24 



Bulletin of the Michigan Ornithological Club. 



Resolutions. 



In a realization of the urgent need of 

 earnest, systematic effort in behalf of our 

 beautiful song and insectivorous birds, our 

 water fowl, our game birds and our birds of 

 prey, with which God has so profusely 

 blessed our land, tlie Michigan Ornithologi- 

 cal Club has appointed a committee to put 

 in words the sentiment and attitude of its 

 members. 



This committe, feeling the honor done it 

 in the responsibility and importance of the 

 work assigned, has framed these resolutions 

 wliich are respectfully submitted to the 

 friends of birds. 



First, be it resolved : that we as a Club 

 decry the wanton thoughtlessness of some 

 small boj^s, and even of some men, who 

 kill our birds whenever opportunity offers, 

 and defense of their cruel practice simply 

 say, ''that it is fun." 



Second, be it resolved : that we implore 

 each member of the Michigan Ornithologi- 

 cal Club and of members of like organiza- 

 tions in our land, and of all persons who 

 are making a study of birds, to spare in 

 their necessity of collecting specimens for a 

 reference collection in a most exacting 

 study, all birds and nests and eggs not ab- 

 solutely needed. 



Third, be it resolved : that we as a Club 

 beseech in all kindness and implore the 

 coc'peration of the women who use birds, or 

 parts thereof, for ornaments upon their 

 hats, thus creating a demand which seals 

 the death-warrant of thousands of our 

 sweetest feathered friends. Let each one 

 try and be first to enlist in this noble work 

 of kindness and mercy. 



Fourth, be it resolved : that we ask the 

 ladies of the Woman's Clubs, and other 

 like associations, to use their own personal 

 efforts in this laudable work and to teach 

 their children to love and to spare and pro- 

 tect our birds and other animals, and to 

 show kindness toward all living things. 



Fifth, and last, be it resolved : that these 

 resolutions be printed in the Bulletin of the 

 Michigan Ornithological Club. 



L. Whitney Watkins, 

 Thos. L. Hankinson, 



Committee. 



f\ SuQQesiion. 



Great advancement has been made during 

 the past few years in the study of ornith- 

 ology and oology. The birds themselves 

 have been carefully studied from an econ- 

 omic standpoint. The localitj^ where 

 found, their food, their nesting habits, the 

 material of which their nests are composed, 

 the color and number of eggs contained in 

 each set, etc., all are receiving careful 

 attention. But it seems to me that the 

 exact time required for incubation among 

 our various species of birds has been sadly 

 neglected. At least, I know of no work 

 treating upcni the subject in a proper man- 

 ner, and I would therefore suggest that 

 each member of the Michigan Ornithologi- 

 cal Club make at least one record upon 

 this subject this spring and summer, by 

 selecting a nest as near as possible to his 

 residence, where the eggs can be watched 

 daily. The exact number of days required 

 for incubation should be carefully recorded. 

 But great care should be taken in regard to 

 this, for a mistake would be misleading and 

 worse than no record at all ; and I would 

 further suggest that said records be pub- 

 lished in our Bulletin so that everj^ mem- 

 ber of our Club may be benefited thereby. 



James B. Puedy. 



Plymouth, Mich. 



Mourning Doves in Winter. 



On the morning of Feb. 20, 1898, I fought my way- 

 through a terrific snowstorm to a patch of tangled grape 

 vines and willow sprouts. Much to my surprise, I found 

 there five Mourning Doves securely tucked away from 

 the wind and snow. It was certainly a queer time of 

 year to find a Mourning Dove in this part ot the State. 



Geo. H. Walker. 



Belvidere, 111. 



An American Bittern in Winter. 



On December 11, 1897, I took an American Bittern 

 in a marsh about three miles north of Hillsdale. The 

 bird was in good condition, and there was no evidence 

 that it had been delayed in its southward journey by 

 being sick or wounded. Chas. Cass. 



Hillsdale, Mich. 



Mr. W. E. Mulliken has recently accepted an excel- 

 lent position with the Grand Rapids Brass Company. 



Our president, W. A. Davidson, received visits 

 recently from Mr. Alexander Gow, Mr. W. P. Melville 

 and James B. Purdy of our Club. 



Mr. Edwin S. Bryant left for Montana about April 

 15, 1898, on his regular annual collecting trip. 



