 stitute a most admirable refuge for many species of birds 

 which are not usually seen within the limits of a city. 

 Through the personal interest of H. R. H. the Duke of 



