26 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



We are located about a block from the Blue Island Sag channel 

 of the Sanitary District which of course supplies plenty of water 

 and insect life. It is surely quite a pleasure to hear the pleasant 

 chatter of the birds. It is noticeable that they seem to be a little 

 nervous since the accident but are otherwise rather contented. 



Carthage 



Carthage College Will Conserve Wild Life. 



Within the past few months a definite effort to conserve the 

 local fauna and flora has been undertaken by the Biology De- 

 partment of Carthage College. Lying within a mile from Carth- 

 age, and extending between the C. B. and Q tracks and a county 

 road for a length of 1250 feet, is the tract of land which has re- 

 rently been purchased for that purpose. Unlike the surround- 

 ing prairies, it combines an unusual range of soil with a very 

 irregular topography, making possible the satisfactory growing 

 of a wide range of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Two 

 artificial ponds of many years' duration, together with the long, 

 flat-bottomed ravine through which the ponds are fed during 

 heavy rains, will provide for a highly varied water and lowland 

 flora. The ponds furnish also a wide range of aquatic animal 

 species for laboratory study. 



The boys in the local high school are competing for prizes 

 offered for the best houses made by them, such houses to be 

 placed in the Wild Life Preserve. Hemp, broomcorn, and wild 

 berry bushes are being introduced abundantly, to entice birds. 

 Thickets are being established to lure them to their shelter. 



A card catalogue of plant species of the county has been 

 worked up during the past three years, by the head of the de- 

 partment, and a consistent and persistent effort will be made to 

 introduce practically every species in the county into the Pre- 

 serve. A similar list of trees and shrubs from elsewhere, suited 

 to this climate, has been prepared. College and city clubs as 

 well as faculty members, classes and private individuals have 

 been urged to provide planting materials of species desired by 

 the department. The response has on the whole been excellent, 

 and a wide range of native and non-native material has been 

 provided. Many further donations are expected. 



An effort of this sort can not be the task of a single season. 

 Only sturdy plants not requiring cultivation are being intro- 

 duced. Young trees and shrubs are necessarily chosen. A ben- 

 efit given by the department has supplied a small sum for the 

 purchase of desired planting materials. Between two and three 

 hundred evergreens will be planted as soon as the season is 

 suitable. It will take many years to accomplish all the improv- 

 ing and beautifying desired. The tract has every qualification 

 necessary to make it an ideal biological station, wild life pre- 

 serve, and haunt for nature lovers, but its promoters are not 

 impatient of the years required to bring up the plan to the plane 

 of excellence which their ideals for it demand as a goal. 



