ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 47 



two hundred bird houses and shelters were built last season as a direct result 

 of the contest. The most beautiful home in our city cuddles as lovingly the 

 tiny wren house nestled under the porch or pergola as does the less pre- 

 tentious cottage. Surely no pair of wrens needed to choose a home that did 

 not exactly suit them as the}' had many styles from which to choose. "Is 

 your bird house occupied yet?" became quite a familiar salutation with 

 grown-ups as well as with boys and girls. 



It has been noticeable that the boys and girls feel it a personal duty to 

 i'cL'd and protect the birds more than ever before. The children who built 

 the tiny houses experienced great pleasure in creating homes for the bird> 

 and also a gratification in that they could produce something that people 

 were desirous of buying. It has been found that birds much prefer to 

 build in houses that are not too ostentatiously new. They like a house that 

 is weather-beaten or that has at least the newness worn off. So the late Fall 

 and Winter is the best time to build one's bird houses and shelters for one 

 will then have time to find the most suitable location for them. Every 

 human habitation should have near it at least one home or shelter for the 

 birds, built and placed there by human hands. It is an investment that 

 repays a thousand fold in the privilege of having near us the beautiful, 

 dainty, sweet-voiced singers and in the enjoyment of their comradeship. 



ECathryn Wire Hammond. 



Indorsements of Cat Circular Issued by the May wood Bird 

 Club and the Illinois Audubon Society 



It is only recently that the cat has come to be considered a serious 

 menace to bird life and farm interests. The original investigations of 

 Edward Howe Forbush, State Ornithologist of Massachusetts, opened the 

 eyes of the people to the truth about the cat. A rapid change of attitude 

 toward this domestic animal is taking place in various states. New York 

 recently passed a state cat law. Michigan, we have recently heard but not 

 yet verified, has a law. Massachusetts is agitating for such a law. There is 

 a bill now before the Connecticut legislature for a law to control the cat. 



The Illinois Audubon Society's Committee on Legislation is now pre- 

 paring draft of a bill for a law to solve the cat problem in Illinois. It 

 is to be believed the people of this great state will face the truth and 

 secure the passage of a model law. Other states are sure to fall in line 

 in rapid succession. 



That the movement is spreading to other parts of the country is evidenced 

 by the increasing demand for the circular on the cat problem written by 

 Secretary Langdon for the Maywood Bird Club and distributed by the 

 Illinois Audubon Society. This circular tells the truth in very conservative 

 terms. The testimonials printed below explain the growing demand for 

 the document. 



"There is no question that the elimination of the wandering house cat, 

 especially those homeless animals of which many live a half or completely 

 wild life in the woods surrounding towns in various parts of the United 

 States, will be an important step toward conserving wild bird life. The 

 more definite control of house cats, particularly in small towns, suburban 

 localities, and on farms, would result in a marked increase in the numbers 

 of our feathered friends." Edward W. Nelson. Chief, Bureau of Biological 

 Survey, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



