150 
MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 
THE ROBIN. 
At a regular meeting of the Society, held January 9, 1858, the following 
votes were passed:— 
Edward S. Rand, Jr., offered the following motion, which was laid on tlie 
table: 
Voted, That the President of the Society be and hereby is autliorized, in 
behalf of this Society, to petition the Legislature at its present session for 
the repeal of such of the statutes and laws of this Commonwealth as prohibit 
the taking, killing and destroying of the bird commonly known as the robin. 
On the presentation of the above vote, an animated discussion took place, 
in which most of the members present took part. 
J. W. P. Jenks, Prof, of Zoology, presented a communication in favor of 
the Society’s first learning the habits of the robin before presenting the pe¬ 
tition, and on motion of Edward S. Rand, Sen., it was 
Voted, That the subject be referred to a Committee consisting of three, 
of which Mr. Jenks shall be Chairman, and that the Committee be requested 
to make a thorough investigation of the subject, and report at such time as 
they may deem advisable. 
The Committee consists of 
J. W. P. Jenks, Chairman, 
C. M. Hovey, 
E. S. Rand, Jr. 
The following Report, presented March 5, will show how ably the Com¬ 
mittee have performed the duties assigned them. On motion of Mr. 
Walker, it was unanimously 
Voted, That the Report be accepted and placed in the hands of the Com¬ 
mittee on Publication, with instructions to publish the same, and make 
such a distribution thereof among kindred associations, (horticultural and 
agricultural,) as may be deemed advisable. 
