The Audubon Societies 39
vation and study of the living bird, and one June day set forth to “observe.” He knew the village street well and where the nests of half a dozen birds were located, Robins, Wrens, Song Sparrows, Catbirds, Yellow Warblers, Chippies, and the like. There were young birds in almost every nest; of these he made a collection, one from each, and with the aid of a ladder forced the birds to exchange children — result, pandemonium and a feathered riot.
The boy merely said that he wished to see what the birds would do, and he saw that for dire results he might almost as well have stolen the unhatched eggst A more mature strident would have probably written a paper on “Race Antipathy in the Nesting Season: a Study of the Living Bird.”
M. O. W.
Reports of Societies
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENN- SYLVANIA AUDUBON SOCIETY
During the past year the Pennsylvania Audubon Society has conducted its work on practically the same lines as heretofore, with very encouraging success. while the results obtained through the efiorts of the American Ornithologists’ Union, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and other bodies in the inter~ ests of bird protection in America have been of such importance that an outline of them is here given in order that our members may keep in touch with this work.
Through the money subscribed to the “Thayer Fund,” wardens have again been employed to guard the breeding 'I‘erns and Gulls from Maine to Chesapeake Bay and millinery collectors have been effectually kept from disturbing them. Mrt Baily, of the Pennsylvania Society, has superintended this work in New Jersey. In addition to this, more stringent laws have been passed in many of the states in the interests of the birds.
The nature and provisions of the Lacey Act having been carefully explained to the leading wholesale milliners of the eastern cities, they have almost universally ceased to deal in any native American birds. The apparent increase in the use of birds during
the present season is due largely to rhe sell- ing 05 of old retail stock and to the trade in foreign birds.
Investigation by officers of the Pennsyl- vania Audubon Society shows that most of the quills and fancy tufts of feathers now so largely used in millinery are made from the plumage of foreign wild birds, notably Indian species. The laws of this country do not apply to imported birds, and this trade can only be discouraged by the refusal of members of the Audubon Societies to use any feathers for decoration except ostrich plumes and feathers obvioust from domes- tic fowls, such as black chicken feathers, turkey quills, etc
The attention of our members is particu- larly called to this matter. as so many of the alleged quills and feathers of domestic fowls are really from wild birds. In order to stimulate the use of birdless millinery an arrangement has been made with Mr. George Allen, 121.} Chestnut Street. Philadelphia, by which he will devote one case in his store entirely to "Audubon hats.”
On January 5, 1901. the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Audubon Society was held in the lecture hall of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Mr. Stone presided and made the opening address, being followed by Mr. George Spencer Morris and Mr. William L. Baily, who spoke respectively on “Winter Birds" and “Bird Study with the Camera." As usual the hall was crowded and great interest was shown in the meeting.
During the year the membership has in' creased to 6,700, and requests for circulars and information have been received from many parts of the state nor hitherto repre- sented in the Society.
In all, some 3,000 circulars and pamphlets have been distributed, many of which have been placed in Village stores, schools anti reading~roomst The number of local secre» raries has increased in a most encouraging manner. and we now have representatives in sixtv-seven towns, villages, etct, through the state.
During the year a Committee on Travel- ing Nature-Study Libraries was appointed underthe management of Miss Hilda Justice. In response to a circular issued in June,
long
