society, on the general work of the Audubon societies.
The society has distributed nearly 7,000 leaflets and circulars, several of them having been procured of the United States government, through the kindness of our members of Congress.
An additional circular has recently been issued in which prizes are offered to the school children of New Hampshire on the following conditions: Two prizes, one of ten dollars and one of five dollars to children over twelve and under seventeen years of age; and two more, one of five dollars and one of three dollars to children under twelve years of age. These prizes are to be awarded for the best compositions on 'Birds,' the compositions to be written as the result of personal observation, the contest to close January 1, 1900. The society has adopted the bird chart lately published by the Massachusetts Society, and is introducing it as rapidly as possible into the schools of the state.
A Message from Madame Lehmann
At the second annual meeting of the New York State Audubon Society, Mad- ame Lilli Lehmann, whose love of ani- mals is perhaps even greater than her love of music, made an eloquent appeal to women to cease from feather-wearing, which she characterized as a form of bar- barism, and to aid the Audubon Societies in their efforts to protect the birds.
Through the editor of Bird-Lore, she sends to the Audubon Societies the following message, the tenor of which, it will be noticed, is in close accord with the views of the editor of this Department, as expressed in the last issue of this Journal.—F. M. C.
Madame Lehmann writes: "Tell the Societies that I take the greatest interest in their work, that I do everything I can, and every minute, if the occasion offers, to protect the birds.
"Tell them, also, that it is the duty of everyone to speak and to do something every day for the cause; that it is not sufficient to give a dollar or two—that alone will never help us. It is the living word, the reasons given, the good example and the teaching to everyone that can bring us further in civilization."
Two New Audubon Societies
We announce with pleasure the formation of Audubon Societies in Texas and in California. The Texas Society was organized on March 4, at Galveston, with Miss Cecile Seixas as secretary. The organization of the California Society was lately completed at Redland, with Mrs. Geo. S. Gay as secretary. The addresses of the secretaries of these societies are given in our 'Directory,' and we trust that they will receive the cooperation of all bird-lovers in their respective states.
American Society of Bird Restorers
A report of the work of the American Society of Bird Restorers, prepared by Mr. Fletcher Osgood, its organizer and manager, will appear in Bird-Lore for August.
Birds and Farmers
It is pleasing to know that some farmers are awakening to the fact that birds are an important factor in agriculture. At the last monthly meeting of the Farmers' Club of the American Institute of New York, the subject for discussion was "Birds and Their Relation to Agriculture." The subject was introduced by Mr. N. Hallock, who presented a well prepared paper giving much valuable information regarding birds as insect destroyers. These statistics were from publications of the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture and from his own observations. He strongly urged the protection of all birds from the farmer's standpoint. The paper was then discussed by the members present. Mr. William Dutcher, of the Executive Committee of the New York Audubon Society, who was present, addressed the Club, elaborating some of the statements in the paper under discussion and emphasizing the fact that every bird an agriculturist permitted to be killed on his farm was a direct loss to him in money value.
