Report of the Directors 5 



Drinking Cups An interesting experiment for the furthering of a knowl- 

 for Boy Scouts, edge of bird work amongst the young was the free dis- 

 tribution of packages of drinking-cups among the Boy 

 Scouts of Greater Boston; ten thousand of these were sent out through 

 the Boy Scout headquarters each bearing a simple appeal to the boys to 

 study birds and be kind to them. 



Feeding As in past years, the Audubon Society joined with the National 

 Winter Association in a request sent broadcast throughout New Eng- 

 Birds. land for the feeding of the winter birds. The need has been 

 great during the past winter and the universal response has been 

 very helpful. 



Public During the year the Society has made exhibits of bird pro- 



Exhibitions. tection work and bird protection material at the annual meet- 

 ing of the State Board of Agriculture held at Springfield, a 

 three days' exhibit which was very largely attended. It exhibited also at 

 the State Bird Day at Amherst Agricultural College, joining with the State 

 Grange and the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. Lectures on birds were 

 given and there was a large attendance both at lectures and at the exhibit. 

 In addition to this the Society's traveling exhibits have been furnished to 

 libraries, schools and clubs throughout the State. 



It is not possible to give a list of all who have made donations to the 

 Society in 1917. Hearty thanks are due to very many for their generosity. 

 A legacy from the estate of Miss Polly Hollingsworth was most welcome. 

 It was immediately placed in the Reserve Fund, being invested in Liberty 

 Bonds, thus helping at once in the cause of bird protection and in war 

 needs. The Society's total investment in Liberty Bonds is now $6,000.00. 



LEGACIES. 



Sums donated by will to the Society will be immediately placed in the 

 Reserve Fund of the Society, a use of the money which has peculiar value 

 because of its permanence. 



The altruistic work of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, carried on 

 for many years with increasing success, suggests the desirability of remem- 

 bering it in this fashion. All the funds of the Society are handled carefully 

 and conservatively, but the Reserve Fund, in the exclusive control of the 

 Board of Directors, is especially worthy of the consideration of testators 

 who wish to make legacies of lasting usefulness. 



There will always be need of organized work for bird protection, a form 

 of conservation of the grealest importance to the general welfare. The 

 Reserve Fund of the Society, when of sufficient size, will insure this. Can 

 you not help in this way? 



FORM OF BEQUEST. 



I give and bequeath to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Incorporated, 

 the sum of Dollars for its Reserve Fund. 



