264 



Bird - Lore 



fairly swept into its present t^ame), more than one cooperative isle of bird safety 

 has been established, notably that under charge of the Meriden (Xew Hamp- 

 shire) Bird Club. 



This Sanctuary, founded by the interest and initiative of Ernest H. Baynes, 

 was brought into prominence by the masque Sanctuary, by Percy Mackaye, 

 acted for the lirst time within the grove that was its inspiration and, later, 

 in New York, where its allegory of the evil ways of Stark, the Plume Hunter, 

 and his redemption through the awakening in him of the sense of beauty, gave 

 birth to Birdcraft Sanctuary now under consideration. This, in its turn, has 

 the distinction of being the first owned and governed by a State Audubon 

 Society; placed by endowment beyond the vagaries of public caprice, and 

 therefore, from its birth, in a position to work for the highest aims. 



THE ENTRANCE GATE. 

 The Warden's Lodge is shown at the left, a part of the Museum at the right. The inscription on the left- 

 hand gate-post is shown in the cut on the opening page. The 'Cat-Warden' is on guard in the foreground. 



"Connecticut must have a Sanctuary and you must make it," said The 

 Donor (this being the only name by which the public may know the self- 

 effacing giver), at the close of an evening where a group of Connecticut 

 bird-lovers had enjoyed Mackaye's masque together. 



It was a charming thought, but seemed to me rather a part of the 

 evening's illusion than a reality. Yet the next morning, mail and telephone 

 took a hand, and before a month had past the dream had a firm footing 

 upon earth. 



"Have you thought out the land?" asked the lirst letter. Two tracts 

 came to mind at the call: One, a hundred-acre strip, with a river frontage, four 

 miles back in the hill-country, where rocks, woods, and tangle combined to 



