State Reports 257 'There is a constantly growing interest in the schools in the subject of bird study, the pupils taking great interest in protecting and feeding the birds during the winter weather, providing them with nesting materials in the spring and observing their food habits at all times of the year. ' The work of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in send- ing out the Bird and Arbor Day Annual, is most helpful, practically putting a bird-study handbook, full of inspiration, into the hands of every teacher in the state. ' The newspapers of the state are actively friendly, publishing much matter that makes for the welfare of the birds, appealing to all classes of readers. A specially valuable work for the birds has been, during the past season, the publication in the 'Ladies' Home Journal' of a series of bird articles by Mrs. Gene Stratton Porter, a member of the Indiana Audubon Society. This magazine goes into nearly a million and a half of homes and has roused interest and enthusiasm for the birds in an enormous audience. It would be most helpful if this magazine would publish another such series next year. ' The Audubon Society has the active cooperation of the State Fish and Game Commission in the law enforcement part of its work, which has been of much benefit in controlling the vicious and thoughtless element whose education must be by fines." — Miss Florence A. Howe, Secretary. Iowa. — " Satisfactory work has been done; the passage of the Model Law, with only a few changes, by the 31st General Assembly, being one of the achievements of the Society. This was accomplished with the aid of the National Association, together with that of Senators Courtright and Winne, Mr. W. F. Parrott and many club women. "Although the membership has not been increased to any extent, a growing interest seems to be manifest throughout the state. The officers, directors and committees have been commendably active. At the Waterloo Chautauqua Assembly in July the Audubon Society established headquarters, with the president, Mrs. Ellen Brown, in charge. Literature was distrib- uted and questions answered regarding the work. The president found an awakening interest in the subject, made suggestions as to courses for bird study and discussed plans for furthering the work. "The following report of Miss Tinkham shows how the work is being conducted in many of our schools: The work that is being done in behalf of the Audubon Society in the schools of Iowa seems to be the study of birds, generally, by means of bird books and charts. Owing to the fact that this study has been almost wholly neglected in the teachers' preparation, it has been necessary for them to do some work by themselves. This has been done through the organization of
