140 



Bird -Lore 



elude as members both teachers and pupils, 

 and are strong factors in spreading an 

 interest in the Society's work. During the 

 year just concluded, the membership thereof 

 has increased from 13,441 to 17,858. 



2. Publishing in conjunction with the 

 Illinois Audubon Society, as the organ of 

 both, a small monthly eight-page magazine, 

 'By the Wayside.' This is intended to 

 interest both adults aiul cliildren; the sub- 

 scription price is 25 cents a year. Besides 

 the 'Children's Department' — which is 

 mainly filled with letters written by cliil- 

 dren about birds, for the best of which a 

 prize or honor badge is awarded each 

 month — ' By th^ Wayside' has during the 

 past year contained notes on bird-migration, 

 book reviews, and scientific information 

 along other lines of natural science. A 

 similar editorial policy will hereafter be 

 maintained. 



3. The publication of Bulletin No. i, 

 'Some Bird Problems for the Farmer,' 

 written by Dr. O. G. Libby, of the Uni- 

 versity of Wisconsin. 



4. The acquisition of nearly two hundred 

 lantern-slides, seventy of which are colored. 

 These are rented for a small sum to any 

 school branch or local society desiring to 

 use them. They have thus far been used 

 at the following places: Milwaukee, White- 

 water, Hillside, Medford, Hartford, Lake 

 Forest, Kenosha, and Prescott. 



5. Securing the passage by the state 

 legislature of 190J, of a more efficient law 

 (Chap. 196) for the protection of wild birds 

 in Wisconsin. 



6. The formation of classes at Madison, 

 under competent guidance, for field-work in 

 bird-study. During the spring of 1901, 

 nearly two hundred different persons were 

 present at these meetings. During the same 

 spring a series of four lectures along this 

 line, illustrated by lantern - slides and 

 museum specimens, was given at the State 

 University. 



7. The circulation throughout the state, 

 of the Gordon Library of ten bird books, 

 the nucleus for which was presented to the 

 So.cjety in 1899, by Mrs. George Gordon of 

 Milwaukee. During the past year there 

 have been so many calls for these books that 



the Society hopes to be able in the near 

 future to purchase two similar collections. 



Through the courtesy of the State Super- 

 intendent of Public Instruction, the 'Arbor 

 and Bird Day Annual ' for 1902, issued by 

 his department, will again carry from the 

 Audubon Society a message of invitation to 

 each puMic school in the state to cooperate 

 in this m()\enK'nt and to form a school 

 branch. The success of these branches is 

 almost entirely due to the intelligent assist- 

 ance of the teachers, without which it would 

 be impossible tocarry on any organized work 

 among the children of the commonwealth. 



It is hoped that the coming year will 

 bring to us many new members, as well as 

 increased financial support. Contributions 

 of money to be spent for the general work 

 of the Society, or in some special manner 

 indicated by the giver, are also much 

 needed. Jessie T. Thwaites, Sec. 



Bird - Protection Abroad 



It is pleasing to note that the government 

 authorities abroad are paying much atten- 

 tion to the protection of birds. According 

 to a recent cable dispatch the Minister of 

 Agriculture of Belgium has instructed that 

 berry-bearing trees in the government for- 

 ests shall remain untrimrned until the end 

 of winter in order to allow the birds plenty 

 of food. Hitherto they have been trimmed 

 in October. It is not generally known how- 

 much birds contribute to the sanitary con- 

 dition of the world; in fact, it has often 

 been said that man could not live upon the 

 earth were it not for the birds. Besides 

 being a perennial delight to lovers of nature, 

 the existence of bird- life is a necessity for 

 the health of the people. During the past 

 season, on some of our outings, we have 

 noted more birds than for many previous 

 years. American people better understand 

 at the present time the need of the preserva- 

 tion of birds; but there is much still to be 

 learned. Every sportsman should assume 

 his share of the work in protecting our 

 birds. — ShootiniT ami Fishing. 



Note. — A report from the Florida Audu- 

 bon Society is of necessity postponed until 

 our next issue. 



