The Audubon Societies 149 We had greatly hoped that Bird Day would be established by law at the session of the State Legislature just closed, but it has been placed in the hands of a most excellent commission, with the state super- intendent of schools and one of our Audu- bon directors — county superintendent of Schools of Cook county — among its mem- bers; so its prospects are bright. Some of our local branches— particularly those in Chicago Heights, Alton, Galena, Lake Forest, Streator and La Grange — are doing excellent work, but the rinding of interested and efHcient ofhcers for local societies is our inost difficult problem. We have increased our classes of mem- berships by two, making our present mem- berships five : Sustaining-paying $25; associate, $1 ; regular, 25 cents; active, $1 a year, and juniors paying no fees. We have also made several changes in our con- stitution, and have formed from our four- teen directors six committees, thus dividing the work and responsibility more evenly. The old nursery song of the London bells is frequently in our minds: " When I grow rich Say the bells of Shoreditch. When will that be ? Rang the bells of Stephney." Like the "great bell of Bow" we are " sure we don't know," but when the good time comes we have visions of a lending library and an illustrated lecture and other such helpful delights like those of some of our sister Societies. Till those good times come we must make our cents (or sense! ) do the work of dollars and do what we can till we can do what we •tlouLI. LK^ Drimmom), Sfcrelary. DELAWARE SOCIETY The annual meeting of the Delaware Audubon Society was held on Saturdav afternoon, May 25, in the Friends' Meeting House, Fourth and West streets, Wilmington. I Ik- reports nl ihe se( ittaiy and treasurer were read. Mrs. V . S. llilles' report showed a membership of 512. The Society lias been in existence thirteen months. J'he law passed In liu- recent Legislature to proletl birds was rea<l and connuents made concerning it. It was decided to have a number of cards containing the law printed, distributed in the city and state and hung in the parks and other public places. A reward will be offered by the association for information leading to the arrest and con- viction of any one violating the law. A vote of thanks was offered to William Dutcher, treasurer of the American Orni- thologists' Union, of New York; Dr. T. S. Palmer, of the Department of Agriculture; Professor Witmer Stone, of Philadelphia, president of the American Ornithologists' Union of Pennsylvania; and Walter D. Bush and Alfred D. Poole, who assisted in getting the law through the Legislature. A prize of five or ten dollars is to be offered for the best essay on the subject of birds to be written by a boy or girl under the age of nineteen years. The defeat of the pigeon bill was brought up for discussion and congratulations ex- changed. In speaking of the bill, it was said that there are only three species of birds that are not protected by law; viz., the English Sparrow, the Red-wingeil Black- bird, and the Crow Blackbird, which are regarded as injurious to crops. The Society hopes to extend its course of lectures to the people in the state outside of the city, but for the present, on account of lack of funds, it is unable to do so. l"he membership is free and therefore, in order to continue the work, a contribution list is to be started. After the business had been transacted a public meeting was helil. No officers were electetl because a quorum ot directors could not be secureil. A. R. Spaid, I'resident of the Societ , gave a talk. Fifty colored views of birds were shown, most of which had lieen made by Mr. Spaid iluring the winter montlis. I'he lecture was entitled " Birding With a Camera." WISCONSIN SOCIETY il-:,„rlh .Innual Krr'url) During the jiast ear the work ot the Society lias been carried on with igor. Large numbers ot leaflets on iiird protection hae been distributed, an especial effort
