Report of the National Committee for 1904 67 



Bird Protection in Mexico. — On the other hand, the work of bird protec- 

 tion is being carried on admirably in Mexico, through the "Comision de 

 Parasitologia Agricola." Prof. A. Meraz, of this Committee, furnishes the 

 following outline of the work : 



"r. As the protection of birds is a matter which relates directly to the 

 subjects of the Department of Agricultural Parasitology, Prof. Alfonso L. 

 Herrera, Chief of that Department, submitted to the Second National 

 Mexican Scientific Congress a proposed law for the protection of birds use- 

 ful to agriculture. 



"2. Diverse studies relative to the useful birds have appeared in the 

 Publications of the Commission. 



"3. Circulars have been distributed among the farmers with the object 

 of forming Ornithology Leagues. 



"4. They are being established in Zacatlan, State of Puebla, Orizaba,, 

 State of Vera Cruz, and Celaya, State of Guanajuato. 



"5. The Governors of some states have promulgated special laws regu- 

 lating hunting, and especially prohibiting the hunting of useful birds. 



"6. The undersigned, under the direction of Prof. A. L .Herrera, and 

 with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, gave a hearing on 

 'The Protection of Birds Useful to Agriculture.' (On the 5th of May, 

 last. ) 



"7. The Commission of Parasitology will regularly issue engravings of 

 each one of the useful birds. Said engravings will be distributed preferably 

 among the farmers, colleges and societies for the protection of animals.. 

 The press will be asked to reproduce these engravings. 



"8. It is proposed that in the National Primary Schools, and if possible 

 in their private capacity, the directors and professors will treat of the birds 

 useful to agriculture in their lectures on zoology, and will teach this subject 

 to the boys and girls. 



"9. It is proposed to construct large aviaries in the parks and public 

 gardens of the Federal District for the purpose of procreating the useful 

 species, and then setting them free. 



" 10. In everyway possible it will be arranged to dififuse knowledge rela- 

 tive to the useful birds. 



"11. In due time the National Government will be asked to elevate the 

 present laws to the category of laws for the entire Republic. 



"To conclude, it remains for me to express to the National Committee 

 of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Birds, my fullest thanks in the 

 name of this Commission for the interesting publications which the Com- 

 mittee has sent me on such an interesting subject. 



"Separately, I am sending today to that honorable group, the publica- 

 tions of this Department. I hope that from this date our interchange of 

 pamphlets will be regularly established. 



