AMERICAN GAME P.TRDS 



157 



conserving bird life, but possess added 

 x'alne to the pulilic as pleasure resorts. 

 They serve also the cause of education 

 b}^ providing readily accessible places 

 where the habits of wild birds may be 

 studied by school children and others. 



\'.\LUF. iiF I'.liKRV-BE-VRI.xr, SHRUl'.S 



.\notber important way of caring for 

 both game and insectivorous birds is to 

 provide food for them, especiallx' m win- 

 ter and during deep snows. This method 

 is particularlv effective, since the expense 

 entailed is small and it can be practised 

 evervwhere bv private individuals. Pitts- 

 burgh has a si)ecial superintendent whose 

 peculiar care is the birds in the public 

 parks. Se\'eral States, as Massachusetts, 

 Connecticut, \'ermont, Delaware, and 

 Pennsylvania, have, or recently had, State 

 ornithologists, whose usefulness in prac- 

 tical ways is unf|uestioned. Their duties 

 include the study of the habits of birds 

 from the economic point of view, and the 

 preparation of reports thereon to aid in 

 the framing of protective legislation. 



The planting of berry-bearing shrubs 

 and trees in public parks and along pub- 

 lic roadsides is another eft'ecti\e method 

 of caring for our bird life. .\lready 

 many women's clubs, quick to recognize 

 their opportunity, have taken up this 

 work and are urging park commission- 

 ers to make special jirovisions for the 

 needs of om- birds. Such methods bear 

 more directl}- on the welfare of our seed- 

 eating and insectivorous birds, but they 

 also ha\'e a beneficial effect on game 

 birds, especiallv bob-white and the ruft'ed 

 grouse. 



PRIV.\TE VXD ST.\Tl-: ORGAXIZ.VTIOXS 



Such organizations as the ]\Ieriden 

 Bird Club, of New Hampshire, are espe- 

 cially to be commended. This is a local 

 communitv club as distinguished from 

 the public or private preserve or sanc- 

 tuary. Its purposes, as stated in its con- 

 stitution, are as admirable as they are 

 direct and simple: "The objects of this 

 club shall be the increase and protection 



of our local wild birds, the stimulation 

 of interest in bird life, and the gradual 

 establishment of a model bird sanctuary." 



Of wider scope and aims are such or- 

 ganizations as the National .\ssociation 

 of Audubf)n Societies, with its many 

 affiliated State societies : the American 

 Game Protective Association : the Wild 

 Life Protective Fund : and the State 

 Game Protective -\ssociations. The work 

 of these \'arious bodies, indi\'iduall\- and 

 collecti\'ely, has pro\ed a most impor- 

 tant factor in the nation-wide mo\'ement 

 to conser\'e our valuable bird life. 



Of recent years instruction as to the 

 economic \-alue of birds and the best 

 ways to conser\'e them has received much 

 attention in the pul:)lic schools of many 

 States, and the results are likely to prove 

 fruitful, both now and in the years to 

 come 



JIA^'^' G.MUF liiRDS c,\N r,E rE.arEd ik 



C.\PTIVITY 



Finally, the artificial propagation of 

 our game birds has a direct and impor- 

 tant bearing on their present and future 

 welfare. It has alread\' been demon- 

 strated that bob-white and other quail 

 can be reared in ca])ti\-ity and used to 

 stock depleted co\-ers, while Canada 

 geese, mallards, Ijlack ducks, wood- 

 ducks, and others of the goose and duck 

 tribe can be reared under suitable condi- 

 tions almost as readil)' as domestic fowls 

 and be used to stock public lakes and 

 ])0nds. This is a work which may prop- 

 erly be undertaken by State game com- 

 missions and in fact has already been 

 Ijegvm. 



If in consequence of the cessation of 

 spring shooting the numbers of our 

 waterfowd and shorebirds increase, as is 

 confidently exjjected they will, the sale 

 of hunting licenses in most of the States 

 will ])ro\dde am])le fimds for all neces- 

 sary experiments in the artificial propa- 

 s^ation of game on a large scale, and thus 

 be an important factor not only in pre- 

 serving the species now in danger, but 

 in furnishing game for sport and food. 



