Inrropucrory Xxill 
enforced as they should be, owing to no regular game 
warden system. These, and many other lesser causes, are 
the main factors in the decrease of birds and game in 
general throughout our State, and only by following the 
example of other states and having a practical game and 
fire warden system, game propagation farm, game pre- 
serves or refuges for the local and migratory birds, can 
we help the fast-approaching extinction of many useful 
species. The amount of good the majority of our birds do 
in helping to keep down the ever-increasing agricultural 
pests can hardly be overestimated, and a realization of this 
fact is becoming more generally known throughout our 
country each year. May our State and its people not be 
backward in realizing this, and help to protect and increase 
our birds. There is much of interest in connection with 
the feathered tribe, such as the building of the nests and 
the material used in their construction, which will afford 
many hours of enjoyment if one will but spare the time 
for this side of nature study. The period of incubation is 
another interesting time for both bird and bird student, 
while the feeding of the young is in itself the most 
important period of all. Nearly all young birds are partly 
or wholly eared for by the parents for a few days or weeks 
after leaving the nest, to be left at last to shift for them- 
selves and become a help in keeping the laws of Nature. 
On the other hand, how well Nature helps the 
birds is illustrated in one instance (see page 358), where 
the larger bone of a wing was broken and was healed 
in such a manner as to allow of the northward or south- 
ward migration covering probably 1,500 miles, within a 
short time of fracture. While many birds are destroyed 
by storms and disease, and old age claims many more, 
were it not for the hand of man no species could or would 
become exterminated. 
