8 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



the original ten woody climbers three have been added and six more are 

 in the nursery. Mr. Ridgway hopes that when more time can be allowed 

 this matter that the representation of woody plants native to Illinois may 

 be made nearly complete on "Bird Haven." 



As stated above, eight volumes of the truly monumental work on the 

 birds of North and Middle America have been completed. Two more 

 volumes are needed to complete this task, upon which Mr. Ridgway has 

 centered his great powers of research for so many years. It is the sincere 

 hope of all interested in the advancement of science that he may carry 

 along this work without interruption to its full fruition. Next April he 

 will celebrate his fiftieth anniversary of service in the United States 

 National Museum, an event that is anticipated with interest by all who 

 have profited by his labors in the field of ornithology. 



Legislation 



The new administrative code bill for Illinois that went into effect 

 July 1, 1917, assigns the work of administering the game laws of the state 

 to a branch of the Department of Agriculture known as the Division of 

 Game and Fish. Instead of three "commissioners" as in the past, the law 

 provides for a division head known as the Chief Warden and for five in- 

 spectors, five investigators, and sixty or more employes. Mr. Ralph F. 

 Bradford of Pontiac was appointed Chief Warden. The new plan of 

 administration has as yet been in operation less than six months and the 

 work of reorganization is probably still under way. Mr. Bradford, how- 

 ever, has announced that the Division of Game and Fish will enforce to 

 the best of its ability the laws for conserving the game of the state and for 

 protecting non-game and insectivorous birds. The Division has shown 

 active interest in the organization of bird refuges. There are already- 

 thirteen such refuges in the state, and the work of organizing additional 

 ones will doubtless receive fresh impetus. 



Another of the new state departments known as the Department of 

 Public Works is of especial interest to conservationists because the Division 

 of State Parks is under its jurisdiction. At the head of this Division is a 

 Superintendent of Parks, Mr. Frank Lowman of Sandwich having been ap- 

 pointed to that position. The Division superseded the Illinois Parks Com- 

 mission which had been in existence for six years, during which time it had 

 secured for the state the Starved Rock reservation amounting to 855 acres 

 and an area of about 10 acres in southwestern Illinois, which includes the 

 site of old Fort Chartres. Prof. James A. James of Northwestern Uni- 

 versity was chairman of the Commission during its entire existence. The 

 new Superintendent has associated with him a commission to assist in 

 shaping the affairs of the Park. 



The attempt to amend the state game and fish laws at the last session of 

 the legislature brought to Springfield representatives of all opposing fac- 

 tions of sportsmen in the state. A bill embodying as a compromise measure 

 some of the features especially desired by the contestants passed the legis- 

 lature but failed to secure Governor Lowden's approval. Attorney General 

 Brundage furnished the report upon which Governor Lowden based his 



