ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 17 



There are other features of interest also. A toad took refuge under my 

 sink and many were the cool, comfortable hours which she spent there 

 while the rest of the world sweltered. An occasional stray pup stopped 

 long enough in his haphazard chase of excitement to lap a few mouthfuls 

 of cooling water only to be chased from the yard by a bevy of busy 

 scolding robins — This and more, I promise of interest to you if you turn 

 "good fellow" and help the birds. 



T. E. Musselman. 

 The Migratory Bird Treaty 



A letter from Mr, T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary of the National Association 

 of Audubon Societies, contains timely information about the enforcement of the 

 Migratory Bird Treaty. It is printed herewith: 



"In December. 1916, the Migratory Bird Treaty between United States 

 and Great Britain, in reference to birds that migrate between Canada and 

 United States, was ratified and became a fact. Before such treaty could 

 become operative, however, it was necessary that Congress should pass a 

 law empowering some department of government to enforce the treaty and 

 provide funds for this purpose. On January 13, 1917, a bill was intro- 

 duced in the United States Senate by Senator Gilbert M. Hitchcock of 

 Nebraska, and a bill of identical character was introduced in the House by 

 Congressman Henry D. Flood of Virginia. 



The National Association of Audubon Societies, which has always 

 taken a very active part in Federal legislation for the conservation of wild 

 birds and animals, immediately became active. As Executive Officer of 

 the Association I prepared and sent out thirty thousand circulars urging 

 voters to write to their Congressmen. As a result of this, many thousands 

 of letters were written to Senators and Congressmen, urging their support 

 of the bill. I went to Washington, where for about six weeks I spent most 

 of the time lobbying with Senators and Representatives in the interest of 

 the bill, working in close co-operation with the officials of the State De- 

 partment and the Biological Survey of the Agricultural Department. 



Whenever I found a Congressman or Senator who was opposed to the 

 measure, or who was lukewarm, I wired to our representatives in his State 

 and authorized them to get at least forty influential constituents to tele- 

 graph him urging his support, and asked that bills for these messages be 

 sent to us. I also brought to Washington at our expense, two men from 

 distant parts of the country, who were well acquainted with some of the 

 members of Congress who had not become fully cognizant of the de- 

 sirability of passing the measure. 



With some amendments the bill was reported favorably both in the 

 Senate and the House, and we had abundant votes to pass it, but you will 

 recall that in the closing days of Congress, by the reprehensible action of 

 the "wilful twelve," all administrative bills were held up. The Migratory 

 Bird Treaty Bill was regarded as an administrative measure and it shared 

 the fate of the Armed Ships Bill and others. 



Congress will convene again on April 2 and the Migratory Bird Treaty 

 Bill will be reintroduced." 



T. Gilbert Pearson. 



