State Reports 255 six counties in Florida, and there are thirteen game wardens, so that thirty- three counties depend on their over-busy sheriffs. Some six of these sheriffs have rendered timely aid in arrests and the prevention of cruelty and illegal shooting. This does not include the game wardens appointed by the National Association at the Tortugas, and Sand Key, also at the Pelican Island, Passage Key and Indian Key Reservation. In 1905, President Roosevelt made a reservation of Passage Key, Tampa Bay, and in February, 1906, of Indian Key as preserves and breeding grounds for native birds. These, with Pelican Island Reservation, are, we hope, but the beginning of a series of important reservations, thus enabling us to preserve and perpetuate the birds, which should ever have been the pride of Florida, making, as they did in the days of Audubon, the state a veritable wonderland.' There has been frequent testimony as to the increase of bird life. Mr. C. P. Russell, at Lake Helen, Volusia county, writes, May 30, 1906: 'It is remarkable what a change there has been during the past few years in regard to shooting small birds. In consequence, such as Blue Jays, Brown Thrashers, Meadowlarks, Sand Doves, Woodpeckers, Blackbirds, Butcher Birds and Cardinals have increased wonderfully in numbers, and even the Chewinks, so shy, have begun to show themselves. A large share of this better sentiment can be rightly, I think, attributed to the influence of your Society, and for this reason I wish to be identified with it.' "As the Florida Society is unable to show a membership list that com- pares with that of many of the states, it would ask you to remember the very different conditions under which it exists ; still it congratulates itself that, while its old friends do not desert its ranks, new names are being added to its list, surely showing a more intelligent and wide-spreading interest in bird protection." — Mrs. KlNGSMlLL Marrs, Chairman of Executive Com- mittee. Illinois. — " The Illinois Society has carried on its usual routine work, holding directors' meetings during eight months of the year and our annual meeting in May, at which meeting Mrs. Irene G. Wheelock read a charm- ing paper on ' Birds at Night ' and the Rev. George B. Pratt gave a most interesting history of the Illinois Society. Four new directors have been added to the Board — Mrs. Wheelock, Miss Amelie Hannig, Mr. Charles M. Roe and Mr. Frank Daggett — and six new vice-presidents have been elected, all from places outside of Chicago, among them being Mr. Frank Hall, of Aurora, Superintendent of Farmers Institutes, and Dr. lohn A. Wheeler, the State Game Commissioner. Few new members are reported, — only 33 adults and 2,738 Juniors. An effort has been made to organize a new system by having a secretary for each county, but the results are small, only a few having been secured.
