63 
In regard to the wild life, game animals and birds, would say there 
seems to be quite an increase in quails and rabbits, but under the present 
law of Lihnois with an open season of six months, squirrels are rapidly 
wee and by the time the season closes, February 1, 1917, there will 
be but very few of the little fuzzy tails left in this Sieve for breeders. 
There is no doubt whatever but what the squirrel in this State is much 
more scarce than the dove, quail or prairie chicken and as it breeds very 
slowly compared with the prairie chicken or quail, I can see no reason 
why it should not have at least the same protection as the quail. Rab- 
bits under the present law have increased but the next General Assembly 
should shorten the open season at least two months by making the open 
season begin October 1 and close December 31. Rabbits are poor and 
not really fit to eat in September and they begin breeding in January, 
and for these two reasons I would recommend that the closed season on 
rabbits be from January 1 to October 1 of each year. 
The farmers could and should assist the game wardens in protect- 
ing the song and insectivorous birds by killing cats and keeping their 
dogs from running at large during the breeding season of these birds. 
Not only the quail, clove and prairie chicken, but several species of our 
song and insectivorous birds, nest on the ground or so low down on trees 
and fences that their eggs are easily broken by the dogs or their young 
eaten by cats. Cats, in my opinion, are not only a public nuisance, but 
cne of the worst enemies that the young feather ed tribes have to contend 
with. One house-wren, catbird, or robin, is worth more to a farmer 
in destroying the pests and parasites of his field and garden than a 
dozen cats. Dogs running at large in towns and cities are also a public 
nuisance and farmers who are interested in protecting their best friends, 
which are the birds, should not allow their dogs to run at large, especially 
bird-dogs and hounds, during the spring and summer months, which is 
the main breeding months of our game, song and insectivorous birds. I 
do not hesitate to say that thousands of egos and young birds are de- 
stroyed annually by the cat and canine families. 
Respectfully submitted, 
) MR. Fakes, District Warden. 
Headquarters at Carbondale. | 
