52S Bird -Lore 



Rhode Island. — Our State Audubon Society has had a prosperous year. 

 In addition to the regular work of forming Junior Classes, holding field-trips 

 and lectures, and keeping its circulating and traveling libraries at work, the 

 Society has taken a quiet but exceedingly active interest in bird-legislation. 

 Every Congressman from Rhode Island supported the migratory-bird law, and 

 the plumage bill. The Society is also responsible in a large measure for the 

 change in the personnel of the State Bird Commission, which consists of five 

 men, representing every county of the State, and all appointed at one time 

 by the Governor for a term of three years. The membership of this 

 Commission has always consisted wholly of sportsmen, interested primarily 

 in the killing of birds. The new Commission, for 1914-1917, has three members 

 who are particularly concerned in the protection of birds, one of them a Direc- 

 tor of our Society. 



Through the indefatigable efforts of two of our most earnest Directors, 

 George C. Phillips and Harry S. Hathaway, and the assistance of experienced 

 friends elsewhere, a new bird-law was drawn to conform with the Federal regu- 

 lations for migratory birds, and was enacted by the legislature. Rhode 

 Island now has, therefore, almost an ideal bird-law, by which bounties on 

 Hawks and Owls are banished, and spring shooting is abolished, also shooting 

 from motor-boats in the waters of the state, which had been particularly 

 destructive to ducks. 



From the Rhode Island Woman's Club the Society received a gift of $50 

 for the purchase of books for its library, and from the state $60 allowed for 

 the expenses of the traveling libraries. With these funds it has been possible 

 to increase the size of the library and extend its benefits. 



Early in the year a fund was raised by subscription to be used for the 

 employment of a regular worker, as it is absolutely necessary that more time 

 be given to the Society's campaign than the regular officials have at their dis- 

 posal. We are therefore endeavoring to organize our work by employing a 

 woman who shall first devote her time to the Junior department, and gradually 

 extend the influence of the Society to adults. The problem of interesting 

 the high-school boy who has arrived at the gunning age has been forcibly brought 

 to our attention by the many opportunities for game-shooting along the shores 

 of the state. As an offset to this attraction the Society is to offer a first prize 

 of a $22 camera, and a second prize of a $10 camera, to any boy, resident in 

 the state and not over eighteen years of age, who shall take and exhibit the 

 best set of bird-photographs. The prizes are given by The Hall & Lyon Com- 

 pany, of Providence, and will be awarded by competent judges at an exhibit 

 to be held some time in June, 191 5. — H, L. Madison, Secretary. 



Tennessee (East). — Owing to the illness and absence of our President, 

 and the serious illness of Mrs. T. J. Hinton, our militant Vice-President, not 

 many regular meetings have been held during the past year. The committee 



