Report of the National Committee for 1904 63 



will reach up to your standing. As we are going to have a new law about 

 bird protection brought before the Reichstag next winter, it was of great 

 value for us to read what you mentioned about the export of our birds 

 via Bremen." 



From Switzerland comes the following good news from Mr. Herbert 

 Edward Gans, of Geneva: "I am actively occupied with the vital question 

 of the protection of useful birds, especially migratory birds, and as I have 

 heard through the British Society that the laws in the United States have 

 become very stringent, and that the efforts of your Union are being 

 rewarded, I should feel very much obliged if you could send to me the best 

 of the United States laws, or decrees, on the protection of birds, and 

 especially of insectivorous and migratory birds, and of those unfortunate 

 creatures which are exterminated for ornaments for ladies' hats. 



"I should feel obliged if you could also add a short summary or notice on 

 the question, in general, and the way in which your Union has gone to 

 work to accomplish its purpose. If you could answer me as soon as possi- 

 ble, it might be of use to me, in the course of December next. 



"In Germany they are introducing, in many cities, a progressive law 

 on cats (in proportion to the number owned by each person), and this 

 measure renders valuable services; for cats are one of the great causes of 

 destruction of useful birds, especially those, like the Nightingale and 

 Black-cap, which nest near the ground." A detailed reply was sent, together 

 with the fullest sympathy of the Audubon Societies in the movement to 

 tax cats. A complete set of reports and other Audubon publications was 

 forwarded. 



Bird Protection for Canada. — Strange to say, it has been impossible to 

 establish any close relations with our neighbors on the north, nor is it 

 evident that Audubon work has taken much hold there. The Toronto 

 * Sun ' seems to be most alive to the situation, for from time to time it 

 publishes excellent editorials, one — 'Don't Shoot Hawks,' — being especially 

 commendable. It closes as follows: "The newspapers throughout Ontario 

 should keep this subject constantly before their readers, until some day 

 the foolish prejudice against the Hawk and Owl families will have been 

 dispelled." As the British Provinces are the summer homes of many of 

 our birds, it is extremely desirable that the bird -protection movement 

 should be extended to cover the whole of North America, both by the 

 passage of the Model Law and the formation of Audubon Societies for 

 educational work. The warden system is very much needed in the Marine 

 Provinces, as is indicated by the accompanying statement of Mr. Herbert 

 K. Job, the well-known ornithologist and explorer: 



"The last half of June and the early part of July I spent at the 

 Magdalen Islands and off the southern coast of Nova Scotia, at Seal 

 Island. Bird life on the Magdalens is holding its own very well. The 



