AMERICAN GAME BIRDS 
conserying bird life, but possess added 
value to the public as pleasure resorts. 
They serve also the cause of education 
by providing readily accessible places 
where the habits of wild birds may be 
studied by school children and others. 
VALUE OF BERRY-BEARING SHRUBS 
Another important way of caring for 
both game and insectivorous birds is to 
provide food for them, especially in win- 
ter and during deep snows. This method 
is particularly effective, since the expense 
entailed is small and it can be practised 
everywhere by private individuals. Pitts- 
burgh has a special superintendent whose 
peculiar care is the birds in the public 
parks. Several States, as Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, Vermont, Delaware, and 
Pennsylvania, have, or recently had, State 
ornithologists, whose usefulness in prac- 
tical ways is unquestioned. 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 effective method 
of caring for our bird life. Already 
many women’s clubs, quick to recognize 
their opportunity, have taken up this 
work and are urging park commission- 
ers to make special provisions for the 
needs of our birds. Such methods bear 
more directly on the welfare of our seed- 
eating and insectivorous birds, but they 
also have a beneficial effect on game 
birds, especially bob-white and the ruffed 
grouse. 
PRIVATE AND STATE ORGANIZATIONS 
Such organizations as the Meriden 
Bird Club, of New Hampshire, are espe- 
cially to be commended. This is a local 
community 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 
157 
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 Association 
of Audubon Societies, with its many 
affiliated State societies; the American 
Game Protective Association; the Wild 
Life Protective Fund; and the State 
Game Protective Associations. The work 
of these various bodies, individually and 
collectively, has proved a most impor- 
tant factor in the nation-wide movement 
to conserve our valuable bird life. 
Of recent years instruction as to the 
economic value of birds and the best 
ways to conserve them has received much 
attention in the public. schools of many 
States, and the results are likely to prove 
fruitful, both now and in the years to 
come. 
MANY GAME BIRDS CAN BE REARED IN 
CAPTIVITY 
Finally, the artificial propagation of 
our game birds has a direct and impor- 
tant bearing on their present and future 
welfare. It has already been demon- 
strated that bob-white and other quail 
can be reared in captivity and used to 
stock depleted covers, while Canada 
geese, mallards, black ducks, wood- 
ducks, and others of the goose and duck 
tribe can be reared under suitable condi- 
tions almost as readily as domestic fowls 
and be used to stock public lakes and 
ponds. This is a work which may prop- 
erly be undertaken by State game com- 
missions and in fact has already been 
begun. 
If in consequence of the cessation of 
spring siooe le the numbers of our 
waterfowl and shorebirds increase, as is 
confidently expected they will, the sale 
of hunting licenses in most of the States 
will provide ample funds for all neces- 
sary experiments in the artificial propa- 
gation 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. 
