The Audubon Societies 1 1 1 of the Ohio Audubon Society and a liberal use of educational leaflets on Hawks. Several bills were introduced for the purpose of improving the present game- and bird-laws, but, unfortunately, they were all lost. Virginia. — Several bills were introduced for the purpose of establishing a Game Commission to be supported by resident and non-resident hunters' licenses. Three of the officers of the Association visited Richmond for the purpose of speak- ing before the Senate Game Committee in behalf of the measures, but the effort was not successful. The work done, however, was not without its value, as it was educa- tional and will have a good effect on future legislation. Only one amendment to the present game- law was made; in some respects this was beneficial, as it makes it unlawful to kill or capture any wild water-fowl or Wild Turkey at night, or to capture them in traps, nets or other contrivances, or to use reflectors or other lights or sneak-boats or artificial islands, or to use a gun larger than an eight bore. In other respects the amend- ment was retrograde, as it makes an open season on Robins from February 15 to April 1. This feature was protested against, but without avail. Kentucky. — Some bad bills were intro- duced in the Assembly, but fortunately they all failed of passage, with the result that the game and bird statutes remain unchanged. One was to repeal the non-sale provision of the present law relative to Wild Ducks, Pheasants, Grouse, Partridges or Quail killed within the state; a second was to re- peal the present law prohibiting the taking of Quail, Partridge or Pheasant by means of net, box, trap or snare ; another was to repeal the following: "No person shall catch, kill or pursue with such intent, or have the same in possession after it has been caught or killed, any Quail, Partridge or Pheasant between the first day of January and the fifteenth day of November of each year," and still another was to amend the present law relative to Wild Geese and Wild Ducks by making the open season close the first day of May instead of the first day of April. On the other hand, House Bill No. 403, introduced for the purpose of making the open season on Doves only six weeks instead of six months, was unfortunately defeated. The lack of a large and active Audubon Society in Kentucky is very much felt. Massachusetts. — Large numbers of bills relative to birds and game were introduced in both branches of the legislature, and, as usual, they created a great deal of debate. An attempt was made to amend the section of the statute which permits the killing of the Herring Gull and the Great Black-backed Gull between the first day of November and the first day of May following, practically the only time when these birds are found in Massachusetts. It is greatly to be regretted that the bill failed of passage, and that these birds still receive no protection. Massachusetts is the only Atlantic coast state that does not protect these two species of Gulls. It does not seem right for this Commonwealth to refuse to protect birds that are so carefully guarded by all the other states. Further, it is a great hardship for the Audubon Societies to spend large amounts of money each year to protect the Herring Gull on its breeding-grounds and then to have them killed on the Massa- chusetts coast after the breeding season is over. The bird-loving public of Massa- chusetts should take this important matter in hand, and should be so insistent about it that the next General Court would have to respect their wishes. A decided gain was made relative to shortening the open seasons for wild fowl; an especially wise provision being a close season on the Wood Duck until the first day of September, 191 1 . An act to prevent the extermination of the Heath Hen is now a law, having been ap- proved March 7. It reads as follows: "It shall be unlawful to hunt, take or kill that species of Pinnated Grouse called Heath Hen, and scientifically known as Tympanu- chus cupido, or to buy, sell, otherwise dis- pose of, or have in possession the same or any part thereof, previous to the first day of November in the year 191 1. " Whoever violates any provision of this act shall be punished by a fine of one hundred
