380 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the birds were influenced to join the movement and to contribute 

 toward it, not fully understanding its import. This organiza- 

 tion was what is called a " red herring " in England, and its 

 aims and objects were quickly exposed. Nevertheless, it is sup- 

 posed to have used effective influence to defeat the Hobhouse 

 bill. 



More and more the idea is borne upon me, as the years go 

 by, that the chief work of a State Ornithologist should be educa- 

 tional. The expert economic ornithologists of the Bureau of 

 Biological Survey, of tlie United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture, are making an exhaustive study of the food of American 

 birds and publishing the results. It is unnecessary for a State 

 Ornithologist to attempt to duplicate this work, although it may 

 be imperative at times for him to learn how local conditions 

 affect the food of certain birds, or to determine the effect of the 

 feeding of birds on local insect pests. It is his duty to publish 

 the facts regarding birds and their enemies obtained by his own 

 observations, to assist in promulgating the facts obtained by the 

 government experts, to interest the public in the study of useful 

 birds and the means of increasing their numbers, and to inform 

 the people how to protect their crops from birds with harmful 

 habits. During the past year the educational work of this office 

 has followed these lines. 



The usual free lectures have been delivered ; articles regard- 

 ing means of attracting and protecting birds have been sent to 

 many newspapers ; some attention has been paid to the enemies 

 of birds introduced into this country ; the bulletin on " Eats 

 and Rat Riddance " has been finished during the year, and is 

 ready for distribution. Material has been gotten together for 

 a bulletin on the economic value of the domestic cat. Both the 

 above animals are persistent, introduced enemies of birds. The 

 rat often attacks the nests and young of birds and is destruc- 

 tive to poultry, while the cat is recognized by all those con- 

 versant with the facts to be a dangerous and destructive natural 

 enemy to all small birds and game birds in settled regions. 

 Domestic cats run wild, and have spread over ISTew England, 

 even into the uttermost parts of the Maine woods. These feral 

 oats are not seen often, as they are nocturnal, hiding during 



