The Audubon Societies 



275 



defeated after the usual long legislative 

 fight. The shooting season for wild fowl 

 was shortened in Maine, and that for 

 shore birds in Rhode Island. The "omni- 

 bus" game law, passed in Vermont, makes 

 the protection of birds in that state very 

 nearly perfect. It carries a plumage pro- 

 vision similar to that in New York; also 

 an appropriation was secured for the work 

 of the State Ornithologist. 



It is impossible in this limited space 

 even to mention by title and number the 

 numerous bad bills that were defeated in 

 the several states. Massachusetts has 

 taken a long step forward in bird protec- 

 tion by passing a law allowing the ap- 

 pointment of town bird-wardens. The 

 salary is not limited by the statute, and 

 any town is thus at liberty to employ a 

 warden's full time — something which 

 could not be done under the previous law. 

 Undoubtedly, many towns will avail them- 

 selves of this privilege at the town meet- 

 ings next year. The law was passed too late 

 for them to take advantage of it this year. 

 We hope that the regulations promul- 

 gated by the Department of Agriculture, 

 under the Weeks-McLean law, will 

 obviate the necessity of continual fight- 

 ing year after year in various legislatures 

 over the question of open and close sea- 

 sons for wild fowl, game birds and shore 

 birds. The battle this year has been won 

 only by persistent effort and with the 

 cooperation of the many societies, among 

 which may be noted the state and local 

 Granges of Patrons of Husbandry, the Fed- 

 eration of Women's Clubs, and the local 

 clubs and numerous scientific societies. The 

 Massachusetts and Connecticut Humane 

 Societies have helped very generously. 



A strong attempt in Massachusetts to 

 secure a law taking away protection from 

 Gulls came very near succeeding, but 

 finally was defeated. Information has 

 come in since to the effect that orders have 

 been sent out from New York for the 

 feathers of large numbers of Gulls. It 

 remains to be seen whether attempts will 

 be made to fill these orders by killing the 

 Gulls on the New England coast. 



The introduction of foreign birds is 



beginning to handicap bird protectionists 

 in regard to legislation. There is a strong 

 pressure in Massachusetts to remove all 

 protection from Pheasants, which are 

 doing much damage to the farmers' crops. 

 The English Sparrow and the Starling are 

 doing considerable injury in southern New 

 England, and the Starling especially may 

 be blamed for the attempts to remove all 

 protection from Blackbirds. Starlings are 

 associated with Blackbirds in the autumn 

 (and also in the common mind). Many 

 people do not distinguish one from the 

 other, and the injury done by the Starling 

 is attributed to Blackbirds. Grackles, or 

 Crow Blackbirds, also, are increasing in 

 numbers in many parts of New England, 

 and doing some injury to corn. All this 

 has led to a demand on the part of many 

 farmers for the removal of protection 

 from Blackbirds. Several bills were intro- 

 duced to remove protection from Black- 

 birds or Starlings in Connecticut, and one, 

 removing all protection from Blackbirds 

 and Starlings of all kinds, at all times, 

 everywhere in the state, passed the House 

 of Representatives. This Association, 

 however, succeeded in having this 

 amended in the Senate, so that now the 

 killing of Blackbirds is allowed only when 

 they are engaged in destroying property. 

 An attempt was made to allow the killing 

 of birds only under permit from the Fish 

 and Game Commissioners, but this failed, 

 owing partly to the fact, perhaps, that it 

 was impossible for your agent to be in two 

 or more states at one time. 



Your agent has been handicapped by 

 lack of means for publicity work, and has 

 been obliged to work from hand to mouth, 

 raising money as the work went on. Under 

 the circumstances, perhaps the result has 

 been all that could be expected. A fuller 

 and more detailed report on legislation in 

 New England will be prepared for the 

 annual meeting. — Edward Howe For- 

 bush, Field Agent. 



Great Work in California 



The Cooper Ornithological Club of 

 California has, the past year, entered 



