.MU'lllUAN AUDUHON SOCIKTV. 
15 
culprit. Such encourageuicnt is of immense benefit and Mr. 
Covert is to be commeiuled for showing a willingness to do 
his whole duty. 
To read the full history of bird destruction in this State 
for one year would be akin to reading some of the inquisi- 
tion intrigues of the middle ages. One would not need to be 
a sentimentalist to have a feeling of nightmare. There are 
many strong sympathizers in the State and a few most ex- 
cellent workers, but they are comparatively few. Our State 
not only needs organization but co-operation among the 
various societies, who should at least make an effort to keep 
abreast with the progressive States. Later on I shall outline 
the work to be done in the State. 
The Work of Protection in Other States and Countries. 
Even in Colonial times some efforts were made to protect 
bird life and later a few of the States had many laws on their 
statute books looking toward this end, but nothing practical 
could be accomplished until the National Government took 
action and enacted a uniform law. A decision rendered by 
the United States Supreme Court in the case of Greer vs. 
Connecticut during 1896, to the effect that game was the 
property of the State, led to congressional legislation. A bill 
was introduced within a few months after the above decision 
but so unprepared was Congress for such legislation that 
three years passed before the Lacey act became a law. This 
act controls the importation of foreign birds as well as inter- 
state commerce in game. Under this act useful foreign birds 
have been imported and harmful ones kept out. The English 
Sparrow has taught the government a lesson. The Lacey 
act gave the supervision of game and bird protection to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the Biological Survey of that 
department has done an immense and splendid work. 
The activity of the National Government not only encour- 
aged the various States but those in foreign countries who 
sympathized with the movement. In 1889 the Royal Society 
for the protection of birds was founded in England. This 
society issues a quarterly publication entitled Bird Notes and 
News, which is sent to the secretaries of the State Audubon 
