The Audubon Societies 75
a permanent endowment iund. Not a sug- gestion or helpful word has been received. Is not this giving a stone when bread was asked? Bird-protection work has only just commenced, and the several societies must not consider their duty done ii they look well after their local interests: there is the broader field of national work that must be carried on by the joint efforts ol each so- ciety; the strong must help the weak. The Heron Leaflet. Educational Leaflet No. 7. has been called for from unexpected quar- ters. The Millinery Merchants‘ Protective Association asked for 5oo copies. to be dis- tributed among its members. and a promi- nent wholesale millinery firm in Ohio sent for r.ooo copies. which they volunteered to dis~ tribute among theircustomets. The British Society for the Protection of Birds sent for 2.5oo copies. as they desired to send one to each subscriber to their organ. " Bird Notes and News.” The press noticed this leaflet more freely than any other publication ever issued by the National Committee, some papers publishing the entire text. with an illustration.
The suggestion of the National Commit- tee that the children of the country feed the birds during the severe winter weather was sent out as a news item by the Associated Press. and undoubtedly was the direct means of saving thousands of birds.
Legislative matters are in a ferment at the present time. [n Rhode Island a bill has been introduced to prohibit the sale of Rufied Grouse and also to make the close season for shore-birds from January 1 to july i5. thus preventing the wasteful prac- tice of spring shooting.
In New Jersey the bill to permit the kill- ing of Robins. Highholders. Catbirds and Meadowlarks was defeated by an almost unanimous vote. In Virginia an eflort is being made to repeal the anti-spring-shoot- ing law for shore-birds passed in I903 ; also, to take protection from Doves. Hawks. Owls and the Nighthawk. The result is still doubtful. notwithstanding the etiorts of the National Committee and several sena- tors and delegates who worked so faithfully last year for the passage of the excellent law now in force in Virginia. In South Caro~
Iina a bill was introduced following the A. o. u. model law. but was adversely re- ported by the Committee on Agriculture to whom it was referred. They recom» mended "that it he not passed, as it was too sweeping." It is evident that a large amount of education is needed in South Carolina when an agricultural committee refuses to recommend a law which especially intended to benefit the farmer
and protect their interests,
was
in Mississippi is non-game-liird hill was introduced and was almost unanimously passed in the House of Delegates. It is now before the Senate and will probath become a law. as Gov. A. H. Longino. in his annual message totlle Legislature. rec- omlnendcd "that a law lie passed pro~ tecting from slaughter all birds. except game-birds. throughout the entire year." In Iowa the model law is before the Legis- lature. bu its adoption is somewhat doubt~ ful. although the State Audubon Society and the National Committee are doing all that is possible to push it. A bill to pre- vent trap-shooting of tame Pigeons was passed and is now a law.
Truly the Audubon Societies have much educational work still to do. The millen- nium period of bird ~protection is still far distant, especially the phase connected with legislation.
Audubon work is progressing finely. In Maine the Ornithological Society has just appointed a committee oi five members who desire to place their state in the from tank of bird protectors and lovers. In Colorado 3 second junior Audubon Society was or. ganized February 22. with over “0 charter members. This is excellent work. and the National Committee recommended that the several state societies push this branch more diligently. in Alabama there is every probability that an Audubon Socie; will be organized in a short time. In Michigan. also. active steps are being taken by the Ornithological Society to advance Audubon methods. and to that end Mr. T. Jelierson Butler has been elected the Audubon Secre- tary. A society will. undoubtedly. be or- ganized in California before the next issue of Bun-Lan. Funds for the work of the
