FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Volume IV. FEBRUAltY, 1920 Number 1 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN Sl.s-si'.oi.iy^.ii)^ MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This issue contains a Report of the Activities of the Society during 1919. This Bulletin will chronicle the affairs of the Society from month to month, will report items of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legisla- tion and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one dollar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. MEMBERSHIP This Report goes, not only to Life and Sustaining Members, but also to many others who it is hoped will join the Society. If not already a member, you are cordially invited to become one. The Society needs S50,000 at least in order to increase its activities. Will you help expand its usefulness? The classes of Membership are Life Members paying not less than $25.00 at one time. Sustaining Members paying $1.00 annually. Junior Members under ten years, paying 10 cents. ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP BIRD PRESERVATION Personal participation in the great work of saving our valuable and beautiful wild birds. INFORMATION Advice from competent specialists on the best methods of bird study and bird protection on the home grounds, in sanctuaries or elsewhere, assistance in identification. READING ROOM AND EXHIBITION HALL Use at any time of the reading room and exhibition hall at the office, 66 Newbury Street, where bird books, pictures, charts, leaflets and all modern appliances for bird protection are displayed. BIRD LECTURES The Society gives annually a Course of Lectures, illustrated by stere- opticon and moving pictures by the foremost bird specialists of the country. Members have the first opportunity to purchase these tickets at moderate prices. BIRD SANCTUARY Members and their friends have free use of the Moose Hill Bird Sanc- tuary for bird study and recreation. MONTHLY BULLETIN All Sustaining and Life Members receive without furtlier expense the Monthly Bulletin, containing information regax^ding the work of the Society and news of interest in the world of bird study and bird protection. Monthly Bulletin 3 REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS The Directors of the Massachusetts Audubon Society submit the follow- ing Report. During the past year the great work of bird protection has moved steadily forward. In this work our Society has had its usual active part. Legislation, both State and National, has been carefully watched and it is encouraging to report that few bad laws have been proposed and none have been passed. Our educational work has been vigorously pushed. During the year some 70,000 letters, circulars and other mail matter have gone out, calling attention to our work. We have carried on a voluminous correspondence on bird matters not only throughout our own State but with many interested bird-lovers throughout the country. Our work has become known to a considerable extent wherever people take an interest in bird-life. Our membership, largest in Massachusetts of course, extends far beyond the borders of our own State. Our total enrollment is 3945 Sustaining Members and 567 Life Members — a gain during the year of 392 Sustaining and 27 Life Members. PUBLICATIONS This issue marks the beginning of the fourth year of the Monthly Bulletin. The constantly increasing cordiality of its reception among mem- bers and friends amply justifies the expense which is entailed. It serves to record the work of the Society from month to month and as a means of giving notice of coming events — lectures, meetings, publications, etc. It draws closer the bond between the membership and records from month to month many interesting and unusual events in bird life. Over 4,000 are now printed monthly. The Bird Charts of the Society, three in number, have found increasing popularity among educators throughout the country; the sales to schools and public libraries have been actively pushed. These charts are of equal value for home use and are most heartily recommended to the attention of our membership. The demand for the 1920 Bird Calendar far exceeded all expectation. The first edition of 1500 was sold out early in December, and a second edition of 700 was soon exhausted. Two hundred more, all that possibly could be obtained, went before Christmas, and a large number of further orders had to be declined. Plans for a much larger edition for 1921 are already under way. EXHIBITIONS There has been the usual demand for exhibitions of bird-protection material which the Society has been very glad to fill. It is ready to supply at any time material for Bird Day or other exhibitions for libraries, schools or associations throughout the State. There is no charge for these exhibits except for transportation. TRAVELLING LECTURES Besides the three Travelling Lectures with text and stereopticon slides, the Society has on hand slides and material for several others. There is an increasing demand for these lectures on the part of schools and bird clubs and we stand ready to supply it at no cost other than that of transportation. TRAVELLING LIBRARIES Constant use of our Travelling Libraries of bird books and charts resulted in the need of their withdrawal for a brief time for repairs. These 4 Massachusetts Audubon Society libraries have been thoroughly inspected and revised, worn-out material replaced and many new and desirable books added. They will shortly be ready to go out again for use in communities where library opportunities are wanting or meagre. There is no charge for the use of these libraries. Application should be made to Miss Alice G. Chandler, Lancaster, Mass. ANNUAL LECTURE COURSE Four lectures of surpassing interest were given in Tremont Temple during February and March under the auspices of the Society. The lecturers were Norman McClintock, Dallas Lore Sharp, William L. Finley and Clinton G. Abbott. At each lecture Mr. Edward Avis gave a prelude of whistling imitations, and slides representing the work of the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary were shown. The annual bird lectures have three valuable results — they make the work of the Society widely known, they educate the public in a knowledge of birds and bird protection, and they bring in a considerable sum much needed for the support of the Society. BIRD DAY This year the Society combined its Annual Mass Meeting and Conven- tion of Local Secretaries with its Bird Day Outing at the Sharon Sanctuary. The meeting was held on May 17th, and though the weather was showery and threatening, some two hundred visitors, members and friends gathered at Moose Hill to explore, inspect and enjoy. Bird enthusiasts were present from forty different cities and towns in Massachusetts, from New Hampshire, Connecticut and New York City. Mr. Edward Avis entertained the company with whistling and violin imitations of bird music. Mr. Edward Howe Forbush, President of the Society, presided at the formal meeting of the local secretaries and many interesting and instructive reports were made. Forty-six different species of birds were observed on the grounds during the bird walks. In the dooryard rose-breasted grosbeaks, some fifteen purple finches and a white-crowned sparrow joined with other birds at the feeding station in entertaining the visitors. These and other birds fed and sang within a few feet of admiring throngs, adding greatly to the enjoyment of a very interesting convention. The spacious home of Dr. George W. Field was opened to the Society. The formal gathering was held there and re- freshments were served under the direction of Mrs. Field. The meeting was held at the height of the bird migration and was at once entertaining and thoroughly instructive. SANCTUARY The Society continued its demonstration Bird Sanctuary at Moose Hill, Sharon, finding it of increasing value. Superintendent Harry G. Higbee has been constantly in attendance. During the year some 1400 visitors have been entertained and instructed, the birds guarded and systematically studied. Weekly reports have been made of conditions and are on file at the office. An annual report of great interest is now in the hands of the Secretary awaiting publication. Elsewhere in this Bulletin will be found some inter- esting excerpts from this report. In addition to the v/ork for the Society Mr. Higbee has been appointed a Deputy Warden by the State Division of Fisheries and Game, Conservation Department, thus giving his authority more force in guarding his region against depredation. The good will and friendly assistance of the Division of Fisheries and Game toward the work of our Society shown in many ways during the past year is greatly appre- ciated by the Directors, Monthly Bulletin 5 LOCAL SECRETARIES The one hundred and twenty-seven Local Secretaries have continued their good work for the Society in various parts of the State during the past year. Some have been able to do much more than others, but the work in ail cases has been helpful and the Directors wish to express their thanks to these faithful assistants. They feel that the Annual Convention was one full of inspiration not only to the Secretaries, but to the officers of the Sociely, and they are confident of an increasing interest as a result during the coming year. The Society would be glad to enroll other Local Secre- taries in towns where none are appointed, and invites suggestions. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES The Society is always in close touch with the National Association, which, under the able leadership of Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, so wisely directs the bird protection movement throughout the country. Through it national needs are made known to us and assistance is invariably given. To its campaign for the Roosevelt Memorial Bird Fountain, the Society contributed $1,000, the money being subscribed for that purpose in small stuns by a large proportion of our membership. To all who thus loyally contributed the Directors wish to express there sincere thanks. LEGACIES The Society gratefully records the fact that it is to receive a legacy of $2,000 from the estate of the late President William Brewster, and is also a beneficiary to a similar amount in the will of the late Ella A. Fiske of Clinton. Sums donated by will to the Society are placed in the Reserve Fund of the Society, a use of the money which has peculiar value because of its permanence. The altruistic work of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, carried on for many years with increasing success, suggests the desirability of remem- bering it in this fashion. All the funds of the Society are handled carefully and conservatively, but the Reserve Fund, in the exclusive control of the Board of Directors, is especially worthy of the consideration of testators who wish to make legacies of lasting usefulness. There will always be need of organized work for bird protection, a form of conservation of the greatest importance to the general welfare. The Reserve Fund of the Society, when of sufficient size, will insure this. Can you not help in this way? FORM OF BEQUEST / give and bequeath to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Incor- porated, the sum of Dollars for its Reserve Fund. 6 Massachusetts Audubon Society REPORT OF THE TREASURER Receipts January 1, 1919, to December 31, 1919 General Reserve Fund Fund Fees from Life Members $675.00 Fees from Sustaining Members 392.00 Dues from Sustaining Members 1,891.81 Other Members 2.95 Donations 539.15 Transferred to General Fund from Reserve Fund . . 1,200.00 Sale of Charts 1,983.26 Sale of Calendars 2,212.08 Sale of Publications 641.19 Sale of Bird-Houses 182.80 Lectures 2,496.75 Part expenses of National Association of Audubon Societies 721.04 Roosevelt Memorial Fund 1,000.00 Sanctuary Fund 436.33 Sharon Sanctuary 101.04 Sales of ice cream and coffee at Bird Day 9.00 Use of Lantern 5.00 Refund on lecture expenses 4.98 Lantern slides sold 38.00 Contribution from National Association of Audu- bon Societies 750.00 Return on expenses at Springfield Exhibition 28.38 Interest 32.22 37.98 Interest on Liberty Bonds 465.40 Miscellaneous 17.24 Total Receipts $14,685.22 $1,178.38 Balance, January 1, 1919 460.15 1,324.57 $15,145.37 $2,502.95 Expenditures 13,321.55 1,200.00 Balance January 1, 1920 $ 1,823.82 $1,302.95 Investments U. S. Liberty Bonds — First Issue $3,000.00 U. S. Liberty Bonds— Second Issue 3,000.00 U. S. Liberty Bonds— Third Issue 3,000.00 U. S. Liberty Bonds — Fourth Issue 2,000.00 $11,000.00 Monthly Bulletin 7 Expenditures January 1, 1919, to December 31, 1919 General Reserve Fund Fund Transferred from Reserve Fund to General Fund. . .% $1,200.00 Salaries 3,291.35 Rent 250.00 Printing and stationery 1,626.55 Postage 1,389.80 Transportation 105.64 Telephone 82.09 Office Supplies 232.88 Publications 581.29 Charts printed and mounted 1,354.57 Bird-Houses 145.86 Expenses, Moose Hill Sanctuary at Sharon 1,230.19 Electricity 80.73 Premium on charts and leaflets 16.50 Lecture fees and hall 833.35 1919 Calendar plates 47.40 1920 Calendar plates 376.80 Folding circulars 33.55 National Association of Audubon Societies for Roosevelt Memorial Fund 1,000.00 Blue Book 5.00 Bird Day expenses 112.25 Lecturer at Bird Day exercises 25.00 Travelling expenses 45.00 Office sign 6.00 Bird skins 2.85 Advertising in Boston Transcript 95.30 Rental of safe 10.00 Treasurer's Bond 12.50 Expenses at Springfield exhibition 40.00 Refund on Sustaining Member for National Asso- ciation 10.00 List for addressing 25.00 Lantern slides 73.88 Auditing Books 1.00 Travelling Libraries 6.00 Calendar refund 6.00 Bank charges .10 Miscellaneous 167.12 Total Expenditures $13,321.55 $1,200.00 Massachusetts Audubon Society LIST OF LIFE MEMBERS Received During December and January Atwater, Miss Mary M. Beach, Mrs. E. H. Gieenough, Mrs. Robert B. Richardson, Mrs. Charles F. Stetson, Miss Emily A. Stevenson, Miss Frances G. Sturgis, Miss A. M. 82 Maple St., Springfield. 8 Gloucester St., Boston. 108 Ivy St., Brookline. Trinity Court, Boston. 81 Cottage St., New Bedford. 94 Upland Road, Brookline. 63 Beacon St., Boston. LIST OF SUSTAINLNG MEMBERS Received During December and January Abbott, Henry W. Abercrombie, Mrs. Margaret Alford, E. B. Allen, Rev. Frederick B. Andrews, Miss Elizabeth H. Arakelyan, Jacob J. Atwater, Charles B. Baker, J. M. Balch, Joseph Baldwin, S. 0., M. D. Ballantine, W. G. Barton, Mrs. Harriet P. Beaman, Mrs. David W. Blood, C. O. Blood, Mrs. C 0. Brockton Audubon Society Carson, Miss Minnie W. Curtis, Mr. H. G. Dalby, Miss Ewie F. Dairs, Miss Fannie A. Eastman, Mrs. E. P. Ernst, Dr. H. C. Foster, Rolon N. Fowler, Rufus B. Garcelon, Merrill Garver, Miss Sarah C. Gray, F. Arthur Green, Mrs. Mary A. M. Haskins, Miss Susan F. Hemenway, Miss Ruth Victoria Higgins, Carter C. Higginson, F, L., 3rd Houghton, John D. Houghton, Samuel G. Huntress, Miss Harriet Hutcliinson, Miss E. Frances 186 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Kingston. 545 Chestnut Hill Ave., Brookline. 132 Marlborough St., Boston. 7 Brown St., Cambridge. 65 Welles Ave., Dorchester. 23 Florentine Gardens, Springfield. South Chatham. 77 Franklin St., Boston. Framingham. 179 Long Hill St., Springfield. North Sudbury. New Bedford. Lynnfield Centre. L^mnfield Centre. Miss Susan M. Doane, P. 0. Box 185, Brockton. 1627 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 179 Marlborough St., Boston. 1166 River St., Hyde Park. 540 Main St., Stoneham. 719 Columbia St., Burlington, Iowa. 8 Greenough Ave., Jamaica Plain. Box 298, Foxboro. 3 Tuckerman St., Worcester. 35 Church St., Newton. 10 Roxbury St., Worcester. 509 Exchange Bldg., Boston. 61 Elm St., Worcester. 95 Chestnut St., New Bedford. Williamsbm-g. 80 William St., Worcester. 215 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Chestnut Hill. 8 Russell Hall, Cambridge. .50 Brimmer St., Boston. 455 Main St., Stoneham, Monthly Bulletin Keyes, Miss Mary Knapp, C. E. Lawson, Ralph Lee, Mrs. W. C. MUIer, Mrs. H. C. Moses, Miss Bessie W. Mowry, Mrs. Mary G. Munro, Charles F. Nevins, Mrs. Harriette F. Orne, Laurence El Osterhout, Winthrop J. 0. Palmer, George H. Persons, Mrs. Charles A. Pratt, Miss Emily F. Pryor, Miss Dorothy Randall, Miss Margaret Shinn, Miss A. R. Spaulding, W. M. Swift, E. Kent Tappan, Miss Mary A. Thayer, Qiarles M. Thomas, Mrs. A. M. Tufts, Mrs. EfBe L. Van De Bogert, Gushing Wakefield School Audubon Society Walker, Miss Emma E. Wells, Miss Barbara A. White, John A. Wilder, Charles P. Williams, Eugene Woodward, L. F. Woodward, S. B. Wyman, Mrs. Abby A. East Pepperell. Leominster 4 Liberty Square, Boston. 7 Pine St., Winchester. 54 Egmont St., Brookline. 26 Butman St., Beverly. 60 Gorham Ave., Brookline. Leicester. Methuen. 52 Rockland St., Mekose Highlands. 60 Buckingham St., Cambridge. Adamsville, R. L 490 Salisbury St., Worcester. 53 Vernon St., Pawtucket, R. L 8 Arlington St., Boston. 22 Short Side Road, Boston, 9 S. Brighton Ave., Atlantic City, N. J. 42 May St., Worcester. Whitinsville. 44 Beacon St., Boston. Worcester. 10 Cumberland St., Boston. Exeter, N. H. Winthrop St., W. Medford. Katherine Carlisle, Wakefield. 638 Centre St., Newton. 10 East Hastings St., W. Roxbury. North Brookfield. Hotel Standish, Worcester. Pleasant St., Canton. 52 Pearl St., Worcester. Worcester County Institution for Savings, Worcester. 1722 Beacon St., Brookline. 10 Massachusetts Audubon Society February Bulletin ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING The Annual Business Meeting of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc., was held on Saturday afternoon, January 24th, at 3 P. M., a quorum being present. Reports of the Secretary, Treasurer and Nominating Com- mittee were read and accepted. The following officers were nominated : — Secretary-treasurer Mr. WiNTHROP Packard Directors for Three Years Mr. Arthur C. Bent Mr. Edward L. Parker Mr. Frederic H. Kennard Dr. John C. Phillips Judge Charles F. Jenney Mrs. Robert B. Greenough Auditing Committee Mr. Edward L. Parker Dr. Glover M. Allen Mr. Willum p. Wharton It was voted that it is the sense of this meeting that the Society should contribute to the support of the wild birds, during the cold weather now prevailing, from the funds of the Society in such measure as the Secretary on consultation with the President should deem best. Adj ourned Winthrop Packard, Secretary. Jan. 24, 1920. FEED THE BIRDS The thanks of the Society are due to the newspapers of the State which so generously printed the request that the birds be fed sent out early in January when tlie deep snow came after prolonged and severe cold. Thanks are also due the public for its prompt and generous response. Not for years has there been a winter so hard on our bird population; the trees have been covered with ice and snow for weeks, the ground beneath them has been two to six feet deep with it, the mercury has been at zero or below again and again. Under such conditions only systematic human help can save the lives of many of our wintering birds. Thousands of people have responded with this help and are keeping it up. This last, perhaps, is the hardest part of it. In time the question of expense comes up and becomes extremely difficult to answer. The Fish and Game Commission, whose wardens throughout the State not only advise others, but themselves syste- matically carry on bird feeding, exhausted its appropriation for this purpose early in the month when the need was greatest. The Society came to their assistance with credit for $100.00 for grain to be used for feeding. That saved the situation for the time. The Society stands ready to give further assistance if, as seems probable, it is needed. Monthly Bulletin 11 WILL YOU HELP? A continuance of the severe weather and the great need of the birds will make the demands upon us for funds greater than we can supply. Will you help us in this? The Treasurer will gratefully receive checks, large or small, sent for this purpose and will see that they are immediately applied where the birds most need them. The starving ducks at Moon Island and in Plymouth Bay were fed through the good oiFices of the Society during January, funds for this purpose having been generously supplied by friends of the birds. More money doubtless will be needed to continue this work, but the greatest need of ail will be among the wintering birds inland where the snow is deep. SANCTUARY NOTES A complete and most interesting Report on the work of the Sanctuary during 1919 has been placed in the hands of the Secretary by Superintendent Higbee and awaits publication. It may be read at the office by anyone interested. Meanwhile, the following brief paragraphs taken from it here and there will be found of interest. "Weekly reports have been rendered to the Secretary of the Society following a general plan of setting forth seasonal notes in regard to the movement of birds, outlining the work done for the week, noting prevailing weather and climatic conditions and mentioning special attractions either in bird or plant life to be found there. These reports form a complete history of the Sanctuary. Card index work has been continued. Under these indexes, in addition to birds, 172 species of wild flowers, 110 trees, shrubs and vines, and 22 different kinds of ferns have been catalogued within the Sanctuary grounds. "Oroles, robins, catbirds, house wrens, tree swallows and chickadees — the last-mentioned three in our own bird-boxes — have all nested in the farm- yard where they could be readily seen. "One hundred and eight species of birds have been observed during the year. These are listed at the end of this report in the seasonal order noted. Twenty-two species were noted this year which were not on last year's list, and nine were observed last year which we have not recorded during 1919. Our total list of birds for the Sanctuary now numbers 118 species. Sixty- three species were recorded here through the nesting season this year and seventy-five nests were under observation during the summer. "Among the less common birds which have nested here during the past season are woodcock, barred owl, hairy woodpecker, solitary vireo, golden- winged warbler, Nashville warbler and hermit thrush. The vesper sparrow, slate-colored jurco, Canadian warbler and brown creeper were also noted here in the breeding season. "Black ducks have made their haunts along Beaver Hole Brook where it flows through Cedar Swamp, and from ten to twenty of these birds seem to be spending the winter in the upper reaches of this stream, which are always open and provide good feeding ground. "Our winter birds have been less in variety but more in abundance of individual species than last year. A flock of five evening grosbeaks were observed for some time in one of our ash-leaved maple trees on November 29th. Juncos and tree sparrows have appeared in unusual numbers this winter. Numbers of these birds visit our dooryard daily, and many take advantage of the chaff scattered on the barn floor, as well as of the seed thrown out to them. 12 Massachusetts Audubon Society "An interesting experiment with six or eight chickadees at our office window shelf showed that these birds carried off a thousand sunflower seeds at the rate of a hundred every fifteen minutes. Very few of these seeds were eaten at the shelf, but they were carried away and concealed in crevices of trees and shrubs, mostly within one hundred and fifty feet of the window shelf. "Predatory animals have been held fairly well in check here during the past year. It has been found necessary to destroy a few squirrels and a number of vagabond cats. Several milk snakes were found at the nests of birds containing eggs or young and were also destroyed. There have beeri a few woodchucks about the garden lots. Cottontail rabbits are plentiful in the woods and swamps. Jumping mice, field mice and moles seem especially abundant throughout the ground. Coons have been in evidence though not plentiful, and a deer visited the dooryard on one occasion this winter. "The Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary is not only a medium for the distribu- tion of information and interchange of ideas upon the conservation of wild life, but it is a fertile field for original research along these lines as well. Its usefulness cannot well be measured in dollars and cents, nor its success judged by the amount of money which it earns. It should merit support on the ground of its being a public benefit and an institution seeking to promote the welfare of all useful wild life in the interests of all law-abiding citizens." BIRD NOTES SHARON Last Friday five ruffed grouse, in a small group, spent nearly half an hour within twenty-five feet of the house. So far as I could see they did not touch the grain I had put out, but apparently secured a breakfast of leaf buds. I have been more impressed this winter than ever of the great food value which the seeds of the birches offer for goldfinches and redpolls. I have had a large flock of both birds for several weeks. All last week they were constantly in evidence, I tried every means of attracting them by scattering seed broadly over the ice and crusted snow. In the vicinity of the birches a few bold ones ventured to feed, but at the slightest movement the whole flock would fly. I have not seen them since Saturday morning at 7:30, when a flock surely numbering 200 (probably more) appeared. At present my bird table guests are juncos (30 to 50), chickadees (8 to 10), tree sparrows (5), purple finches (15), downy woodpeckers (2), bluejays (9). These are counted at one time, so there may be more. Crows are abundant, a flock of nine starlings has been reduced to one, one flicker comes occasion- ally, and one northern shrike appeared on the piazza recently. I have just been called to the telephone by a child who has attended all the children's bird-walks. For the past week, ten pheasants have come to their dooryard, and they are feeding with their hens; one crow and one gray squirrel have joined the pheasant family circle and are becoming very tame. The children will provide all the food necessary to take care of the hungry visitors during this severe weather. (Mrs.) Harriet U. Goode. Monthly Bulletin 13 NEW BEDFORD We have a very interesting visitor at Buttonwood Park, a male chewink, who for some unaccountable reason chose to stay here instead of flying South with his relatives and friends. I have not seen very much of him, as I cannot get out very often before sundown, but he does not seem to me to feel very happy. He spends the most of his time in the vicinity of an open shed in the deer park where the ground is always bare, and at one end of which there are some duck-houses piled up which may afford him shelter at night. I have asked the keeper, who is very much interested in birds, to put about two inches of sawdust in the bottom of a flicker nesting-box and put it in the tree near by. It seems to me that it would be warmer than the duck-houses. We have suet-containers and bird seed near by. We are using the seed mixture that our game commissioner used for the game birds. There are fourteen evening grosbeaks which visit the Park every day and a flock of meadow-larks and horned larks. I know of two coveys of quail. In an open field on the outskirts of the city, I saw, among the juncos, tree sparrows and song sparrows, two white-throats. I have never seen them here before in the winter, but there were great numbers of them in the spring last year. We also have large numbers of goldfinches, some purple finches and a few redpolls. Edith F. Walker. PEPPERELL As has been our custom for many years, we are feeding the birds about our home. We have a grove of ten maples close to the house and have bones and suet a'^tached to ma^^y of the limbs and in the baskets, several feed boxes ard what we call our "trolley," a covered box on a double rope fas'^ened from one of the trees to our staircase window. This we pull in and stock up with some of your prepared seed daily. The dear little chick- adees and nuthatches consider this their own particular lunch counter and have grown so ^?me they even come to it when we have it drawn to the house to get their table for breakfast! Blue jays are numerous and such greedy things; they fi?ht all the other birds from the bones and suet with the excepf^ion of Mr. Hairy Woodpecker, who p^ives them savage digs with his sharp bill if he has reached the tree first. We have seen no juncos yet nor any pine grosbeaks, of which we had a lot last year, a^^d our starlings all seem to have departed recently. Yesterday a crow had the coura-^e to come to the tree near the house, where there was some suet, starved, I suspect, poor bird. I have sent to Mr. Adams for some of the grain from the State a'^d shall have it put over in our orchard a^d pasture for the less tame birds. I may add that we have a drinki-^s" and bath poo' in the "'rove duri"g the summer, and as we own no cat, we have much pleasure with our bird friends all the year round. Annetta S. Merrill. LITTLETON Evening grosbeaks have been seen in Littleton, Mass.; also a number of meadow larks have been noted until this last snowstorm. No juncos or tree sparrows have been seen this winter. Margaret E. Thacher. 14 Massachusetts Audubon Society HAVERHILL I was reading in my living-room, on the third floor, with my canary singing in his cage by the window, when a crash came. I beheld what I first thought a pigeon hanging on the sill, but which on nearer approach, I found to be a sparrow hav/k! He flew away to a neighboring roof and made repeated attempts to pierce the window and catch the canary, so I had ample time to study him and appreciate his beauty. My canary was be- coming too frightened, so I opened the door of his cage, and away he flew to a safe dark corner, seeking refuge from murdering marauders. My offer of less tempting food did not interest the hawk, however, and he flew away for more appetizing bits. This seemed a rather unusual experience and I thought it might interest you. Mrs, Thomas F. Capeles. MILTON I can report a very pleasant winter in the number of birds that I am feeding. At the suet boxes in trees near the house I have seen a pair of hairy woodpeckers, a brown creeper, chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches, blue javs and a red-breasted nuthatch, and on the trees, but not at the suet, on January 5lh, a pair of purple finches, the male a mature bird in full plumage — with bright raspberry-red head, shoulders and upper breast. At a second-story window I have a feeding place in the shelter of a bay window that has two shelves on which I keep trays with hemp and sunflower seeds and on one a small aluminum cup in which I have water, thawing it out as it freezes. To these trays come almost constantly five chickadees, a pair of white-breasted nuthatches, a pair of j uncos and one male red-breasted nut- hatch, the latter a very thirsty bird, drinking from the cup much oftener than the others. In extreme weather, I add to the seeds bread-crumbs and cracked butternuts, from which they take the meat. I am fortunate in having trees near the house from which they can easily fly to the trays. Often they stop several minutes on the trays and rest. Sometimes two chickadees will be on the upper tray and a pair of juncos or nuthatches on the lower. In severe storms, at night I take in the tray from the upper shelf, but leave always the one on the lower shelf, and very early in the morning I hear some of the birds eating from it. I have had the same suet boxes and trays for several years and they have been used by either a chickadee or a nuthatch, but I never had so many and constant visitors as this season. Friends have seen in Milton recently a flock of evening grosbeaks. (Mrs.) E. F. Luther. LOWELL I want to bring to your attention a bird experience that has interested me greatly. I live in the residential section of our city, going out every morning at 7:45 for about an hour. The first of the week my attention was called to three good-sized birds in a tree overhead. I stopped for a moment, and to my utter surprise, two if not the three of these birds were singing and singipg well. I was familiar with the shrike and a few minutes later was able to identify these birds as such — but the song! I had never heard that before and find Chapman giving v/arm March days as the time when the song should be looked for. The first three phrases of the song resembled that of the catbird. No one Avith whom I have ever spoken has ever heard the song of the shrike, though knowing that there was a song. I have called the attention of many of their neighbors and passers-by to these birds and Monthly Bulletin 15 their song. I hear it, as do others, every morning, and usually the birds are perched high in a tree, where lower down on the trunk there is a knothole in which the English sparrows are nesting. Evidently the shrikes are about their business. Not far from there I found quite a good many small (sparrow) feathers — still, I assume, another evidence of the shrike's pres- ence. This morning one of these was perched high, and higher still over him sat an English sparrow, and there was also another sparrow in the tree. The shrike was uneasy, and certainly the sparrows gave him no peace. , Finally he flew away with the sparrows after him, and I am quite sure that he was pinched and lost feathers. This was new to me, suggesting the king- bird-crow fracases. I had always seen the sparrows huddle together when a shrike appeared. Last year, in the same little "Park Garden" I saw a shrike kill a sparrow and fly with it to a neighboring tree. The first days of January were very cold, if you remember. What are the whys and wherefores of this date of song? Am I mistaken in thinking it exceptional? Agnes M. Paxson. Mr. Ralph Hofi'mann, in his "Guide to the Birds of New England and Eastern New York," says, "The shrike sings occasionally all through the winter, but more often in February and March." — Editor. EDGARTOWN (Nov. 30, 1919) I think you will be interested to know that I had the pleasure of seeing this fall, a wood thrush, a veery, two gray-cheeked thrushes and several hermit thrushes, the last seen Nov. 23rd, which is a late date. Both kinds of crossbills have been here and the red ones are still here. I have seen one redpoll and several siskins. I have a few chickadees, nuthatches and myrtle warblers that come to my feeding table, and a few days ago a palm warbler was around, but before it had partaken of anything the English sparrows chased it away. The mockingbird is still with us. MONA WORDEN. ITEMS Charles 0. Blood, of Lynnfield Centre, reports evening grosbeaks, starlings and the commoner winter birds feeding in harmony at his station. William S. Rutherford, in charge of the Russell estate at Norfolk, re- ports four robins wintering there. Crestbrook Farm, as this estate is called, is noted for the springy brooks filled with watercress and open the year round. The open water and probably the green food seem to attract the robins. Mr. Kunhardt, of North Andover, reports evening grosbeaks. General Elbert Wheeler, President of the New Hampshire Audubon Society, reports pine grosbeaks and twenty or more evening grosbeaks on his place at Concord, N. H. Rev. Manley B. Townsend, formerly Secretary of the New Hampshire Audubon Society, lately installed as pastor at North Attleboro, Mass., reports siskins and pine grosbeaks at that place. For Students and Bird Lovers What can be better for students and bird-lovers than a set of the beautiful colored charts of . birds, life size, known as THE AUDUBON BIRD CHARTS There are three of these charts and they show in all 72 birds beginning with those most common. The birds are shown life size and in color and are scientifically accurate in form and markings. Each is numbered and on the, chart is given, with the number, the common and scientific name. The Audubon Bird Charts are invaluable for school and family use. There is no better way to familiarize children with the appearance of our common birds than by the means of these charts. Hung on the wall, where they are never out of sight, they attract attention by their beauty and are a constant invitation to examin- ation and study. They show the birds in life size and in character- istic attitudes and natural colors; and are a practical help in nature study and drawing. They are both useful and decorative for schoolrooms, nurseries, and public and private libraries. Litho- graphed and mounted on cloth, size, 27 x 42 inches. These charts should be hung in every schoolroom and Public Library. Price of each Chart, $1.50. BIRDS OF NEW YORK. This is a portfolio, neatly boxed, containing a series of 106 plates, reprints from those used in the work entitled "Birds of New York", the books by E. H. Eaton, issued in two volumes by the New York State Museum. These plates carry the names of the birds represented and include all of the birds known to breed within or visit the State of New York. The pictures in colors are very lifelike, having been drawn by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. With some unimportant exceptions this set does very well for a set of the Birds of Massachusetts. They may be bought of the Society and will be sent postpaid to any address on receipt of $L50. Send all orders to THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. Volume IV. MARCH, 1920 Number 2 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This Bulletin will chronicle the affairs of the Society from month to month, will report items, of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legislation and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one dollar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. 2 M as s achus etts Audub on S o ciety ROYAL E. ROBBINS The recent death of Royal E. Robbins, of Brookline, brings sorrow to the hearts of all interested in birds. Mr. Robbins was an earnest student of bird-life, a consistent bird protectionist, and an unfailing friend of the work of the Audubon Society, helpful always in a quiet, manly way. He will be sadly missed. In loving remembrance of him, members of his family have established the Royal E. Robbins Memorial Fund, placed in the care of the Directors of the Society, the income to be used for the protection of birds, a fitting tribute to his memory and one of lasting usefulness to the cause of the Society. THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIVE PLANTS This Society, of which Robert T. Jackson is President and Miss Mar- garet E. Allen Secretary, with headquarters at 66 Newbury Street has long been useful in its work for the protection of our rarer wild flowers and ferns. Through leaflets and other means attention is called to the need of saving these from destruction through the careless enthusiasm of people who pick them too thoroughly and too eagerly. Leaflets may be had on application at this office, 66 Newbury Street, for free distribution. This Society now joins with the Massachusetts Audubon Society in the support of the Bird Sanctuary at Moose Hill. At this place may be found many of the rarer wild flowers and ferns of the region. Nature students interested in these are cordially invited to make use of the Sanctuary grounds, where the warden carefully guards these rare plants from depredations. He knows plants as well as birds and is always willing to serve as guide. Among the other collections to be seen at the Sanctuary headquarters are mounted specimens of the rarer ferns. The work of preserving these beauties of our forest, too often thoughtlessly destroyed, is a valuable one and deserves encouragement. BIRD MAGAZINES There are bird students in every town, and for their benefit all libraries should contain current numbers and, if possible, complete files of the Auk, Bird-Lore and the Bulletin of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. In many instances, even in libraries where large funds are available, this is not the case. Why not look the matter up in your local library? If these magazines are not there, it is a simple matter to put in the usual request for them with the librarian. Often that is all that is necessary to secure them. BIRD BOOKS What has been said of the magazines is true in a large measure of the best of the bird books. These should be in every public library. At the office, 66 Newbury Street, the Audubon Society has a bookcase devoted to these. Members and friends of bird-life are cordially invited to use them for reference at the office at any time. If you wish to suggest a list to your own library, this is a good place in which to look it up. In this connection, the librarian wishes to record gratefully a valued gift from Miss Evelyn Purdie, of Cambridge. This is a complete set of bound volumes of the Auk, beginning with the first issue of the Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithologi- cal Club, issued in 1876, and ending with the latest issue of the Auk in 1919. Massachusetts Audubon Society 3 This in itself makes a valuable reference library which is available for con- sultation by members or, indeed, by any one interested at any time when the office is open. The gift has a double value in that these volumes were the property of the late Henry Augustus Purdie, a well-known ornithologist and a friend of our Society and to all interested in bird study. FINE FEATHERS The thanks of the Society are due to the National Association for a valuable gift of bird feathers. These feathers, from the bird of paradise, the egret and the Goura pigeons, were seized by the custom authorities while being smuggled into the United States. They will later be shown under glass for educational exhibition purposes and as a warning as to what not to wear, CHECK-LISTS The Audubon Society furnishes free to all interested bird observers a printed check-list of birds as authorized by the A. 0. U., giving the common name of the birds, preceded by the Union check-list number, each number being followed by a blank space for recording locality, whether seen or heard, or both, and the date. These are much used by bird students and the Society will be glad to receive lists at the end of the year, showing what birds and how many have been observed. Among those at hand. Miss Bessie M. Graves, of Southampton, Mass., lists 104; Mrs. George H. Mellen, of Newton Highlands, 116; Miss Clara F. Wright, of South Sudbury, 169; Mr. Alfred E. Merrill, of Winchendon, 52. The editors hope that many of these lists will be used during the coming year, and will be glad to record returns made and make note of any specially rare birds seen. Check-lists will be mailed on request. POST YOUR LAND There has been an increasing use of the cloth posters for warning against illegal hunting and trespass during the past season. These posters are strong, and, properly put up, will last for years unless torn down. They are effective in a good cause. It is true that they do not always prevent poaching or illegal hunting, but no law is always observed. They certainly serve as a deterrent and in case the law is broken help the police officer or game warden in securing a conviction. Putting them out helps the birds; it also helps our Society because each one of them calls attention to the need of our work. BIRD FEEDING Signs of spring are visible as this Bulletin goes to press. It is possible that by the time you receive it these signs will have become more numerous, yet the snow is deep and there is a great coating of ice over the earth. Un- questionably, it will be wise to continue the feeding of our wild birds for some time to come. The Audubon Society's appeal for funds to help out in this work has been very generously met. To date $169.75 has been sub- scribed and immediate application of it has been made. In the April Bulletin a list of subscribers to this fund will be published. Massachusetts Audubon Society Life Members Received During February Gordon, Mrs. Donald Griswold, Merrill Guild, Courtenay Hayward, Mrs. H. T. Holden, Miss Caroline P. Holmes, Miss Esther R. Holman, Miss Mary C. Howes, Mrs. Osborne Hussey, Miss Elizabeth R. Joliffe, Mrs. Julia M. Lamed, H. A. South Lincoln c/o Gaston, Snow & Saltonstall, Shawmut Bank Bldg., Boston 26 Mt. Vernon St., Boston Franklin Concord Monson Hopkinton 45 Woodland Road, Chestnut Hill New Bedford Ware Oxford Sustaining Members Received During February Baldwin, G. H. Bancroft, Malcolm Bancroft, William Nickerson Batchelder, Miss Helen F. BiUings, F. E. Bucklin, Mrs. Walter Burbank, Mrs. C. E. Clarke, S. Crehore, Miss Elizabeth T. Crehore, Mrs. Frederic M. Crehore, Miss Sybil Fanning, WaUer G., D.D.S. Farnum, Miss Ida N. Foster, Mrs. Lydia D. Fuess, John Gushing Gage, Frank S. Gale, Mrs. Charles W. Gannett, Mrs. Thomas B. Gardner, Miss Mary A. Garritt, Miss Elizabeth M. Gere, Miss Mary E. Gilmore, Mrs. G. L. Goodhue, Mrs. Francis A. Gooding, Charles S. Grant, Mrs. Charles H. Gray, Roland Gray, Mrs. William R. Gregor, Miss Margaret Rosamond Gregory, Miss Mary H. Griffin, Mrs. S. B. Guild, Miss Katherine E. Gurney, Mrs. Frank E. Haddock, Mrs. C. W. Hague, Mrs. William Haile, H. Pennington Harrington, Mrs. F. B. Hartt, Charles M. Hartwell, Miss Mary A. Haskell, Miss Margaret Hastings, Miss Luella Knowles Hathaway, Samuel Hayes, Miss Sara B. Hayward, Mrs. A. F. Hayward, Mrs. H. E. Heath, Mr. N. W. Heath, Mrs. N. W. Haywood, Chester D. 29 Outlook Road, Swampscott 12 Ware St., Cambridge 12 Ware St., Cambridge 9 Somerset Place, Brockton 26 Nyola Drive, Worcester 469 Walnut St., Brookline i West Boylston 41 Taconic St., Pittsfield 2 Wellington Terrace, Brookline 37 Suflolk Road, Chestnut Hill 37 Suffolk Road, Chestnut Hill Bank Bldg., Danvers North Andover Moose Hill Sanctuary, Sharon 183 Main St., Andover 93 Chestnut. St., Haverhill Norwich, Conn. Brush Hill Rd., Hyde Park 257 Cherry St., Fall River 234 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 75 High St., Northampton Lexington 15 School St., Andover 27 School St., Boston 85 Sargent St., Winthrop 60 State St., Boston 373 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 107 Irving St., Cambridge Princeton 185 Milk St., Springfield 41 Edge Hill Rd., Brookline Bridgewater Beverly Columbine Road, Milton 28 Edwards St., Springfield 983 Charles River Road, Cambridge 11 Queensbury St., Boston 147 Summer St., Waltham Auburndale 76 Center St., Dorchester Centre 22 St. Stephen St., Boston Bob-white Country School, Ashland Newton Highlands West Acton Milford Milford 70 Winter St., Worcester Massachusetts Audubon Society Heywood, Miss Harriet G. Higgins, Mrs. Alice A. Hiler, Mrs. Mary J. Hiler, Miss Grace G. Homans, William P. Hooper, Miss I. R. Howe, Miss Fanny H. Q. Howe, Mrs. Frederick N. Howe, Miss Lizzie M. Howes, Miss Lydia H. Hubbard, Mrs. C. W. Hubbard, Eliot Huston, Mrs. Hannah W. Jack, Carman Jenney, Mrs. Qiarles F. Johnson, Miss Fanny B. Jones, Daniel F. Jones, Daniel F., Jr. MacComiskey, Miss Lenora Nickerson, Mrs. Henry Slocum, Miss Mattie B. Townsend, Miss Annie R. Turner, Miss Mabel E. 16 Woodland Ave., Gardner 73 High St., Newburyport 17 Alveston St., Jamaica Plain 17 Alveston St., Jamaica Plain 152 Congress St., Boston 765 Washington St., Brookline 26 Brimmer St., Boston 79 Greenwood Ave., Swampscott 37 Mechanic St., Orange Bleak House, Dennis Auburndale 206 Beacon St., Boston 155 Cottage St., New Bedford East Walpole 100 Gordon Ave., Hyde Park 7 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 195 Beacon St., Boston 195 Beacon St., Boston Kilby St., Hingham 62 Franklin St., Boston Lafayette, R. L 9 Irving St., Brookline North Reading A NEWFOUNDLAND CROSSBILL Friends of the Audubon Society who feed the birds at Hingham and who have had many interesting adventures thereby prize particularly the one with red crossbills. The first of these birds, a female, came to the feeding station February 4th. It was very hungry and also very tame, possibly in part because of the hunger. It allowed itself to be caught and was taken into the house over night where it was sheltered and fed in a box. The next day, the box, bird and all, were put out on the piazza, and the bird, allowed its freedom, flew away. The next morning it stormed and the crossbill was found again in the box, feeding. It was taken into the house and kept there until February 9th. On that day, as the storm had abated, it was put out in the box once more with the door open. Again it flew away. February 10th, about noon, it returned and brought a male bird with it. The male seemed much exhausted and very hungry but did not understand about the box and it was very amusing to see the female shoulder her un- sophisticated mate about until she finally got him into the box where the re- freshments were. The female then followed him in, and both birds were taken into the house, where they were placed in a large breeding cage, for observation. They were evidently mated birds, as they "billed" as pigeons do, and a nest was placed in the cage in the hope that they might make use of it. They were singularly parrot-like in their behavior, climbing the sides of the cage with hooked beak and claws as a parrot does. After a day or two the male bird seemed ill and later died. The female showed signs of grief and of missing her mate and, as the weather was good, was released and has not been seen since. At the Boston Society of Natural History the male bird was declared to be the Newfoundland subspecies of the American crossbill, recognizable by its greater size and especially by its larger beak. The bird has been mounted and placed in a case there. In this process it was dis- covered that the bird died from disease, from which it undoubtedly was suffering when it first came to the feeding station. The body has been for- 6 Massachusetts Audubon Society warded to the Biological Survey at Washington in the belief that the biolo- gists there might be interested in diagnosing this disease. FRIENDS OF MY WINDOW-SILL Last summer, being in the first place we had occupied where I could have hopes of attracting the birds, my husband and I placed a bird-bath with much pleasure and anticipation beneath the pine trees in our side yard. Then we waited results, but to the best of ray knowledge it was never used, perhaps because we didn't get it out until August. However, in the fall I made up my mind to try and see if food would be a better inducement, so I put on the window-sill facing the same spot a little wooden box about 5x9, with sides about one-half inch high. Into this I put the choicest bits, such as ground peanuts, hemp, sunflower, canary, millet and some scratch grain. In the Packard Feeder, which I put on one of the tree trxmks on a level with the window about fifteen feet from it and fifteen feet from the ground, I put the same mixture minus the peanuts and with not so much small seed. Above this on the same tree trunk I put suet in a wire holder. Then I scat- tered bread crumbs soaked in melted suet, bits of cheese and other crumbs with scratch grain on the ground between. There were four j uncos and four English sparrows frequenting the place at the time. The sparrows in a day or so increased to about forty, the juncos losing one, as I have seen but three since January 1st. I did not appreciate the sparrows but reckoned their stomachs were as empty as the others and I feel they showed the way to more desirable species. The juncos soon after brought with them, January 8th, a fox sparrow, and no English sparrow scares him when he chooses to feed. On two different occasions during snowstorms he brought two other fox sparrows, but I saw them only on those two times. He arrives very early, about 6.45 A. M., with the juncos, just as soon as it is light, and they feed well before the English sparrows arrive on the scene. Mr. Foxy finally overcame his timidity and for over two weeks has dined three or four times daily from the window ledge, preferring it to the ground. He is the only one beside the jay the tree sparrow cannot drive away. The tree sparrow is a pig. Once in the box, he stays there fiercely scolding and even darting at whoever dares share the box. One little fellow in particular would stay over one-half hour to the exclusion of all if we didn't go real near and drive him off. It's a funny sight to see him flatten down, spread his wings and go at all comers with bill open. The little chickadees, of which there are four, are very polite. One comes, selects his morsel, and, if another waits on a nearby branch, imme- diately takes to the limb so his partner may help himself. I have heard the waiting one give a little chip if the feeding one was too long, at which the place was immediately given. If there is no hurry, the chickadee, holding the seed or corn between his toes, hammers away on the edge of the box. Sometimes one is on the auto-feeder also at the same time, and they alter- nate, then topping off" with a bit of suet from the wire holder. The juncos seldom visit the boxes, staying more on the ground. The jay family usually arrive around 7.30. They prefer bread or corn. There are from two to eight usually. At first the other birds scattered, but after a time they didn't seem so fearful, though the jay usually has things M as s achus ett s Audub on S o ciety 7 much his own way. They stay about half an hour and eat what the other birds don't care for. They also feed from the window-ledge, sometimes two at a time. On one occasion we saw one jay feed the other, probably some choice morsel, while they perched on the sill together. Like the fox and tree sparrow, the jay pushes the food off the feeders to the ground, the sparrows by their habit of scratching and the jay using his bill as a pusher, but the food is not wasted, for the other birds eat it from the ground. My friend Mrs. G. K. Poole, who lives down the street a hundred yards or so, has an auto-feeder on her blind. The chickadees discovered hers first, and it was two weeks after before they discovered mine. She also has a song sparrow, which I haven't seen up here, nor has she seen a junco about her place. But she was especially favored with a flock of redpolls three or four times during January, and one beautiful sunshiny morning, January 22, four pairs of evening grosbeaks spent over an hour and a half in her back yard, feeding some on buckthorn and sumach but resting more, showing excellent views from every angle even as close as four feet from her rear window, and with the sparkling snow background it was a wonderful sight. There was a crossbill, January 25, in the yard across the street during the below-zero weather, vainly trying to eat some frozen garbage. Had I realized how far gone he was, I would have brought him in and warmed him, for my husband afterward told me he and his boy friends on his rambles in woods in winter sometimes found birds in such a condition, took them to their camp, warmed them in a little box with cotton in it, fed them, when they could eat, a little warm mashed potato being all the food they had suitable, and finally they were able to fly away. The crossbill was found dead in the yard, and it has been the one sad note in our winter's pleasure with our bird friends. I only mention it in case someone has a like experience and would use better judgment than I did that time. I hope also some of the readers will try the window-ledge and auto- feeder scheme that they may derive the pleasure we have enjoyed and hope to continue. (Mrs. Frederic W.) Virginia de B. Howe. 79 Greenwood Ave., Swampscott, Mass. P. S. Since writing this article I would add that the redpolls have become steady boarders. They seem to be of different sizes and shades, some quite dark, females, and in the males we have found the rosier the breast the lighter the gray color. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the varieties of redpolls to designate ihem. One of them was overcome during a recent storm and was picked up apparently dead, but he thawed out when we brought him in, and after keeping him all night he was anxious to get away, so we liberated him early in the morning. Would also say that our house is situated on a hill not far from the woods, but there are no shrubs on our land or undergrowth, the pines being trimmed quite high up, while Mrs. Poole has a wild garden with many bushes and trees, which would be a natural place. She also has great success with her bird-bath, which is a hollow in a large rock in the lawn. Virginia Howe. 8 M as s achus etts Audub o n S o ciety JUDGE AIKEN'S OWL {From "Record of Walks and Talks with Nature") The following interesting letter was received for publication through courtesy of Judge Charles F. Jenney. Undoubtedly Chief Justice Aiken is correct in deciding that the bird in question was a barred owl. In fact, this species has visited the vicinity of Mount Vernon Street several winters in the not distant past, hence we may conclude that there really is some attrac- tion which induces one of Athene's favorite birds to visit this neighborhood so often: — My dear judge: Mount Vernon Street, Boston, No. 65, has an owl — at least three days ago it had one — a real live owl, not a stuffed one put out to scare English sparrows. The owl appeared last Monday on one of the street trees, seeking, it may be, a hunting ground; he chose well. The next day he took up his stand in the quadrangular area back of No. 65, where a neighbor has placed some nesting-boxes for pigeons on the window-sills. Here the pigeons nest and rear their young, all the time finding regular feed. There has been some difference of opinion as to the desirability of this immediate proximity of the pigeons; the owl, however, has settled the ques- tion for the present. During the day the owl was within easy observation, resting on window- sills and railing undisturbed by people within a few feet of him. He was seen to inspect the nesting-boxes and following the inspection the area near- by was covered with scattered pigeon feathers among which was a pigeon's head and two meatless wings. Through an open window he got into one of the apartments, and, be- wildered by the light, he flew against a mirror, tore up curtains, and did some other damage. An empty hat-box was thrown over him and he was cast out of the window. He has not been since since; the pigeons, too, have departed. An observer who was shown "The Birds of New York" picked the great gray owl as the most accurate portrait, but what Brewster says in his "Birds of the Cambridge region" seems to indicate the barred owl as the visitor. A lady who has passed many years of her life in this vicinity is confi- dent she saw this identical owl twenty years ago on a tree in the backyard of the Curtises, who are long residents on Mount Vernon Street. This in- dicates in the bird a meritorious steadfastness of attachment. Another con- sideration should not be omitted. Within a stone's throw of 65 Mount Vernon Street was the home of Chief Justice Shaw. Still nearer for two years lived Daniel Webster in the house later of Charles Francis Adams. At one time Senator Lodge had an interest in 65 Mount Vernon, and across the street lives the editor of the Atlantic Monthly. Owls possess wisdom or are the symbols of wisdom, which may be the same thing, and this visit may have been to ascertain how this vicinity is supplied today in that respect. Yours ornithologically, John A. Aiken. Boston, December 13, 1920. Late in February a barred owl, possibly this same bird, was observed for several days roosting on a tree at East Boston. — The Editor. Volume IV. MAY, 1920 Number 4 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This Bulletin will chronicle the affairs of the Society from month to month, will report items, of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legislation and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one dollar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. 2 Massachusetts Audubon Society SANCTUARY BIRD DAY The Annual Mass Meeting and Bird Day of the Massachusetts Audubon Society will be held at the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary, Sharon, on Saturday, May 15th. The Sanctuary headquarters and Museum will be open and the grounds available to members and their friends from dawn until dark and all interested in birds are cordially invited to attend. The date is set as near as possible at the height of the migration season and there is no better region in the State for the observation of rare and beautiful wild bird life. The Museum is well worth visiting, and the whole place is a unique and instruc- tive exposition of methods and opportunities for bird study and bird pro- tection. All will be welcome to explore the Sanctuary and study its wild life. Paths have been cut throughout the grounds for the convenience of visitors, but otherwise the whole two hundred and thirty-five acre estate is untouched in all its natural beauty. By vote of the Board of Directors of the Society there will be no formal exercises, it being thought best that all should have opportunity to enjoy the beauties of the sanctuary wild life with- out formality. The Sanctuary is not only a wonderful place for the obser- vation of bird life, but a fertile field for botanical study. Many rare plants are native there, and others have been introduced, so that botanists as well as ornithologists will find the place of peculiar interest. Hot coffee and sandwiches, possibly other refreshments, will be on sale on the grounds. Those wishing to be sure of more should bring a basket luncheon. The Sanctuary is about a mile and a half west of Sharon station. It may be readily reached by automobile, and there will be opportunity for parking. When within a mile or so from headquarters, bird picture signs will be found at intersected roads pointing the way. Those who walk from the station should go west from it on the highway, not crossing the track, taking each turn to the left. There is automobile service between the station and the Sanctuary. Train service to Sharon: 19 miles; 38 minutes. Fare 55 cents; 5 rides S1.93. Leave South Station at 6.22, 7.39, 10.59, 12.30, 1.45, 2.33, 3.29, etc. Return in P. M., 1.21, 3.18, 5.04, 6.14, 7.10, 8.54, etc. The Society for the Protection of Native Plants this year joins with the Massachusetts Audubon Society in the support of the Sanctuary. Its mem- bers are cordially invited to participate in the Bird Day Outing. In this Bulletin, Superintendent Higbee gives a list of some of the attractions, both ornithological and botanical, which may be found in the Sanctuary grounds in mid-May. The Local Secretaries of the Audubon Society are cordially invited and urged to attend this meeting. There will be a special conference of such and brief reports of the year's work and interesting experiences will be called for. Mr. Edward Howe Forbush, State Ornithologist and President of the Society, will preside at this conference. BOARD AT THE SANCTUARY On or about May 1st, Mrs. George W. Field will return from Wash- ington to her summer home near the Sanctuary headquarters. Visitors of previous years will recall with pleasure Mrs. Field's hospitality. The same welcome will be extended this year. Transients or those wishing to make a longer stay for nature study or rest may obtain accommodations at reason- Massachusetts Audubon Society 3 able rates on application. Address Mrs. George W. Field, Sharon, Mass.; or communication may be established through the Sanctuary telephone, Sharon 117-3. Life Members Received to Date of Bulletin's Going to Press James, Mrs. William Levey, Mrs. William 95 Irving St., Cambridge 58 Davis Ave., Brookline Sustaining Members Received to Date of Bulletins Going to Press Atwell, George C. Brown, Miss Louise Crosby, Miss Helen Cross, Dr. Albert E. Dyring, Miss Helen R. N. Fay, Mrs. W. B. Fowler, Wm. E. Goodwin, Richard Hale Greene, Mrs. D. C. Hanson, Mrs. Willard Hartshorn, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Hazard, Miss Bertha Hedge, H. R. Houghton, Miss A. M. Howland, Frank H. Kingman, Mrs. Clara C. A. Leone, John Little, H. B. Lutz, Mrs. L. McEvoy, George A. Meigs, Miss Dorothy V. Minns, Miss Mary B. Olds, Frank W. Chaffee, Mrs. E. L. Perry, Mrs. Georgianna W. Peters, Mrs. A. J. Phillips, Mrs. George H. Roslindale Community Club Smith, Mrs. A. R. Smith, Mrs. Edward H. Spencer, Mrs. Mary M. Stackpole, Stephen H. Stafford, Mrs. Ella F. Stephanson, W. R. C. Stone, Joseph H. Stratton, Charles E. Strauss, Mrs. P. E. Swift, H. M. Tuttle, Mrs. F. E. Van Norden, Mrs. G. C. Waite, Miss Alice E. Walcott, Charles F. Walker, John B. Ward, Charles M. Warren, Samuel Warren, W. 5. Weiler, Mrs. F. Weld, Miss Mary Wheeler, Mrs. H. A. Whitcomb, Miss May White, Mrs. Ellen D. White, Mrs. E. M. White, Mrs. Fannie E. Stratford, N. H. 14 Hampden St., Wellesley Hingham 6 Kensington Rd., Worcester 64 Hillman St., New Bedford 49 Wyman St., West Medford Westboro 424 Walnut St., Brookline Dudley Rd., Newton Centre 567 Pleasant St., Brockton 11 Fresh Pond Lane, Cambridge 11 Nassau St., Boston 105 Rockwood St., Brookline 58 Garden St., Cambridge 16 Beeching St., Worcester 159 Cottage St., New Bedford 8 Clark St., Swampscott Concord Dedham 104 Tenth St., Lowell Weymouth 1 Acorn St., Boston Williamstown 20 Highland Rd., Belmont 135 Beacon St., Boston 905 Exchange BIdg., Boston Dighton Mrs. J. P. Maxey, Roslindale Lee 53 Dwight St., Brookline 2 Crai^ie St., Cambridge Andover 520 Rock St., Fall River 53 Atlantic Terrace, Lynn North Andover 70 State St., Boston Hotel Vendome, Boston 143 Pleasant St., Marlboro 744 State St., Springfield 40 South St., Pittsfield 12 Boynton St., Worcester 77 Sparks St., Cambridge 126 Fair Oaks Park, Needham 5 Bromfield St., Boston Holden, Mass. Dalton, Mass. The Covert Stone Farm, Greenfield 2 Stony Place, Jamaica Plain 289 Mill St., Newtonville 34 Maple St., Boston 535 Boylston St., Brookline Framingham 14 Stevens St., Methuen 4 Massachusetts Audubon Society OUTLOOK FOR BIRD DAY By Harry George Higbee, Superintendent Visitors to the Sharon Sanctuary on Bird Day may be assured of a good variety of both bird and plant life to interest them. While dates of arrival may not be accurately foretold, it is safe to pre- dict that at least fifty different species of our summer birds will be here by the fifteenth of May. The warbler migration may not have reached its height by that date, but most of our resident species will have arrived.* The hermit thrush, the wood thrush and the veery — all of which nest within the seclusion of our Sanctuary — may confidently be looked for, with a good opportunity for a comparison of their songs. The prairie and golden-winged warblers, field sparrow, vesper sparrow and solitary vireo — birds of a rather local distribution — should be found in the vicinity of their nesting haunts among the dry pastures and wooded hillsides. White-throated sparrows should be here in song, and, with good for- tune, we may have a return visit of our guest of last year's outing, — the rarer white-crowned sparrow, — a fine male which appeared here on the fifteenth instant and remained with us four days, feeding at the stone porch with the purple finches, rose-breasted grosbeaks and indigo buntings. A Canada goose was our honored guest from the sixth to the twelfth of May last season, and a lark sparrow was observed here on the eighth instant. These, however, were casual visitors. Many of our resident birds will be found nesting. The house wren, tree swallow, song sparrow, least flycatcher, bluebird, chimney swift, Balti- more oriole, phoebe and others nest confidingly about the dooryard, — many of them taking advantage of our proffered nesting appliances, — and these as well as the rarer species may be studied with profit. The black duck and the marsh hawk nest in the open stretches of Cedar Swamp near the eastern border of the sanctuary, the homes of the red- shouldered hawk, the barred owl and the ruffed grouse have been among the pines of the southeastern section; while the woodcock and the hairy wood- pecker have chosen for nesting-sites locations not far from headquarters. There is a possibility of observing these and other species at close range. Those interested in flowers and other plant life may be reminded that two hundred and eighty-five species of flowering plants have been found growing wild at the Sanctuary. Among these are several rare and beautiful species which will probably be in bloom about the time of our outing. The large-flowering, the painted, the nodding, and both the white and dark forms of the purple trillium, all grow here where they may be seen to advantage. Trillium Trail, a new path which is being located through one of the most beautiful corners of the Sanctuary, will give opportunity for a study of several of these handsome woodland flowers. Beds of the curious mandrake, or May-apple, may be found near the southern border of the farmyard where it joins Tanager Woods. Near here, also, is a specimen of the beautiful shooting star and the yellow lady's- slipper. Carefully secluded on the hillside below, grow the homed violet *Mr. Higbee is conservative in his forecast. The chances are always good for a large warbler wave about May 15th. — Editors. Massachusetts Audubon Society 5 and the bi-colored violet. The downy yellow violet and the bird-foot violet may also be found here in their favorite haunts. The yellow adder's-tongue, the clintonia and the fringed orchis are other favorites among the swamp flowers, — the latter two being somewhat later in their time of blooming, — while beds of the delicate goldthread and the dwarf ginseng also claim a share of attention and admiration from those who love to seek out the forest flowers in their native homes. One hundred and fifty-one different trees, shrubs and vines have been identified here, and off'er many interesting studies for the nature lover; and several beautiful ferns — among them being the ostrich fern, the broad beech fern, the rattlesnake fern, the maidenhair fern, the rusty woodsia and the ebony spleenwort — may be found unfolding their delicate fronds in the shady nooks and among the rocky hillsides of this beautiful spot. Here Nature is allowed her own way as far as possible, and every effort is being made to protect and preserve the plant growth as well as the birds. Come and enjoy, but do not molest. Study intimately the nesting birds and the rare flowers without disturbing their homes: — then you have taken with you not only the beauty of the flower and the bird, but a picture of the green forest, the rustling wind and the singing brook which surrounds them, and which is a vital part of their wild, free life; and as you hang these pictures upon memory's wall, to admire and enjoy again and again, you will have the added pleasure of knowing that these lives still continue in their native haunts, to be admired and loved by all who seek to know them. EARLY SPRING AT THE SANCTUARY Report for Week Ending March 27, 1920 By Harry A. Higbee, Superintendent A decided change has taken place during the past week at the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary. Winter has melted into Spring with a completeness and suddenness which seems almost unbelievable. While the week previous closed with two feet of snow covering many parts of the Sanctuary, the ground is now almost bare. Robins are singing daily in the dooryard; song sparrows are abun- dant; bluebirds are choosing their nesting-sites; woodcock are singing their wonderful, ecstatic love songs in the orchards and alder swamps; butterflies have been seen flying about the yard, and trees and shrubs are showing signs of life after their long winter's sleep. This change seems almost miraculous after our winter of unusual severity, with its lingering ice and snow. Our phcebe has returned this week to its haunt about the Duck Pond, which is now open, and is inspecting its old nesting-site under the barn. The same bird (apparently) has returned which for two years at least has occu- pied the nest in Phoebe's Cave. Our pair of red-shouldered hawks have returned to their beloved haunts in the Mohawk Woods, and may be seen or heard daily giving their exultant cry, as they wheel and soar majestically about over the Sanctuary. Hylas are peeping in the swamps. Downy woodpeckers are mating in the dooryard elms. Migrating flocks of fox sparrows, song sparrows, tree sparrows and j uncos sweep through the dooryard, or pause for rest and food among the sheltering shrubbery and on the food-laden porch. Other migrants are also in evidence. Silent flocks of crows have been 6 Massachusetts Audubon Society seen passing high over the Sanctuary grounds, hundreds of red-winged and rusty blackbirds have been observed flying steadily to the northeast, while little groups of ducks have been noted winging their swift flight far into the rosy depths of the sunset clouds. One flock of geese has been reported as passing over the town this week. On the morning of the 21st two fox sparrows appeared in the yard, and several song sparrows were heard singing in the swamps. A flock of 23 rusty blackbirds was also observed flying over the Sanctuary. In the afternoon of the 22d many birds were noted migrating. Over a hundred crows were seen passing over in varying-sized flocks and singly. These were flying very high and to the northeast. Also 150 to 200 rusty and red-winged blackbirds, a few robins and bluebirds, and several small flocks of starlings. This was a clear day with a temperature of fifty degrees, and a southwest wind, and was followed in the evening with a marvellous display of Aurora Borealis, lasting many hours and lighting up the woods and hills with a light nearly equal to that of a full moon. The following day large flocks of juncos, song sparrows, fox sparrows, tree sparrows, robins and red-winged blackbirds, totalling many hundreds of birds, were noted in the yard and along the roadsides and fields. All seemed to be travelling in a general northerly direction. Many crows were also noted about the woods and flying overhead. Five rufi"ed grouse were flushed near the Sanctuary headquarters, and a red-tailed hawk was observed over the western ridge. Twelve downy woodpeckers — several of these being in pairs and mating — were observed on this day. The temperature reached 64, with a south wind, in the afternoon. On the 24th, two cowbirds were noted and many bluebirds were about the grounds. Migrating flocks of sparrows continued along the fields and roadsides, and many fox sparrows, tree sparrows and jimcos were heard singing in Catbird Swamp. The thermometer on this day climbed to 67 and the warm south wind continued. A change in weather conditions took place on the 25th, when a strong north wind blew throughout the day, although the temperature reached 57 in mid-afternoon. Only a few birds were noted in the yard on this day, and but one or two crows were heard. Cloudy weather settled into a fine rain in the evening. Our phcebe remained about the doorway throughout the day, and a pair of bluebirds came to our food table for sumac berries. In one other instance bluebirds were observed feeding on sumac in one of the orchards. Woodcock were first heard on this day, giving their peculiar calls preliminary to the "flight song" in the dusk of the evening. On the 26th two pairs of bluebirds were inspecting boxes about the dooryard, and a pair of cowbirds remained throughout most of the day in a hackmatack tree in the dooryard — the male giving vent to frequent love notes, and flitting about. Both came to the food-stand nearby to feed upon the grain. Many robins and bluebirds were noted about this morning, and both fox and song sparrows were numerous and were singing. While there was a light northeasterly breeze, the temperature rose to 61. Hylas were first heard peeping on the evening of this day, which culminated with a drop of temperature, a westerly wind and rain. The week ended with another clear, beautiful spring day, with a tem- perature of 54. Bluebirds continued their inspection of our bird-boxes about the yard and orchards, and our red-shouldered hawk screamed in ecstacy as he soared with his mate over the Mohawk Woods. About sunset Massachusetts Audubon Society 7 three black ducks were noted flying over to the northwest, and as the after- glow deepened, the woodcock began their weird calls in the orchard. Most wonderful and mysterious of all bird songs seems this love-making performance of the woodcock, accompanied as it is by the marvellous aerial gyrations, and given at the witching hour of sunset. We watch him as the dusk deepens, barely making him out upon the ground as he stands among the dried grasses. Then up he goes into the air like a rocket, flying straight into the sunset, and giving a queer, whistling sound as he whirrs over our heads. Climbing with a spiral motion, he ascends far above us till we can only locate him by his gurgling notes. These grow fainter and fainter, till suddenly with a downward pitch comes the outpouring of his ecstatic song, while in long, meteor-like dives he descends toward the earth, dropping almost at our feet, thence to renew his low, weird calls to his mate a few yards away. After several such performances the two are seen to fly off^ together, disappearing in the dusk. HUMMINGBIRDS. SUMMER OF 1919 By Grace Sherwood, Jefferson, Ohio. May 8th, I was sitting on the porch deep in a confidential chat with a pet chickadee, when subconsciously I became aware of a very familiar sound. When I roused myself enough to look, sure enough — and no wonder — a hummingbird! He was busy on the blue-bells, but I got up and re- sumed the occupation of shaking sugar into warm water, and filling a tiny bottle. I hung it in an old holder that looked like a bunch of dried grass, and very soon there was Mr. Bird. Next I saw him looking in the middle of a screen door the other side of the house, where we hung a bottle the preceding season to keep it away from the ants. I took another bottle, tied a string around it, and pinned it on the door. I had scarcely got inside when he was there. Of course it was evident he had been there before, but was it Ephraim? Had he lost his distinctive sound ? It was a week before another bird came; meanwhile this one had the time of his sweet young life. He ate when he pleased, and as much as he pleased, with no one of his tribe to disturb or annoy. The next week two females appeared — then it was fighting as usual. Soon arrivals were nu- merous, among them Ephraim. I fell on his neck, while he fell on a bottle. How hungry he was, and how glad I was to hear that personal, distinctive sound of his! Of course there is no doubt but that some of the same birds come back each year; the way they go to the same feeding-places with no flower-like color to attract them is proof enough. The certainty of Ephraim is a step beyond. He knows this place, and I know him. He has spent two seasons here, and I impatiently await the third. Will he come again? Contrary to all previous experiences, male birds were more numerous than females. I knew two besides Ephraim when I saw them. One very pleasant creature, who always came to the screen door bottle at a certain 8 Massachusetts Audubon Society time, whom I named E. Paul, E. P. for short. Another, so little you had to look twice to be sure he was there — I just called him Sliver. He was the littlest thing in the shape of a bird I ever saw, and when he perched with the true humming bird expression, the solemn weighty affairs of the universe resting on his shoulders, I turned my head so he couldn't see the smile. One male bird had trouble to get the bottle-fed idea. He would perch near, look at me reproachfully, then go to the flowers that were so far gone I knew there could be little or no honey left in them. I pinned a bottle on a tree next the flowers, tied one among them. Nothing doing! We were cleaning up the yard, and piled some brush next the porch. One little branch came up over the rail; he sat on it and looked at me as though half starved until he got on my nerves, so I tied a bottle to that branch where it forked. Something doing! He would sit there, lean over and drink just like a horse at its favorite trough. When we disposed of the brush-pile, I took that branch and fastened it up in a good location. I found it forked twice about eight inches apart. As they like to flit back and forth, I put a bottle at eaclj fork. Soon I learned two more items about hummingbirds. The fork of a small branch gives them a fine chance to perch and eat at the same time. When birds are numerous enough they will eat close together, especially males; often each bottle would have a patron. By July our place was fairly alive with hummingbirds. I never suc- ceeded in counting more than seven, for counting hummingbirds is a little like counting flying bullets. Consider that they ate a pound of sugar each week for three weeks in July (a dozen feeding bottles out), and consider that it is one part sugar to three parts water, that one bird eats very little in spite of many calls, as I found out when there was only one, and it is a perfectly safe and good guess that there were many more than seven. The male birds left in a body between two days, the third and fourth of August. It was so quiet from this on to the close of the season, I was fairly lost. The 23d of August a male bird appeared, and was here several times that day. I saw him very plainly at the bottles, and his "jewel" was notice- ably small. I have no explanation for this late caller, unless he was a young male who had prematurely acquired his ruby throat. With September 11th came the departure of the last female, and the end of season 1919. I would like to close this installment in the accepted fashion with a mystery and a thrill. I fear I cannot unless these will serve. Among other comforts of a home, I tried last year to furnish a bath, it was a flat failure. Too late in the season for a try-out, I think I got the correct idea. In our next I'll let you know if Victory rests on my banner. Now here is a secret, and I hope a thrilling one: A film company has invited our birds to go into the "movies" in the season of 1920. They themselves do not dream what awaits their return, but let Mary Fairbanks and Douglas Pickford look well to their laurels! Volume IV. APRIL. 1920 Number 3 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN OF THE MASSA AUDUB HUSETTS SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This Bulletin will chronicle the affairs of the Society from month to month, will report items, of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legislation and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one dollar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. \\\ 2 Massachusetts Audubon Society A SHORE-BIRD SANCTUARY Dr. John C. Phillips, in the Salem News North from the mouth of the Ipswich river, and embracing a large area of high rolling pastures, between that river and Plum Isle sound, is the so- called Ipswich Neck. It has always been a magnificent pasture and, if I remember rightly, Thoreau mentions it as such in his Walden. These great pastures were formerly a favorite halting place for the golden plover and the upland plover, and the latter bird, now extremely rare, may yet breed somewhere on these hills. I saw one there last summer and very likely there were one or two others. If the upland plover does still breed in Ipswich, it is one of the last stands in Massachusetts, for this sadly reduced species. Perhaps not over a dozen pairs are left breeding in the state, and those are mostly on Martha's Vineyard Isle. The golden plover do occasionally still haunt these hills on their southern migration. But of more general interest is the artificial pond, formerly a small salt marsh which a good many years ago was dyked off from the beach on the Plum Island shore, forming an area of fresh water some 30 acres in extent. In summer the water often gets quite low and there are large spaces of muddy shore exposed, splendid feeding ground for almost every kind of shore bird, while the center of the pond provides a bathing and resting point for enormous numbers of terns and gulls. Last August, before the shooting season opened, I counted 11 different species of waders through my glass at one time at Clark's Pond. This place has become quite famous among Essex County ornithologists, and numerous bird-lovers come from considerable distances to spy out a rare species, as for some reason or other Clark's Pond seems to attract rare visitors. For instance, I have several times seen killdeer plover and stilt sandpipers there, blue-bill duck, a great rarity in summer on the Massachu- setts coast. Early in September this little pond is visited by a good many blue- winged teal, and a few pintail ducks, and if they are let alone large flocks of black ducks, which feed in the Ipswich and Essex marshes, come in for the fresh water each day. Now then, what happens when the shooting season opens on August 15? There are a few semi-tame yellowlegs shot the first day; the ducks, if any are "using" there, are permanently scared away, and that is about the end of it, both for the gunner and the ornithologist. The place is entirely ruined for the naturalist and bird lover because it is not large enough to hold birds, as a big area of marsh and flats will do, and neither does it give any adequate rewards to the practical gunner. But here, nevertheless, is a body of water, which could be, and ought to be, set aside as a town or state sanctuary with- out in the least interfering with legitimate sport. As a matter of fact, I am convinced that it would tend to improve the duck shooting because it would give all those black ducks which feed nearby a safe place to get fresh water, which is what they must have in late summer and early fall. When the bombardment on ducks begins on September 15 it is only a question of days before the birds get discouraged and hunt quieter regions, as every one knows. But with sanctuaries like Clark's Pond (and there should be numbers of such places) the benefit to all concerned would in a few years be very marked. For a long time the practical shooter nursed a grudge, not always a Massachusetts Audubon Society 3 silent one, against organizations like the Audubon Societies, but I think everyone interested in sport and its perpetuation, has now got to admit the wise forethought in such laws as the non-sale of game, the stopping of spring shooting, and the federal control of migrants. Just as these wise measures were at first bitterly contested, so will the 'sanctuary idea find opposition in some quarters, but nevertheless it is surely coming, and will some day de- velop into one of our most valuable methods of preserving sport for all. So, as at the beginning I cannot think of any place better adapted for the purpose outlined, than the attractive little pond on the eastern edge of Ipswich Neck. PROTECT THE MAYFLOWER Mayflower time is at hand. Even in April, in sunny nooks, the Trailing Arbutus is putting forth sweet-scented blooms, shyly smiling up beneath the brown of oak leaves of last year that rustle crisply in the sun and wind. The Society for the Protection of Native Plants rightly urges us to go slowly in plucking these earliest of spring beauties. Concerning this, Mr. J. E. Cham- berlin has well said in the Boston Transcript: "Mayflowers are sold on the streets now — Mayflowers from Plymouth; and one wonders whether their new situation as the State flower will not be the death of them, causing a demand which will contribute to their extermina- tion. The Trailing Arbutus cannot be cultivated, and public pressure upon it tends to make it more and more rare. The area of its growth is limited. It is not nearly so common in the Plymouth woods as it was twenty years ago. The trailing vine roots along the ground, and the flowers can scarcely be gathered without taking some of the roots. Extremely shy in its habits, it does not recover from this treatment, but disappears. It is even possible that, if any new pressure is put upon it, the flower will disappear from the State altogether. "In this situation, it is proper that some official means should be taken for the Mayflower's protection. It grows on the Wachusett reservation, and must be cherished there. It is fairly abundant, too, though diminishing, in the Berkshire hills. The region where Trailing Arbutus is found in greatest abundance of all is Long Island. In the town of Huntington, not a mile from Walt Whitman's birthplace, it blooms literally by the acre, but even there it is disappearing. In New Hampshire it is abundant, while on some of the Vermont hill roads it grows down to the very wheel tracks. It grows in the South as well as the North, and is fairly abundant in the mountains of Georgia and the Carolinas, where it is called 'wax myrtle.' In view of its wide distribution, it is not probable that it will ever be exterminated altogether. But we shall have to look out for it very carefully here in populous Massachusetts lest our State flower become locally but a memory." FIREWORKS AND STARLINGS Without killing or maiming a single bird, the municipal authorities of Montclair, N. J., last year rid the locality of starlings and grackles, great flocks of which have invaded the city each fall, roosting in the trees along two fashionable streets, and disturbing the residents by their night cries. A proposal to frighten the birds away by shooting at them with firearms met with strong opposition. Among other schemes suggested was the use of fire- Massachusetts Audubon Society works. This plan met with general approval, and was finally adopted. A supply of Roman candles was obtained, and ten men armed with these, bombarded the feathered pests. The treatment was administered on two successive nights, with the result that, on the third night, not one of the birds was to be seen in the neighborhood. The departure of the undesirable visitors was an extremely spectacular sight. Life Members Received to Date of Bulletin Going to Press Bartol, Miss Elizabeth H. Harris, Mrs. William A. Inman, Miss Ivy F. Knapp, Mrs. Charles L. Lasell, Mrs. J. M. Morgan, Paul B. Parker, Melvin L. Peabody, Mrs. Charles B. 17 Chestnut St., Boston 1104 Worthington St., Springfield Hotel Hemenway, Boston 85 Fort Hill Ave., Lowell 83 Hill Street, Whitinsville 21 Cedar St., Worcester Box 953, Springfield Greenfield Sustaining Members Received to Date of Bulletin Going to Press Abbot, Miss Mary P. Atherton, Henry 0. 7 Ayer, Miss Anna Beekman 127 Ayer, Miss Theodora 127 Bailey, Miss Eleanor Bates, Miss Alice M. Blakely, Mrs. David N. 16 Burnham, Miss Alice E. 314 Campbell, Miss Mary A. 14 Carroll, Francis E., M. D. 217 Carroll, Mrs. Francis E. 217 Carpenter, Ralph George Clough, G. M. 24 Cushman, Mrs. Herbert E. 144 Davis, Edward C. 1045 Davis, Mrs. Joseph M. 806 Dike, Miss Cora E. 60 Dodd, Miss Jean Margaret 38 Estabrook, Archibald M. 62 Jennings, Mrs. Geo. W. 317 Kidder, Mrs. J. H. 68 King, Miss Ellen H. Kneeland, Miss Harriet J. 51 Kollock, E. D. 140 Ladd, Mrs. Alexander H., Jr. 381 Ladd, Mr. Robert W. 381 Lane, Miss Myra J. 202 Langmaid, Mrs. W. T. 63 Lincoln, Mrs. A. A. 109 Loeffler, Mrs. C. M. Loker, Mrs. A. E. Loring, Miss M. C. Loud, Miss J. Florence Loud, The Misses Margaret and 211 Elizabeth 294 Luce, Mrs. Dean S. McCreary, Mrs. Lewis S. McCreary, Mrs. Lewis S. Marquis, N. 296 Maxwell. Charles W. 260 Maxwell, Mrs. Charles W. 260 Merrill, Mrs. S. M. 68 Harvard Charles River Sq., Boston Commonwealth Ave., Boston Commonwealth Ave., Boston Hanover South Hanson Beach Road, Brookline Main St., S. Hingham Franklin St., Wakefield Huntington Ave., Boston Huntington Ave., Boston The Braemore, 466 Commonwealth Ave., Boston Milk St., Boston Hawthorn St.. New Bedford Beacon St., Newton Centre Grove St., Worcester Franklin St., Stoneham Quincy St., Cambridge Winona Ave., Haverhill Washington St., Braintree Phillips St., Andover Duxbury Harrison Ave., Northampton Beacon St., Hyde Park Centre St., Milton Centre St., Milton Market St., Rockland Locust St., Danvers Lincoln Ave., Wollaston Medfield Hilldale, Natick Hotel Victoria, Boston Suite 4, 1399 Commonwealth Ave., Boston Hollis St., Braintree Sherman St., Canton Belmont Belmont Boylston St., Boston Washington St., Canton Washington St., Canton Beacon St., Boston Massachusetts Audubon Society Merritt, Mrs. C. C. Miller, Mrs. Arthur M. Minot, Francis Page, Miss Valeria S. Parker, Mrs. O. A. Pattee, Miss Alice R. Pease, Frank A. Peck, James A. Pendergast, R. B. Perkins, John A. Perry, Mrs. John S. Pettingill, Miss Lucy E. Pierce, Miss Mary E. Pierce, Myron E. Reed, Miss Florence M. Rossi, Mrs. L. Melano Rotch, Miss Josephine Noyes Sumner, Mrs. Charles Tripp, Miss Katherine M. Tufts, Miss Mary J. Turner, Miss Helen G. White, Albert Audubon Woodman, Mrs. Julian C. Wylie, James Zahn, Louis 202 Newbury St., Brockton 11 Spruce St., Braintree 56 Fenway, Boston 349 Pleasant St., Maiden Wakefield 29 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 31 South Main St., Fall River 15 North Beacon St., AUston 1901 Wyoming Ave., Washington, D. C. 293 Broadway, Methuen 490 County St., New Bedford Hotel Beaconsfield, Brookline 224 South Ave., Whitman Bancroft Road, Wellesley Hills 49 Electric Ave., West Somerville 93 Moreland St., Roxbury 197 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 175 Chapman St., Canton 64 Hillman St., New Bedford 1 Atlantic St., Lynn 41 Harvard St., Worcester 78 Pinckney St., Boston 35 Bellevue Ave., Melrose 771 Heath St., Brookline 11 Enfield St., Jamaica Plain THE BIRDS FROM DAY TO DAY SOUTHBRIDGE We have had a goodly number of birds here this winter — crows, star- lings, downy and hairy woodpeckers, chickadees, redpolls, jays, snowbirds, and a large flock of evening grosbeaks. We had a junco here all winter feeding at our box. I am quite sure we had a family of j uncos breed here near my house this last. summer because we saw them many times with the yoimg in the road, almost in the center of the town. A robin arrived in our yard March 5th and has been here since, feeding on the barberries, etc. Allan H. Faxon. THE PUNCTUAL CARDINAL A letter from my son, who is at Augusta, Ga., tells me that the same old cardinal-bird is back this season, whistling every morning in the same tree in front of their windows. He has discovered that the bird "starts full tilt at seven o'clock when the whistles of the cotton factories in the valley blow, but he is at a loss on Sundays, when there are no whistles, and his time varies from 7.15 to 7.35." Elizabeth F. Parker. A TRUE SNAKE STORY In North Haverhill, in 1917, some ladies were sitting on a piazza. Near by, in view of the house, was a robin's nest. Mother robin was seen to return to her nest with what appeared to be an extra long worm. The ladies watched the mother try desperately to get the whole length of the tidbit down her offspring's throat. Failing in this, she tried to break off the 6 Massachusetts Audubon Society surplus. When that operation was unsuccessful, she took the seeming worm in her mouth to fly. Fastened to the end was baby robin dangling by his bill. The weight was too great for the mother, and her burden dropped on the piazza at the feet of the ladies. Then it was that they saw that the tough worm was a small green snake! They pulled it from the jaws of the baby, put the robin back in its nest and threw the snake back of the barn. The baby robin seemed to have suffered no ill effects from this experience, as the mother robin continued to feed it till it was grown. I was a witness to this. Marguerite Johnson. AN INVALID'S FRIENDS As you are interested in birds, I am taking the liberty of sending you two pictures taken from my sister's pillow (she died last winter after a long illness). The birds came to a table and on to her bed and ate. One day we counted thirty-five flittings in, in succession. One little chickadee ate peanuts from the stand by the bed, flew around the room, sat on the foot of the bed and sang a real chickadee song. Susan N. Monk. WEST MEDFORD During this cold weather, when the snow has covered most of the food, the birds have come to our feeding places in great numbers. Within a very limited area, we have had an unusual variety. First, in early January, great flocks of redpolls, then a snowy owl, next a northern shrike, and on Feb- ruary 12th fifty-two snow buntings appeared. These, with seventeen pheasants, have been regularly fed by Mr. Irving Porter and have been a great delight to many people. February 28th came a large flock of cedar- birds and with them two, perhaps five, Bohemian waxwings. The latter were seen many times on February 29th and March 3rd, feeding on cedar-berries and the fruit of the hawthorne. That food being now exhausted, the birds have gone. March 1st, the following birds were seen either on our grounds or within three minutes' walk of our house — 12 evening grosbeaks (6 were full-plumaged males), 9 pine grospeaks, 10 redpolls, 52 snow buntings, 3 juncos, 3 tree sparrows, 3 purple finches, 1 long-eared owl, 2 hairy wood- peckers, 2 downy woodpeckers, 1 flicker, 2 white-bellied nuthatches, 10 starlings, 5 blue jays, 42 cedar-birds, 5 chickadees and 3 robins. The Bo- hemian waxwings were not seen on that day, but appeared for a short time on March 3rd. During this last blizzard, March 6th, the snow buntings went under a hedge, dug themselves into the snow and settled down to rest, first with their feet clearing the falling snow from their faces. It was a pretty sight. LiDiAN E. Bridge. GLEASONDALE I have had my station for six years. The first year I only had two chickadees all winter, did not see another bird, not even an English sparrow. Now, I have had so many chickadees I can't count them. Two years ago I counted 13, have not been able to count them since. One stormy day, at one time, I saw 16 starlings, 9 blue jays, 3 hairy woodpeckers and 6 downy woodpeckers, together with so many small birds one could not count them. Now I have 12 different kinds (I think more) of birds every day and almost any time I look out I will see from four to eight different kinds all eating. Massachusetts Audubon Society 7 Those stormy days I made shelters for the food with boxes so that snow would not cover it, so they could always find something to eat. We have been out many mornings and cleared away the snow and put out the grain before we had our breakfast, before it was light, because some come so very early. I noticed that it was song sparrows and tree sparrows who came so early. I feed fine chick-feed and sunflower seed and corn for blue jays. I had some old substitute flour which I have mixed up with baking powder and milk or water, as I had it, and baked like biscuit and broken it up, and the starlings and blue jays loved it. I also have three suet-boxes which have to be filled at least once a week. Then I throw out other things I think they will eat. I have already fed 100 pounds of grain, 30 pounds of it clear sun- flower seed. The chickadees and purple finches come and eat from my win- dow-sill. This is my first winter for purple finches, and the chickadees don't like to have them come one bit. It's really funny to see them. I have a big flock of tree sparrows; one cannot count them, hvA I should say there were 30 or 40. And I think there are some other kinds with them, as some are larger and they vary in color. I notice some are much more brown on head and back. My daily visitors are starlings (have seen 20 here at one time) , nuthatch, chickadee, brown creeper, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, blue jays (12 here this morning altogether), purple finch, tree sparrow, song sparrow, junco, and last, but not least, English sparrow. A crow came one day and got a piece of bread. Have also had the evening grosbeaks visit me twice during the winter — only saw two. My station is near my kitchen window, only about ten to twenty feet away, so I really do not notice them much only when I am at the sink, washing dishes, etc., so that I may have had other visitors I do not know about. They sing me the most beautiful songs now out there — even now, while I write, I can hear them. Altogether, I feel that this has been the most successful winter of our bird station. Those cold, heavy snowstorms we had, to look out there and see so many birds eating, it was grand, and, having them so near the house, one can see them so distinctly, eating and then roosting in the bushes to get a chance to eat again. Mrs. Wilkinson Crossley. PRIDE'S CROSSING Among other birds, we have had a large flock of robins this last week. They were especially interested in a pile of seaweed, exposed when our men dug off" the snow to get potatoes out of a pit. They stayed about for three or four days eating barberries and sometimes seeds, but not many; now they seem to have gone. Katherine Loring. This has been a remarkable year here with the birds. Our house is almost within a stone's throw of the sea, and the piazza faces it. We have fed the birds continually with various kinds of seeds in sheltered spots of the piazza, also on an improvised table at a short distance on the high snow- bank in front of the house. A container with suet has hung from a branch near by. Since about the first of January we have had numbers of juncos; tree sparrows and chicka- dees appeared, the latter climbing about the vines and pecking at the suet and becoming very friendly. The blue jays have been constant visitors, and 8 Massachusetts Audubon Society one morning of zero weather a downy woodpecker alighted on a bush close to the piazza but was not seen again. On February 28th a great flock of robins appeared. I should say about thirty or more. Their breasts were very bright. They were feasting on the remaining barberries evidently, as they left large red stains and a few red berries on the snow near those bushes. They remained in our neighborhood only a very few days, flying about together, and then disappeared westward as suddenly as they came. Louisa P. Loring. LITTLETON'S LOADED CHICKADEE During the past month — February 15-March 15 — the following birds were in this vicinity: juncos, blue jay, downy woodpeckers, tree sparrows, redpolls, chickadee, purple finches, snow buntings, horned lark, fox spar- rows, and a large number of crows and starlings. One neighbor reports having seen during the last severe blizzard a chickadee with an icicle hanging from his tail. Every way possible she tried to induce this little fellow into their house, or catch him, for he was strug- gling hard against the icicle's weight, but to no avail. Margaret E. Thacher. WALPOLE Birds are few. One chickadee comes to my suet. My furnace-boy lives near Clark's Pond and he says that a lovely large pheasant comes to their house to get food. If a dog draws near, he dives into the snow, and the same for a person. Mrs. G. throws out garbage and this morning she counted thirty or more starlings and other birds; a pheasant also comes there. Mr. G. is feeding the quail on his grain route. DIGHTON I have not had any of the uncommon birds, but one lady cowbird, who appeared here on January 10th and stayed as a regular boarder until Feb- ruary 8th, when she ate her dinner with much relish and left without paying her board bill, and I haven't seen her since. I have juncos, tree sparrows, English sparrows and starlings, and at one time, several of what I called song sparrows. Have now and then had a chickadee and have a very few times seen a purple finch, but they are regulars in some of my neighbors' yards. Also evening grosbeaks, and my niece reported a pine grosbeak looking for food on the sidewalk as she was going up through the village last Saturday. Also my sister reported tonight six redpolls on her feeding-ground. They had two white-throated sparrows all through January, and a lady living a mile or two farther up the road reported two in her yard. My grocer today told me that he saw seven or eight robins back of his house yesterday: also that while he was delivering groceries one day last week back through the country, a bag of scratch-feed broke and he lost some into the pung. He went into a house, and when he came out four quail were in the pung eating that grain. I asked him if they got what was left, and he answered, "Every grain of it." He said that one man told him of a flock that is living in his barn. Volume IV. JUNE, 1920 Number 5 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This Bulletin will chronicle the affairs of the Society from month to month, will report items, of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legislation and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one dollar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. ■■,v 2 Massachusetts Audubon Society NO SUMMER BULLETIN As has been the custom since it was established, there will be no issues of the Bulletin during the months of July, August and September. The editors wish all readers a pleasant and prosperous vacation season and plan to greet them all with renewed interest in the October number. The Bul- letin has made many friends during its three years of publication. Its genial ministrations have added members to the Society during that time. Especially is this true of the past month, when some two hundred have joined in order to to receive it regularly. THANK YOU ALL The circular letter sent out last month to all members calling attention to the need of money for the Sanctuary is meeting with a widespread and most generous response which promises to put the Sanctuary work on its feet for the year. Most hearty thanks are due to all for this service, and especially for the promptness and good will with which it has been ren- dered. The Audubon Society's Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary is a vital force in the great cause of bird protection. The world is already making a path to its door. Of a single pleasant spring day sometimes a hundred peop(le come on foot or in motors eager to learn bird-lore, to understand Sanctuary methods, and to carry these ideas to places near and far where other sanctuaries may be established. LEGACIES It is probable that few members of the Audubon Society realize the breadth of its work and the distance to which its influence for good carries. The forests of Massachusetts, the waters of Yellowstone Park, the birds of the wild marsh regions of southern Oregon — all alike — come within the scope of its interests and good influence. It works for good legislation and against bad legislation at Washington as well as on Beacon Hill. Its bird charts today interest and instruct children in Honolulu, in Alaska, in Jerusalem even, as well as in every State of the Union, and its other pub- lications have an equally wide field. It does all these and a thousand other things on a membership fee of $1.00 a year and such other funds as it can earn from day to day. Will you help make this increasingly widespread and valuable work permanent through an adequate Reserve Fund? Sums donated by will to the Society are placed in the Reserve Fund of the Society, a use of the money which has peculiar value because of its permanence. The altruistic work of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, carried on for many years with increasing success, suggests the desirability of remem- bering it in this fashion. All the funds of the Society are handled carefully and conservatively, but the Reserve Fund, in the exclusive control of the Board of Directors, is especially worthy of the consideration of testators who wish to make legacies of lasting usefulness. There will always be need of organized work for bird protection, a form of conservation of the greatest importance to the general welfare. The Reserve Fund of the Society, when of sufficient size, will insure this. Can you not help in this way? Massachusetts Audubon Society 3 FORM OF BEQUEST / give and bequeath to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Incor- porated, the sum of Dollars for its Reserve Fund. LEGISLATION YELLOWSTONE PARK The "Smith of Idaho Bill" is no longer on the Unanimous Consent Calendar of the Congress at Washington, having been removed when it came up for consideration through the objection of Representative Siegel of New York. At least two of our Massachusetts Representatives — Walsh of New Bedford and Tague of Boston — were on hand and ready to make ob- jection if necessary. Vigilance on the part of the Aububon Societies and their prompt action in taking up the matter with their Congressmen had much to do with this setback to a pernicious piece of proposed legislation. The bill, if passed, not only would turn over a part of Yellowstone National Park to irrigation schemes — harmful to the wild life of the place — but would be a most unfortunate precedent tending to destroy the rights of the general public in these playground spots, which should be, in all respect, the property of the whole nation. It is to be hoped that the career of this Bill is ended. The thanks of the Society are due to all who responded to the call of alarm. ITHE WOODCOCK BILL A bill that would unwisely extend the open season on woodcock in Massachusetts was proposed this winter. The bill would have given the hunters an opportunity to shoot the locally hatched birds on the breeding grounds, and it is believed would have resulted in great reduction in the number of these valuable birds. Because they have been safe on the breed- ing grounds until the young were fully grown and ready for the fall migra- tion, the woodcock are beginning to breed again rather numerously in Massachusetts. The bill could but result in great harm to this desirable condition, and it was vigorously opposed in the Committee. It failed of favorable action, and was referred to the next General Court. It will be watched for next year and again opposed if it comes up. THE FORESTRY BILL Bird protectionists take great interest in the bill of the Massachusetts Forestry Association, providing for the purchase of large areas of waste land by the State and converting them into State forests along lines and by methods proved effective in other countries. The Society's representa- tive advocated it before the Ways and Means Committee at the hearing in its behalf, and the Society stands ready to do all it can to aid in making this Bill a law. It was enthusiastically endorsed by a large attendance at the hearing. No opposition developed there, and it received only favorable comment from members of the Committee at that time. The Ways and Means Committee have not yet reported. 4 Massachusetts Audubon Society SPACE LIMITS The Bulletin is but a little book with a large and increasing circle of real friends. Every month the editors receive stories and items of such general interest that they are glad to use all they have room for. Others they save hopefully for the next issue, only too often to find that it is quite impossible to squeeze material enough for ten pages into six or seven. Often, therefore, good matter perforce goes over from month to month, and sometimes never gets used at all. This issue contains twelve pages instead of the usual eight, because of this press of matter that really ought to be included, and still there is a waiting list. The editors appreciate this in- terest among the Bulletin's friends. They hope it will continue and in- crease, and perhaps some day we may be able to publish a Bulletin big enough to contain it all. BOOK REVIEWS ^'^Bruce," by Albert Payson Terhune, E. P. Button aivd Co. Price S2.00 net. If you love a good dog, if you love a good story, if adventure and heroism and devotion interest you, you should read "Bruce." Bruce was a splendid collie. He served as a war dog in the great war, helping the allies, tackling the Boche and doing his duty in a devoted, generous way that was as fine in spirit and results as the work of any soldier. 'TAe Burgess Bird Book for Children," by Thornton W. Burgess, Little, Brown & Co., price $2.50. Uncounted thousands of children read Thornton W. Burgess's outdoor books, Adventures of Reddy Fox, Sammy Jay and other children of Mother West Wind. These grow in number by the scores, yet there cannot seem to be too many of them. One of the latest and best is the "Burgess Bird Book for Children." Through it Peter Rabbit and Reddy Fox scamper as in the other books, but it is filled with wholesome, informative, interesting tales of useful and beautiful wild birds. No child but will read it with joy and learn at the same time interesting and useful items of natural history. For little folks it is the bird book of the year, and all live boys and girls should have it. ^''Adventures Among Birds," by W. H. Hudson, E. P. Button and Co^., price $4.00 net. This is not a book of sporting reminiscences. To kill a wild bird is in the author's eyes to commit a crime. His own preference for the title, as given by himself, would be "Adventures of a Soul among the Feathered Masterpieces of Creation." The book is written with that sympathy and understanding, that beauty and simplicity of language which have made Mr. Hudson's works a joy to all lovers of wild life. Mr. Hudson has a definite object in this volume: it is to reveal to the unsuspecting person who is neither a poet nor a naturalist what pleasure may be added to life simply by the observation of the common wild birds. In all its more than three hundred pages you dwell intimately with the author and his feathered friends of villqge and farm, see them with the eyes of the wise naturalist, and inevitably love them as he does. Massachusetts Audubon Society 5 BROOKLINE'S ANNUAL Readers of the Bulletin from month to month will no doubt recall last year's most interesting story of the wild duck family that migrated through Brookline's most populous streets on foot while the policeman held up the automobile traffic that they might pass in safety. It seems this is getting to be an annual return as witness the following: April 13, 1920. My dear Mr. Packard: — The following true story might interest your Bulletin readers. Last week when traffic on Beacon Street was busiest, about eight o'clock in the morning, a mother mallard (wild duck) led her five children from a pond on the Amory Street, where they had spread oil, across the field, under the fence, down the middle of Carleton Street, the traffic policeman holding up the electric cars and a hundred automobiles while she carefully led them along over the car-tracks across Beacon Street, then over the B. & A. Railroad to the Fenway Brook in safety. That is what I call common sense and devotion. I wonder if a hen would use as much judgment. Yours truly, (Signed) Harry V. Long. LIFE MEMBERS Received to Date of Balletins Going to Press Allen, Miss Mary W. Case, Miss M. R. Field, Miss Margaret Owen Goode, Mrs. F. B. James, Ellerton Moors, Mrs. John F. Rogers. Dudley P. Williams, Mrs. C. Duane 289 Walpole St., Norwood Weston 57 Westminster St., Springfield Sharon 10 Post Office Square, Boston 32 Mt. Vernon St., Boston 50 State St., Boston 90 Lake Ave., Newton Centre SUSTAINING MEMBERS Received to Date of Bulletins Going to Press Abbot, Henry W. Allen, C. L. Allen, Edward K. Allen, Rev. Frederick B. Anderson, Paul A. Babson, Miss Marie Bachrach, Louis F. Baker, Mrs. Chas. M. Baldwin, Mrs. E. E. Beebe, Philip S. Beveridge, Mrs. Albert J. Besse, Miss Henrietta L. Bill, Miss Ella J. Bill, Nathan D. Blackinton, Mrs. R. J. Bowden, Miss Josephine Bowditch, Charles Breckenridge, Miss Annie L. Brewer, Miss Lucy B. Bridge, Frederick W. Yarmouthport CO Norton Co., Worcester R. F. D. No. 1, Monson 132 Marlboro St., Boston 43 Mt. Bowdoin Terrace, Dorchester 7 Mt. Pleasant Terrace, Roxbury 128 Highland St., West Newton 111 Ivy St., Brookline 48 Harvard Ave., West Medford 1028 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow Beverly Farms 29 IngersoU Grove, Springfield 80 Northampton Ave., Springfield 284 Maple St., Springfield 73 High St., North Attleboro 102 Florida St., Springfield 111 Devonshire St., Boston 67 Church St., Ware P. 0. Box 115, Back Bay, Boston 2 Wolcott Road, Winchester Massachusetts Audubon Society Brookline Public Library Bullard, Theodore Burgess, Thornton W. Byington, Mrs. Louise J. Calkins, Mrs. Alice H. Canton Public Library Carter, Edwin A. Carter, Mrs. Edwin A. Carter, Mrs. John W. Cary, Miss Kate Case, Miss Louise W. Chamberlain, Mrs. George D. Chase, Mrs. Anna W. Cheever, James G. Chickering, J. J., Jr. Clifford, Miss Marjorie D. Codman, Mrs. Ogden Cotton, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Crittenden, Miss Viola E. Crocker, Kendall F. Cronin, Mrs. W. P. Curtis, Mrs. Louis Gushing, Frederick R. Gushing, Grafton D. Dana, Frank Davis, E. R. Davis, Dr. Frederick A. Davis, George Day, Miss Carrie E. Dawes, Elizabeth B. Deland, Mrs. Amory Dennie, Miss M. H. Dixey, Mrs. Richard C. Downer, Arthur T. Dunn, Miss Myra Dunning, Mrs. Warren H. Dutton, Harry Ellis, Margaret Emery, Miss Georgianna Emery, Miss Louise J. Eustis, Mrs. J. T. Evans, Wilmot P. Flagg, Miss Harriet V. Fowle, Seth A. Frazer, Charles A. Fuller, Mrs. George F. Garst, Julius Goff, Z. E. Goodridge, Barbara Goodridge, Daniel M., Jr Graf, Clarence C. Gray, Russell Greene, Mrs. James T. Griffin, Mrs. S. B. Hart, Charles Abbott Hedge, Henry R. Hibbard, Thomas Hood, Mrs. C. H, Hornblower, Henry Horton, Mrs. Melvin B. Hoskins, Ernest J. Howard, Mrs. George E. Brookline East Harpswell, Maine Washington Road, Springfield Newton 58 383 Union St., Springfield Canton 238 Maple St., Springfield 238 Maple St., Springfield 315 Otis St., West Newton Lenox Weston 127 Mulberry St., Springfield 241 Highland St., Milton 24 Park St., North Attleboro North Andover, Mass. Suite 2, 7 Mt. Pleasant Terrace, Roxbury South Lincoln 357 Kent St., Brookline 19 Central St., Beverly 55 Garnet St., Fitchburg 156 School St., Belmont 464 Beacon St., Boston Moose Hill, Sharon 20 Chestnut St., Boston 5 Forestdale Road, Worcester 27 Washington St., Leominster Audubon Circle, Beacon St., Boston 30 Warland St., Cambridge 280 Newbury St., Boston Petersham Norfolk 416 Marlboro St., Boston 44 Beacon St., Boston 26 Stevens St., Winchester Phillipston 383 Harvard St., Cambridge 55 Tremont St., Boston 23 Spruceland Ave., Springfield Newburyport Box 364, Newburyport 93 Ivy St., Brookline 28 Chestnut St., Boston 666 State St., Springfield 164 Federal St., Boston 137 Administration Bldg., Springfield 15 Massachusetts Ave., Worcester Phenyo-Gafflein Co., Worcester Osterville 123 Park St., Newton 123 Park St., Newton North Lexington 50 State St., Boston New Braintree 185 Mill St., Springfield 7 Edgehill Road, Winchester 87 Kilby St., Boston 17 Nottingham St., Dorchester 2 Benton Road, Somerville 60 Congress St., Boston 360 Prospect St., Fall River 53 Forest Glen Road, Longmeadow 165 Mill St., Springfield Massachusetts Audubon Society Ireland, Miss C. I. Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. James Keyes, Mrs. Charles W. Kelley, Mrs. Arthur F. Knowlton, Mrs. Myra R. Leonard, Mrs. Adeline Lilley, Charles W. Lilley, Mrs. Charles W. Lyman, Arthur McGregor, George H. McGregor, Mrs. George H. Mansfield, Miss Helen Marrs, Mrs. Kingsmill Mason, Mrs. C. O. Mattice, H. L. Merrick, Mrs. Florence D. Minot, Mrs. G. W. Moseley, Miss Ellen F. Neilson, Mrs. E. M. Newburyport Public Library Owen, A. C. Park, Frederick L. Parker, Miss Ethel Partridge, Mrs. Flora E. Pease, Miss Harriet R. Peck, Miss Carolyn J. Perkins, Miss Grace C. Poland, J. P. Post, Abner Post, John R. Powers, F. B. Preston, Mrs. F. E. RatcliflFe, Frank H. Richards Memorial Library Richardson, Mrs. G. F. Riley, R. Sanford Robison, Dr. Alice A. Sherman, Mrs. Edgar J. Simons, Mrs. Mary E. Sloan, Dr. Earl S. Slocum, William H. Small, Miss A. M. Smith, George A. Smith, Miss Mary R. Snell, Miss Mary L. Spalding, Mrs. Philip Spaulding, W. M. Sprague, P. W. Sweetser, Mrs. F. E. Taintor, C. W. Taintor, Miss Charlotte Wilson Taintor, Miss Ellen Hemenway Thorndike, Mrs. Alden A. Townsend, William S. Trainer, C. W. Upham, Miss Edith S. Upham, Mrs. Roger F. Valentine, Mrs. G. E. Waldo, Miss Natalie Ward, Joseph W. Warner, William S. Watson, Miss C. A. 51 Brattle St., Cambridge 90 Beacon St., Boston East Pepperell R. F. D. No. 10, Grafton Box 23, Back Bay, Boston 8 Lincoln Ave., Amherst 84 Spooner Road, Chestnut Hill 84 Spooner Road, Chestnut Hill 60 State St., Boston 606 New Boston Road, Fall River 606 New Boston Road, Fall River 21 Middle St., Gloucester 9 Commonwealth Ave., Boston North Attleboro 40 High St., Springfield 225 Walnut St., Holyoke Pride's Crossing 333 Commonwealth Ave., Boston Wilmington Newburyport 57 Westminster St., Springfield 215 Beacon St., Boston Still River Station A, Gardner 10 George St., Greenfield 325 Washington St., Wellesley Hills 40 Hartford St., Newton Highlands Box 262, Springfield 16 Newbury St., Boston 257 Marlboro St., Boston 122 Pearl St., Springfield Auburndale South Terminal Station, Room 325, Boston North Attleboro Nesmith St., Lowell 25 Foster St., Worcester Springfield 26 Upland Road, Cambridge 200 Maple St., Springfield Cottage Ave., West Roxbury 55 Kilby St., Boston Northboro 47 Academy St., Arlington 20 Marengo Park, Springfield 21 Chapin St., Southbridge, Mass. 121 Brattle St., Cambridge 42 May St., Worcester 70 Kilby St., Boston 15 Goddard Ave., Brookline 201 Devonshire St., Boston 201 Devonshire St., Boston 201 Devonshire St., Boston 130 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 8 Congress St., Boston 21 Crawford St., Roxbury Westminster Woodside Cottage, Framingham 908 Belmont Ave., Springfield Pine Road, Chestnut Hill 33 Rutland Square, Boston 55 Brook Hill Road, Milton 33 Thorndike St., Beverly 8 Massachusetts Audubon Society Weld, Miss Elizabeth F. Wesson, Mrs. W. H. Wheelock, Charles B. Whipple, Miss Nellie L. Whiting, Mrs. J. K. Whittin, Miss Maria Francis Williams, Mrs. Charles A. Williams, George F. Williams, R. B. Wood, Mrs. Georgia C. Wood, Hamilton B. Worth, Edward F. Wright, Mrs. Eva Edgar 391 Hyde Park Ave., Boston 302 Maple St., Springfield 209 Babcock St., Brookline 27 East Housatonic St., Pittsfield 44 Longwood Ave., Brookline 260 Chestnut St., West Newton 35 Walnut St., Brookline Crocker Bldg., Taunton 55 Kilby St., Boston 121 Providence St., Worcester The Commonwealth Press, Worcester 98 Milk St., Boston 162 Highland St., Brockton BIRD DAY AT THE SHARON SANCTUARY By Harry George Higbee, Supt, Our third annual Bird Day, which was held on May 17th at the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary in Sharon, has eclipsed all others in its attendance, and in the appreciation shown of our efforts in bird protection and methods of attracting birds. Although weather conditions were somewhat threatening and we were treated to a few showers during the day, some five hundred enthusiastic bird lovers gathered here from all parts of the State to enjoy the attractions of our Sanctuary. The society is now carrying on its demonstration work throughout an area of about three hundred acres, having secured the co-operation and sanction of interested owners of land adjacent to the Field property, which previously comprised the Sanctuary. Sixty-three localities in Massachusetts and three in other States were represented among this throng of nature lovers. The Society for the Pro- tection of Native Plants this year joined in our outing, its representatives being especially interested in the many rare flowers which are found here and which receive the same protection as the birds. No special program was arranged for the day, but all were free to wander over the hills and through the many beautiful trails about the Sanctuary grounds. Refreshments were on sale by Mrs. Field at her home near by, and a short meeting of the Local Secretaries was held here in the afternoon under the direction of our President, Mr. Edward Howe Forbush. Many parlies lunched about the ledge, or found other attractive spots in the vicinity, while the birds furnished constant music or otherwise entertained our guests by their confiding ways. Much interest was also shown in our exhibits at the farmhouse headquarters, and many bird and flower books, nesting boxes and feeding devices were sold here. Vegetation as a whole has been rather backward here this season, al- though our beautiful trilliums were just in their prime and many of the opening ferns were at their most attractive stage. Birds were abundant and were readily observed, owing to the scant foliage. The number of birds about the dooryard was especially noticeable, the increase over previous years showing the results of protective work. Over forty species could be identified without leaving the yard. Four rose- breasted grosbeaks were noted at one time feeding on the old stone porch, while close beside them were chipping sparrows, a slate-colored junco and Massachusetts Audubon Society 9 several purple finches. Both the scarlet tanager and indigo bunting, as well as field sparrows, song sparrows and chewinks have also favored our visit- ing friends by feeding here, in their presence, although not at this time. Opportunity was presented on this day for observing many birds about their homes. Tree swallows, house wrens, bluebirds, phcebes, robins and song sparrows were nesting close by the house; a ruffed grouse nest contain- ing thirteen eggs was located near the Ferny Trail, and that of a red- shouldered hawk containing young birds was known to be situated in a pine grove not far distant. Many more tree swallows seem to be occupying our nesting-boxes than were here last year. Also a larger number of bluebirds are nesting. A pair of cave swallows was seen circling over the garden lot, barn swal- lows were nesting in the large barn, and chimney swifts in the large chimney of the farmhouse. At least three pairs of phcebes are nest- ing here, and the orioles have already swung their hanging basket high up in one of the dooryard elms, having accepted our proffered nesting material of strings, strips of cloth and colored yarns. Tree swallows gave beautiful exhibitions to visitors by darting down in the dooryard and catching white feathers which were thrown to them. The golden-winged, the parula, the prairie, the yellow, the Nashville, the black-throated green, the black and white and several other species of v/arblers were in evidence about the grounds. Chestnut-sided warblers and redstarts seemed particularly abundant. The beautiful, bubbling songs of the purple finches, and their interest- ing ways as they fed so abundantly about our window shelves and feeding stations, were perhaps one of the Ijest attractions for many of our visitors on this day, as few people seem to know these birds under such favorable circumstances. Those who lingered for the sunset songs of the birds were well repaid for their waiting. Wood thrushes and hermit thrushes sang together their evening hymns, following the "good-night" songs of the robins, chewinks and many of the warblers while the quiet twittering of the swallows, circling about in the dusk, melted gradually into the night songs of the hylas, frogs and toads. When the sun disappeared behind the dark grove of pines along the western ridge the low, plaintive call of the woodcock was heard in the alder swamp, and after a few repetitions of this elusive sound one of these birds was seen to mount into the air, and on quivering wings ecstatically pour forth its love song to its mate on the ground below. This strange perform- ance was continued, being heard from the ledge in several parts of the grounds. Oven-birds also gave similar exhibitions, though less marked in the quality ^d duration of both flight and song. As darkness gradually enshrouded hill and valley beneath us, one by one these various songsters were quieted and the night sounds began to be heard. Whip-poor-wills called vociferously to their mates. The buzz of a heavy-flying beetle or the whirr of wings from one of the night moths told of a different life now astir among the flowers and shrubs about us. Occa- sionally a bat swooped over our heads. A brown rabbit, disturbed by our intrusion, stamped off impatiently through the underbrush. Wood mice stirred among the leaves, or scampered across the trail before us. A quiet 10 Massachusetts Audubon Society murmuring was in the trees, and it seemed as though one could almost hear the opening of their delicate green leaves, among which played scintillating lights from the brilliant stars. The air was perfumed with the sweet breath of opening flowers, and the soft breeze laden with ozone from the pines and spruces. Many sounds could be heard — as different, though not as abundant as those of the day. The weird — almost startling — ^hoot of a barred owl sounded across the valley from its haunts among the distant pines; the vary- ing trills of frogs and toads, rising from the swamps and little ponds, made pleasing music and seemed eminently fitting to our mystic surroundings; out of the deep blue dome over our heads a thousand eyes looked down upon this furtive life about us. At the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary the night-folk reigned supreme. FEEDING THE HAVERHILL BIRDS By J. D. Curtis My wife and I have both been bird students for a number of years, ever since we moved into the outskirts of the city, and while we have had many very delightful experiences in feeding and attracting them about our home, we have never reached the height of our ambition, viz., to have a wild bird feed from our hands, until this winter. Not far from our home is a tract of woodland inhabited by many kinds of birds and small animals, and it has been our custom for some years in severe weather to take food there and scatter it where they could easily find it, mostly around stumps and at the foot of large pine trees, on the southerly side where the snow did not cover the ground, and we have had much pleasure in doing this, for the woods are always beautiful after a snow or ice storm, and it is most interesting to go back again in a day or two and see the many kinds of tracks in the snow, showing just how much our efforts were appreciated. In some places the tracks would show that a real party of wood folk must have taken place. On our first trip to these woods this winter some chickadees met us, and we tried to induce them to perch upon a beef bone held in our hands. They would come quite near, but not upon it, but as soon as we tied it to a branch they immediately lit upon it. The next time we went, a friend was with us, and, as we told him about the chickadees, one came on a piece of suet which my wife held in her hand. We made our usual circuit and were coming out empty-handed, when up came Mr. Chickadee, and I held out my hand. Much to my surprise, he lit on the under side of my coat-sleeve upside down, and in the cutest manner tipped his head on one side and peeped up my sleeve, chirped a few times and flew away. "0 for a camera and more suet!" we cried. So we planned to come back again, which we did in a few days, with two cameras and a plentiful supply of suet, nuts, grain, etc. We had not gone very far into the woods, when our little friends arrived, and, in answer to our invitation to dine upon the suet we held, came freely to each one of us, time and time again; they showed absolutely no fear and followed us wherever we went, and when they had eaten enough, they flew with bits of the suet to the trees and hid it behind the bark and came back for more. Once Mrs. C. held out a tempting nut in one hand, hiding the suet behind her, the little fellow came, peeped at the nut, and then Massachusetts Audubon Society 11 cunningly flew behind her and lit upon the suet in her other hand, took a good piece and flew away, as much as to say, "You can't Tool me, I know what I like best." The films we took came out clear and sharp; although the birds were small the markings were very distinct. We have many birds around our place, as we have cultivated shrubs and a wild "tangle" which attracts them. A larch tree at our back door is a veritable bird restaurant; we hang bones and suet there and scatter seeds and crumbs underneath; we nailed a Packard feeder upon this tree last year, and five minutes after we filled it and put it out the English sparrows found it, and they never left until it was empty. This year we hung it from a large shrub in our garden. The chickadees soon found it and came often. We have always understood that the sparrows would not light on anything swinging, but this winter was so severe that they got desperate, and we saw them on the feed-box in a gale of wind, cling for dear life, sometimes blown off", but coming back to it again and again, until they got used to it; so we find it a problem to outwit them any longer. A few weeks ago two pairs of evening grosbeaks fed upon the buds of our larch tree, and also upon the sumach, and we had a fine view of them. The same day some purple finches came to the larch. We now have fox sparrows, tree sparrows, bluebirds, juncos, goldfinches, wood- peckers, etc., feeding about our place. We have a bird bath which is well patronized, even thus early in the season. Our nesting-boxes are used each season by bluebirds, and they are carrying in grass and other nest- material every day now, (March 27th). Last fall, while trimming a pear tree, I saw something sticking out of the entrance to a chickadee house, and upon touching it, something fell to the ground. Upon investigation I found it to be a little mouse, who had been preparing her winter home in this house, which was about eight feet from the ground. Recently, upon cleaning the box, I found it nearly filled with cotton and tow fibre worked into a soft fluffy bed. THE SANCTUARY AT HINGHAM. By Alexander Pope. Five years ago I conceived the idea of establishing a bird sanctuary at Hingham and mentioned the matter to the Fish and Game Commission, who approved of the plan and said if I would get the consent of all the owners of the land which I proposed to include in the sanctuary, they would make it a State reservation. They would post it and provide a game warden to protect it as much as his other duties and the meagre funds allotted to them would allow. I soon had the signatures of all the owners of the tract between Weymouth Back River and the Cadet Camp and between the Naval Magazine and Hingham Harbor, amounting to about two thousand acres. Mr. Peter B. Bradley was the largest owner and entered heartily into the scheme and offered to build shelters on his pond for the ducks in winter and to plant buckwheat or anything that would attract and keep the birds. I had shot over this land years ago, and it was not unusual then to start five or six bevies of quail in a day, but the last time I went out, although with a good dog and an automobile to take us from one point to another, we found only one small bevy. Severe winters, cats, gunners and foxes, I think, had contributed to the destruction of the quail in the order named. 12 Massachusetts Audubon Society Almost immediately after this land had been taken over by the State and thoroughly posted, an Italian was caught by the warden shooting or attempting to, and was arrested and fined, had his gun taken away from him and was discharged from the phosphate works. One more similar case seemed a sufficient object lesson, and it practically stopped poaching on the reservation. Mr. Bradley's employees began operations by shooting eleven wild cats. The Fish and Game Commission and the Fish and Game Protective Association provided me with sufficient grain every winter, and six different residents on the reservation fed the quail faithfully and their increase was at once noticeable and has since been almost remarkable. The Commission sent us mallard ducks and pheasants, and these have increased, but not to the extent the quail have. There are, perhaps, eighty houses at Crow Point, which is a summer colony and is the only thickly settled residential section in the reservation. Although before this sanctuary was established quail were never seen there, they are very plentiful now and run all over our gardens until the summer residents arrive with their cats, when they go to an unsettled section. They appear again toward fall, when the birds are full grown, and many of them live all winter near the houses. I saw thirty-nine quail cross the road only a few rods from my house last September, and, as they went in almost single file about twenty-five feet in front of my car, I had no difficulty in counting them. Probably three families had united. Notwithstanding our unusually cold and severe winter, only one dead quail has been found, and Mr. Steel, the warden, who is most indefatigable in his attention to the birds, found fourteen different bevies on our reservation and thinks that none were winter-killed. That is due to his care and feeding and to the others who also fed them. For some reason the pheasants do not seem to multiply as the quail do, although more have been seen this last year than in any previous year. I saw a bunch of thirteen almost full grown, and several have been seen this winter, so I hope from now on they will increase. I photographed a hen pheasant sitting on fifteen eggs, thirteen of which she hatched, but I never found any one who had seen more than seven chicks in that locality. Later I saw two cross the road, but whether the others had scattered or the brood had dwindled to two I cannot say. These two thousand acres are really only half of the reservation, as it joins immediately the Naval Magazine of one thousand acres, which, of course, is guarded night and day by Marines, and that again joins the Naval Training Camp of eleven hundred acres more, making a protected sanctuary of four thousand acres. The State has promised to continue its protection for five years more if I can get the permission of all the land-owners, and I don't believe any of them will object to giving it. We have been rather unfortunate in losing a great many young ducks by snapping turtles, and we have been unable so far to catch the turtles. The result has been that the ducks steal their nests all over the place, many of which have been found by farmers and the eggs carried home to be hatched under hens. Therefore mallard ducks are seen in many of the farmyards. A farmer friend of mine has a mallard drake which was hatched from an egg the farmer found, and although the duck's wings have not been clipped and he has been at liberty to go where he would, his plumage is dull and ragged, he is unable to fly and seems to have lost all his ambition and waddles around among the hens a hopeless imbecile, so do the wild creatures de- generate under the influences of civilization. Volume IV. OCTOBER, 1920 Number 6 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This Bulletin will chronicle the affairs of the Society from month to month, will report items, of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legislation and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one dollar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. 2 Massachusetts Audubon Society WILLIAM DUTCHER Since the last Bulletin went to press, friends of the birds throughout the world have sorrowed to learn of the death of William Dutcher, which occurred at Chevy Chase, Maryland, July 2nd. Mr. Dutcher has been prop- erly considered the father of bird protection in America. Attempts made earlier than his failed because they lacked the system and business man- agement as well as the unfaltering determination which he brought to this great work. Mr. Butcher's long struggle to place the National Association on a secure financial basis was successful in 1906, when, through the will of its deceased benefactor, Albert Wilcox, the Society received a perma- nent fund which assured that means would always be forthcoming to carry on the work to which Mr. Dutcher had so unselfishly devoted his own means and much of his own life. The paralytic stroke which he suffered in 1910 removed him from the field of active labor, but he was still the good father of the movement and all who worked for the birds felt the inspiration and sustaining force of his devotion. That this work will go forward hopefully and successfully is the most enduring monument to his useful career. PERTINENT PARAGRAPHS The Audubon Calendars for 1921 are now on sale at the office. Our edition this year is larger than ever before and the calendars are more at- tractive than ever. Last year all available supplies of our calendars were exhausted early in December. In planning the larger edition it has been hoped that enough will be in hand so that all who wish may obtain one or more. The price has not been advanced. It is $1.00 each, postpaid. It might be well to put in your order early. The demand for our Bird Charts last spring exhausted the stock of No. 3, and no more of these are available at present. Nos. 1 and 2 may still be purchased at the price of Si. 50 each, postpaid. It should be noted that, although the cost of printing, especially lithographic work, has greatly in- creased during the last five years, the price of our Charts has remained the same. The time is at hand, however, when the actual cost of reprinting will be equal to or more than the price at which the charts now sell. It becomes necessary, therefore, to raise the price. After December 1st next, the price on all Audubon Charts will be $2.50 each, postpaid. Until that time, those in stock — Nos. 1 and 2 only — will sell at the old price of $1.50 each. The Lecture Committee are already planning for an even more attrac- tive course of bird lectures to be held at Symphony Hall next spring. It i? probable that, warned bv the excessively inclement March weather which so impeded those who wished to attend last year, the course will be set a little later, very likely on the first three or four Saturdays in April. Due notice of this will be given in the Bulletin and otherwise. The Bird Sanctuary movement goes bravely forward. Up to Septem- ber 1st of this year over 2,000 people had visited the Moose Hill Bird Sane- Monthly Bulletin 3 tuary of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and they have taken the idea with them into wide fields of action. One concrete result of this mission- ary work done at Sharon is the Brockton Audubon Society's newly estab- lished bird reservation, a twenty-three acre estate of diversified woodland. Another is the proposed plan to utilize two and a half miles of beach, marsh and sand dunes on Plum Island as a reservation for shore and marsh birds. The largest bird sanctuary in the United State is an area about the size of Massachusetts in the delta of the Yukon River, Alaska. It is a great area of low ground and marshy tundra where enormous numbers of wild ducks and marsh birds breed every year. Massachu»etts may not compete with the Federal Government in the size of its bird protection areas. It is, how- ever, steadily increasing the number of spots where bird life finds sanc- tuaries. Evidently the world's pace is in the direction of the millennium and is rapidly accelerating. We have the substance of dreams come true in prohibition and suffrage, and now an enthusiast comes in and believes that the next great step is going to be a reasonable and effective cat-license bill. The leaves are falling, and before we know it, almost, the snow will fly. It is time to plan for your winter's feeding of the wild birds. The example and precept of Audubon Society members did a great work in the preservation of ground-feeding birds during last winter when the snow and ice so long and cruelly covered up their usual supplies. It is not too soon to put the feeding stations in order, to establish new ones^if you think they will be needed, and to begin to put out the bird food where the birds will find it and make a mental note of its presence for use when the inclement weather arrives. If you have no farm, or even backyard or lawn space, where you can yourself feed the birds, the Audubon Society will be glad to receive your contribution for this purpose and see that it is placed where it will do the most good. Through the generosity of our members we were last year able to supply the State Conservation Commission with several hundred dollars worth of grain. This grain was placed by deputies and others at strategic points, and the generosity of the donors was thus made immediately available in the saving of bird life. Most boys love to acquire and display skill in markmanship, and an air rifle is oftentimes the one thing which the youngster hopes to find in his Christmas stocking. That the possession of one of these, combined with that instinctive desire to hunt which is normal in most boys, tends to bring about much destruction and suffering in bird life is a fact, but the air rifle does worse than that. Several instances have lately beep brought to our attention where children have lost the sight of an eye through the use of these weapons. If you are thinking of giving your boy an air rifle, please remember this and don't do it. Also, it would do no harm to remember that if the boy is under fifteen the laws of Massachusetts forbid you to give him an air rifle under penalty. The law reads as follows: Chapter 199, Acts of 1909, Amending Section 92 of the Revised Laws — Whoever sells or furnishes to a minor under age of 15 years any firearms, air guns or other dangerous weapon shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50 for each offense, but instructors and teachers may furnish military weapons to pupils for instruction and drill. Massachusetts Audubon Society LIFE MEMBERS RECEIVED SINCE PUBLICATION OF LAST BULLETIN TO DATE OF GOING TO PRESS. Ahl, Mrs. Leonard Appleton, Miss Maud E. Brewer, Mrs. Joseph Curtiss, Miss Sophia Daly, Mrs. Reginald A. Denegre, Walter G. Drake, Miss Beatrice E. Eddy, George A. Fisher, R. T. Fisk, Mrs. H. G. Mitchell, Walter J. Parker, Mrs. Robert Underwood, Edward Seymour WyckoflF, J. L. Petersham 275 Marlboro St., Boston 650 Canton Ave., Milton The Pines, Sheffield 23 Hawthorn St., Cambridge Manchester North Middleboro 82 Kirkstall Rd., Newtonville Petersham 111 Maple St., Springfield Manchester R. F. D., South Lincoln 152 Upland Rd., Cambridge Holyoke SUSTAINING MEMBERS RECEIVED SINCE PUBLICATION OF LAST BULLETIN TO DATE OF GOING TO PRESS. Adams, William C. Allen, Miss Helen L, Anderson, Mrs. J. C. Armstrong, Miss Jeanette Batchelor, Mrs. M. C. Beaumont, Mrs. H. C. Bennett, E. P. Bliss, Miss H. M. Bliss, Miss Lucy B. Bowles, Mrs. H. L. Brandegee, Mrs. E. D. Bray, Russell S. Briggs, Miss Sally L. Brown, L. S. Burnes, Miss Virginia D. Cabot, Miss Amy N. Cabot, Mrs. Heniy B. Came, Mrs. C. E. Carrington, Miss Elizabeth Chamberlain, Miss Louise M. Chapin, Mrs. E. P. Cheney, Miss Florence M. Churchill, Miss Rosamund C. Claflin, F. L. Claflin, Mrs. W. H., Jr. Clark, Mrs. Frederic L. Clark, Herbert Clay, Mrs. S. H. Conning, Miss Agnes W. Cook, Miss Marion L. Crabtree, Miss Lotta M. Crocker, Mrs. David Crowell, Miss Alice C. Crowninshield, Mrs. F. B. Cummings, Miss Elizabeth F. Curtis, Greeley L. Curtis, Miss Isabella Cutler, Mrs. Roland R. Cutting, Miss Mary Patricia Dane, Mrs. W. B. H. 321 State House, Boston 80 Franklin St., Lynn Great Barrington 22 Summit Ave., East Boston Cottage St., New Bedford 177 Webster St., East Boston 38 May St., Worcester 50 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 78 School St., Taunton Worthy Hotel, Springfield Faulkner Farm, Brookline 42 Hartford St., Framingham 102 Florida St., Springfield 317 Main St., Springfield St. Regis Hotel, Kansas City, Mo. 72 Chestnut St., Boston 325 Heath St., Chestnut Hill 41 Melrose St., Adams 8 Shady Hill Sq., Cambridge Cambridge Box 343, Edgartown South Lee Amherst Marlboro 204 Prospect St., Belmont North Billerica 71 Marlboro St., Boston 36 Sever St., Worcester Stockbridge 479 Huntington Ave., Hyde Park The Brewster, Boston Barnstable 38 Colberg Ave., Roslindale Marblehead 104 Irving St., Cambridge 34 Mt. Vernon St., Boston Manchester South Sudbury 24 Whitman Rd., Worcester 218 Temple St., West Newton Monthly Bulletin Davis, Mrs. Joseph E. Day, Mrs. Frank A. Day, Miss Sarah L. Dean, Charles A. Dewey, George T. 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H. Walker, Miss Mary A. Ward, John Webster, G. K. Webster, Lawrence J. Webster, Mrs. Lawrence J. Westfield Atheneum Westford, J. V. Fletcher Library Wheatland, Miss Ann Maria Wheeler, Wilfrid White, George L. Winter, Clark Wood, John T. Worcester, Miss Elizabeth Canton Leicester Wellesley Doylestown, Pa. Lexington 44 Bromfield St., Boston 20 Woodside Rd., NewtonviUe Fort St., Fairhaven 81 Magazine St., Cambridge 1089 Worthington St., Springfield Easthampton 80 Elgin St., Newton Centre Marshfield Hills Waterway, Wellesley Farms New Bedford Framingham Centre 1019 Middlesex St., Lowell 57 Brattle St., Cambridge Westboro Waquoit 4 HopestiU St., Dorchester Centre Lee 405 Sears Bldg., Boston Greenfield Hotel Tudor, Boston 46 Mt. Vernon St., Soraerville Fairhaven 19 Braemore Rd., Boston 145 Dartmouth St., Springfield 18 Granville St., Dorchester Littleton Intervale, N. H. 15 Roanoke Ave., Jamaica Plain 104 Bradbury St., Needham 32 Oxford Rd., Newton Centre Ruggles Lane, Milton 45 Bromfield St., Boston 30 Chase St., Newton Centre Shirley 446 Highland Ave., Fall River 40 Coolidge St., Brookline 318 Main St., Springfield 6 Pinkham Place, Lynn Stockbridge Norton Topsfield 1046 Worthington St., Springfield 2 Downing St., Worcester 41 Fairmount Ave., Wakefield Sherborn East Pepperell Monson Lynnfield Centre North Attleboro 321 Hammond St., Chestnut Hill 321 Hammond St., Chestnut Hill Westfield Westford P. O. Box 305, Salem Concord 43 Pine St., Taunton 32 Hubbard Park, Cambridge West Harwich Hollis, N. H. Monthly Bulletin 7 OUR FIGHTING CHEBEC. By Arthur J. Parker Lending gladness to the advent of spring, a pair of least flycatchers early appeared in our orchard, close hack to the house, and settled down as our most intimate summer tenants. None so assured as little Mr. Chehec that all was well in the best of possible worlds! While yet the winds retained some boreal sting, the verdure scant, and provender scarce, this feathered atomy continued to sit perched before our kitchen door, and, with hardly pause for breath, his little beak opened skyward, to splutter forth his brief and changeless lay. When at last his assiduous self-advertising had its due result, in the winning of a mate, Mr. Chebec continued to sit and vent his satisfaction, general and particular, unconcerned that his tuneless outcry broke jar- ringly into the refrains of more gifted songsters. The happy couple built a nest, on a low apple-bough. No secrecy or stealth about them! Through all the bright hours of several days wee wifie bustled to and fro between the bunch of nestling materials we had hung conveniently near and the site of the nest. A flaunting spectacle she made, toting her over-big burdens of white absorbent cotton! Toward the finish the male would intermit his vocal exercises occasionally to carry a load himself. When I examined the completed structure, I suspected more than ever, that this pair was a young, inexperienced couple. So insecurely was the nest saddled upon a horizontal limb, odds looked heavy that the first lusty breeze would capsize it — a catastrophe which precisely befell. Within a week the nest and three pretty eggs lay a wreck. Then the instructed birdies chose a much safer lodgment, the twiggy branch of a small apple-tree in the middle of the yard, close before the kitchen door. This tree was where Mr. Chebec had been doing most of his singing; and we fancied that he asserted his masculine authority in the choice. The same flagrant disregard of the rules of secrecy marked their sec- ond building; still it was mostly the flamboyant white cotton that they hurried up the airy stairway to their new nest. The home being now securely established, little Mr. Chebec took up his duties as protector — and, in the spirit of his family's nomenclature, pushed the part to very tyranny. Mounting guard at various strategic points, always near by, he kept jealous watch of all and every comer and goer about the sacred home tree. A bluebird, warbler, or other small bird that innocently approached the tree found itself unexpectedly assailed, sometimes met or overtaken in midair, and with more or less violence forced upon another tack. Or, having lit in the tree itself, the intruder became the surprised target of a bullet-like impact. Such ardor and vehemency of attack, accompanied by a Castanet snapping of the tiny bill, audible (astonishingly) at a distance of many yards! Mr. Chebec's brusque staccato note seemed to smack now of bravado, almost of challenge. 8 Massachusetts Audubon Society Many such facile triumphs palpably raised the guardian sprite's cour- age and self-esteem. Robins were added to his tale of vanquished — possi- bly too contemptuous or too busy to fight back. Even the local orioles learnt to avoid that hostile vicinage. One could almost aver that a symp- athetic understanding exists, whereby birds good-humoredly tolerate in one another this excessive zeal in the defense of loved ones and of home. A nearby nesting kingbird hawked continually about the yard, low over the long grass. This formidable neighbor, though never encountered in actual shock of battle, let him but glide past or away from the central tree, and Mr. Chebec was hard on his stern, pressing the chase with all the appearance, and obviously the zest, of a punishing pursuit. But overboldness in this kind of one-sided duello was inevitably ripe for a check. One bright morn, as we stood watching, a black-billed cuckoo that nested in a nearby tangle floated gracefully, absent-mindedly, into the chebec's tree, right near the nest. We awaited the upshot with the well- known bated breath. (Says Bradford Torrey; "Birds, like wild things in general, have a natural reverence for size and weight." But watch this fellow!) Instantly the midget flycatcher arrived from somewhere, and dashed full at the huge intruder — biff! The dreamy, unaware cuckoo gave back in a fluster; then, like a boxer, set himself for action. Head lowered, feathers fluff"ed, a picture of outraged dignity, he faced his impudent as- sailant for one long second, then drove straight at him, as if to swallow him at once. With a prolonged shriek poor little Mr. Chebec turned tail in utter rout — leaving nest and mate and all! Happily the cuckoo appeared to take a philosophical view of the fracas, for having eff"ectively "saved his face," he launched placidly, dreamily, away. PROTECT THE LAUREL THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIVE PLANTS THUS PLEADS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL SHRUB Our mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is one of our most beautiful native shrubs, both when covered with its wonderful masses of pink and white flowers in early summer and during the rest of the year on account of its rich foliage. Being an evergreen, which very few of our native shrubs are, it makes a striking feature in a winter landscape. Laurel is distributed from Canada to Florida. It is an essentially Am- erican plant, and it should be our pleasure and duty to protect it from destruction; but its very beauty and charm induce cutting to an alarming extent. It is gathered extensively twice a year. In summer the flowers are taken for church and house decoration. In winter the inroads are much more extensive and dangerous. Enormous quantities are then used for festoons, wreaths, etc., in the Christmas dressing of churches and the de- coration of ballrooms. As it is then cold weather, the foliage keeps well, and bears transportation to a distance, so that the quantity collected is only limited by the demand and the available material. It is to be noted Monthly Bulletin 9 that this cutting is all from wild laurel growth, not from plants which are grown for this purpose, although it is a shrub easily cultivated. The flowers are borne only upon the shoots of the previous year's growth, so that, if these are cut, a year's flowering is lost. Care for the future often involves sacrifice in the present. Are we not willing to forego some decoration of ballrooms and churches for the sake of preserving for the enjoyment of future generations the beauty of our woods, swamps, and pastures where the laurel now grows? When laurel is to be gathered at all, it should be cut with a sharp knife, not hacked or torn off"; cut in moderation, not in excess; cut at a distance from the roadsides, thus leaving uninjured those plants which from their very position give pleasure to the greatest number of people. Above all, everything possible should be done to check its use as a winter decoration. ANNOUNCEMENT TO MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS The National Association of Audobon Societies is able to make the follow- ing offer of assistance for the present school year (1920-1921), to those teachers and others in Massachusetts who are interested in giving instruc- tions to children on the subject of birds and their usefulness. JUNIOR AUDUBON CLASSES To form a Junior Audubon Class for bird-study, a teacher should ex- plain to the pupils of her grade (and others if desired) that their object will be to learn all they can about the wild birds, and that everyone who becomes a member will be expected to be kind to the birds and protect them. Every member will be required to pay a fee of ten cents. When twenty-five or more have paid their fees, the teacher will send their money to Winthrop Packard, 66 Newbury St., Boston, Mass., and give the name of the Audubon Class and her own name and address. Children must not send in fees individually. Mr. Packard will then forward to the teacher (or person organizing the class) for each member whose fee has been paid the beautiful Audubon button of the Bluebird, and a set of the six colored pictures of common birds, together with accompanying educational Leaflets containing accounts of the habits of the birds and an outline drawing of the picture for color work. Special Note — Every teacher who forms a class of twenty-five or more receives a free subscription to the magazine, Bird-Lore, which con- tains many valuable suggestions for teachers. This does not mean that we give Bird-Lore for every twenty-five pupils, but for every class of not less than twenty-five pupils. Only one subscription is given no matter what the size of the class, twenty-five being the minimum. It is expected that the teacher will give at least one lesson a month on the subject of 10 Massachusetts Audubon Society birds, for which purpose she will find the leaflets of great value as a basis for the lessons. Bird-Lore does not accompany the leaflets, but is sent a little later from the office of the publisher. When extra Leaflets are wanted they must be ordered by marking the Blue Price List, dating and signing at the bottom, and sending a remittance of five cents for every Leaflet ordered. These are sent from the Supply Department of the Association, which is separate and distinct from the Junior Department. The two separate orders and remittances may be in- closed in the same envelope. Communications regarding change of ad- dress, etc., should be sent to 1974 Broadway, New York City. NOTE — 1,446,956 Junior Audubon Members had been enrolled up to June 1, 1920. SANCTUARIES IN PENNSYLVANIA By Dr. John C. Phillips The sanctuary idea has really worked in Pennsylvania. Appro- priations are available from the funds received through hunters' licenses. There are now 24 tracts of land devoted to sanctuaries, ranging from 1800 to 3000 acres each. Plans are being laid to have 40 sanctuaries by 1921. I had a long talk with Commissioner Phillips of the Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission, a few months ago, and there is no doubt in my mind that the scheme has become a successful one. It has resulted in very marked increase of deer and turkeys. I was assured that grouse are more plentiful upon the reserve areas than elsewhere, and incidentally the bears and the introduced elk are protected. These areas in Pennsylvania, are of course, all inland, and, so far as I know, do not offer any particular inducements to water-birds. There are three sorts of areas set aside by the state — the game sanctuary, the state forest land, and the auxiliary state game preserve. The first we have mentioned, and it is often on state-owned land, so that free hunting is in- sured around it. It is formed by co-operation with the State Depart- ment of Forestry. Pennsylvania is, of course, lucky in having much more state land than Massachusetts, hence these tracts are set aside with little expense. As Massachusetts comes to have more state forest land (we have a forest bill being considered now which provides for an additional 250,000 acres) we can do the same here. We can select certain favorable areas within a state forest and make the sanctuaries at those points. A beginning has been made in Massachusetts by creating a single-headed Department of Conservation, with three departments under it. Those are the Fish and Game, the Forestry, and the Department of Animal Industry. This insures active co-operation between Fish and Game and Forestry in- terests. Now, in Pennsylvania the sanctuary site having been selected, it is laid out and administered in the following way: A fire line is cut around it from ten to twenty feet wide, and on the inside of this a single wire about the size of a telegraph wire is carried clear around the tract, waist-high, so that nobody can enter without seeing or hitting the wire. At frequent in- tervals along this wire notices are posted, calling attention to the enclosed Monthly Bulletin 11 area being a public game preserve, and setting forth its purpose. Com- missioner Phillips assured me that poaching was not at all common, and that the respect for the sanctuary was widespread. He cited one case in which a man had been caught inside, but said it was apparently because he had walked under the wire at a point where it was higher than it should have been. As soon as possible a guardian is put in charge. He is given a house which is placed outside the enclosed area and surrounded by land suitable for a garden. The state furnishes this house. This warden keeps his areas posted with fresh signs, keeps all people out of the place in the open season, and also see to the enforcement of the laws in the surround- ing territory. He is furnished with traps and not only gets the state boun- ties on vermin, $8.00 for wildcats, $2.00 for foxes and weazels, and $1.00 for mink) but also is allowed to sell the furs he catches. The cost of creating such a sanctuary is placed at $2175, and for maintaining it about $1174 a year. This does not include the extra men that are put in dur- ing the open season to help out the resident warden. No visitors are al- lowed inside the wire during the open season, but at all other times any- one can pass to and fro, and fishing is allowed in season. The other type of preserve is the auxiliary sanctuary, which is simply a private-owned tract of land turned over to the state as a preserve by the owner for a certain number of years. These are smaller areas and are located among farm lands. Not much is said about this plan and it is hard to make out just how successfully it has worked. Information on these Pennsylvania preserves can be had from a leaflet (Bui. No. 5) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1919, published by the state. There is also a very full exposition of the results of the scheme in the bulletin of the American Game Protective Association for January, 1920. I also have a copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Game Commission to Commissioner W. C. Adams of Massachusetts. It is very important to note that Pennsylvania is solving the preserva- tion of public shooting grounds, as well as that of game refuges. It would be almost useless to set aside a large sanctuary unless the public had access to the immediate vicinity of it, for all the good hunting sur- rounding it would soon be posted by private owners. Pennsylvania is very fortunate in having a large area of primitive forest land and much large game for an eastern state. It is said that about 600,000 gunners took out licenses in Pennsylvania last year. This number is very much larger than one would expect from a state like Pennsylvania. Although not all the returns were complete in Janu- ary, it is estimated that over 400 bears, over 5000 turkeys, and many thousand deer were shot last season. It is said that from 40,000 to 50,000 deer hunters go out with rifles during the two weeks of the deer season. Mr. Phillips made an estimate of the number of deer tracks going and coming from one of the sanctuaries during the first day of the open sea- son. There had been a new fall of snow, and it was found that 84 deer had gone into the refuge and only 14 had come out, showing that these animals soon learn the value of the guarded tracts. 12 Massachusetts Audubon Society Now, as to the shore sanctuaries, which are fully as important for Massachusetts as the inland ones, because many gunners come from a long distance to shoot shore-birds, ducks, and coots. It is a difficult thing to see how proper areas can be created at present, except through private initiative. The Commissioner of Conservation has no money available with which to purchase land, and the public sentiment is not yet strong enough to increase the budget of the department. In the meantime, there- fore, much good of an educational sort can be accomplished by carefully selecting a few easily accessible areas and getting societies or individuals to deed them over to the state. These need not at first be large, but they ought to be places that can be easily looked after. If they are near large public shooting grounds, so much the better. The arguments against the sanctuary should be briefly touched upon. They are roughly these: 1. Migratory game is well enough protected anyway. 2. If we have sanctuaries all the game will go there and consequently the gunners will not be able to get even as much shooting as they do now. 3. Sanctuaries will take away too much of the public shooting ground from the average shooter. 4. There are enough sanctuaries already created in city and metro- politan parks and waterways 5. Sanctuaries don't increase game and only become a breeding place for foxes and other vermin. These and other arguments have been put forth by those who cannot see the hand-writing on the wall, and will not look ahead a sufficient dis- tance. Does anybody know of a single instance where game has been protected and increased in this country up on the point of saturation? Perhaps at one time the Maine deer were about as numerous as the country could support, but such instances are exceedingly few. In the Maine case the deer increased to such numbers because: 1st. The wolves were exterminated. 2nd. The forest was lumbered off, providing more brush for feed. 3rd. The moose and caribou were reduced. Thus the condition was largely an artificial one. There is little likelihood that the most strenuous labors of all game- bird conservationists will ever result in doing more than keeping abreast of the rapidly increasing population of this country, and the greater and greater army of shooters that take the field each year. The only compen- sation is perhaps in the fact that each generation is becoming more and more unskillful as hunters, so that it takes a great many more men to ac- complish the same amount of destruction. And at the same time the bom- bardment which starts upon the opening day is of high educational value (to the birds) and they learn more now in the first two days than they formerly did in a whole open season. Volume IV. NOVEMBER, 1920 Number 7 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN MASSACHU AUDUBON SETTS OCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This Bulletin will chronicle the affairs of the Society from month to month, will report items, of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legislation and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one dollar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. 2 Massachusetts Audubon Society MEMBERSHIP The Audubon Society is eager always to widen its circle of friends and of those who are friends of the birds, indeed of all wild life. Have you not a friend whom you can induce to join? The cost is slight. Life Members, $25.00. Sustaining Members, $1.00 annually. On the other hand the advantages of membership are many. Some of them may be listed as follows: BIRD PRESERVATION Personal participation in the great work of saving our valu- able end beautiful wild birds. INFORMATION Assistance in identification, advice from competent specialists on the best methods of protecting and increasing the birds on one's home grounds; how and where to place bird houses, bird baths, feeding stations, and how to guard and supply them; how to rear wild birds. READING ROOM AND EXHIBITION HALL Use at any time of the reading room and exhibition hall at the office, 66 Newbury Street, where bird books, bird pictures, charts, leaflets and all modem appliances for bird protection are displayed. BIRD LECTURES The Society gives annually a course of lectures illustrated by stereopticon and moving pictures by the foremost bird special- ists of the country. Members have the first opportunity to pur- chase these tickets at moderate prices. BIRD SANCTUARY The Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary is maintained by the Society at Sharon, Mass. Members have there a special opportunity for study of bird life and bird protection methods under the guidance of the resident warden. MONTHLY BULLETIN All Sustaining and Life Members receive without further expense the monthly bulletin, containing information regarding the doings of the Society and news of importance in the world of bird study and bird protection. The Massachusetts Audubon Society is known and valued throughout the country for its good work. It is the center of information and inspiration whence has come during the past twenty years much of the great advance in laws, public opinion and personal practice in regard to the preservation and study of our wild birds. Monthly Bulletin LIFE MEMBERS RECEIVED FROM OCT. 2 TO NOV. 9. Harvey, Mrs. W. A Dover. Hittinger, Mr. Jacob 216 Common St., Belmont. Hunt, William 9 Adams St., Lexington. SUSTAINING MEMBERS RECEIVED FROM OCT. 2 TO NOV. 9. Allen, Miss L. M 24 Irving St., Cambridge. Anderson, Mrs. George W 219 Fisher Ave., Brookline. Atkinson, Mrs. Harry 94 University Road, Brookline. Barry, Mrs. Ada F 34 Madison Ave., Newtonville. Batchelder, Miss Alice S 21 Ash St., Danvers. Beach, Miss Mary B 8 Gloucester St., Boston. BeUows, R. E 57 Waltham St., Lexington. Benson, Mrs. Ellen P 46 Washington Sq., Salem. Blake, Mrs. George F 129 Lincoln St., Worcester. Bowlen, W. C 121 Madison Ave., Holyoke. Bridgewater Public Library Bridgewater. Brown, Miss Ophelia S Tyngsboro. Brown, Miss Susan F County Road, Ipswich. Buff, Miss M. Elsie 23 Cheshire St., Jamaica Plain. Burgess, Miss S. K Broad Oak, Dedham. Butler, Miss Aubrey B 97 South St., Northampton. Byram, Miss Mary G Hillcrest Road, Reading. Caldwell, Mrs. Annie E Haddon Hall, Berkeley St., Boston. Calkins, Mrs. C. H 40 Edwards St., Springfield. Carr, Mrs. Jessie 11 Brooks St., Atlantic. Gate, Martin L ,44 Kilby St., Boston. Chenery, Mrs. E. V Common St., Belmont. Clarke, Miss Mary Reynolds WhitinsviUe. Classon, Mrs. Charles H 144 Franklin St., Lawrence. Cook, Oliver R 8 Lisbon St., Worcester. Cook, Orrin W 46 King's Highway, West Springfield. Cooper, Mrs. Charlotte E 1537 Beacon St., Brookline. Daggett, W. H 86 Court St., Springfield. Davis, Miss Dorothy 363 Centre St., Milton. Davol, Stephen B 21 Hawthorn Road, Brookline. Denny, Mrs. Francis P Ill High St., Brookline. Dewey, Mrs. Frances L 8 Cypress Place, Brookline. Eaton, Mrs. F. H 66 Central St., Andover. Eddy, Mrs. Daniel Bowers Burgess Homestead, Somerset. Flensick, John 26 Sagamore Ave., Winthrop. French, Mrs. Florence Westwood. Hartley, Mrs. Mary A 358 Walker St., Lowell. Hedges, Mrs. S. M 1569 Beacon St., Brookline. Hill, George W. R 224 Moraine St., Brockton. Hoag, Miss Susan B 32 Tobin St., Chelsea. Hobbs, Charles A 110 Garfield St., Watertown. Hodgdon, Mrs. F. M Hotel Vendome, Boston. Hobnes, Mrs. G. F 262 Court St., Plymouth. Howard, Mrs. George E 165 Mill St., Springfield. Hutchinson, Mrs. S. C 15 Deer Cove, Lynn. Kidder, Miss Edith I Assonet. Kimball, Everett A 86 Court St., Springfield. Klein, Walter J P. 0. Box 62, Natick. Lamphrey, Mrs. Mabel M 53 Donnybrook Farm, Brighton. Lincoln, George L 2008 Commonweahh Ave., Boston. Stearns, Mrs. C. A 21 Blake Hill, Springfield. Wright, Miss Mary Alden 18 Harrison St., Winchester. 4 Massachusetts Audubon Society Cijrisitmag Suggestions; The Audubon Bird Charts are a useful and beautiful gift for the boy or girl of the family. They are authoritative in form and coloring, they teach through their very presence on the wall of the school-room or nursery, and they last a lifetime. Chart No. 3 is for the present out of stock, but Charts 1 and 2 may be purchased at the old price, $1.50 each, with descriptive booklet, until December 1st. Owing to the greatly increased cost of litho- graphic work after that date the price will have to be $2.50 each. People who have already purchased their Audubon Calendars for this year say that they are more attractive than ever. Certainly the sales have been going forward rapidly, rather more rapidly than last year. The stock of these Calendars is larger than ever before, but it might be well to put in your order early. Last year all available supplies were exhausted early in December. The price remains as last year, $1.00 each, postage paid. Some more than usually attractive greeting cards with pictures in color published by the Medici Society of London may be obtained at the office to be included in these calendars where they are to be mailed as gifts, at prices ranging from ten to sixty cents each. Surely nothing of this sort for Christ- mas could be finer than "The Piper of Dreams" with its poem and the re- production of the exquisite water-color painting by Estella Canziani. Members and others who have thus far purchased autographed author's edition copies of "Old Plymouth Trails" have in many cases expressed their substantial appreciation of the book by reorders, sometimes to the extent of several more copies as gifts to interested friends. More copies are avail- able though the stock runs low. In an altogether friendly and appreciative review of this book the Yale Review, a national quarterly, says, in its October issue: "Not a book of history, this; yet it serves the reader as books of his- tory should, but too seldom do. It is not the historian but the naturalist, observing, probing, listening to the lore of tree and stone and brook as to the communings of his brothers, who pictures to us the Pilgrim background so intimately and convincingly that we are fain to take his view also of the man in front of it." The price of the autographed author's edition of "Old Plymouth Trails" is $3.50, postpaid. We have in our exhibition case at the office the best in bird books both for study and recreational reading. You are invited to inspect these. We shall be glad to have you use them here, or, in case you wish to purchase for yourself or as a gift, we can order them for you and have them sent from the publisher with bill. This will be at the regular price but will include postage. The society thus makes the bookseller's modest margin of profit, for the good of the cause. Some of the standard books we have in stock, and you can get them here just as you would at the bookstore. Here is a list of these with prices, which may, however, be advanced at any time as the cost of publishing seems steadily to increase. Forbush. Game Birds, Wild Fowl and Shore Birds $1.25 National Geographic Society. Book of Birds 3.00 Alice E. Ball. A Year With the Birds 3.50 Chapman. Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America 4.00 " Warblers of North America 4.00 " Color Key to North American Birds 3.50 Bird Life 4.00 What Bird Is That? 1.50 Our Winter Birds 100 " Travels of Birds 75 Monthly Bulletin 5 Trafton. Bird Friends 2.00 " Methods of Attracting Birds 1.50 Bailey. Handbook of Birds of Western United States 4.00 Hoflfmann. Guide to the Birds 1.75 Pearson. The Bird Study Book 1.35 Tales from Birdland 1.00 " Stories of Bird Life 75 Birds of New York (Colored Plates) . Portfolio, $1.50; Bound 2.50 Reed. Bird Guides, Flower Guides, etc. Cloth, $1.25 ; Leather 1.50 " Nature Studies, Birds 75 Miller. First Book of Birds 1.00 " Second Book of Birds 1.00 Baynes. Wild Bird Guests 2.50 Mathews. Field Book of Wild Birds 3.00 Townsend. In Audubon's Labrador 2.50 Packard. Old Plymouth Trails 3.50 Florida Trails 3.00 White Mountain Trails 3.00 " Literary Pilgrimages of a Naturalist 2.00 THE MOOSE HILL BIKD SANCTUARY. By Harry George Higbee, Superintendent The increasing interest in the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary in Sharon has been evidenced during the past season by its largely increased patronage. In the past ten months (January to October inclusive) we have registered here over twenty-five hundred visitors, as against thirteen hundred during the whole of 1919. This throng of nature lovers represents not only a larger, but a more actively interested gathering of friends of the Audubon Society and game protection than has been recorded here in previous years. Many have come from long distances to study and observe our methods in bird protection, or to secure information relative to establishment of sanctuaries in other places. In addition to our Massachusetts friends, — who have come from one hundred and thirty-two localities throughout the State, — we have this year received visitors from Abbot, Maine; Anchorage, Kentucky; Bangor, Maine; Barre, Vermont; Bethel, Vermont; Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Dover, New Hampshire; Doylestown, Pennsylvania; East Derry, New Hampshire; Franklin, New Hampshire; Greenwich, Connecti- cut; Los Angeles, California; Maplewood, New Jersey; Montclair, New Jersey; Morristown, New Jersey; Nashua, New Hampshire; Newport, Rhode Island; New Haven, Connecticut; New York City; Oberlin, Ohio; Ogden, Utah; Palmyra, Maine; Palo Alto, California; Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Portland, Maine; Portland, Oregon; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Portsmouth, Rhode Island; Ripon, Wisconsin; Rochester, New York; Rockland, Maine; Saranac Lake, New York; South Paris, Maine; Springfield, Missouri; Staten Island, New York; Strafford, New Hampshire; Troy, New York; Troy, Ohio; Tuxedo Park, New York; Washington, D. C; Waterbury, Connecticut; Weld, Maine; West Falmouth, Maine; Kentville, Nova Scotia; Truro, Nova Scotia; Yar- mouth, Nova Scotia; St. John, New Brunswick; Trinidad, Cuba, and Eng- land. This widespread interest has centered not only in our avifauna, but in the protection and conservation of all forms of useful wild life, and demon- 6 Massachusetts Audubon Society strates the present need and increasing scope of usefulness of just such sanctuaries as this. With special reference to the wild flowers, — over three hundred of which may now be found growing here under natural conditions, — we have had many interested students. A recent visitor from Pennsylvania made a special trip to our sanctuary for the purpose of securing information in regard to the establishment of a wild flower preserve in the vicinity of Philadelphia. Assistance of a similar nature has been furnished to other parties, thereby carrying our methods and the influences for which we strive to distant points, which in turn establish new centers to continue and enlarge upon these principles of wild life preservation. Words of encouragement and letters of appreciation, some of which have been accompanied by substantial checks for the Society's work, are also con- crete evidence of the growing interest in the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary and its work. Of practical value also have been the constant additions to the area of our sanctuary. By securing the interest and co-operation of adjacent land owners we have this year increased our protected area from about two hundred to more than five hundred acres of varied land most admirably adapted for a wild life reservation. This land still remains under private ownership; the experimental and protective work upon it by the Audubon Society and the State interfering in no way with the use of the same for agricultural purposes. Neither does our work or posting of the land con- stitute any lien whatsoever upon the property. On the contrary, it brings about a beneficial influence by promoting the welfare of the birds, which are of great economical value to woodlands and orchards, and by protecting the property from vandals and law-breakers, thereby working in the owner's interest without expense to him. The co-operation of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation, through its Division of Fisheries and Game, in our work at the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary has proven of valuable assistance, working as it does in harmony with the interests of the Audubon Society, and carrying with it the influences of the State as regards the enforcement of the Fish and Game Laws and experimental work upon the wild life. Numbers of game birds and fish are released here each season, which, like the breeding wild birds, disperse and help to populate the surrounding covers. Specific plans are now under way for the raising and exhibition of pheasants and other game birds here during the coming year. It is also planned to merge the entire tract over which we are working into a State Reservation under Chapter 327, Acts of 1906, which provides for the setting apart of such lands at the request of the owners for purposes of scientific investigations and experiments upon useful wild birds and quad- rupeds. The hearty good-will of the public is necessary for the success of any undertaking for the public benefit. This has been received at the Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary and has been much appreciated by those in charge. The interest in our various collections and library of nature books, — con- stantly growing and always open for study and reference, — voices part of this public appreciation. The results of our eff'orts are due to your co-operation. We thank you for it and ask for its continuance. Monthly Bulletin 7 THE ROOSEVELT WILD LIFE FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION The first forest biological station devoted exclusively to the study of every phase of forest wild life in America and probably in the world has recently been established at the New York State College of Forestry, at Syracuse University. This station has been very appropriately named The Roosevelt Wild Life Forest Experiment Station as a memorial to that great lover of all wild life, Theodore Roosevelt. The New York State Legislature defined the functions of the station as follows: To establish and conduct an experimental station to be known as "Roosevelt Wild Life Forest Experiment Station" in which there shall be maintained records of the results of the experiments and investigations made and research work accomplished; also a library of words, publications, papers and data having to do with wild life together with means for prac- tical illustration and demonstration, which library shall, at all reasonable hours, be open to the public. Further duties of the station are to make "investigations, experiments and research in relation to the habits, life histories, methods of propaga- tion and management of fish, birds, game and food and fur-bearing ani- mals and forest wild life." FLAMINGOES SAVED FROM EXTINCTION H. E. W. Grant, colonial governor of the Bahamas, has recently an- nounced that as the result of an American expedition to one of the remote and seldom visited islands of the group the flamingo, known as one of the world's most beautiful birds, will receive complete protection. The expedition, sent out by the Miami Aquarium Association, and accompan- ied by Louis A. Fuertes, the nature artist and bird expert, discovered that a large colony of the flamingoes was being rapidly killed off by sponge fishermen, who used them for food. Dr. Frank M. Chapman, who visited the island in 1901, estimated that there were then about 20,000 of the gor- geous red and black birds, but their number has now been reduced by fully two-thirds. MORE GAME PROTECTION NEEDED Two well-know,n Americans have recently called attention to the alarming increase in hunting of game birds and animals in the United States and Alaska within the last few years. Both agree that unless some- thing is done about the matter at once it will not be long before there is no game left to shoot in this country. Dr. William T. Hornaday, of the Permanent Wild Life Protection Fund, has written a pamphlet en- titled, "The End of Game Sport in America? Will Americans See Their Sport Exterminated?" The other sportsman who has appealed to the public is Emerson Hough. 6 Massachusetts Audubon Society PHEASANT ENTERS SCHOOL. I think your readers may be interested in reading of an unusual oc- currence which our class experienced Thursday a. m., June 10th, at school. The class was just beginning to settle down before the bell rang, when suddenly we heard a loud crash and bits of glass came raining down on us. Something whirred through the room and then alighted on a window-sill, fluttering its wings and trying to get out. It was a hen pheasant, which had evidently been scared by something from outside, and, blinded by the light shining on the window, had flown right through it, closed as it was. The tremendous force at which she was flying, smashed the pane into tiny bits which scattered all over the room. Our teacher sent for the principal, who came in immediately and caught the poor, frightened bird. He held her up, and we saw that her pretty head was cut, though only very slightly, and that all her head feathers had been knocked off. It seemed incredible to believe that she was not either stunned or hurt seriously. Mr. Hapgood then held it in his hands while the window was opened and the bird flew off, alighted on the ground below and then ran off" into the shrubbery. It was a very unusual thing to have happened and it proved an object for gossip for many minutes. Very sincerely yours, JULIET PHILLIPS. Class V B. QUAINT ROBIN'S NEST A friend of mine in Lowell, Mass., had a crocheted doily made by her mother a number of years ago. As she wanted to use it, it was necessary to bleach it. She laid it on the grass in the morning and took it in at night. One night she forgot it, and the next morning it was gone. She naturally thought some one Had stolen it. A few days later while sitting on the piazza her eyes followed a robin flying towards a maple tree near by, and there, hanging from a nest in the crotch of the tree, was the missing doily. One end appeared to be fas- tened inside of the nest and the rest of it hung down over the side about seven or eight inches. It was there about a week after my friend first noticed it, and it was then attracting considerable attention. MRS. GEORGIANA M. LINDSEY. SAVING THE BIRDS IN ALBERTA Alberta has arranged to do its share toward the protection of migra- tory birds, including wild ducks, geese, plover and so on, and has estab- lished seven large sanctuaries where the wild fowl will not be molested. The size of these safe retreats may be estimated from the fact that one of the smallest is Buff'alo Lake in the heart of one of the finest wild duck shoot- ing areas in the world. The shore line of this lake measures more than one hundred and fifteen miles. — Caledonian. Volume IV. DECEMBER, 1920 Number 8 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This Bulletin will chronicle the affairs of the Society from month to month, will report items, of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legislation and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one dollar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. 2 Massachusetts Audubon Society MEMBERSHIP The Audubon Society is eager always to widen its circle of friends and of those who are friends of the birds, indeed of all wild life. Have you not a friend whom you can induce to join? The cost is slight. Life Members, $25.00. Sustaining Members, $1.00 annually. On the other hand the advantages of membership are many. Some of them may be listed as follows: BIRD PRESERVATION Personal participation in the great work of saving our valu- able and beautiful wild birds. INFORMATION Assistance in identification, advice from competent specialists on the best methods of protecting and increasing the birds on one's home grounds; how and where to place bird houses, bird baths, feeding stations, and how to guard and supply them; how to rear wild birds. READING ROOM AND EXHIBITION HALL Use at any time of the reading room and exhibition hall at the office, 66 Newbury Street, where bird books, bird pictures, charts, leaflets and all modem appliances for bird protection are displayed. BIRD LECTURES Tlie Society gives annually a course of lectures illustrated by stereopticon and moving pictures by the foremost bird special- ists of the country. Members have the first opportunity to pur- chase these tickets at moderate prices. BIRD SANCTUARY The Moose Hill Bird Sanctuary is maintained by the Society at Sharon, Mass. Members have there a special opportunity for study of bird life and bird protection methods under the guidance of the resident warden. MONTHLY BULLETIN All Sustaining and Life Members receive without further expense the monthly bulletin, containing information regarding the doings of the Society and news of importance in the world of bird study and bird protection. The Massachusetts Audubon Society is known and valued throughout the country for its good work. It is the center of information and inspiration whence has come during the past twenty years much of the great advance in laws, public opinion and personal practice in regard to the preservation and study of our wild birds. M OTithly Bulletin 3 LEGACIES It is probable that few members of the Audubon Society realize the breadth of its work and the distance to which its influence for good carries. The forests of Massachusetts, the waters of Yellowstone Park, the birds of the wild marsh regions of southern Oregon — all alike — come within the scope of its interests and good influence. It works for good legislation and against bad legislation at Washington as well as on Beacon Hill. Its bird charts today interest and instruct children in Honolulu, in Alaska, in Jerusalem even, as well as in every State of the Union, and its other pub- lications have an equally wide field. It does all these and a thousand other tilings on a membership fee of $1.00 a year and such other funds as it can earn from day to day. Will you help make this increasingly widespread and valuable work permanent through an adequate Reserve Fund? Sums donated by will to the Society are placed in the Reserve Fund of the Society, a use of the money which has peculiar value because of its permanence. The altruistic work of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, carried on for many years with increasing success, suggests the desirability of remem- bering it in this fashion. All the funds of the Society are handled carefully and conservatively, but the Reserve Fund, in the exclusive control of the Board of Directors, is especially worthy of the consideration of testators who wish to make legacies of lasting usefulness. There will always be need of organized work for bird protection, a form of conservation of the greatest importance to the general welfare. The Reserve Fund of the Society, when of sufficient size, will insure this. Can you not help in this way? FORM OF BEQUEST / give and bequeath to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Incor- porated, the sum of Dollars for its Reserve Fund. The Bird Lectures: Be sure and reserve the dates, March 29th, April 2nd and April 9th, 1921 for the Audubon Bird Lectures which will be given again this year in Symphony Hall on Saturday afternoons at 2 o'clock. The Audubon Society's motion-picture film "The Birds of Killingworth" will be shown at one of these lectures. There will be extraordinary motion pictures of birdlife by Robert Cushman Murphy, Norman McClintock, Dr. Thomas S. Roberts of the University of Minnesota, and possibly some others. Mr. Edward Avis, well known for his wonderful whistling reproductions of bird music, will appear at two of the lectures. The course will be a treat for birdlovers, exceeding anything which the Society has yet put before the public. Further details will be found in later issues of the Bulletin, and itickets with full information will be distributed to members as usual. Chart Prices: On December 1st, the price of the Audubon Bird Charts was advanced to $2,50 each. It was with much regret that the Chart Com- mittee made this decision. Conditions in the printing trade made it neces- sary. Charts which we have been selling at $1.50 each would have to be sold at a loss under present conditions. 4 Massachusetts Audubon Society Life Members Received from November 10th to December 1st Holmes, Miss Helen W. 262 Court St., Plymouth Wheelwright, Miss Mary C. 73 Mt. Vernon St., Boston Sustaining Members Received from November 10th to December 1st Ainsley, Mrs. John R. The Lucerne, 465 Audubon Rd., Boston Anderson, Charles J. 24 Eddywood Ave., Springfield Bott, Mrs. Fred 460 Lebanon St., Melrose Brayton, L Box 135, Fall River Carroll, Elbert H. West Boylston Carth, Mrs. Jean E. Box 81, Station 17, Boston Coolidge, Miss Annie R. The Lucerne, 465 Audubon Rd., Boston Crompton, Miss Isabel M. 121 Providence St., Worcester Evans, Miss Edith 315 Buckminster Rd., Brookline Hartwell, Joseph B. 36 Walnut Park, Newton Hartwell, Julian M. 36 Walnut Park, Newton Hayden, Miss Eleanor HaydenviUe Hibbard, Miss Hazel R. North Hadley Howe, James A. Belmont Howe, Miss Lois Lilley 2 Appleton St., Cambridge Johnson, Miss Ida B. 48 N. Main St., Ipswich Kearney, John S. 142 Third St., Lowell Kidder, Miss Edith I. Assonet Leland, Mrs. P. F. Holliston McCaul, Miss Bertha M. 16 Chesley Ave., Newtonville McCaul, Edward W. 16 Chesley Ave., Newtonville Merrick, Mrs. F. B. Glendale St., Easthampton Saunders, Miss Maude 78 Arlington St., Hyde Park Smith, Miss Frances Grace 11 Barrett Place, Northampton Tallman, Alfred W. Somerset Tens, Miss Anna 14 Winter St., Dorchester Williams, Mrs. E. D. 27 Union St., Easthampton OUR VANISHING GAME (From the New York Tribune) A few mornings ago The Tribune had a lengthy letter, "Our Vanishing Wild Game," and sought to find the reason. The figures below may help to solve the mystery, being accurate and from the State Game Commission of Harrisburg, Pa. The slaughter for the year 1919: Rabbits 2,719,879 Squirrels 439,106 Ruffed grouse 287,001 Virginia quail 46,319 Raccoons 34,036 Wild waterfowl 28,714 Ringneck pheasants 15,658 Deer 2,913 Hungarian quail 575 Bear 472 One million, five hundred and seventy-three thousand, two hundred and thirty-eight resident hunters took out licenses and 3,338 non-resident in 1919 in Pennsylvania alone. It is not a hard question as to what becomes of "Our Vanishing Game." Monthly Bulletin 5 MOTION PICTURES The Birds of Killingworth Two-Reel Film of the Massachusetts Audubon Society Birds on the screen, singing and nesting, the thrush pouring out his soul in careless rapture, robins carolling and feeding their nestlings, the crow sitting on the scarecrow and laughing at the farmer. All these and many more are seen in "The Birds of Killingworth," Longfellow's classic poem, which has just been filmed as a two-reel feature for the Massa- chusetts Audubon Society by the Educational Motion Picture Bureau. The bird pictures on this film are by William and Irene Finley, famous the world over for their motion pictures of birdlife. Through it all runs the wholesome human-interest story of New Eng- land village life of a century ago: the farmers at their town meeting, the village academy, the children in school and out, the preceptor and the fair Almira, the deacon and his "one-horse shay" — quaint scenes of long ago, pictured as Longfellow wrote about them. You see the Wayside Inn where the story is told and the poet as he told it. Here is a worth-while story of interwoven birdlife and human life, teaching the lesson of bird protection and of kindness for all. Longfellow's "Birds of Killingworth" is a classic ; everywhere school children have read it and declaimed it; old and young alike will want to see it on the screen. It will be released early in January. Ask your favorite motion-picture house about it. You may want it yourself for church or school. State Audubon So- cieties and Bird Clubs may own prints of this film to educate and entertain the district which they serve. It carries the message of bird protection to those who most need it in the best possible way. Are you interested? Write to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, 66 Newbury Street, Boston, for facts and figures. THE FIRST CEMETERY BIRD SANCTUARY Mt. Hope Cemetery of Rochester, N. Y., is to be the first cemetery in the United States that will be turned into a sanctuary for birds. Contract has been placed to outfit the cemtery with bird-houses, nesting-supply stations, feeding stations and bird baths, and a preliminary survey is now under way. The work of preparing the cemetery to attract the birds will include planting of shrubs and plants that are favorites with the songsters and placing houses in such places and numbers as will be best adapted to attract and conserve bird life. The contract covers a period of five years, during which time the contractors will continually look after the birds in the cemetery. The action is in line with recommendations sent to all cemetery superintendents recently, in which it was suggested that more attention be paid to the conservation of birds because of their value as destroying agents of harmful insects and because they thus protect the country's food supplies. 6 Massachusetts Audubon Society BOOK REVIEWS The Burgess Animal Book for Children, by Thornton W. Burgess, author of "The Burgess Bird Book for Children." With 32 full-page illustrations in color and 16 full-page illustrations in black-and- white from drawings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Crown 8vo. Deco- rated Cloth. $3.00 (For boys and girls, 4 to 12.) This is a companion volume to "The Burgess Bird Book for Children," which has had such a wonderful reception since its publication a year ago. It is written in the same vein, a story book which at the same time is an authoritative handbook on the land animals of America, so describing them and their habits that they will be instantly recognized when seen. Every child and not a few adults will delight in going to school to Old Mother Nature with Peter Rabbit and his friends. The book is beautifully illustrated by Mr. Fuertes, the naturalist-artist, whose drawings are living portraits and show the big and little people of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows, the Smiling Pool and the Great Mountains, as they actually are amid home surroundings. Everyday Adventures by Samuel Scoville, Jr., The Atlantic Monthly Press, Boston, Mass. Price $3.00. The adventures are those of a city-dweller who goes into the fields and woods near by to seek them. With a wonderful sense of the beauties of nature, it has a charming faculty in description which would exalt the trivial and make the commonplace delightful to any reader. But, after all, his adventures are neither trivial nor commonplace. Some of them are excit- ing and dangerous enough, as when he finds the raven nesting in Pennsyl- vania and tells how he climbs icy crags at the peril of his life to look into the nest. Again his orchid hunting is filled with the pure joy of finding rare and beautiful flowers in lonely places. In this he finds no mean adventures, as witness the following: — "I set my teeth, gripped the rough, cold, scaly body just back of the crotched stick, and lifted. The great snake's black, fixed, devilish eyes looked into mine. If, in this world, there are peep-holes into hell, they are found in the eyes of an enraged rattle- snake. As he came clear of the ground, he coiled around my arm to the elbow, so that the rattles sounded not a foot from my ear. Although the rattlesnake is not a constrictor, and there was no real danger, yet under the touch of his body my arm quivered like a tuning fork." What he did with this rattlesnake which he picked up while orchid hunting is one of his everyday adventures about which you should read. THE LOYAL EAGLE Lorain, Ohio, Nov. 5. — It's going to be a lonely winter for the bald eagle whose nest is situated near Oak Point, a few miles west of here. For years he and his mate had made their home in a stretch of timber land near the point where they reared their young. The young eagles as soon as they could fly left the place but the parents always remained. Farmers in the vicinity never molested the birds. They were considered as pets. Then a short time ago tragedy entered into the eagle abode. A hunter mistook Mrs. Eagle for a hawk and killed her. For several days, farmers say, the father bird refused to leave the spot where his mate was killed. The eagle inhabits his old nest, residents say, but makes a daily pilgrimage to the spot where his loved one fell. (From the Cleveland Plain Dealer) M on t h I y B u He tin 7 WHAT ABOUT BOB WHITE? (From the bulletin of the Florida Audubon Society) For a period of almost four months of each year the State of Florida permits the inexcusable slaughter of poor bob-white merely to satisfy the brutal instincts and appetite of a lot of so-called "sportsmen," some of whom, in a whole lifetime, do not render as much good service to the state as a single pair of bob-whites do in one year. Look up bob-white's bill of fare, which the Biological Survey at Washington has made up from stomach examinations. To say nothing of the 129 species of weed seeds, nearly all of them pests to the farmer, these stomach examinations have shown that these birds devour 145 species of insects, almost all of them destructive to the farmers' crops. Here are some single meals of adult bob-whites: Forty boll weavils, 101 potato bugs, 100 chinch bugs, 12 squash bugs, 12 army worms, 12 cut worms and 508 mosquitoes in three hours. Other insects eaten include the cucumber beetle, corn bill bug, tobacco worm, cotton boll weevil, snout beetle, grasshoppers, plant lice and flies of many sorts. No wonder that intelligent farmers are posting their lands against bob-white shooters and some of the more prominent agricultural journals are declaring that the killing of bob-white in the name of "sport" is but little short of a crime. Nowhere are the services of bob-white of so much value as in the Southern States, in which cotton growing and market gardening are im- portant industries, and nowhere, it is a shame to have to say, are they so wantonly murdered, legally and illegally, by both "sportsmen" and pot hunters. And in no other states are the legal periods of protection so short. The following states have already taken these birds from the game list, giving them continuous protection, or closed the shooting season for a period of years: Iowa, Vermont, Utah, Michigan, Nebraska, New York (except Long Island), Ohio, Wisconsin and Wyoming, while Kansas has cut the open season to ten days and a number of other states to fifteen days. Missouri has given the voters of every county the privilege to say at any general election whether these birds may be hunted during a short open season or protected at all times. Once the value of bob-white is known to the voters few counties will permit them to be killed. The bob-white is naturally a sociable bird and will "home" about the house and garden if protected and the domestic cat is controlled. On the Winter Park sanctuary, where these birds have been protected continuously for more than two years, almost every lawn and garden has its little flock, and the better class of citizens have come to love them and give them every possible protection both for their economic and aesthetic values. 8 Massachusetts Audubon Society Dr. Hornaday's Opinion Conservative sportsmen and farmers will be interested in Dr. W. T. Hornaday's summing up of the splendid services of bob-white. "It is fairly beyond question that of all birds that influence the for- tunes of the farmers and fruit growers of North America, the common quail, or bob-white, is one of the most valuable. It stays on the farm all the year round. When insects are most numerous and busy, bob-white devotes to them his entire time. He cheerfully fights them from sixteen to eighteen hours a day. When the insects are gone he turns his attention to the weeds that are striving to seed down the fields for another year. "And now a few words to my friend, the epicure: The next time you regale a good appetite with blue points, terrapin stew, filet of sole and saddle of mutton, touched up here and there with some private stock from your cellar, pause as the dead quail is laid before you, on a funeral pyre of toast, and consider this: 'Here lies the charred remains of the Farmer's Ally and Friend, poor Bob-White. In life he devoured 145 different kinds of bad insects and the seeds of 129 anathema weeds. For the smaller pests of the farm he was the most marvelous engine of destruction that God ever put together of flesh and blood. He was good, beautiful and true; and his small life was blameless. And here he lies dead, snatched away from his field of labor and destroyed in order that I may be tempted to dine three minutes longer after I have already eaten to satiety.' "Then go on and finish Bob-White." THE OWL AND THE PUSSY CAT Dear Sir: Lincoln, Mass. Very likely you may be amused as we were to see how dumb animals unwittingly sometimes play jokes on bird lovers. In the box in the picture which I am enclosing is a little rufous screech owl. I am sorry you cannot see him, but the box is about twenty feet from the ground in the top of an apple tree and I could not get nearer to take his picture. For the last three or four years Mr. Owl has occupied this house, coming usually in February. Last year we had a good many visitors to see him. He fills the opening in the box and stays there all day until dusk, then gets out on a limb, preens his feathers and flies away, returning again next day. He stays several weeks. About two weeks ago we were surprised to see several people collected on our lawn looking at the box with a great deal of interest. It seems the man on the place was picking a few choice apples with an apple-picker when something fell "thump" at his feet, and, looking around, he saw a small kitten. Thinking that rather strange, he thought he would investigate, and, looking up in the tree, he was sur- prised to see a black and white cat looking out of the box. Climbing up nearer, he found two more kittens. It seems the mother cat had "taken up a claim" on our owl's house for herself and family of three. That night after being discovered and as the kittens had just got their eyes open, she moved them all home to a neighbor's where she belonged. We considered this quite a piece of impudence as we do not keep cats or want any, but are very fond of the birds and trying all ways to attract and study about them. Mabel L. Washburn. 3 Volume IV. JANUARY, 1921 Number 9 Issued Monthly by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc. BULLETIN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY PROTECTION OF BIRDS 66 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON, MASS. This Bulletin will chronicle the aflFairs of the Society from month to month, will report items, of interest concerning birds, such as the appearance of rare species locally, will keep its readers informed as to State or Federal legislation and briefly note items of interest about birds throughout the world. Subscription price, one d..]lar per annum, included in all Sustaining and Life Membership fees. 2 Massachusetts Audubon Society ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING The Annual Business Meeting of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Inc., will be held at the office of the Society, 66 Newbury Street, Boston, on Saturday, January 22nd, at 3 P. M. All Life and Sustaining Members of the Society are members of the corporation and have voting powers at this meeting. The annual reports of the Secretary and Treasurer and the auditing and nominating committees are made at this meeting. A detailed report of work and funds of the Society is issued in the February Bulletin of each year. TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY The Massachusetts Audubon Society wishes all members and friends of its work a Happy and Prosperous New Year. 1921 is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of this Society, the oldest in point of con- tinuing existence of all the Audubon Societies. There is in the archives of the Society a worn volume in which the first record is as follows: — "1896 — An informal meeting of the Directors of the Massachusetts Audubon Society was held with Mrs. Hemenway, 273 Clarendon Street, Boston, Monday, February 10th at four o'clock. There were present Mrs. Cabot, Mrs. Bolles, Miss Hall, Mr. Bangs, Mr. Lowell, Dr. Minot, Mrs. Hemenway and Miss Richards the Secretary, Dr. Minot in the chair." There follow, simply recorded, the plans on which were laid the firm foundation of the work which has shown steady growth ever since. Not only was the Massachusetts Audubon Society to advance in power and usefulness, broadening the scope of its endeavor as need and means came, as they so often have hand in hand, but its action and success were to serve as incentive and model for Audubon Societies which have since been formed in almost every State in the Union. To this day it serves as guide and exemplar to these, which come to it for advice and assistance in forwarding their work in their own localities. Thus, to a large extent, it stands as a mother to Audubon Societies, second in the broad scope, interest and effectiveness of its work only to the great National Association at New York which co-ordinates the work of all. Through the initiative of the Massachusetts Audubon Society has come most of that great advance in laws and public sentiment for the protection of the wild birds of the country which has been so marked during the last twenty-five years. Great as has been the work already done, we are but on the threshold of opportunity. We give you the greetings of the New Year. Let us make it a record year as well as an Anniversary. We want to give a great for- ward impulse to the teaching of Bird study and Bird protection to the school children of the State. Last year 30,000 were enrolled. This year let us make it 60,000. The best minds among school men endorse and encourage this work, not only for its altruistic value but as a means of training the young mind in alertness and observation. So far as it pertains to our State this is local work. Funds for it are vitally necessary. American eagles are being shot by thousands in Alaska for a bounty, a miserable pittance of twenty-five cents a call. We want to stop that. This is national in its significance, but it is a thing that ought to be done and in it Massachusetts ought to lead. We want to reprint our Bird Charts, one of which — No. 3 — is completely out of stock. The educational work that these Monthly Bulletin 3 do overflows even the borders of the country. We want further protection for the ruffed grouse, which is in danger of being shot completely out of the State. We want to revise and improve the game laws in many ways, one of them making the State laws conform with the national migratory bird treaty act in all cases where the national laws are more strict than those of the State. We want the plan for the publication of the Birds of Massachusetts by the State Ornithologist with colored illustrations by Fuertes to go through — an educational matter of great value to all citizens. We want the Sanctuary idea of bird and nature protection to go out to the world with redoubled force from our Sharon Sanctuary. Over twenty- five hundred people visited the Sanctuary in 1920 and took the idea away with them. We want to interest and assist five thousand in 1921. We want our educational moving-picture film "The Birds of Killingworth" to be seen by a million children, visualizing the value of our songbirds and the need of, their protection in a new and attractive way. Our bird lectures, bird books, travelling libraries and exhibition, our varied service to man- kind through the birds, which is constant the year round, let us increase it on this, our Anniversary Year. ANNIVERSARY FUND MEMBERSHIP All these things can be done, better and more of them if we have the means. Please help by a liberal subscription to our Anniversary Fund. The money will be applied to the direct work of the Society this year. Our Society has done — is doing — a great work on inadequate means. It is not endowed. It is both a State and a national work, yet we receive no assistance from either State or nation. Its Sustaining Membership fee of $1.00 a year and the interest on a very modest Reserve Fund are its two secure sources of income. It supplements these by the sale of charts, calendars, bird books, and bird-protection material and by its Annual Lecture Course. Often its General Fund, from which it pays its way from day to day, is down to the danger line or below it. That is why we are asking for an Anniversary subscription to help this fund. If the response is a liberal one, we can greatly increase our eff"ectiveness in this our Anniversary Year. BIRD LECTURES The Society's annual course of Bird Lectures will be held as usual in Symphony Hall on Saturday afternoons at two o'clock, March 26th, April 2nd, and April 9th. Course tickets at $2.00 each will be issued to members during Pebruary and may also be obtained on application at the Society on or after February 15, 1921. There will be a limited number of reserved seats, for which an extra charge will be made. Detailed information concerning these and all other matters pertaining to the lecture course will be issued with the tickets early in February. Features as so far arranged for these lectures are as follows: — MARCH 26th— 2 P. M. Birds of Killingworth, the Massachusetts Audubon Society's beautiful film of Longfellow's classic poem. Bird pic- 4 Massachusetts Audubon Society tures in this film are by Irene and William Finley of Oregon, At 2:30 Robert Cushman Murphy will lecture on some extraordinary phases of bird-life on the coast of western South America, showing some spectacular and intensely interesting moving pictures of the birds and animals of that picturesque and faraway region. The entertainment will close with whistling reproductions of bird music by Mr. Edward Avis. APRIL 2nd — 2 P. M. Movies of the home life of our common birds by Thomas S. Roberts of the University of Minnesota. 2.30, illustrated lecture by H. C. Oberholser, of the Biological Survey. This lecture also will close with whistling imitations by Mr. Avis. APRIL 9th — 2 P. M. Special movies to be announced later. At 2.30 Norman McClintock — intimate studies of the bird-life of a Florida reser- vation made with the moving-picture camera. The lecture will close with whistling imitations of birds by Arthur C. Wilson. Life Members Received from December 1st to December 24th Lane, Miss Margaret Mason, Mrs. C. 0. 19 Oxford St., Cambridge North Attleboro Sustaining Members Received from December 1st to December 24th Cochrane, Mrs. Douglas Conant, Mrs. Richard K. Gage, Dr. Homer Klein, Charles, Jr. Haskell, H. Spencer Heilman, William C. Hemenway, Mrs. Myles Hinckley, Miss Rose Lane, Mrs. D. W. Lemon, Miss Ella E. Linehan, John J. Manson, Mrs. A. D. Marston, Mrs. Rebecca L. Meserve, Mrs. C. D. Morris, L. F. Morse, Mrs. J. S. Morton, James M. Newhall, Mrs. William Rice Nickerson, Mrs. Edith C. Noyes, Edgar F. O'Malley, Charles J. Packard, Gertrude R. Palmer, Miss Lucy Jane Brent Peck, Mrs. Mary J. Perera, G. L. Young, Miss Emily W. 257 Commonwealth Ave., Boston South Lincoln Worcester 26 Willoughby St., Somerville 340 Main St., Worcester 23 Hawthorne St., Cambridge 8 West lOth St., New York 38 Round HiU, Northampton Auburndale The Wayside Inn, South Framingham 8 Trowbridge Rd., Worcester 536 Fourth St., South Boston Melrose Highlands 90 Hull St., Newtonville Rutland 68 Summer St., Maiden 487 Rock St., FaU River 795 Summer Ave., Springfield Pond St., Cohasset 47 Milk St., Newburyport 244 Washington St., Boston 305 Prospect St., Brockton 107 Lakeview Ave., Cambridge 325 Washington St., Wellesley Hills 382 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 71 Lake Ave., Newton Centre MEMBERSHIP Sustaining membership in the Massachusetts Audubon Society costs but $1.00 a year. It carries with it subscription to the Bulletin, worth the dollar in itself, as well as numerous other privileges. Twenty-five dollars or more paid in one sum constitute Life Member- ship. Life Members pay no annual dues, but have all the privileges of Sustaining Members. Life Membership is really perpetual membership. The twenty-five dollars paid is put in the Reserve Fund, where it is at interest, paying one dollar a year or better forever. Is not this worth while? Monthly Bulletin 5 LEGISLATION Certain bird bills will come before the Legislature this winter which ought to pass. One of these will be to make our State laws coincide with the regulations of the federal migratory bird treaty act in all cases where the State laws are not as strict as the federal laws. This will give the wardens full authority to arrest under the State laws and prosecute in the State Courts. As the matter stands now they can arrest under the Federal law, but the evidence goes to Washington and the matter, in most cases, seems to end there. In the State courts there would be quick action. Another matter which will probably be included in the recommenda- tions of the State Department of Fisheries and Game will be a further closed season for the ruffed grouse. This was effective in 1919, but in 1920 the ban was removed, with disastrous results in many portions of the State. It is believed by many authorities that these birds are nearer extirpation in this State than many of the sportsmen are willing to acknowledge. The birds hang on against unfortunate conditions with remarkable vigor, but the small army of nearly a hundred thousand licensed gunners is going to be too many for them unless they are let alone for a term of years and given a chance to recuperate. A bill will be presented authorizing the publication of a two-volume monograph on the Birds of Massachusetts by the State Ornithologist, Edward Howe Forbush, with illustrations in color of all our birds. This plan is of great importance to all bird students. There would be a constant demand for this book and without question the State would get its money back in the course of a few years and have had the satisfaction of doing a fine educational work along conservation lines. Two books of Mr. Forbush's, "Useful Birds and Their Protection" and "Gamebirds and Waterfowl" have been published in this way. Editions of both have sold out completely, with satisfactory results. Dr. Hornaday and Mr. Hough suggest a radical curtailment in the number of wild animals that a person may kill in a season as well as better enforcement of the existing game laws. It is surprising that in a state like New York one may legally kill in a single year as many as 800 deer, rabbits, hares and squirrels and more than 9,000 birds of various species. An Alaskan may kill animals representing 3,850 pounds of dressed meat in a year. Dr. Hornaday recommends a reduction in the length of the open season on migratory birds which now varies in different states from two to three and a half months. Dr. Hornaday writes: "The only possible way we can retain what game we have is to limit our greed and our speed in killing it. There is no short cut, no royal road, no panacea, no cure all, no open sesame about it. Shorter open seasons, more closed seasons, a strictly limited day's bag, governed by laws actually enforced, actually understood, actually respected — this is the only course which can possibly keep for us any sport worth the name." Dr. Hornaday would permit individual hunters to obtain per- mits only once in two years and would increase the license fees 200 per cent. This is a subject that deserves the sympathetic attention of all hu- manitarians. 6 Massachusetts Audubon Society BIRD PICTURES Colored pictures of birds are always in demand and can be had at the Audubon Society office. The leaflets of the National Association are best known. These retail at five cents each. The colored plates of "The Birds of New York" are on sale here, neatly bound copies being much in demand at $2.50 each. The Society is always adding to its list of available pic- tures of birds and other natural objects in colors. Certain publications of the National Geographic Society have had these from time to time and are now out of print and hard to get. The Audubon Society has a few copies of these rare back numbers of the "Geographic" on sale at 60 cents each, postpaid. They are as follows: June, 1913 — "Fifty Common Birds" in color. May, 1914 — ^"Birds of Town and Country" — 64 pictures in color. May, 1915 — "American Wild Flowers" — 29 illustrations in color. August, 1915 — "American Gamebirds" — 20 pages in color. June, 1916 — ^"Common American Wild Flowers" — 16 pages in color. November, 1916 — "Larger North American Mammals" — 32 pages and frontispiece in color. April, 1917 — "Friends of our Forests" — Warblers^ — 8 pages in color. June, 1917 — "Our State Flowers" — 16 pages in color. May, 1918 — "Smaller North American Animals" — 32 pages in full color. April, 1920— "The Crow" (not colored). June, 1920 — "National Parks" — colored pictures. May, 1920 — "Common Mushrooms" — colored pictures. FORBIDDEN FEATHERS The law forbidding the sale or possession of the feathers of native birds is very well observed in this State, at least so far as the stores dealing in millinery are concerned. This is the Federal law, and the milliners live up to it. Now and then a representative of the Society inspects the stock offered for sale and rarely does he find cause for complaint. When such has occurred, the responsible store official has pleaded ignorance and has been quick to remove the cause. So far as our native birds are concerned, it would seem as if the storekeepers are really interested to obey the law. If genuine aigrettes, which of course are forbidden, are sold, it certainly is not done openly or to any great extent. Not so much can be said, however, of the plumes of birds of paradise and of goura. Under the tariff the importation of these is for- bidden. The law is explicit. It specifies the duty to be paid on crude or manufactured feathers of domestic fowl. Then it says, "provided that the importation of aigrettes, egret plumes, or so called osprey plumes, and the feathers, quills, heads, wings, tails, skins or parts of skins of wild birds, either raw or manufactured and not for scientific or educational purposes, is hereby prohibited. But this provision shall not apply to the feathers or plumes of ostriches or to the feathers or plumes of domestic fowl of any kind. Now this tariff law was passed in October, 1913. It has been more than seven years since bird of paradise feathers or goura plumes could be legally imported. When it became known that this tariff act was about to Monthly Bulletin 7 become a law, there was a great rush to import these feathers, as there is no law forbidding their possession or use once they are in the country. Since that time these feathers have been offered for sale by most millinery stores, the explanation being that they were imported before the passing of the tariff act. It is a question in the minds of those interested in prevent- ing the illegal use of feathers whether any of these legal importations remain in the hands of the storekeepers. Certainly if they could not sell them in seven years it would seem as if they never could, yet today these feathers are offered for sale, indeed are advertised by reputable stores in Boston. It is well known that extensive smuggling of feathers goes on. A year or more ago thousands of dollars worth were seized at the port of New York. Many other thousands must leak through unseen. That reput- able stores should continue to sell these and openly offer them for sale is cause for general unfavorable comment. As the law stands, it is a question whether it would be possible to proceed legally against such transgressors. Proof that the feathers are smuggled would be difficult if not impossible. At the same time there is a very large and rapidly growing sentiment throughout the State against the use or sale of such contraband for the adornment of hats. The Audubon Society frequently receives clippings of such advertisements with an indignant letter from the sender saying that she would scorn to trade at stores that do that sort of thing and it may readily be believed that an advertisement of that sort, in the long run, loses trade for a millinery department rather than gains it. Wearers of aigrettes or other feathers of our native birds will do well to bear in mind the following from our Revised Laws from the State of Massachusetts as amended by the Acts of 1903, Chapter 329. This may be read on page 138 of the Fish and Game Laws of Massachusetts, pub- lished by the Commissioners on Fisheries and Game. "Section 1. Whoever has in possession the bodies or feathers of a bird, the taking or killing of which is prohibited by the provisions of the preceding section, or of section 5 of this Chapter, whether taken in this Commonwealth or elsewhere, or wears such feathers for the purpose of dress or ornament, shall be punished by a fine of ten dollars." MORE UPLAND PLOVER Dear Sir: Longmeadow, Mass. In your April Bulletin, in the article copied from the Salem News by Dr. John C. Phillips, he writes of the upland plover as being very rare and its breeding places confined to only one or two localities in this State and in numbers to perhaps a dozen pair. I think he is in error as I hear them passing over every year from breeding grounds on Granby Plains north of Springfield. I am familiar with their peculiar call as I have shot them in North Eastham on Cape Cod forty-five year ago. I have heard them every year up to 1920 and probably shall this year in August when they begin their migration. I think they are now protected and it is illegal to shoot them. To people who are interested in nesting places for birds I would recom.mend a large brush-heap where it is possible to pile one. For several years now I have had one on the place and have had song sparrows and brown thrashers nesting in it. I have previously been troubled with cats which roam over this place and destroy many young birds. They also catch many field mice, which are a pest here, so I do not wish to kill the cats. 8 Massachusetts Audubon Society The brush pile offers a safe breeding place for the birds into which the cat cannot get and the sparrows and thrushes raise their broods every year. I think you are in error about the cultivation of the arbutus. I have a small patch, sent me originally from Franklin, New Hampshire, that is doing well and blooming better each year. A place must be chosen to grow it that offers a suitable location, a north or northwest exposure on the border of woodland is best. Keep away from moisture as it does not like wet feet or a sweet soil or lime. Epsom salts is a good fertilizer, also for laurel and rhododendrons. I raise many wild flowers in a small wooded dingle here, such as hepatica, partridge-berry, bittersweet, adder's-tongue, bloodroot, wintergreen, pyrola, pipsisewa, the pink lady's-slipper, cow- slips, blue flag and such ferns as the Christmas, osmunda, cinnamon, maiden's-hair, polypody, etc. Anything can be grown under its proper or natural conditions. One of our former botanist gardeners naturalized large patches of arbutus on his place in West Springfield. I have myself seen them growing three years ago. Some time ago the city forester here, collected 1/4 oz. of arbutus seed by tying a glass vial over the blossoms. He advertised it for sale and readily found a customer for as much as he had and more at any price he wanted. All parks should be wild-flower preserves. Forest Park in Springfield is such, but not much is done to increase their numbers or protect them more than to put up signs. Mr. Edward Gillett, the wild-flower man of Southwick, Mass., has the largest and most interesting collection of wild flowers and ferns in this vicinity. J. P. Poland. OIL KILLS DUCKS If it is not one thing it is another where wild life touches civilization. The greatly increased use of crude oil in steamships and its transportation and storage in ports have brought death to thousands of waterfowl this fall. Just before Thanksgiving a member of the Society brought in from Cohasset a dovekie which had been found in a dying condition in the road. The feathers of this bird were so saturated with crude oil that it seemed an entirely new species. Only when the oil was washed from its feathers were its true colors revealed. This was during the big storm just before Thanks- giving, and reports from alongshore showed that many of these birds and other waterfowl had been blown ashore in the same condition. It was commonly reported that the oil on the water was due to the wreckage of an oil tank off^shore. From Providence, however, has recently come a story of still greater disaster, due, it is claimed, to the bursting of an oil tank on shore. The crude oil flowed into the water, saturated the feathers of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of wintering wild duck and killed them. The situation is such that the matter has been taken up by the Commission of Purification of Waters of Narragansett Bay, by the Bird Commissioners of the State of Rhode Island and by others interested, and a vigorous attempt will be made to abate the unfortunate conditions. Fall River bird- lovers are alarmed lest similar misfortunes come to the birds in the Bay there. A ten-million-dollar oil-refining plant is about finished on the Taunton River. Crude oil has already ruined the bathing beaches of many parts of Narragansett Bay. It is feared that the careless loading and unloading at these points will further add to the misfortunes of the ducks and other birds. CA 5» O S CO