22 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



monest birds, I had my own system of nomenclature, which still remains 

 potentially dominant in my mind. 



The habits of the birds always interested me ; the way the quail, and 

 kill-deer, and meadowlark tried to entice me away from their nests by 

 feigning injury ; how the prairie horned lark nested so early in the season 

 that snow covered the nest and the mother bird had to dig her way out; 

 how the wren tried out several nesting-places before finally deciding upon 

 the permanent home ; the antics of the mating woodcock ; these merely illus- 

 trate how I was daily acquiring at firsthand a vast store of bird-lore. 



I summarize this early history of my bird- study because I wish ardently 

 to plead the cause of the Audubon Society and the work that it is doing. 

 And more ardently I wish to plead the cause of the boys in relation to the 

 birds. I know from my own experience that, my whole boyhood would have 

 been richer and pleasanter even than it was, could I but have had the help 

 of the society. As education and training in nature and in citizenship, bird 

 study and bird discipline as outlined by our State Audubon Society can not 

 be surpassed. 



The common schools of the state should be the skirmish line for a more 

 vigorous campaign in the study and conservation of our bird life; in the 

 beginning of all kinds of self-discipline and national thrift. The entire 

 boy-scout army should be enlisted actively in the movement. The field is 

 splendid. What a magnificent army of local observers in every branch of 

 natural history and science could be thus developed ! What renewed and 

 extended interest there would be in the natural life of this good old world 

 of ours ! And how much broadened and brightened would be the horizon of 

 every boy and man in this whole state ! The Audubon Society has a great 

 opportunity to do a splendid bit of work, and we bird lovers have a great 

 opportunity to help effectively. w ElM£r EkblaW| 



The University of Illinois. 



SETS ARBOR AND BIRD DAYS all timber-growing lands from taxation. 



— — — The constant menace of insect pests to 



Lowden Proclaims April 23 and Oct. an agricultural state like ours makes 



23 — Sees "Intangible Wealth.." necessary the protection of our wild birds 



[By The Associated Press.] through the creation of sentiment and 



Springfield, 111., Feb. 26. — In a procla- the enactment and enforcement of wise 



mation just issued Gov. Frank O. Low- laws. 



den fixed Friday, April 23, and Friday, "With these objectives in view it was 



Oct. 22, as Arbor and Bird days. an expression of practical wisdom and 



The proclamation is as follows : sound statesmanship on the part of the 



"There is a kind of wealth in birds general assembly to provide by law for 



and trees that defies appraisement, and the setting aside each year of a day or 



yet there is a sense in which they con- days when these important matters should 



stitute a very real and a very tangible be brought to the attention of the people 



source of public wealth. The practical of the commonwealth in an especial 



utilities which they serve are so great manner through programs given in our 



as to make their conservation and pro- schools, churches, civic and social centers, 



tection matters of grave public concern. "Therefore, under the acts of the gen- 



Any nationwide instruction in thrift must eral assembly . passed to encourage the 



provide for an effort to correct our habits planting of trees, shrubs and vines about 



of profligacy and waste of these great the homes, along the highways and 



natural resources. around public grounds, I, Frank O. Low- 



"An intelligent sentiment for the plant- den, governor of the state of Illinois, do 



ing and culture of trees and forests must hereby designate Friday, April 23, 1920, 



.be encouraged. It may prove to be a and Friday, Oct. 22, 1920, as Arbor and 



sound state and national policy to exempt Bird days." 



