Vol. XXn DuTCHER, Re-port of Committee on Bird Protection. I 9 I 



Audubon and Educational JVork. — The report of Mrs. Kingsmill 

 Marrs, Chairman of the Executive Committee, gives in detail the 

 activities of the Society for the past twelve months. 



'' I can report progress for the year in increasing membership 

 by which the work has spread into eleven new counties ; much 

 interest has been aroused in the State which we hope will help 

 the introduction of Nature Study, including bird study, in certain 

 grades of schools. This matter is left optional with County 

 Boards, but its adoption and incorporation in the " State Course 

 of Study " is a cause for congratulation considering the antagon- 

 istic attitude by many toward bird protection three years ago when 

 the society was founded. 



" There should be no feeling of discouragement if our member- 

 ship does not increase as rapidly as like societies in other States. 

 Present membership, 656; gain in the year, 256. Leaflets dis- 

 tributed, 3,500. 



'' Warning notices sent out, 250 exclusive of those posted in post- 

 offices and those placed by courtesy of the Southern Express 

 Company in its offices. Local secretaries, 8. Massachusetts 

 Audubon Charts, 15, in charge of local secretaries who lend them 

 to schools. During the summer vacation several charts have been 

 retained for bird classes. Four prizes were given, at close of 

 school year in Orlando, to children of ten or twelve years for bird 

 chart compositions ; the list for competition was open to any 

 school using the chart, but few teachers interested their pupils, 

 fearing local prejudice against bird protection. We have 53 

 teachers as members ; 36 have joined the past year. 



" Some 300 letters have been sent to members of the Legislature, 

 horticulturists, agriculturists, principals of schools and individuals, 

 with educational or statistical leaflets. Many articles have been 

 written on bird protection, bird study, and the value of birds to 

 farmers and fruit growers ; these have been published in the 

 ' Times Union ' by the courtesy of the editor, Mr. Wilson, in 

 ' The Agriculturist ' by Mr. Painter, and in ' The Southern School 

 and Home.' Frequent editorials, the value of which in reaching 

 homes where our leaflets might not, are greatly appreciated. 

 Money to the amount of $300 was chiefly subscribed by members 

 of the Society for building a naphtha launch for the use of the game 



