446 Bird - Lore 



was mortal of one of the most faithful friends the birds ever had was laid away 

 in beautiful Oakwood Cemetery, followed by the deepest regrets of friends 

 from far and near who had known him and his life work. 



If the above letter had been intended for a part of his annual report, it 

 could not have been more to the purpose. 



The organization of Junior Audubon Clubs in the schools of the state was 

 a part of a year's work. It will be taken up again together with talks and 

 demonstration with charts for the education of the yoiing, now that the schools 

 are in session for the year. 



Having studied different methods of bird-protection, laying due stress, 

 always, upon wise legislation and favor with the law-makers, we have come 

 to the conclusion that educating the children from the kindergarten age up 

 through all the grades to graduation is the surest way of encouraging the 

 preservation of birds and wild Hfe; for, after all, the heart to love helpless 

 creatures will prevail over the disposition to destroy, and when the boy becomes 

 a man he will protect the birds through principle instead of through fear of 

 the law. We believe that teaching mercy and kindness should be as much a part 

 of the curriculum of our schools as a knowledge of spelling or arithmetic. 



The campaign of bird-protection will be carried up to our next legislature, 

 and strong hands will uphold what has already been done in our state, endeavor- 

 ing to make better and stronger the laws now upon our statute books. 



The State Federation of Women's Clubs, a section of which held a meeting 

 in Waco last April, pledged their support of any legislation the Audubon 

 Society might see fit to promote in the future; so, also, did the truck growers', 

 orchardists' and the farmers' associations generally offer the bird-protectionists 

 their cordial assistance and cooperation. 



We have received hundreds of letters from school-teachers and others 

 asking for information and leaflets on the work, and also from agriculturalists 

 throughout the state. In every instance the leaflets and Audubon buttons 

 have been forwarded with directions for the formation of Junior Audubon 

 Classes. There seems to be a general awakening to the fact that a birdless 

 world may be the legacy inherited by our children's children if the dreadful 

 destruction of birds goes on many years longer unchecked. 



One of the last pieces of work which the late Captain Davis did was to 

 prepare manuscript for a work on 'Birds and Their Relation to Agriculture,' 

 which will soon be issued by the State Commission of Agriculture, at Austin. 



His plea for the Robin last winter was published in all the daily papers 

 of the state, the circulation of which reaches up into the hundreds of thousands. 

 It was read in many lands, and we have the satisfaction of receiving personal 

 letters commending his efforts to remove that charming visitor from the 

 frozen North, the Robin, from the game-bird list of Texas. His work for the 

 shore-birds and the Doves has had wide publication, as well as his efforts to 

 protect the horned toad and the Pelican. 



