254 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Towx Bird Waedens. 

 The Legislature of 1913 passed a law (chapter 296) per- 

 mitting towns and cities to appoint and pay bird wardens. 

 Lender the statute a bird warden is expected to protect and 

 increase the number of insectivorous birds as far as possible, 

 and to assist citizens in their efforts in the same direction. 

 The act was passed so late in the season that it could not be 

 taken advantage of at the town meetings, but the town of 

 Dover, Mass., at an adjourned town meeting, appointed Mr. 

 William F. DeMerritt as town bird warden for the year. 

 The selectmen of Dover have issued the following statement 

 to citizens : — 



The town of Dover has the first town bird warden in the United 

 States, Mr. William F. DeMerritt. His business is to j^roteet and 

 rear our wild birds after the manner of large and successful experi- 

 ments in Germany, and later in England, and thus in this natural 

 way stop the ravages of insects and make unnecessary the hopeless 

 fight in which Dover has spent thousands, and the State and nation 

 millions, of dollars. 



In order to make the experiment a successful one every citizen 

 of our town must co-operate with the warden. You can help in the 

 following ways : — 



First. — By giving permission to the warden to post your land 

 against gunners, trappers and snarers. 



Second. — By telephoning to the warden, Dover 7-4, when you see 

 or hear gianners in your vicinity, and by writing if you know of 

 any trapping or snaring or of any offence against the game or bird 

 laws. 



Third. — You can inform the warden of tlie presence of red squir- 

 rels anywhere in town. These are among the greatest enemies of 

 the birds. Do not try to disjDOse of them yourself unless you are 

 an expert with a gun. The warden should be notified of the pres- 

 ence of crows in nesting time. They destroy large number's of 

 nestlings. 



Fourth. — You should inform the warden of any stray, wild, un- 

 owned or unfed cats in your vicinity. Cats, like red squirrels, ai'e 

 among the most destructive enemies of birds we have, especially 

 about our homes. Therefore — 



Fifth. — You should trj' and get on with as few cats as possible. 

 And in bird-nesting time, from April 20 to July 1, keep the family 

 eat caged fx-om 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning. Then feed 

 abundantly — some meat is desirable — before letting out for the 

 day. 



