sept., ?9o4 I THE CONDOR 141 matter concerning this ameudment,post the same near the polling place or on their post-office bul- letin board a few days before election. California Audubon Society The California Audubon Society was organized at Pasadena on March 25, i9o 4. The officers elected to serve during the first year are: President, Dr. Garrett Newkirk; Vice-president, Mrs. Elizabeth Grinnell; SecrYtary and Treasurer, W. Scott Way. A local society was soon afterwards formed at Garvanza, with Mrs. Harriet W. Myers as President, and Miss Foneta Chase Secretary, and another at E1 Monte, with M. F. Quinn as President and Miss Lula Mays Secretary. Junior sections for persons under eighteen years of age are connected with these societies, each having its local secretary. The Ladies Songbird Protective Association, Mrs. J. C. McCracken, President, of Santa Cx;uz county, has affiliated with the Audubon Societies giving a total membership at the last report of about six hundred. It is intended by those having special interest in the movement that the local societies shall federate as a State society when several local branches now formiug have completed their organ- ization. Mr. Charles Keeler is interested in the work and has informed the Pasadena society of his intention to take an active interest in the organization of a local society at Berkeley. The purposes of the Audubon Society, as set forth in the by-laws are: (I) To discourage the purchase or use of the feathers of wild birds for ornamentation. (2) To discourage the destruction of birds and their eggs, and to aid in the enforcement of the laws made for the protection of the same. (3) To spread information of the value of birds in their relation to agriculture. (4) To aid in establishing Bird Day exercises in the schools. (5) To distribute educational literature in the interest of bird protection, and to encourage the study of Natural History. (6) To assist in the protection of game and game birds by enforcing the laws provided therefor, and, in co-operation with game protective associations, in efforts to obtain additional game protective legislation. The society is making a special effort in the interest of the mourning dove, the destruction of which, under existing laws, forebodes the early extermination of the species. The legislature will be urged to take this bird from the game list and protect it at all seasons. In efforts to ob- tain continuous protection for the dove and a general law for protection of wild birds other than game birds, barring harmful species. A number of Granges and other organizations of farmers and fruit-growers have promised the society their influence and co-operation. The society has already secured the enactment of local ordinances protecting some thirty spec- ies of non-game birds and prohibiting all shooting on the public road in both Los Angeles and Santa Cruz counties, and also, in the latter county, an ordinance protecting the mourning dove at at all times until I9O 9. Several thousand cards and posters containing summary of the bird and game laws have been issued and circulated by the Pasadena society, and 2ooo leaflets iu the interest of dove protection are now being distributed throughout the State. Several thousand of the educational leaflets is- sued by the National Committee of Audubon Societies have also been circulated, chiefly among farmers and in the schools. W. Sco?r WAY, Secretary. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CAMERA ttUNTERS.--A national association of wild animal photographers is being formed for the purpose of promoting the new form of sport popularly known as "camera hunting." The main object of this organization will be to bring about the renunciation of the gun for the camera; and it is hoped that it will be an effectivs means of dis- couraging the unnecessary slaughter of the birds and other wild animals of America. All inter. ested should communicate with Le Roy Melville Tufts, "Thrushwood," Farmington, Maine. During the week beginning September 4, an extensive forest fire has been raging in the Santa Cruz mountains, California. The State Park, known as the Big Basin, containing proba- bly the finest stand of redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), has been threatened with total destruc- tion, but press despatches state that some of it will be saved. It is impossible at present to ascer- tain the amount of damage doue. Dr. Ralph Arnold, a club member, viewed a portion of the fire from a high ridge, and tells us that the upper Pescadero was like a roaring furnace, the redwoods going along with the drier underbrush. In this connection it is well to note what a destruction of animal life such a fire entails, although this is one of the least serious aspects of the matter. The forest of the Big Basin was one of surpassing grandeur and beauty, and if it is destroyed, the loss is national, as well as local. Now that the collecting and outing season is about over, members should send in their notes while experiences are fresh in mind. The more that members co-operate the more readable and representative will be the magazine.
