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Why are teachers compelled to teach of Alcohol and Narcotics? The an- 

 swer is in the priest's remark. The impression made on a child's mind is 

 forever. Then why should we not impress the elements of ornitholog-y on 

 these susceptible minds when the result will be a solicitude for the welfare 

 of our avifauna for three score years and ten. I maintain that, had my 

 teachers understood the principles of this subject, their words would have 

 found a ready listener, and thousands of feathered throats would now be 

 caroling a blessing- on those teachers' words for protection. 



Then I would make the schools the first and greatest means of popular- 

 izing ornitholog-y. A gentleman writing in Recreation once said that for 

 every boy you interested in birds you made an q^^ collector. As much as 

 to say, "Keep the boys in ignorance of the birds." 



In one school I know of, ornithology is taught as a separate branch of 

 study, every day. Now in my teaching experience I have made several 

 hundred ^^^ collectors — but they are Sparrow-egg collectors. In this school 

 where ornithology is taught, from the "Busy Bees" to the graduating- class, 

 I predict that when spring comes there will be 150 more friends for the 

 birds than there were last fall. They have in their cabinet a large num- 

 ber of Sparrow eggs, hundreds of nests and nearly 300 of those fine-colored 

 plates from Birds and All Nature. As yet they have no mounted speci- 

 mens, but it is entirely because they are unable to purchase them on ac- 

 count of lack of funds. Perhaps some day someone who has extra specimens 

 will present us with a few, and so win the gratitude of a whole lot of little 

 people who want to know more of these birds. They have named their 

 classes, their literary societies and sing-ing clubs after their feathered fa- 

 vorites. I am only citing this school as an example of what can be done 

 through the schools. Each member of this association has it in his power 

 to start this work in his own schools. Volunteer to help the teacher and 

 see how quick they will be to call on you for aid. 



Often editors are willing to print your own remarks on the birds of 

 your vicinity. Under the heading- "Ornithology for Farmers" much good 

 might be done by publishing- short articles on the birds of your vicinity 

 from the economic standpoint. If you are in earnest you mig-ht visit your 

 milliners and solicit their aid in bird protection. You may be sure your re- 

 marks will recur to them when they are picking- out their fall styles. Again, 

 for the promotion of popular ornithology the work being- done by the mag- 

 azine. Birds and All Nature, is of the right kind. While from a scientific 

 standpoint exception might be taken, the resemblance of the plates to 

 the subject is striking, and the low price makes them within the reach of 

 those who cannot afford the finer works. We who are assembled could not 

 do without our magazines of a scientific nature, but to the average person 

 they are of passing interest or entirely beyond comprehension. 



I would not seek to make of every person an ornithologist, but enough 

 of our energies might be spared to correct the abuses of ignorance, and of- 

 ten superstition. Nor would I condemn all egg collecting. For those 

 who intend to make a study of eggs a large collection is very necessary 

 and justifiable, but for the average schoolboy to collect several hundred 

 eggs, and then throw them aside after the fad has worn off, is equal to 



