State Reports 359 



With a heart hrimmint^ full of hope, the work will he pushed forward, and 

 the secretary trusts when winter comes, with its long nights, to be able to ccjii- 

 duct a series of lanti'rn lei tvu-es in the larger cities, such as Waco, Ft. Worth, 

 Dallas, Houston, (ialvcston, Austin, San Antonio and other of the more 

 l)romincnt centers.— M. B. I).\vis, Secretary. 



Vermont. — The membershi]) of the Vermont State Audubon Society, and 

 the work done by that body during the past year, sh(nvs no great increase over 

 other vears, owing largely to the fact that the Vermont Bird Club, an older society, 

 is working along the same lines. The latter organization, started several years 

 ago in connection with another scientific club, includes most of the bird-lovers 

 in the state, has the same aims as the Audubon Society, and is very active in 

 legislative matters. It has seemed wise, therefore, to make the work of our Society 

 largely educational in its scope, and to bring into it as many junior members 

 as possible. In this way, the "two societies do not conflict, but both together 

 make a strong influence for the saving of the birds, and the instruction oi the 

 general public as to their value. 



Several junior Societies, numbering from one to four hundred children, have 

 been started during the past year in various towns of the state. The description 

 of the one located in St. Johnsbury may perhaps answer for all. Meetings are 

 held by this Society, which for convenience is divided into two sections, once 

 a month from January to June. The children choose ofiEicers from among their 

 own number, and conduct their meetings with much ceremony. In June a con- 

 test is held for determining those who are the best acquainted with the birds. 

 The contestants are arranged in three divisions, according to age, the prizes 

 in each division being five-dollar gold pieces. These prizes are donated by the 

 president of the senior Society, Mr. C. H. Horton, and the interest created by 

 the contest is very great. As preparation for this, bird walks are taken very fre- 

 quendy during the spring, these walks being lead by the secretary, or some 

 other member of the state Society. 



Several senior Societies have arranged for lectures by various ornithologists, 

 admission to these lectures being either free or a nominal price, so that they could 

 be largely attended by the people of the vicinity. Among other speakers has 

 been Mr. Henry Oldys. of the Biological Survey, Washington, who has lectured 

 in Burlington, St. Johnsbury, Johnson and other places in the state. 



Some Societies have placed bird books and copies of ' Bird-Lore ' on the 

 tables of the town libraries, and three traveling libraries, composed entirely of 

 bird books, have been circulated in the state. — ISIiss Bella I. Griffix, Secretary. 



Washington. — Modesty is becoming in a debutante, and indeed we have 

 scarcely had time to take our bearings and get used to the lights since Mission- 

 ary Finley brought us out in April. At a meeting held in the Central High School 

 of Seattle, and presided over by Superintendent Cooper, we organized the Wash- 



