toe APU DU, BrOUNe BU Ee GE ot LN 23 
These are just a few of the discussions that Silent Spring has inspired. 
I have quoted material that is of interest to ‘pro-Carsonites”. For the 
most part, the other side dwelt on the benefits of pesticides (greater food 
production, the killing of the malaria mosquito, etc.), which we have all 
heard many times in the campaign waged against Silent Spring. The book 
has given many people — scientists as well as laymen — the courage to 
speak out against the side effects of pesticides. As Dr. Smith said: “Public 
apathy makes poor policing.’ Thanks to Rachel Carson, the public is 
aroused. And it’s far past time. 
One of the best written discussions on the book is “A Commentary 
on Silent Spring,” by Drs. Clarence Cottam and Thomas G. Scott, which 
appeared in the Journal of Wildlife Management, January, 1963. The 
authors state: “Dr. Carson has made a monumental contribution to science 
by directing our attention to many facts which somehow seem to have been 
quietly shelved. Perhaps this quiet shelving reflects a Neanderthal ten- 
dency to deny the existence of danger. Perhaps it reflects the influence of 
the naturally biased advertising campaigns of the pesticide industry and 
the reporting of control agencies seeking to create a favorable image.” 
“Tt seems to us,” state the authors, “that Dr. Carson’s Silent Spring 
gives indisputable evidence that (1) this generation’s efforts to manipulate 
Nature by government and private industry, through the use of drugs, 
pesticides, and radiation, need more effective control; (2) the total conse- 
quences to man and his renewable resources from the present widespread 
and often unrestrained dissemination of toxic substances into our environ- 
ment are only vaguely known, and probably some effects cannot yet even 
be guessed; and (3) we _are at the point where the benefit of the doubt 
should dictate a national policy of caution, conservatism, maturity of 
judgment, and statesmanship. We are at a crossroads. Will we follow 
the reasoned approach or the laissez-faire philosophy that because ‘we 
haven’t died yet’ all is well?” 
22W358 Elmwood Drive, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 
fl fl 1S] ft 
Winter Influx of Robins 
By TE. Musselman, Sc.D. 
HOW MANY BIRDERS noticed the enormous migration of Robins into 
Illinois on January 15-16-17, 1963? Thousands of this species moved into 
the state as far north as Macomb and westward into Iowa as far as Ft: Madi- 
son. Other reports, some as early as December, 1962, came from Pleasant 
Hill, Illinois, Keokuk, and Burlington, Iowa. The fringes of the wave 
apparently extended into Missouri and Iowa. 
In my area, thousands of the birds flew in and quickly depleted the 
hackberries, multiflora roses, barberries, bittersweets, and persimmon 
trees of their fruits. Once the food was gone, the birds died by the hundreds 
of cold and starvation. It was a distressing experience. 
My records show that we had similar winter migrations of Robins in 
1908 and again in 1939. I have studied weather maps and food conditions 
on all occasions but as yet can find no explanation for such a tremendous 
midwinter influx. The birds literally arrived by the thousands. If anyone 
in Illinois has unusual Robin records for this period, I wish he would send 
them to me at the address below. 
