The object of this proposed legislation is to give power and force 
to the Migratory Bird Treaty ratified between this country and 
Canada on December 6, 1916. 
Unless the Migratory Bird Treaty Act becomes a law the treaty 
for which bird conservationists labored so long will virtually ,be- 
come a dead letter! Without an enabling act of this character our 
previous work for migratory bird-protection will largely come to 
naught. 
The present session of Congress will be a very short one, ter- 
minating on March 4, 191 7, therefore owing to the crush of work to 
be considered there is going to be great difficulty in getting the bill 
properly before Congress. 
This can be done, however, if a large measure of interest is mani- 
fested by the public. 
I earnestly urge that you wire or write at once the Senators and 
Representatives of your State in Congress and request them to give 
this measure their support. Ask the Senators to support " Senate Bill 
No. 7858 known as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, " and ask your 
Congressmen to support "House Bill No. 20080." 
T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary. 
And a Bird Story 
The civilizing and intelligent softening influence of well directed 
nature study was brought home to me last summer while spending 
a half hour at a boys' camp in Maine. One of the counselors, a fine 
athletic young fellow, pointed out to me, with the greatest pride what 
he called "the sweetest thing in camp." There beside one of the 
most frequented paths sat a little Hermit Thrush on her nest ! That 
shyest of all birds ! She was alarmed at the interest shown in her, and 
after a few visibly anxious moments, fluttered from her nest, but only 
to fly as far as a small bush nearby. A most delightfully unkempt and 
sunburned boy of the camp standing near, bashfully remarked, "We 
better not stay here, she might not go back, we fellows don't use this 
path any more than we can help, and when we do we go still as we 
can." 
What would have happened to the little thrush and her nest 
twenty-five or thirty years ago when the thoughtless ignorance or an 
unsatisfied thirst for knowledge made savages of those well beloved, 
naughty little boys? 
Annie' Pratt Perrine, 
Trenton Garden Club. 
