gramme was sent to 1,350 of these schools. Care was naturally used to see that the rural schools, at least, should be reached. Through the kindness of Congressman Hill of this district, one of our vice-presidents, 740 copies of Bulletin No. 54, ‘Some Common Birds in their Relation to Agriculture,’ issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, were received by the secretary, and 600 of these have been mailed to individuals.
The Society has had two lectures prepared, one by Willard G. Van Name, entitled ‘Facts About Birds That Concern the Farmer,’ illustrated by sixty colored lantern slides, and one by Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright, on ‘The Birds About Home,’ illustrated by seventy colored slides. A parlor stereopticon has been purchased for use in projecting the slides.
The lectures and slides are intended primarily for the use of the local secretaries of the society, and after these for such members of the society as desire to give educational entertainments in the interest of bird protection.
The only expense connected with the use of the lectures and slides will be the expressage from Fairfield to place and return.
Under no circumstances will the outfit be allowed to go outside of the State of Connecticut.
The oil lantern accompanying the slides is suitable for a large parlor or school room, and can be worked by anyone understanding the focussing of a photographic camera, but it is advised that when the audience is to be composed of more than fifty people the exhibitor should secure a regular stereopticon.
Applications should be made at least two weeks before the outfit is desired.
No admission fee is to be charged at any entertainment at which the outfit is used, the intention of the Audubon Society of the State of Connecticut being to furnish free information about our birds, and so win many, who may never have given the matter a thought, to a sense of the necessity and wisdom of their protection.
The secretary is glad to report on January 1, 1899, that the society has had practical proof of the success of its experiment in sending out these free illustrated lectures. Much interest has been awakened by them, and the State Board of Agriculture has listed both lectures for the Farmers′ Institutes, held during the winter months. Much enterprise is being shown by local secretaries. An illustrated lecture by Mrs. Kate Tryon, having been given in Bridgeport, November 19, under the auspices of Miss Grace Moody (local secretary), Mrs. Howard N. Knapp, and Mrs. C. K. Averill. While Mr. Frank M. Chapman lectured before a large audience at the Stamford High School, on December 2, under the auspices of Mrs. Walter M. Smith, the local secretary of that city.
NEW YORK SOCIETY
Since November, 1897, the society has distributed 13,465 leaflets, making a total distribution of over 40,000 since its organization on February 23, 1897.
In spite of this large circulation of literature, the society has only 529 members, including 9 patrons, 7 sustaining members, 356 members, 157 junior members.
Financially, the society is now in a sound condition.
During the year two public meetings have been held in the large lecture hall of the American Museum of Natural History, at both of which the hall was well filled. Addresses were made by Dr. Henry van Dyke, Dr. Heber Newton, and others.
A ‘Bird Talk’ was also given by Mr. W. T. Hornaday, at the house of one of the honorary vice-presidents, which was well attended.
In educational work we have secured the publication of a paper on ‘The Relation of Birds to Trees,’ by Florence A. Merriam, in the annual Arbor Day Manual of New York State, and Mr. Chapman, chairman of our Executive Committee,
