The campaign for subscriptions contained two surpris- 

 ing features : One was tlie failure of the A\''est to contribute 

 becomingly, and the other was the splendid support that 

 the undertaking received from the women of xVmerica. 

 Notwithstanding the widespi-ead interest taken b^y w omen 

 in the protection of birds, it was not expected (by the un- 

 dersigned) that the plan for the creation of a national 

 bison herd in Montana would strongly appeal to them. 

 The result has proven that he who thinks there is any 

 laudable public enterprise that does not interest the in- 

 telligent women of America, makes a great mistake. 



The first subscription toward the creation of the jNIon- 

 tana National Bison Herd was received (on JNIay 26th), 

 from JNIrs. Emma L. JNIee, of Concord, Massachusetts, and 

 the amount was $5. The second largest sum raised by 

 subscription by any one person, outside of the President's 

 office, was secured by another gentlewoman of the old 

 Bay State. Early in the campaign Mrs. Ezra R. Thayer, 

 of Boston, wrote in response to the circular call that she 

 would contribute, and raise by subscription, at least $400 

 for the bison fund. JNIrs. Thayer's efforts began witliout 

 delay, and even during the heat of midsummer were pur- 

 sued with unflagging industry. Finally, on November 

 30th, 1908, she remitted to the Society her own contribu- 

 tion of $200, which brought her total amount up to $510 — 

 or onc-ttccutietJi of the whole amount necessary to pur- 

 chase the nucleus herd ! 



Mrs. Thayer's example was to the president of the 

 Society not only encouragement, but actual inspiration; 

 and it is respectfully commended to about 1,000,000 of 

 the men of America who shoot and fish, and who think 

 that they "take an interest" in wild life. In these days of 

 destruction, any man's interest in M'ild life can be meas- 

 ured by the amount in cash, and in hom-s of labor, tliat 

 he annually ex])ends in the promotion of measures for 

 wild-life protection. It is no longer sufficient to say, "Be 

 ye warmed, and fed," and do nothing. 



Altogether, 112 women contributed to the l)is()ii Fund; 

 and their subsci-iptions reached a total of $1,227.00. 



The newspapers and the sportsmen's journals and 

 magazines were exceedingly helpful. At least fifty ])ub- 

 lications brought the Society's undertaking prominently 



