Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-26
NATURES CHILDREN
IN MOVING PICTURES
Theme of Lecture by William l.
Finley Before National Geo.
graphic Society.
Explains Work of Training Children
to Uphold and Promote Game
and Fish Laws.

| William L. Finley of the Oregon fish
and game commission lectured before
members of the National Geographic
Society on Natures Children in Nov
| ing Pictures at the New Masonic
Temple last night. The film actors, fish
and birds of the Oregon waters and
fields, were shown about the routine
| business of their everyday lives. nest
ing and feeding. The address was ex-
planatory of the novel work being done
in Oregon to train up the present
generation of children in the ways of
enthusiastic naturalsts. thus winning
host Of future adherents to projects
for the proper protection of the coun-
try's game and fish resources.
Game protection is one of the ma
tons important problems" the lecturer
tegan. I'm spite of all that has been
attempted in the laws of the last few
years. our game has been steadily
diminishing. We have approached the
problem of game protection from a
wrong angle. from the police angle. 1t
is not so much police problem as it
is an educational problem, and one of
the best ways to go about its solution
is to teach the children of the country
to take an interest in bird life; teach
the window; make them naturalists."
Building of Birds Houses.
The lecturer told about the efforts in
his state toward interesting the school
children in the building and placing
of birds houses Many of the boys
who proved but Indifferent pupils in
the classrooms, he said, had taken up
this work with a Zest, and became
students of nature unawares When
they took the houses into the orchards
and the woods they insisted put
ting For rent signs on them, he con-
tnued.
One boy" Mr. Finley explained. put
the sign For rent-A large family pre-
ferred.' on his birdhouse. Another sign
was, For rent for a song Others were:
For rent-Thirty worms day., and
For rent-No English sparrow need
apply, However, the sign did not trou-
bic the sparrows, for two of them
took possession of the house. nothwith-
standing the sign, and raised large
family in it,
More Than a Sentimental Reason.
There is more than a sentimental
reason for conserving and increasing
bird life he said. THE birds are of
great economic value. as they are
the greatest natural check to the I'M
numbered hordes of insects on all sides
If it were not for our birds our great
forests would soon begin to look like
armies of telephone poles. bare Of all
leaves
STRAY cats are the greatest of enc
mics to the birds. Our children have
had many times to be father and
mother to little nestlings left orphans
by the murder done by some hungry
cat. In such cases they have had ex-
perience in the difficulties of bringing
up family. for such are the appetites
of the young birds that they must
be fed their own weight and more in
worms and insects each day. They eat
just one meal day, but that begins
IN the morning and lasts till night
fall"
Work of Oregon Hatcheries.
Mr. Finley told of the work of the
Oregon hatcheries, and showed in the
films the recovery of the eggs from
the female fish and of the fertiIizing
milt from the male fish These eggs
are Matched by the millions in the
hatcheries. he said, and the fish are
Kept sheltered from their natural en-
emies IN pools until they reach size
OF from two to four inches when they.
are liberated in the rivers.