State Audubon Reports 309 



lature, giviiii^ a five-year close season on Wood Duck and Upland Plover, has 

 resulted in an increase of numbers of those species. — Mrs. V. \V. B.^tcheldf.k, 

 Secretary. 



New Jersey. — Ii is very evident that there is no falling otT in l^ird interest 

 in this state, if we can judge by the number of persons who are learning to iden- 

 tifv them, and by the books advertised and sold. Interest in all outdoor sports 

 and in nature study has increased, and bird study comes in for its share. The 

 majority of persons, however, feel that they can pursue this study by themselves, 

 and the need of joining a Society or helping in the prosecution of offenders does 

 not present itself to them. 



The chief work done by the New Jersey Society during the past year has been 

 the sending out of several thousand circular letters on the occasion of the spring- 

 shooting bill which was introduced into the Senate last spring. A bill was also intro- 

 duced relating to the selling of game-birds within the state of New Jersey. An effort 

 was made to introduce to the teachers of the public schools the Audubon Leaflets 

 on bird-boxes, with illustrated examples which would appeal to children and 

 enable them to construct these little boxes and bird-houses for themselves. Al- 

 though no replv came from the hundred or more school principals to whom 

 these Leaflets were furnished, it is hoped that an impulse was given in the right 

 direction, and probably a similar attempt will be made during the coming winter. 

 JuLl.\ S. ScRlBXER. Secretary. 



New Jersey. — The La Rue Holmes Nature Lovers' League, organized two 

 years ago, at Summit, New Jersey, for the further protection of the flora and 

 fauna of this country, is a progressive movement accomplishing much in the 

 formation of human character through its precepts of self-sacrifice, as well as 

 in the protection of nature's riches in the locality where it chiefly obtains. 



Composed of thirty chapters, chiefly in schools, both public and private, 

 it is usuallv accepted as a united school movement, all pupils being members, 

 the entire membership numbering about three thousand. 



As a means of increasing sentiment in behalf of protection of forests, native 

 plants and animal life, ninety lectures have recently been given, twenty-five of 

 which were by Mr. Beecher S. Bowdish, of the Audubon Society. About 20.000 

 pictures of birds and 10,500 Leaflets have been distributed during the last ten 

 months in this interest. Of the hundreds of essa\-s written by pupils, based on 

 information received from such sources chiefly, eighty-three of those submitted 

 to the League Essay Committee have been printed in various periodicals. 



About two hundred and si.xty petitions were sent out through the interest 

 of League chapters and 500 circular letters of the Audubon Societ\- distributed, 

 when the New Jersey Legislalure was in session, in behalf of bills affording 

 absolute protection to the game birds of the state. 



Over five hundred folders of the American Forestrv Association were dis- 



