47 
has been brought about through the influence of these societies, and es- 
pecially the Lacey act passed by Congress for the protection and preser- 
vation of our birds. 
I am glad to say that there is not a State in the Union which does 
not have its laws for the protection of our birds. In this State we have 
not lagged. We have placed upon our statute books the ideal law for 
that purpose, originally suggested by the American Ornithological 
Association. 
Now, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to suggest in conclusion, that 
the membership roll of our Audubon Society contains but few names of 
the members of this association. We have a membership of about one 
hundred and fifty. Our first annual meetings under the provision of the 
constitution were held at Indianapolis. We learned, to our regret, how- 
ever, that in this great and beautiful city there were very few people 
who were interested in this work. We changed our constitution. Since 
then we have gone to Franklin, Richmond, Shelbyville, Fort Wayne, and 
New Castle, where we have been received most cordially, and we hope we 
have done good. 
Now, we bring our greetings to you, with the hope for future success, 
and that ,you will renew your love for this, one of your offspring. I have 
looked over the program arranged for this the twenty-fifth annual meet- 
ing of the Academy with its sixty-nine numbers and the additional num- 
bers which Mr. Butler has read, and I find there are but two num- 
bers which have any reference to our birds. These are No. 45, “The 
Mocking Bird in Indiana,’ and No. 47, “Observations in Woodpeckers.” 
Now, ladies and gentlemen, to my way of thinking, this is not as it should 
be. I believe these other things which you have been writing and talking 
about are important, but of all of them the one particular thing which is 
of the greatest interest and value is the preservation of our birds. With- 
out them you will have no occasion to talk about botany or any of the 
other things about which you have been writing and talking. It is the 
birds of our country to which we must look for its salvation. I thank you 
for the opportunity to say a word for them. 
