ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 15 



The treaty ratifies an act of Congress for the protection of migratory 

 birds. The two must be construed together and the provisions of both 

 enforced by the courts. Now that this law is required to carry into effect 

 the treaty agreements, many think it is highly improbable that any court 

 will declare it unconstitutional. 



All this seems to mean no Spring shooting on this continent. And that 

 in turn means that birds will be permitted to shorten the northward 

 migratory flight and to stop to breed within our borders in such places as 

 promise to be suitable and undisturbed. There is said to be no question 

 that such of the migratory ducks and geese as do not pair for life pair and 

 mate during the northward migration. "During the flight mated pairs 

 drop out of the flock and start house hunting in favorable localities, and. 

 having successfully reared a brood in a special location, the foundation 

 for a new colony is laid. The original pairs or their descendants, doubtless 

 with the addition of new migrants, return to the same place as long as 

 they survive and conditions remain favorable." And the cessation of 

 Spring shooting is one of the most important conditions for making 

 localities "favorable." 



(The latest Bulletin of the National Audubon Society reports that the 

 test case in the United States Supreme Court under the migratory bird law 

 came up for a hearing on October 23, 1916. and at the request of the 

 legal representative of the United States was indefinitely postponed.) 



LATER 



The ratifications referred to above were exchanged December 7, 1916, and 

 a bill to give effect to the treaty with Canada for the protection of migratory 

 birds has just been introduced into the Senate by Senator Hitchcock. 

 This is known as Senate Bill 7858. In the House, a similar bill, designated 

 House Bill 20080, has been introduced by Congressman Flood of Virginia. 

 It makes good certain deficiencies in the Migratory Bird Law, For example, 

 possession of migratory birds during the closed season is made unlawful and 

 inspectors or wardens are invested with power of arrest. This insures 

 adequate enforcement of that portion of the migratory bird law. Further, 

 the passage of the bill will accomplish what is referred to above, and will 

 put the federal regulations for the protection of migratory birds above the 

 review of any court in the United States. Here is a splendid and urgent 

 opportunity to do some concrete Audubon work. Let everyone who believes 

 in the protection of birds write Senator J. Hamilton Lewis, and Senator 

 Lawrence Y. Sherman at Washington, urging them to give immediate and 

 determined support to this measure. Then the congressman from one's 

 district should be written to, and legitimate pressure brought upon him and 

 other congressmen also to see that the entire Illinois delegation votes right 

 on this important measure. 



