6 Massachusetts Audubon Society 



LOCAL SECRETARIES 



The Society has appointed throughout the State one hundred and twenty- 

 five Local Secretaries, who look after the interests of the Society and repre- 

 sent it in their various localities. The Directors wish to express their thanks 

 to these faithful representatives who, they feel assured, are doing good work 

 for the cause. The Society would be glad to enroll other Local Secretaries 

 in places where none are at present active. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AUDUBON SOCIETIES 



The Directors note with great interest and approval two new appoint- 

 ments to office in the National Association. On the death of Mr. Dutcher, 

 founder of the National Association and its President since that time, Mr. T. 

 Gilbert Pearson was unanimously elected President. Mr. Pearson had been 

 Secretary of the National Association and its executive officer for many years 

 and during his wise administration of that office had greatly increased the 

 prestige and manifold activities of the Association. As President he will 

 continue as executive officer. Mr. William P. Wharton of Groton, Mass., has 

 been elected to take Mr. Pearson's place as Secretary of the National Asso- 

 ciation. Mr. Wharton was for many years Chairman of the Board of 

 Directors of pur Massachusetts Audubon Society and is widely known for 

 his interest and activity in all matters pertaining to bird protection and con- 

 servation in general. We feel that a close connection and assistance in our 

 State work which has always been so helpfully maintained by the National 

 Association will be continued under the able leadership of these two new offi- 

 cers. 



MOTION PICTURES 



During the past year the Society has entered into a new field of educa- 

 tional work which it believes to have boundless opportunities for good. At a 

 very considerable expense it has had Longfellow's beautiful poem, "The 

 Birds of Killingworth," fittingly photographed for the screen. Large dis- 

 tributors of motion picture films have shown an interest in this picture, and 

 it is believed that through them a very wide dissemination of this beautiful 

 and instructive story can be obtained. Our first thought in the matter, of 

 course, is that the cause of bird protection shall be put before as many 

 theatre patrons as possible. For this reason for some time it is probable that 

 the film will be withheld from other usage. Later, however, it will be pos- 

 sible for Audubon Societies, bird clubs and others interested to obtain the 

 use of this picture on payment of a nominal rental. We feel that there is a 

 hitherto unoccupied field here for good work in our cause. 



PROTECTION FOR RARE PLANTS 



Along with the desire to preserve our valuable wild birds, useful mam- 

 mals and other forms of vertebrate life in the woods, a commendable senti- 

 ment is growing for the preservation of our native plants. The Boston 

 Society for that purpose is always glad to send out its well-written and 

 attractive leaflets to school-teachers and librarians who will make good use 

 of them. In the neighborhood of large cities, especially, the rarer ferns, 

 the evergreens and the more striking and beautiful of our flowering plants 

 and shrubs are rapidly disappearing if they have not already disappeared. 

 The Christmas fern, the laurel, the cardinal flower are all unfortunate ex- 

 amples of this recklessness on the part of people who covet these beautiful 

 things. If the various societies working for conservation for the common 



