228 Bird -Lore the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals, an Association organized pursuant to and in conformity with an act of the Legislature of the State of New York, passed May 8, 1895, and entitled 'An Act Relating to Membership Corporations,' on condition that the said one-half of my residuary estate shall be held by the said Association in trust, however, for the purposes of its incorporation, provided, however, that one-half of the income derived therefrom shall be applied to the protection of bird and animal life as provided in the Cer- tificate of Incorporation of said Association, and that the other half of said income, so far as needed, may be applied to the employment of solicitors who shall seek permanent endowments for the general benefit and purposes of the aforesaid Association. . . . In case the said National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals cannot or shall not accept the trust on the aforesaid terms and conditions, then I direct and empower my Executors and Trustees to select and designate such other Society, Association or Corporation as in the judgment of my Executors and Trustees is best qualified to protect wild animals and bird-life in North America and elsewhere; and I hereby give, devise and bequeath to such Society, Association or Institution so selected, this one-half of my residuary estate on the foregoing terms and conditions." The wishes of Mr. Willcox were so plainly expressed in his last will and testament, that this Association should not cease striving to increase its permanent endowment, that I think we, as members, are morally bound to do all we personally and collectively can to carry out the desire he so plainly expressed. The work of the National Association is that of grown men and women. It is not a fad nor an ephemeral movement, but it is an undertaking seeking truth in a spirit of fairness and justice. It proposes to protect and preserve the wild life of this continent and, so far as it can, of the world, until such time as careful and exact scientific study can determine the value to the human race of all wild creatures, and to this end it is the purpose of this Society to prevent, by all lawful means, the selfish and wasteful practices that have so long been in vogue. The blind rage and reckless abuse of our critics will have no further effect on us than to make us more firm in our purpose. THE YEAR'S WORK The most important result accomplished is the increasing interest of the public and its growing sympathy with the objects of the Association. This is due to the aid given by the press and to the great amount of bird litera- ture distributed by the State and National Audubon Societies. As much of this material is educational in character and goes to country schools, it has a two-fold effect ; first, on the pupil, and, through him, to the home, where the parents learn of the value of the birds. Not the least of the good results accomplished is the payment of a debt owed by the Society to the widow and orphans of our murdered warden, Guy Morrell Bradley. The generosity of our members has enabled the Society, through a special fund of $1873.40, to purchase, in the city of Key West, a very comfortable house and a lot 40 x 90 feet. This was put in
