326 Bird - Lore 



Not only did wc have the cooperation of the principals and teachers of the 

 ymblic schools which Superintendent Dyer made possible, and the help of the 

 librarians in the various branch libraries, but even our University auditorium 

 and ornithological exhibit were thrown open to the young people, and a delight- 

 ful repast served to them in a talk on " Table Manners of the Birds, " by Professor 

 Harris M. Benedict. 



We feel a sort of gratified ])ride in having been in any way responsible for 

 a linking together in a common bond of study the three systems of education 

 of Cincinnati, — the public schools, the libraries and the University. We hope 

 that this series of lectures may become an established custom, and that they will 

 always be so fascinating and attractive as to be their own advertisement. Nor 

 must we forget to express our gratitude to the newspapers, which have, both 

 editorially and reportorially, given ample encouragement to the public to take 

 u]) the study of birds. 



A verv gratifying piece of news is the establishment of a new branch Audubon 

 Society in Covington, Kentuck\-. Covington really ought to be a suburb of 

 Cincinnati, it is so closely related, commercially and socially; and so we feel that 

 this local Society, while in another state, belongs to us, as it really was formed 

 and launched under the ef^kient guidance of our President, ^Ir. Wm. Hubbell 

 Fisher, and wc feel a parental pride in the auspicious beginning of the life of the 

 new fledgeling. 



Our field meetings were many and ver\- enjoyable. Here, again, we see the 

 inter-relation of the University and the Audubon Society, as most of the excur- 

 sionists were connected with one or both institutions. 



We can see where we have made great advance over the preceding year; 

 but we are not blind to our weak points, and hope to strengthen these in the near 

 future. 



While there are man}- requests for literature and information from all parts of 

 the state, there has never been sufficient time or funds, as yet, to establish many 

 strong local societies in Ohio. There are a few, but not a systematic chain of 

 forts, as we dream of in the not-impossible future. But first we must fortify 

 ourselves financially, to make the other fortification possible. 



The Committee on Bird-houses, under the efficient chairmanship of Prof. 

 George \Y. Harper, went quietly but effectively to work, and in May reported 

 over one thousand Bird-homes completed by the pu{)ils in the manual-training 

 de])artment of the public schools, ready for placing in the ])arks. Our monthly 

 meetings are still as attractive as possible, when those who have been busy in 

 the good cause are allowed to sit back and enjoy hearing some charming narra- 

 tion of bird observation. 



Last year also records a visit from Professor P'inley, with his unsurpassed 

 stereopticon ])ictures. 



The work goes steadily on, making itself felt in many ways, — in our own 

 lives, and in those about us; and we hope the little feathered creatures feel safer 



