Page:Bird-lore Vol 08.djvu/100

 76 Bird-Lore mending consideration for these birds which are about to disappear. "Thanking you for the notice, I remain, very respectfully, "(Signed) A. L. Herrera." A Good Example to Follow Among the many letters of commendation and encouragement that are received by the Association for its work in behalf of wild birds, none has brought greater cheer than the one from which the following extract is made: "I have left your Society $5,000 in my will, and I hope that if there is any material life in the world to which we all must go, that the birds may welcome me as they do so many mornings in my country home."— W. D. A Plea for the Robin in the South As a most earnest believer in the God- given right of even the most helpless of his creatures to live and enjoy life, this plea for the Robin is made. In the South this bird is only a winter resident, and of course the people cannot possibly have the attach- ment for it that obtains in other parts of the country where it makes its breeding home. The Robin is the most familiar bird of the North; it is the sharer of our home-life; it builds its nests in the vines on our porches or in the trees on our lawns ; its voice is the first we hear in the spring and it sings for us until the leaves fade in the fall; it is to us what the Mocking-bird and Cardinal are to the people of the South. It stirs our hearts deeply to think that our best-loved bird has not the same affection shown him in other parts of the country. The National Association has waged a long and arduous fight for your Cardinal and Mocking-bird in all parts of the coun- try, and can now truly say that none are sold for cage captives in the North. This result is due entirely to the efforts and hard work of this society. We now ask you to reciprocate and do for the Robin what has been done for your special bird pets. There is still another side of this question, i. e., the economic. The Robin destroys myriads of noxious insects wherever it breeds, and undoubtedly will be found to do the same in its winter quarters. Its value as an aid to agriculture is too great to warrant its being killed for food. We ask you to try to have the Robin protected during the short time it is with you and also help us educate the public to spare it. — W. D. Bird-Lists of the Massachusetts Society The ten best lists of Massachusetts birds for the year ending December 31, 1905, were made by the following observers : No. of Species 192 151 125 117 Il6 114 I 10 107 I02 72- Name Lilian E. Bridge. James L. Peters. . . Anna K. Barry. Bertha Langmaid. Arthur W. Fletcher. Louise Howe. . . Samuel D. Robbins. Sarah K. Swift. Florence Howe. . . Georgianna M. Wheelock The White Badge of Cruelty In view of the decision of the courts in regard to foreign birds, to which attention is called above, we sincerely hope that the wishes of the ' Millinery Trade Review ' that "there will be no let-up" in the con- test between the dealers in aigrettes and the Audubon Societies may be fully gratified. As for the ' women and girls ' whose THE WHITE BADGE OF CRUELTY