The Audubon Societies 203 



to visit schools and personally assist teachers. After a canvass of this kind, 

 public sentiment usually comes to the support of the work by favoring the 

 introduction of nature-study into the schools as a part of the regular curriculum. 



Societies which cannot yet afford this extensive kind of work need not 

 wait for fortune to come their way, for the possibilities of working by post 

 are great. 



A yearly circular to teachers, containing information about the following 

 points, ought not only to arouse much interest, but also to awaken confidence 

 in the sincerity of the Audubon Society, and enthusiasm as to the possibilities 

 of bird- and nature-study: 



1. Traveling-libraries and traveling-pictures. 



2. Instructions as to forming Junior Audubon Societies. 



3. Demonstration material for loan purposes. 



4. List of nature-books available in libraries of the state. 



5. List of books and material available in museums of the state. 



6. Lectures and lecturers, also meetings desirable to attend. 



7. Exhibitions, fairs, conventions, or other general and public methods of 

 illustrating nature-study from the point of view of horticulture, agricul- 

 ture, etc. 



8. List of excursions for short or long field-trips, with a definite schedule 

 covering all details of the itinerary. 



9. List of magazines, books and other publications, with addresses of 

 publishers and cost stated. 



10. List of national and international legislation of importance, and also 

 of notable gatherings in the interest of bird- and nature-study, with short 

 descriptions of the same. 



11. Statement in brief of state game-laws and definite objects to work for, 

 to improve these laws. 



12. Invitation to report work done in nature-study to a central committee, 

 with the double object of keeping in touch with the needs and accomplishment 

 of each school, and of forming a bureau of exchange, which shall bring different 

 schools in different parts of the state into friendly, competitive relations. 



Other suggestions might be made, but the above are sufficient to test the 

 aliveness of any Audubon Society. Such an annual bulletin might be well 

 combined with a Bird and Arbor Day program, and should be sent to every 

 school in the state and to as many teachers as possible. The very fact that the 

 Audubon Society of any state has sufficient interest in teachers and pupils to 

 prepare a comprehensive and entirely useful bulletin of up-to-date information 

 each year would go a great way in furthering the cause of the birds and that 

 of nature-study. 



In order to make this Department of assistance in this matter, an invita- 

 tion is herewith given to all Audubon Societies and to all teachers to send in 

 suggestions which may be printed for the benefit of others. — A. H. W. 



