Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-10
BOARD sulLErlN FOR JUNE.
THE FARMERS BIRD FRIENDS.

AUGUSTA, JUNE Is, 1900.
A board bulletin Was issued from this
department In 1898, treating on the sub
ject, "Our Song Birds." This bulletin
attracted considerable attention, and
correspondents responded very freely to
the Invitation to write upon the subject.
Noting the continued depredstions OF
insects In our orchards and fields and
the manifest decrease In the number OF
our birds, we have decided to again call
the attention Of the people to these
friends. We believe there Is better
understanding, In the minds Of all who
closely observe the effects Of the de-
struction Of the various birds, Of the ad-
vantsges which may be secured by bet
ter protecting them. That the chief diet
Of large majority of the birds is insects
has been plainly proved by the many in
vestigations that have been made. We
have been led TO believe by study and
observation during the past winter that
many Of the birds which stay In this lat
itude during the winter months are very
beneficial Ia that their desire for insect
food leads them 10 eat the eggs Of the
various csterpillSrs. Their beneficial
work is not confined to the song birds,
but there are many others which directly
or indirectly benefit US. We have been
pleased to note the passage Of the Lacey
Bill, so called, by Congress, which pro-
hioits interstate commerce In any bird
the destruction Of which Is prohibited in
any state. We believe this will material
ly assist In enforcing these laws. We
are also pleased 10 print what Is known
as Mercy Resolution" which WAS
adopted by the Young women's Chris
tisn Temperance Union Of Bangor at
recent meeting held there. We believe
that work along this line Is of especial
benefit, and desire TO call the attention
of the lady readers Of this bulletin to IL.
Mercy Resolution: While we see hu-
name principles steadily gsining among
thoughtful women, there yet remain so
many with whom fashion Is paramount
and for whom beautiful and useful birds
are slaughtered TO immense and disas-
trous extent, that the hand Of the law is
needed 10 preserve these birds from their
imminent extinction. Therefore, we
urge all white-ribboners 10 exert their
influence for the prompt passage Of the
Lacey Game bill, which Ia nos pending
in the United States Senate, having al
ready passed the House, and which aims
TO forbid the slaughter snd sale Of all In
nocent birds and their plumage; and we
recommend that all our members who
have not done so, shall at once sign the
notwithstanding pledge"
LAWS RELATING TO THE DESTRUCTION
OF BIRDS.
Sections %, "A and % Of chapter 80 OF
the Revised Statutes, as amended In 1889
and 1899, read as follows:
whoever kills, or has Ia his posses
sion, any birds commonly known as
larks, robins, swallows, spsrrows, wood
peckers or orioles, OF other insectivorous
birds, crows, English sparrows and
hawks excepted, forfeits not less than
one dollar, nor more than five dollars,
for each such bird killed; and the
possession by any person OF such dead
bird, is prims fscie evidence that he kill
ed such bird. Whoever at any time
wantonly takes or destroys the nest,
eggs or unfedged young Of any wild
bird, except crows, hawks, herons, looms
and owls, or takes any eggs or young
from such nests forfeits not less than
one dollar nor more than ten dollars for
each nest, egg or young so taken or de-
stroyed. Whoever carries or transports
from place to place, any OF the birds
named In this chapter during the period
in which the killing OF such bird Is
prohibited, forfeits five dollars for each
bird so carried or transported"
Section 81 OF chapter ii provides that
IL shall De the duty of all teachers In the
public schools Of this state 70 devote not
less than ten minutes each week TO
teaching 10 the children under their
charge the principles Of kindness 70
birds and animals. Our law allows the
appointing Of commissioners 70 take
birds and eggs for scientific purposes,
but such commissions are surrounded by
many restrictions.