Page:Bird-lore Vol 08.djvu/325

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State Reports 275 bat swept the cotton fields, and was, in fact, a winged stomach for the destruction of flying insect life ; that the Bull-bat regarded the cotton boll-weevil as an especial dainty, and that if there were enough Bull- bats the cotton boll-weevil would cease to exist. The Texas Audubon Society can, and will, in the course of time, fulfil its mission. " — M. B. Davis, Secretary. Vermont. — "The chief work of the Audubon Society for the past year has been educational. Lectures have been given to teachers and school children, junior societies organized, and young people throughout the state interested in bird protection. The junior members, to the number of several hundred, are enthusiastic in putting up bird-houses, feeding winter birds, studying their life histories, reporting offenders against the game laws, and otherwise aiding Audubon interests, Three traveling libraries are in con- stant circulation among country schools, especially in localities where there is little sentiment for the protection of birds. At the State Summer School for teachers, one of the instructors gave lectures on birds and conducted daily walks, and at some of the grange meetings, talks on birds, in their relation to agriculture, have been given to the farmers. "In cooperation with the Vermont Bird Club, the Audubon Society is preparing posters printed in several languages and containing the game laws. These are to be placed wherever they are especially needed for the informa- tion of the foreigners, who are the worst offenders against these laws. Bird migration lists, which are filled out by members in all parts of the state, and sent to the secretary, will eventually be valuable in revising the state list. "While none of these activities is in itself large, it is hoped, by means of them all, to exert a far-reaching influence on educational forces, and to build a foundation upon which excellent work for the Audubon Society may be done in the future." — Miss Delia I. Griffin, Secretary. Wisconsin. — " The Wisconsin Audubon Society has continued its pre- vious lines of work, the principal being the publication of our little magazine ' By the Wayside ' This enterprise absorbs the greater part of the Society's funds, but, as it reaches and interests more children than could be reached in any other way, it is considered our most important work. The excellent Educational Leaflets issued by the National Association are distributed to schools and libraries throughout the state, and our slides and lectures are kept in use as frequently as possible: The Society feels that the interest of the general public in birds and bird study has greatly increased, and reports from various parts of the state indicate a greater number of nesting birds than ever before." — Mrs. Jessie T. Thwaites, Secretary.