ieee ee bTORNe "BeUe lol Rell N 5 
In view of our concern for the perilous status of the Prairie Chicken, it 
is of interest to consider some of Forbes’ comments on this subject. In 1912, 
Forbes (Forbes, S. A., Ill. Acad. Sci. Trans. for 1912, 5:47-8, 1912) re- 
ported that “Prairie-Hens — thanks to our protective laws — are now to 
be seen in at least seventy-four counties, so abundantly in some that farmers 
are beginning to protest against their further increase because of the 
amount of grain which they devour.’’ The reports on which this is based 
are in the Survey files. Re-examination of them brings out Forbes’ con- 
servativeness, for the reporting observers had believed that Prairie Chickens 
were present in 92 counties. Forbes obviously had reason to doubt some of 
the reports. In the same paper (p. 48) he showed awareness of the same 
environmental limitation which is endangering the Prairie Chicken today 
when he advised that: 
"The very country in which it was formerly most numerous — that is, the open 
prairie — is now least favorable to it because of the agricultural operations, which 
disturb and destroy it during its breeding season." 
Upon occasion, Forbes was known to express his sentiments in verse, but 
unfortunately, he apparently believed that this was too personal a matter 
for perpetuation. His family knew this and sometimes they were permitted 
to share his poetic expressions; however, seemingly fearful of displaying 
sentiment, Forbes characteristically destroyed his poems. It seems fitting 
to close this tribute with a few lines of verse which were found among his 
papers following death: 
"He is not old who loves the young. 
Whom the young love is young himself; 
The full heart is the happy one, 
The empty dish goes on the shelf. 
"May the full heart, the curious mind 
Be yours until your latest day; 
Then shall your age be fresh as youth, 
And late December bloom like May.’ 
State Natural History Survey Division, Urbana, IIl. 
ft FT ft 
THE 1961 I.A.S. CAMP-OUT 
As THE SEPTEMBER issue of the Audubon Bulletin goes to press, word has 
been received of the Annual Camp-Out at Starved Rock State Park on the 
week-end of September 9-10. Separate announcements giving all details will 
have been mailed to all members by the time this issue is printed; we hope 
that many of you will be able to attend. A full report of the Camp-Out will 
appear in the December issue of the Bulletin. 
N.R.C.1. TO HOLD CONFERENCE ON PESTICIDES 
THE NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL of Illinois will hold its 8th Annual Out- 
door Conservation Conference at the Fairmount Hotel in Collinsville. Theme 
of the meeting is “INSECTICIDES, PESTICIDES, AND THE PUBLIC 
INTEREST.” I.A.S. Directors Jane Tester and Elton Fawks are co-chair- 
men of the session. The Conference is scheduled for Oct. 20-22, 1961. 
