The Audubon Societies 



75 



For the many migrants which do not 

 stay with us but which are wayfarers in 

 flight, observation methods alone are used. 

 For those birds which return to surround- 

 ings of former years, aid is extended in the 

 building of houses for domestic purposes. 

 Here the builder must be taught that pre- 

 caution is necessary in guarding against 

 the unlawful occupation of songsters' 

 quarters by the English Sparrow. The 

 size of entrance must be made small 

 enough to exclude this unwelcome visitor 

 and destroyer of homes. Many pupils 

 have this spring provided houses for the 

 birds, one or two being especially attrac- 

 ti\'e and unique in design. 



The older pupils under the supervision 

 of school oflicers have studied the educa- 

 tional leaflets published by the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies, and 

 with water colors have made a copy of 

 the finished plate on the sheet with the 

 outlined drawing. By calling attention to 

 essential details in structure and color 

 much general, and some particular, knowl- 

 edge is gained. The younger pupils who 

 are not skilled in the use of water colors 



are provided with crayons to acquire the 

 shaded relations. — Edmund Cocks. 



Aigrette Violations 



Although the Egret, from which the 

 heron aigrettes are taken, cannot legally be 

 killed in the United States, and although 

 aigrettes can neither be imported into this 

 country, nor sold in many states, one may 

 still see many of these feathers worn. 



The Conservation Commission of New 

 York State has been active in its enforce- 

 ment of this Audubon Law ever since it 

 went into effect on July i, 191 1. Scarcely 

 a month passes but what the Commission 

 successfully conducts prosecutions of mil- 

 liners who insist on violating the law by 

 selling these feathers. 



For example, during the month of 

 December, 1918, there were five such prose- 

 cutions in New York. The Government 

 has also taken a hand in this important 

 subject. Mr. E. V. Visart, at one time the 

 Arkansas agent for this Association, and 

 now a United States game warden, reports: 



"I know that you will be interested to 



BUILDING iUkl) IIOUSKS. MKMHKK.s OK Jl'MOk ALliLliON CLASS AT 

 HIGHLAND, NEW YORK 



