158 



more reaching in its results than was probably anticipated by 

 its originators. The American Ornithologists' Union in- 

 structed the Council to prepare and present a proper memorial 

 to Congress, and also to the Canadian Government, in behalf 

 of the Committee on Bird r^Iigration, and to consider what 

 other means could be devised to promote the work. As the 

 result of the appeal to Congress, an appropriation of $5,000 

 in aid of the work was secured through the United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture, and from this humble beginning has 

 grown the present Biological Survey, a Division of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, which still has at its head 

 Dr. IMerriam, the original superintendent, who has gathered 

 about him a staff of well-known ornithologists. 



The great value of the work of this important division of 

 the Government is becoming more and more apparent every 

 year, especially in the great mass of educational material that 

 is being published, and in the active part it is taking in the 

 work of protecting both game and non-game birds. 



An editorial entitled "The Audubon Society" appeared Feb- 

 ruary II, 1886, in "Forest and Stream," from which is quoted 

 some facts relating to the organization of the first Audubon 

 Society: 



"Very slowly the public are awakening to see that the fashion of 

 wearing feathers and skins of birds is abominable. Legislation of itself 

 can do little against this barbarous practice, but if public sentiment can be 

 aroused against it, it will die a speedy death. While individual effort 

 may accomplish much, it will work but slowly, and the spread of the 

 movement will be but gradual. Something more than this is needed. 



"In the first half of this century there lived a man who did more to 

 teach Americans about birds of their own land than any other who ever 

 lived. His beautiful and spirited paintings and his charming and tender 

 accounts of the habits of his favorites have made him immortal, and have 

 inspired his countrymen with an ardent love for the birds. The land 

 which produced the painter-naturaliist, John James Audubon, will not 

 willingly see the beautiful forms he loved so well exterminated. 



"We propose the formation of an Association for the protection of 

 wild birds and their eggs, which shall be called the Audubon Society. 

 Its membership is to be free to every one who is willing to lend a helping 

 hand in forwarding the objects for which it is formed. These objects 

 shall be to prevent, so far as possible, (i) the killing of any wild birds 

 not used for food; (2) the destruction of nests or eggs of any wild 

 bird, and (3) the wearing of feathers as ornaments or trimming for 

 dress. 



