The Audubon Socieries 



241 



A LESSON ON THE HUMMINGBIRD 



and it must be particularly gratifying 

 to Mrs. R. B. Smithey, Secretary of the 

 Virginia State Society, and to Miss 

 Katherine B. Stuart, who have struggled 

 valiantly to win this boon. 



The proclamation, a photographic copy 

 of which is reproduced herewith, is an 

 admirable document; and workers in 

 other States may well turn to it as a model 

 in assisting their governors to frame 

 similar proclamations. Other States need, 

 and would profit by, an annual Bird Day 

 quite as much as will Virginia. 



The Federal Law Operates 



It was reported early in April, by Edward 

 Rayner, deputy United States Game 

 Warden at Hoboken, N. J., that Sooty 

 Terns were on sale in New York City by a 

 dealer named S. Ferster, in violation of 

 the Federal law. Dr. Palmer, of the Bio- 

 logical Survey, who has charge of the 

 enforcement of this law, at once set the 

 wheels of retribution in motion, and a 

 State Protector of Fish and Game very 

 soon had seized 41 pairs of Gulls' wings 

 and 31 pairs of Terns' wings. The offend- 

 ing merchant paid $50 for his attempt to 

 trade in defiance of law. 



A Girls' Club in Vermont 



An interesting history is related by Miss 

 Eliza F. Miller of the Society at Bethel, 

 Vermont, which seems to have arisen 



spontaneously and to have unusual 

 strength. 



"About three years ago, at Bethel, 

 Vermont, three little girls discovered that 

 I was making a study of caterpillars and 

 cocoons. They often ran into my kitchen 

 to see what changes had taken place, and 

 soon began to hunt specimens for me, 

 and for themselves. Their wonder was 

 great when the caterpillar changed to 

 chrysalis or cocoon, and still greater 

 when the beautiful winged insect appeared. 

 These, if they were perfect, were allowed 

 to float away and be happy. In the winter 

 of 1911-12, notable for its abundance of 

 birds, the little folks saw many Chicka- 

 dees, Redpolls, and others, at my piazza, 

 and delighted to coax the Chickadees to 

 their hands. Some of them fed the birds 

 at their homes. 



"Sometimes I gave them reading- 



ri H out- r.tpijly atlvunclng civillt 



.md uiih the growing apprtMrlatiou of 



the importance of conserving Nature** 



Cifls. Lomcs each year ftreater realtza- 



tfonof the necewity for tile protection 



iif Ijirds. The farmer recoilnlies them 



more anj more ai-hls friends, and all 



tile people lalue them for the heauty 



isic they brinft ro the world. 



Thit llii-se Ihinfs l.c .l..iibly Imprc-ssi-d. especially 



l>uii the v...iiii, 1 ll.r.liy reclaim .inj desl5n;i(e 



MONDAY. MAY 4, 1")14 



