192 



Bird - Lore 



now and then "renters" move into the 

 neighborhood, bringing with them their 

 cats. This spring, just a stone's throw 

 on the north from one of my Warbler 

 boxes, came five cats in this manner. About 

 twice as far on the south, lives a renter 

 with six cats. With such odds to meet, 

 I feel safe in saying, only a miracle per- 

 formed by the Lord can save the lives of 

 that pair of birds and its brood when 

 hatched. 



It is said, upon good authority, that, 

 were all the birds suddenly killed, in seven 

 years, man would be unable to exist upon 

 this earth, the increase of insects and 

 worms would be so great. Birds then, 

 being of such untold usefulness to man, 

 ought to have the help of the law to protect 

 them from their terrible enemy, cats. 



I positively know of birds by the hun- 

 dred that have been destroyed by my 

 neighbors' cats, and have grave fears that 

 if we as a Society do not soon do some- 

 thing to prevent this terrible slaughter, 

 we who live in or near cities will not know 

 what a bird looks like, except through 

 Sparrows. This class of birds is the only 

 one that can multiply fast enough to keep 

 ahead of the work of the civilized (?) cat. 



I fail to understand why cats are not 

 taxed as well as dogs. Were they taxed, it 

 would put a vast number out of com- 

 mission, and thus would the lives of count- 

 less birds be saved. 



Just a few words in conclusion. Some 

 have accused me of being prejudiced 

 against the cat. These accusers argue 

 "the cat is God's creature, as well as the 

 bird, the one has as much right to life and 

 freedom as has the other. " 



I cannot blame the cat for his mis- 

 deeds. It is as natural now in his perverted 

 state to kill birds as it is for him to breathe. 

 No fence is high enough to keep him out 

 of our yard. He scratches out our seeds, 

 destroys plantlets, ruins rare plants, 

 causing us waste of time, strength and 

 money. It certainly is not a feeling of 

 injustice toward the creature to wish him 

 out of existence or so restrained by his 

 owner as to be impossible to interfere 

 with our interests; and it is simply my 



honest belief that if people willfully or 

 thoughtlessly so far fail to live up to the 

 Golden Rule as to harbor uselessly that 

 which causes losses, distress of mind and 

 pain of heart to those living near, then in 

 some manner the law should protect and 

 aid the party being injured thereby. — 

 M.ARTHA W. Barrows, Chicago, III. 



Bird Day in California 



Mrs. Alice M. Park, Chairman Humane 

 Education Committee of the California 

 Club, writes that the effort to secure a law- 

 establishing Bird Day in California was 

 successful, although the law was not se- 

 cured until after a third and determined 

 effort had been made. The bill was signed 

 by the Governor in time to hold the first Bird 

 and Arbor Day celebration on March 7th 

 of this year. The time between the signing 

 of the bill and the day fixed for the cele- 

 bration was so short that its observation 

 was not as complete throughout the State 

 as it is hoped to make it in future years. 



Practical Work 



At the suggestion of the Ohio Audubon 

 Society, the boys in the Sixth Grade of the 

 Public Schools in Cincinnati have made 

 1,200 bird-boxes which will be distributed 

 in the parks of that city. Most of the boxes 

 are for one pair of birds; however, some of 

 them are apartment houses for the use of 

 Martins. It is reported that the boys have 

 entered with great zest into this work. A 

 twofold good is accomplished; first, the 

 boys are interested in practical bird pro- 

 tection, and, secondly, an additional number 

 of birds will be attracted to the parks. 



The South Carolina Society 



The indications are that Secretary Rice's 

 campaign in Charleston will add about 

 three hundred new members to the Audu- 

 bon Society; he reports considerable en- 

 thusiasm amongst the business men and 

 others in that place. The Society is in 

 good shape and is growing in popularity 

 every day. — B. F. Taylor, President. 



