EEESAUDU BON? BULCETIN 47 
became suspicious after the terrific bombardment carried on, on Saturday. 
I feel that it would be wiser for the Biological Survey to control the 
shooting date throughout the country and do not feel that the Illinois sea- 
son was either wise or fair to the ducks or to the hunters at large. 
For the first time in my life, | have found that many of the hunters 
are voluntarily suggesting closed hunting seasons on both Quail and ducks. 
This alone is not all that is necessary. Mr. Darling’s plan of breeding 
areas is admirable if enough mcney can be raised to establish these pre- 
serves. Certainly a closed season should be proclaimed, -oth in Canada 
and the United States for several years, to allow these birds an oppor- 
tunity of reestablishing themselves. As to Quail, a closed season is not 
sufficient. However, if any hunters’ organizations make a study of the 
farms in their neighborhood and see that a few fence corners are allowed 
to grow up in blackberry and hazel brush, that a little planting of kafhr 
corn and soy beans are planted along some of the fence rows, and that 
pond water is available on every second or third farm, there is little doubt 
that this, together with a closed season for several years, would bring back 
the Quail in surprising numkers. 
The erection of lean-tos by sportsmen, and the feeding of Quail dur- 
ing the few days that ice and snow cover the ground, will save then in 
tremendous numbers, as I really telieve that in most counties of Illinois 
nearly as many Quail are winter killed as suffer death from the guns of 
sportsmen. 
I find a growing tendency among the farmers in Adams County to 
refuse permission to shoot over their grounds unless the sportsman is will- 
ing to agree to build lean-tos and feed the Quail during the period of snow 
and sleet. If a campaign could te carried on through the farm papers 
which would make this policy effective throughout the State, it would 
show immediate results. 
I still maintain that the small percentage of our citizens who hunt 
should not have the right to exterminate wild birds, either game or song, 
when the much larger percentage of citizens would prefer having them 
left for the enjoyment of the next generations. 
Dr. T. E. MusSsEeLMAN. 
Where Does The Hermit Thrush Sing? 
One of our members would like to know where the Hermit Thrush 
may be heard. Are the most of these migrants quiet, or are they in full song 
when they pass through our territory? 
