488 Bird -Lore 



law, to the easiest way of dyeing an old ostrich feather or the most humane 

 manner of disposing of a bird-eating cat. 



During the year more than 70,000 letters were received at the ofl&ce. In 

 the handling of this voluminous correspondence, the Secretary would especially 

 mention the very great assistance he receives from Ernest IngersoU, writer, 

 critic, and experienced office-manager, who now has the direct oversight of 

 our office force. 



^ FINANCIAL 



Fifty-seven new Life Members were enrolled during the year. The $5,700 

 received from this source, together with the bequest of $3,000 from the estate 

 of our lamented member, Elizabeth Drummond, were added to the General 

 Endowment Fund of the Association. The sustaining membership has been 

 increased from 2,336 to 2,462. The income for current expenses for the year 

 exceeded $81,000 which, together with the additions made to the endowment 

 fund, shows the total of money actually received by the Association during the 

 year to be more than $89,000, or about $8,000 more than the total of last year. 



Satisfying as these figures might possibly appear to some, the fact remains 

 that our income is woefully inadequate to meet the enormous demands made 

 upon the Association for support in many useful fields. A large amount of the 

 Secretary's energy and thought is necessarily directed to devising ways and 

 means of keeping up and increasing the financial support, upon which founda- 

 tion, of course, our whole work must rest. 



In conclusion, the officers and directors would take this opportunity to 

 express their appreciation to all the thousands of good people of our country 

 who, either by personal effort or by the giving of funds, in any way have aided 

 in achieving the success of this great Audubon movement for the study and 

 preservation of our wild birds and animals. The continually increasing growth 

 of the united Audubon Societies of America bears splendid testimony to the 

 wisdom and foresight of our great and good founder, William Dutcher. 



T. Gilbert Pearson, Secretary. 



