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ally, telegraph and telephone wires are responsible, but chiefly 
men and boys. The market gunner, the millinery collector, the 
scientists, the taxidermist, and the gentleman sportsmen all 
have their several interests. We in Rhode Island, have plenty 
of law on the subject, but no enforcement, and indeed it must be 
very difficult to frame a law that can be enforced, or that will do 
justice to all or most of the interested parties. It has been sug¬ 
gested that in different sections of the country or States, certain 
lands or parks be set oft' and carefully officered, as safety retreats 
for the exclusive use of the birds. Many or most of them quickly 
adapt their habits to any protective situation even in the midst of 
civilization. (The naturalist, Waterton, said, and proved it as 
well, that if he provided a suitable place the birds were sure to 
find it.) I would instance the Herring Gulls and several sorts of 
duck that, during the colder months, frequently settle in the Cove 
Basin, near the railroad station in Providence, and the Purple 
Grackles that are plenty in the heart of that city, where the trees 
are suitable for their use. 
Many of the winter birds that I have mentioned have their 
summering and nesting places in Maine, Labrador and situations 
still further north. A few of them remain with us the year 
through, or rather the species do, represented by individuals that 
have wintered in the south, perhaps in Florida or the Bahamas. 
It would be tedious for me to designate all the birds that multi¬ 
ply within our borders, but I estimate about one hundred species ; 
and adding to the numbers already mentioned, those that mi¬ 
grate through the State, remaining but a few days, I can, from 
the data that I have on hand, report the capture of at least two 
hundred and thirty species. According to the latest authorities 
only seven hundred and sixty eight species are allowed to North 
America so we do not make such a bad showing. If the mem¬ 
bers and friends of this Society would follow the most excellent 
advice of its curator and devote some energy to a systematic col¬ 
lecting of local or State specimens, or even note with care and put 
on record with this Society their observations, many a worthy addi¬ 
tion would soon be made to our present knowledge. I think 
that if some one with time at command, and even a limited 
amount of money would carefully study the Cumberland portion, 
and particularly the southern part of the State about Washington 
County, much that is new might be learned. 
