-. q8 Report of Committee on Bh-d Protectio?i. LJan. 



"The bad small boy still continues to kill birds with his sling 

 shot, and as a rule the police do not stop it; several letters have 

 been written to the Chief of Police in reference to the matter,/ 

 and also to the Game Warden, asking protection for the birds, 

 but so far without any result. 



" A few weeks since the Audubon Society had an exhibition of ■ 

 millinery without birds, except feathers of ostriches and game: 

 birds ; shortly after this display one of the largest firms in the." 

 city announced that they would sell only feathers that were not 

 objectionable. Several of our clergymen have compUed with the^ 

 wishes of our Society and have spoken on the subject of Bird 

 Protection. 



" Since my taking charge of the Public Museum, I have made- 

 it my special object to interest the schools in our birds and ini 

 bird protection ; the teachers call upon me frequently in order to: 

 obtain information about our more common species. During the 

 last few years 50 sets of birds, comprising nine familiar species, 

 have been mounted and are now used in nature study in the pub- 

 lic schools. 



" Our present Superintendent of schools is especially interested 

 in this bird work, and he does all he can to make it valuable and 

 pleasant to the children." 



A law establishing a Bird Day was passed in 1889, and was 

 amended in 1897, authorizing the Governor to designate and set 

 apart a day each year for its observance. In conformity with 

 the law. Governor Edward Scofield issued the following proc- 

 lamation : 



" I do hereby designate and set apart Friday, April 30 next, as Arbor 

 and Bird Day, and recommend that all public schools, colleges and other 

 educational institutions of the State and citizens generally do observe the 

 same in a proper manner. 



"I recommend that the day be devoted to the planting o£ trees, shrubs 

 and flowers in, school grounds and public parks, to the end that these pub- 

 lic grounds may be permanently beautified; and I also recommend that in 

 all school and other public exei-cises held upon that day special attention 

 be paid to our native birds, in order that the children of the State may 

 learn to find pleasure in a knowledge of the habits and characteristics 

 especially of the various song birds, and that there may be cultivated a 

 higher regard for bird life. 



