248 Bird - Lore SUGGESTIONS FOR SPECIAL AUDUBON WORK Bird Clubs. — Form Bird Clubs in the schools and in rural centers. The National Association has a leaflet on this subject (Special Leaflet, No. 3), which should be circulated widely. Bird Clubs will excite the interest of children and give them that " something to do " which every energetic child needs. Bird Boxes. — The State Societies are recommended to offer a series of prizes for the best-planned and most successfully used bird-houses. This will be another means of securing the cooperation of the young people and also of attracting around the homes valuable and interesting birds. Feeding and Drinking Places. — There are occasions in winter when birds suffer very greatly for lack of food, especially during and after heavy sleet- storms, when a crust forms on the surface of the snow and the trees are encased in ice. It is the duty of every Audubon Society to urge the public, especially the children, to feed the birds at such times. There is not a paper in the country that would refuse to publish, without charge, such a request, if it is made by an Audubon organization. The press is always willing to further such good civic effort. The request should be accompanied by directions as to kinds of food to be distributed and how it should be done. Thousands of birds may be saved in this manner, and many may be saved unnecessary suffering. Quail. — The growing scarcity of Quail in a large belt of the country is in part due to the severity of the winters, when they die from lack of food, which is covered by a crust of frozen snow. This can, in a great measure, be prevented by the Audubon Societies, if they will take up the matter systematically. Send circulars to the schools, and the granges of your state, and urge them to locate the coveys of Quail in their neighborhood in order to feed them when necessary. The circulars should give full directions as to best methods of feeding and kinds of food. The press will always be glad to aid in this work by publishing your Quail circulars. It must be remembered that, when the Bob-white disappears from any of the middle or eastern states, they will be gone forever, as it will be almost impossible to replace them by birds from other states, nearly all the commonwealths, especially in the South and Southwest, having already passed laws prohibit- ing the export of Quail, either alive or dead.
