﻿State Reports 255 



six counties in Florida, and there are thirteen game wardens, so that thirty- 

 three counties depend on their over-busy sheriffs. Some six of these sheriffs 

 have rendered timely aid in arrests and the prevention of cruelty and illegal 

 shooting. This does not include the game wardens appointed by the 

 National Association at the Tortugas, and Sand Key, also at the Pelican 

 Island, Passage Key and Indian Key Reservation. 



In 1905, President Roosevelt made a reservation of Passage Key, 

 Tampa Bay, and in February, 1906, of Indian Key as preserves and breeding 

 grounds for native birds. These, with Pelican Island Reservation, are, we 

 hope, but the beginning of a series of important reservations, thus enabling 

 us to preserve and perpetuate the birds, which should ever have been the 

 pride of Florida, making, as they did in the days of Audubon, the state 

 a veritable wonderland.' 



There has been frequent testimony as to the increase of bird life. Mr. 

 C. P. Russell, at Lake Helen, Volusia county, writes, May 30, 1906: 'It 

 is remarkable what a change there has been during the past few years in 

 regard to shooting small birds. In consequence, such as Blue Jays, Brown 

 Thrashers, Meadowlarks, Sand Doves, Woodpeckers, Blackbirds, Butcher 

 Birds and Cardinals have increased wonderfully in numbers, and even the 

 Chewinks, so shy, have begun to show themselves. A large share of this 

 better sentiment can be rightly, I think, attributed to the influence of your 

 Society, and for this reason I wish to be identified with it.' 



"As the Florida Society is unable to show a membership list that com- 

 pares with that of many of the states, it would ask you to remember the 

 very different conditions under which it exists ; still it congratulates itself 

 that, while its old friends do not desert its ranks, new names are being added 

 to its list, surely showing a more intelligent and wide-spreading interest in 

 bird protection." — Mrs. KlNGSMlLL Marrs, Chairman of Executive Com- 

 mittee. 



Illinois. — " The Illinois Society has carried on its usual routine work, 

 holding directors' meetings during eight months of the year and our annual 

 meeting in May, at which meeting Mrs. Irene G. Wheelock read a charm- 

 ing paper on ' Birds at Night ' and the Rev. George B. Pratt gave a most 

 interesting history of the Illinois Society. Four new directors have been 

 added to the Board — Mrs. Wheelock, Miss Amelie Hannig, Mr. Charles 

 M. Roe and Mr. Frank Daggett — and six new vice-presidents have been 

 elected, all from places outside of Chicago, among them being Mr. Frank 

 Hall, of Aurora, Superintendent of Farmers Institutes, and Dr. lohn A. 

 Wheeler, the State Game Commissioner. Few new members are reported, 

 — only 33 adults and 2,738 Juniors. An effort has been made to organize 

 a new system by having a secretary for each county, but the results are 

 small, only a few having been secured. 



