Vol. XXI 

 1904 



] DuTCHER, Report of Committee on Bird Protection. 1^7 



is shown to have had excellent results. There is an almost utter 

 absence of gulls, terns and other protected birds from the hats 

 shown in the great stores where the women in Chicago and of 

 the country round about do the greater part of the purchasing. 



"The gulls and terns have been unusually plentiful during the 

 fall migrations along the west coast of Lake Michigan. I have 

 seen more Bonaparte Gulls than during any season for twelve 

 years past. 



" The protection situation in Illinois may be summarized under 

 the one word, progress." 



The Secretary reports a rapidly growing interest in Audubon 

 work throughout the State, that the membership is increasing, and 

 that branches are being established in some of the larger cities, 

 although this special feature does not grow as rapidly as could be 

 hoped. Large numbers of leaflets have been distributed, 1500 

 having been sent to milliners in the State, 2000 to State Superin- 

 tendents of schools for teachers, and many to Farmers' Institutes, 

 for distribution. A generous and public-spirited woman, a mem- 

 ber of the society, presented 56 colored slides to illustrate a lecture 

 which is now in use and is making many friends for the birds. 



The press of the State is giving material aid by the publication 

 of articles about birds ; bird charts are being placed in schools. 

 The Federation of Women's Clubs is helping, every club having 

 had at least one bird program, and many having had special 

 meetings ; in Ravenswood the club members passed resolutions, 

 strongly condemning the wearing of plumage. 



Miss Drummond, the Secretary, from whose report the above 

 facts are gleaned, very pertinently quotes : " Plenty of people 

 wish well to any good cause but very few care to exert themselves 

 to help it. Some one ought to do it, so why not I ? " 



The Farmers of Rockford Township have taken such a splendid 

 advance step in forming an association for controlling and regulat- 

 ing hunting on their farms that their Constitution and By-Laws 

 are given in full in the hope that the farmers of other States may 

 follow this most excellent example. 



