The Audubon Societies 



197 



much. Last week we went for a walk in 

 the woods and secured a number of last 

 year's nests for our collection. We are 

 also studying the ways of the R()l)in, iilue 

 Jay, Song Sparrow and Wren." 



Mr. Roderick B. Thaw writes from New 

 Germantown, N. J.: "My pupils are very 

 much interested in the work, and the 

 mov'ement meets with the approval and 

 hearty cooperation of the parents." 



Mrs. L. S. Gillentine, Murfreesboro, 

 Tenn., says: "Our Junor Class is growing 

 in numbers, is very much interested, 

 and is doing beautiful work. I ha\e never 

 seen more enthusiasm displayed in my 

 teaching experience of sixteen years." 



Prof. C. E. Bender, principal of the 

 high school of Oakland, Md., has written: 

 "Ycsterda}- we organized with a member- 

 ship of fortj^-nine students. Herewith I 

 enclose check for $4.90 for membership 

 fees, in exchange for literature and buttons. 

 I think the Audubon Society is a great 

 Association." 



Miss Laura L. Faucett, of Lenoir, N. C, 

 reports: "The members of the class are 

 delighted with their leaflets and buttons. 

 They are going to give a bird-day program 

 before the school tomorrow, which will, 

 I am sure, increase the interest in bird- 

 study." 



Miss Sallie 0. Ewing, who conducts an 

 Audubon Class in the Roanoke, Va., 

 schools, says: "The birds are all coming 

 back from the South, and the children 

 have been busy getting ready for them 

 by nailing up chalk-boxes and other recep- 

 tacles for nesting-places. Their little 

 faces beam with delight as they tell me 

 each day of new arrivals, sweet songs, etc., 

 and they are eager to care for the birds 

 and protect them. I am sending a list 

 of teachers who are interested in birds, 

 and who will be glad to receive sample 

 leaflets and learn of your plan of organi- 

 zation." 



The officers of a number of the State 

 Audubon Societies are cooperating with 

 the National Association in pushing this 

 highly important phase of our work and 

 we hope eventually to extend it through- 

 out the country. — T. G. P. 



New York Bird and Ganne Law 



On April 15, Governor Dix signed the 

 New York Conservation Law, which 

 carried with it a re-codification of the 

 state's game laws. This re-codification is 

 calculated to clear away the confusion 

 and chaotic condition resulting from an 

 accumulation of laws which had been 

 added from year to year and many of 

 which were more or less conflicting. 



One of the provisions of the new law is 

 that any citizen may complain of insuf- 

 ficient protection to fish or game, and be 

 accorded a hearing on such complaint 

 within twenty days. 



Another provision permits the Commis- 

 sion to grant relief to the owner of any 

 property on which protected species be- 

 come destructive; birds or quadrupeds 

 in question being disposed of by a State 

 Protector under the direction of the Com- 

 mission. The Commission believes that 

 fewer laws and an ever-increasing vigilance 

 in their enforcement will result in more 

 game. 



The new measure provides for the in- 

 crease of game protectors from ninety- 

 five to one hundred and twenty-five. The 

 state is declared to be the owner of all 

 wild fish and game for the purpose of 

 controlling the capture or killing of same. 

 Prohibition of sale of fish, birds or quad- 

 rupeds is an important part of the present 

 law. 



The laws have now been made more 

 uniform, and will doubtless tend to be 

 more generally popular because more lib- 

 eral, while tending at the same time to 

 afl[ord greater protection to birds and 

 game. 



In the portion of the statute that deals 

 with birds, there are several distinct 

 gains. Geese, Brant and Ducks still have 

 the same open season, i. c., September 15 

 to January 10, but there is a permanent 

 close season established for Swans and 

 Wood Ducks. The total bag limit for 

 all species combined is twenty-five to 

 each hunter, and forty for two or more 

 persons in the same boat, battery or blind 

 in one day. Rails, Coots and ISIud Hens 



