26 THE AU DUB O°N 8 UL Eb ie 
We are located about a block from the Blue Island Sag channel 
of the Sanitary District which of course supplies plenty of water 
and insect life. It is surely quite a pleasure to hear the pleasant 
chatter of the birds. It is noticeable that they seem to be a little 
nervous since the accident but are otherwise rather contented. 
Carthage 
Carthage College Will Conserve Wild Life. 
Within the past few months a definite effort to conserve the 
local fauna and flora has been undertaken by the Biology De- 
partment of Carthage College. Lying within a mile from Carth- 
age, and extending between the C. B. and Q tracks and a county 
road for a length of 1250 feet, is the tract of land which has re- 
rently been purchased for that purpose. Unlike the surround- 
ing prairies, it combines an unusual range of soil with a very 
irregular topography, making possible the satisfactory growing 
of a wide range of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Two 
artificial ponds of many years’ duration, together with the long, 
flat-bottomed ravine through which the ponds are fed during 
heavy rains, will provide for a highly varied water and lowland 
flora. The ponds furnish also a wide range of aquatic animal 
species for laboratory study. 
The boys in the local high school are competing for prizes 
offered for the best houses made by them, such houses to be 
placed in the Wild Life Preserve. Hemp, broomcorn, and wild 
berry bushes are being introduced abundantly, to entice birds. 
Thickets are being established to lure them to their shelter. 
A card catalogue of plant species of the county has been 
worked up during the past three years, by the head of the de- 
partment, and a consistent and persistent effort will be made to 
introduce practically every species in the county into the Pre- 
serve. A similar list of trees and shrubs from elsewhere, suited 
to this climate, has been prepared. College and city clubs as 
well as faculty members, classes and private individuals have 
_ been urged to provide planting materials of species desired by 
the department. The response has on the whole been excellent, 
and a wide range of native and non-native material has been 
provided. Many further donations are expected. 
An effort of this sort can not be the task of a single season. 
Only sturdy plants not requiring cultivation are being intro- 
duced. Young trees and shrubs are necessarily chosen. A ben- 
efit given by the department has supplied a small sum for the 
purchase of desired planting materials. Between two and three 
hundred evergreens will be planted as soon-as the season is 
suitable. It will take many years to accomplish all the improv- 
ing and beautifying desired. The tract has every qualification 
necessary to make it an ideal biological station, wild life pre- 
serve, and haunt for nature lovers, but its promoters are not 
impatient of the years required to bring up the plan to the plane 
of excellence which their ideals for it demand as a goal. 
