232 Notes and News. \a^ 



tection." Permits were issued for the importation of 327 consignments, 

 which include " 1470 mammals, 205,400 canaries, and 41,630 miscellane- 

 ous birds"' ; besides, about 17,000 parrots were brought in, for which no 

 permit for importation is required. 



A national organization of Audubon Societies was effected early in 

 January of the present year through the incorporation under the laws of 

 the State of New York of 'The National Association of Audubon Socie- 

 ties for the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals.' with headquarters in 

 New York City. The particular objects of the Association are : " (a) To 

 hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions in the interest of the protection 

 of birds and animals, and to use all lawful means for the protection of 

 birds and animals, (b) To publish and distribute documents or other 

 printed matter on these or other subjects, and to acquire and maintain a 

 library, (c) To cooperate with the national and state governments and 

 regularly organized natural history societies in disseminating knowledge 

 relative to birds and animals." The membership consists of two classes, 

 Active Members and Sustaining Members; the latter pay an annual fee 

 of five dollars, have the right to vote on all business matters, including 

 the election of the officers and the Board of Directors, and are unlimited 

 as to numbers; the former are chosen by duly organized State Audubon 

 Societies, which are each entitled to name three Active Members, and the 

 American Ornithologists' Union a like number, while seven members at 

 large may be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Direc- 

 tors is not to exceed thirty in number, of whom twenty are to be chosen 

 by the various State Audubon Societies and three by the A. O. U., and 

 seven at large, the full term of office of whom is five years, but to be 

 divided by lot at the first annual meeting into five equal classes, to hold 

 office respectively for one, two, three, four, and five years. The regular 

 meeting of the Board must be held in New York City on the last Tuesday 

 of October ; but special meetings may be called as required. The officers 

 are a president, two vice-presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer, and are 

 to be chosen by the directors. At the first meeting of the Board of Di- 

 rectors, held in January, 1905, the following officers were elected for the 

 ensuing year: President, William Dutcher ; First Vice-President, John E. 

 Thayer; Second Vice-President, Theodor S. Palmer; Secretary, T.Gil- 

 bert Pearson ; Treasurer, Frank M. Chapman. An Executive Committee 

 and a Finance Committee, each of five members, including the President 

 and Treasurer as members ex officio, were also chosen. 



The most urgent need of the Association to enable it to successfully 

 carry on its work is funds; and provision has been made that: " $100 

 paid at one time will constitute a person a Life Member ; $1,000 paid at 

 one time will constitute a person a Patron; $5,000 paid at one time will 

 constitute a person a Founder; $25,000 paid at one time will constitute a 

 person a Benefactor." It is hoped that many philanthropic people, inter- 

 ested in the work of the Association, will early take the opportunity to 

 aid liberally so worthy a cause. 



