State Audubon Reports 385 



We had many encouraging letters in return, and five counties passed laws 

 closing the season altogether, and one or two counties all but one day. 



We have also sent out from this office all the school literature for the 

 Audubon classes formed in the state, and in this way were in touch with school 

 work. 



To stimulate intelligent interest and observation among the children, we 

 have offered a gold medal for the best essay by a child under sixteen, entitled 

 "What I Saw in My Bird-box" (or "Nest"). 



Our state also set apart May 4 to be observed as "Bird Day," and our 

 State School Journal also published a suggested program (furnished by us) 

 to be used on that day. 



We have had one free public lecture during the year by our gifted National 

 Secretary, Mr. T. Gilbert Pearson, and we feel that our people are becoming 

 better acquainted with, and consequently are more interested in, this splendid 

 work of bird protection. — Mrs. W. E. Harris, President. 



West Virginia. — On October 10, 191 1, the State Audubon Society of West 

 Virginia was organized at Parkersburg, with the following officers: Miss Ida 

 M. Peters, President; Mrs. W. W. George, Vice President; Miss Hattie M. 

 Alleman, Secretary; Mr. Beauchamp Smith, Treasurer. 



The membership started with an enrollment of twenty-five, and since then 

 a number of persons have signified their wish to join. We are delighted with 

 the outlook for an earnest, enthusiastic Audubon Society. 



Among our members we have several teachers, and it is our hope to arouse 

 interest in the schoolrooms and get some Junior Societies formed. 



A committee has been appointed to draft our constitution, and we meet 

 in business session on the twenty-fourth to adopt the same. We propose, this 

 winter, to meet once a month, and at each of these meetings to take up the 

 study of one certain bird, gleaning from reading and observation all the infor- 

 mation possible concerning the subject. A number of our members are desirous 

 of doing field work, and we hope that many more will come to know the pleas- 

 ure and profit of actual observation. We also want to emphasize bird protec- 

 tion. 



Any suggestions that you or the officers of any of the state societies can 

 give us will be very much appreciated. — Hattie M. Alleman, Secretary. 



Wisconsin. — The Wisconsin Audubon Society has experienced a fairly 

 successful year. It published, throughout the school year, September to 

 June inclusive, its little monthly magazine "By the Wayside," which is devoted 

 to the protection of birds, and to arousing children's interest in birds and in 

 nature generally. ; ' 



During the winter and spring, the state legislature was in session. Among 

 the mass of bills introduced were a goodly number relating to bird protection. 



