52 Bird -Lore 



at large, field expeditions of \arious kinds, discussions of the legal and economic 

 status of birds, demonstrations of winter feeding stations, visits to private 

 ornithological collections of rare \'alue, talks on bird-literature ^vith an occa- 

 sional social meeting interspersed, make up, in brief, the extremely well- 

 planned schedule of this club. Two to four competent guides, or leaders, are 

 appointed for each field trip, while the indoor meetings are carefully arranged 

 and placed in charge of special speakers or committees. Emphasis is laid upon 

 the benefits derived from keeping note-books, and suggestions are made as to 

 how best to do this. 



The casual reader, upon glancing through such a program, cannot fail to 

 be impressed, first, with the variety, and second, with the excellent correlation 

 of the matter presented. Here is a year's schedule of work containing some- 

 thing to everyone's taste, with the date of each lecture, meeting, field trip, or 

 social occasion, set down in order. 



In connection with the lectures offered, one point is especially Aaluable for 

 Audubon societies to consider, and this is the payment of an admission fee. 

 The Hartford Bird Study Club gives a course of five stereopticon lectures 

 during the year, for which a season ticket is issued at the nominal price of 

 one dollar. 



It is a question which has been much discussed, whether illustrated lectures 

 given primarily for the benefit of the public should be free. For a long time it 

 has been the policy of the Audubon Society to offer as much as it could possibly 

 afford to, both in the way of lectures and literature, without charge; but the 

 opinion seems to be gaining ground that the public appreciates and patronizes 

 what it pays for more than what is given to it gratis at least in the matter of 

 lectures. If this is the case, it is time to profit by the suggestion, not only 

 from the standpoint of finances, but also from that of keeping the standard 

 of lectures high, and the reputation of all of our enterprises distinctive and 

 attractive. 



Finally, the welfare of this neighboring Bird Club is placed in the hands of 

 various committees, which represent a variety of interests, as the following 

 titles indicate, namely, an Executive, a Program, a Field, a Protection, a 

 Publicity, and an Educational Committee. 



It is undoubtedly true that many Bird Clubs and Audubon Societies with 

 a membership as large, if not exceeding that of the Hartford Club, are not 

 actively at work, simply from lack of practical methods. In bird-study, as in 

 everything else, system is one of the chief factors insuring success. 



The methods just described represent very different conditions and environ- 

 ments, but whether in the elementary schools of cities, normal schools, pri- 

 vate boarding-schools, or clubs, the study of birds and nature is being more 

 and more widely recognized and systematized. It would be helpful to all who 

 are interested in this subject to advise the School Department of the progress 

 of this invaluable study throughout our own and other countries. — A. H. W. 



