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triclt plume rightfully clings to the better- most headgear. 'I‘he quill is a ditticult ornament to replace, and women sltould be grateful to the Millitlers‘ Association if they can produce it .n a legitimate manner trorn the wings oi tood hirds, and thus keep our consciences antl wet-weather appearance in good accord.
On the other hand, the response of the State Audubon Societies has been no uncer- t ' note; and even though the numerical majority has nm yet signed, the most impor» tant societies that carry the balance of power have at once come to the front and a chain has been formed down the east coast and well across the continent to Colorado; for to the date of writing the list includes Colo- rado. Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New jersey, New York, Penn~ sylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wtsconsin.
Another demand of autumn is a renewal of financial interest in the doings of the National Committee of Audubon Societi s, not only that thc issue at its series of Edu- cational Leaflets may be uninterrupted. but that it may distribute these widely and freely instead of being forced to charge even the cost of production.
Leaflet No. 5, ‘The Flicker,‘the latest to appear, is an example oi the great impor-
tance of this work; tor this \Voodpecker of many names has, together wirh the Meadow- Lark, so long been considered a game»bird. that this tribute to its economic value should he scatteret’ broadcast at this its flocking sca- son, when its well»fed, pigeondike frame outlined on a tree trunk or taking ants from a bank ofiers fatal temptation of an easy mark to the lesser owners of guns who imagine themselves spurtslnen.~M. 0. W.
Reports of Societies ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY
This repurl, while appearing so late in the year, should he dated March 28. as the fact covered by it embrace only the year previous to that date. ()ur 'fncts' arc, as
nsunl. llotll encouraging and discouraging.
Bird - Lore
The most obvious ones. the statistics. show an increase in membership of 43 adults and 3,462 juniors; a very poor showing for the seniors, but a good one tor the children. The total number joining since our organi< zation. April t, t897, being about 14,461. There have beentwo general meetings lteld, with addresses and stereopticon views, and seven directors‘ meetings, besides numbers of meetings of a local nature, in which the officers of the society have had more or less of all active interest.
We have distributed 6.843 leaflets during the year. t,500 of which went to milliners in the state, 2.000 to the state superintendent of schools for distribution. and about 2,500 were pnrrhasod for the use of farmers’ institutes.
Our traveling libraries, two in number, tvhile reported as 'ready for duty’ last year. have practically done no active service until recently. This year they promise to do good work.
One of our plans, an illustrated lecture, has passed from the region of hope to that of reality»fifty-six slides were procured, anti a charming lecture to accompany them was written by Mr. Edward B. Clark, author of ‘Birds of Lakeside and Prairie.‘ This lecture has already done yeoman's service, the only drawback to its usefulness being its inability to he in two places at once, and the lack of a lantern to send with it.
Our local branches have done better than ever before, and we hear from a number of points of the excellent work done in the schools. of addresses on bird protection be» lore women‘s clubs. farmers' institutes, etc, The secretary has received letters from 43 of the 2.7le towns of the state—very few— lult, at least. a 'liule leaven.’
’l‘he sending of r.ooo notices of the state law to milliners in the state, and the faith- ful work of our president, have brought ex- cellent results, many of thclargest wholesale lnilliners agreeing not to handle the unlaw~ lul feathers hereafter.
The sot-rery mourns the death ot one of its vicerpresidents, Prof. Si A. Forbes. who was a true friend of the birds and of the society,
