18 WILD LIFE PROTECTION FUND 



from the Permanent Fund were made to some associations 

 that stood in need of encouragement beyond mere words. 



Naturally it is our intention to keep in touch with our 

 friends in the West and Southwest, and when the next leg- 

 islatures of those states again meet to do business, we think 

 that they will hear in no uncertain terms from the local 

 defenders of wild life. 



THE FEDERAL MIGRATORY BIRD LAW 



On Oct. 12 the federal migratory bird law came before 

 the United States Supreme Court, on trial for its life. Four 

 excellent briefs were presented in behalf of the birds, as 

 follows : 



For the Government, by Assistant Attorney General E. 

 Marvin Underwood. 



For the Camp Fire Club of America, by E. W. Sanborn, 

 Julius H. Seymour and Marshall McLean. 



For the New York Zoological Society and The Boone and 

 Crockett Club, by Charles Stewart Davison. 



For the American Game Protective and Propagating As- 

 sociation, by William S. Haskell. 



It seems impossible to suggest a point in favor of the con- 

 stitutionality of the federal law that is not amply covered 

 in at least one of the four briefs. Everything that could 

 be done to defend the law has been done. 



As yet no decision has been handed down. Some good 

 judges regard the chances for an adverse decision as being 

 3 to 1. After reading the three briefs in our possession, 

 we believe that the chances in favor of the law are 2 to 1 ; 

 which means that toe expect a decision favorable to the 

 birds. 



If the law is destroyed by an adverse decision, all self- 

 respecting states that have not already done so will volun- 

 tarily so amend their laws that they will continue to carry 



