TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT 49 



This work is believed to be the most perfect zoological pub- 

 lication as to illustrations, printing and text ever issued. It 

 differs from the ordinary monograph in being an extraordinarily- 

 readable and interesting book. 



MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY. 



During the year a most important event in Wild Life Con- 

 servation was the passage by Congress of the enabling act whicTi 

 put into effect the Migratory Bird Treaty. This is one of the 

 most important events in bird protection, as the principle of 

 Federal control when once established can be extended in many 

 directions to save our fast vanishing wild life. It became a law 

 on June 16, 1918. 



The Society also participated in several movements to check 

 hasty and ill-considered action under the guise of "war necessi- 

 ties," such as the invasion of national parks by cattle and sheep 

 and other wasteful uses of national resources. The Society re- 

 gards the grazing of cattle and more particularly of sheep as 

 most injurious to national parks. 



CONSERVATION. 



During the year, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Grant, 

 went to California and took further steps toward the preser- 

 vation of the Redwoods and the forming of the "Save the Red- 

 woods League," which embraces many of the most influential 

 men on the Coast. It is formed for the purpose of protecting 

 the Giant Redwoods and Sequoias, and through the instrumen- 

 tality of this League it is believed that the preservation of these 

 trees throughout the State of California can be assured. 



MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 



The Medical Department under Dr. Huntington has made 

 great scientific use of the soft parts of such animals as have died 

 during the year, while the skeletons and skins have been fur- 

 nished to the American Museum of Natural History for exhibi- 



