Vol. XVII 
1900 
Correspondence. 323 
program of the meeting indicates that it will be an important and very 
interesting congress, both scientifically and socially, and any members of 
the A. O. U. who may be able to attend will not only be cordially wel- 
comed but will without doubt find it a very enjoyable occasion. 
THE OUTLOOK for Bird Protection in North America has greatly im- 
proved during the last two or three years, which is no doubt due largely 
to the efforts of the Audubon Societies and the A. O. U. Committee on 
Bird Protection. A strong impression has been made upon public opin- 
ion and popular sentiment, now both strongly in favor of every reasonable 
measure for saving the birds. This popular sentiment is due to the edu- 
cational efforts of the friends of the birds, who have been able to impress 
upon the public the importance of birds to agriculture, as well as their 
esthetic interest. 
The press has greatly aided the work, not only through the favorable 
attitude of the daily newspapers, far and wide, but especially through the 
agricultural journals, which are filled with articles showing that the wan- 
ton destruction of birds is working great injury to agricultural interests. 
The fashion journals have in many instances taken a strong stand against 
the destruction of birds for millinery purposes, and urge women to aban- 
don the use of birds and birds’ plumage for decorative purposes. One of 
the most pleasing evidences of the working of the leaven of reform in 
this field is the marked change of attitude on the part of that influential 
and excellent ‘home journal,’ ‘Harper’s Bazar,’ which not so very long 
since was criticized in this magazine for its perverse attitude on the sub- 
ject of aigrettes. In late numbers of this journal we have noted with 
pleasure its appeals to women in behalf of bird preservation, and especi- 
ally its appeal to its women readers to help pass the Lacey bill, then long 
pending in Congress. 
It is especially worthy of note that the two bills mentioned in the last 
issue of ‘The Auk’ (April, 1900, p. 200), the Lacey bill in Congress and 
the Hallock bill in the Legislature of New York, have both become laws, 
they forming the most important and advanced examples of legislation 
for the protection of birds thus far enacted. The strongest possible 
effort was made on the part of bird protectors to secure their enactment, 
and that they received on their final passage an overwhelming vote in 
their favor greatly strengthens hope for the future. 
The widespread discussion in the public press of bird protection inci- 
dent to the consideration of the two bills above cited, and especially of the 
Hoar bill, reintroduced into the Senate at the last session of Congress, 
but which failed of passage, has not only been the means of arousing 
public sentiment favorable to the cause, but has greatly alarmed the milli- 
ners respecting the effect of such legislation upon their business interest. 
Recognizing that the drift of public sentiment was thoroughly against 
the use of birds for millinery purposes, they have made overtures, through 
official action by the Millinery Merchants Protective Association to the 
Audubon Societies and the A.O. U. Committee on Bird Protection, pledg- 
