Cc + Ai f 
iggZield, Mass., 
January 19th, 1903. 
Dear Mr. Brewster:= 
Understanding that you are the 
president of the Audubon Society and I having taken 
some little interest in aiding in the enforcement of the 
law relative to the protection of birds, I would like to 
iaibeet the desirability of a change in the Massachusetts 
law on this subject. 
By the provision of section 5 of chapter 92 of the 
Revised Laws, "plover, snipe, sandpipers, rail, or any 
of the so-called shore Marsh or beach birds" may be killed 
petween July 15th and May lst. The law is so interpre- 
ted by some persons that meadow larks, red winged black- 
birds and many other species are killed under the claim 
that they are marsh birds. This word marsh should be 
stricken from the statutes; it has no certain meaning, 
and refers to no special class of birds, as do shore or 
beach birds, and may be construed to signify most any 
kind. I think you will not find it in use in other 
states, The word came from’-a statute passed in 1821 to 
a 
prevent the killing of birds on salt marshes between the 

