State Audubon Reports 335 



Branch Societies have been formed in Ashland, Va., under the direction of 

 Mrs. Smythey; and in Lynchburg, \'a., under the direction of Miss Mosher. 



Col. Eugene Massie of Richmond has been appointed head of the Legislative 

 Committee to represent the Society before the legislature, with the view of 

 securing a good game-warden system. 



An exhibit of stuffed birds, eggs, nests and pictures was held at the State 

 Fair, October 4-9, under the able supervision of Miss Katharine H. Stuart, of 

 Alexandria. 



Hundreds of Leaflets were distributed, and posters were placed in the Agri- 

 cultural Department, to enlist the interest of the farmers in the work of protect- 

 ing the native birds. — Miss L G. Fitzpatrick, Secretary. 



Washington. — The State Society has been successful in - ecuring the enforce- 

 ment of the law regarding the sale of illegal plumage. We have entered into a 

 contract with the milliners throughout the state to allow them to dispose of all 

 their stock on hand before January i, 1910. They have pledged themsdves that 

 after said date they will aid and assist us in enforcing the law. 



During the past year, we have been successful in securing convictions against 

 some fifty-three violators of non-game bird laws. Four of these were cases where 

 the skins were shipped from the Orient; one case was contested, but we secured 

 the conviction; the others, after seizing the goods, were placed under arrest,, 

 entered a plea of guilty, were fined and surrendered the goods. 



From general reports throughout the state of Washington, I find that the 

 sentiment for the protection of wild bird-life is greatly on the increase. The 

 members are doing active work along these lines. 



The coming year promises to be active and prosperous. — H. Rief, Secretary, 



Wisconsin. — The Wisconsin Audubon Society has been very active during 

 the year 1908-1909. Five directors' meetings were held in Madison, at which 

 matters of importance connected with the advancement of the state wild-bird 

 protection movement were considered. 



Early in the year, the Society loaned to the Milwaukee Public INIuseum the 

 greater portion of its series of bird-study lantern slides. They were in constant 

 use at that institution by Lecturer Alfred C. Burrill of the museum staff, from 

 March until June, being employed in connection with illustrated ature-study 

 lectures to the public school children of Milwaukee. They were used before 

 seventy-six different audiences, embracing a total of nearl}- three thousand pupils. 

 Certainly, no better use of these slides has ever been made, and Mr. Burrill's 

 carefully prepared lectures to these chldren should be the means of saving the 

 lives of many useful birds. Some of the slides were also used in several lectures 

 given to adult audiences in that city. At the Society's suggestion, about forty 

 of them were also loaned to Milwaukee-Downer College, for the use of a class 

 in bird studv. As the lantern slides were in continuous use in Milwaukee, a number 



