24. Report of Commiflee oh Bird Protcctioti. ."^^ 



summer visitors, as the water is so shallow that but few yachts 

 ever go up so far. The Clapper Rails were very plentiful, and 

 but little egging was done. Unfortunately, however, there were 

 two very high tides in September which completely flooded the 

 marshes and compelled jthe birds to swim, when they became easy 

 marks for the pot hunters. It is estimated that 10,000 birds were 

 killed in two days at Atlantic City alone. The market was glutted, 

 and large numbers of the dead Rails went to waste. If a limit 

 to the number shot by one man could be fixed by law it would 

 have an excellent effect. 



" The Pennsylvania Audubon Society has only just been 

 organized, and is not yet in working order. Its plan of work 

 will be much the same as the Massachusetts Society, after which 

 it is modeled. Many of the most prominent citizens of Philadel- 

 phia have given it their support as honorary Vice-Presidents, and 

 we hope to do some good work. 



" During the year I have delivered a number of lectures in 

 Philadelphia and vicinity before schools, societies, etc., on orni- 

 thology, and worked with good success to interest persons in the 

 study and protection of birds ; the former generally follows the 

 latter, and I think the dififusion of ornithological information 

 in this way a very important matter. Mrs. Olive Thorne Miller's 

 course of lectures in the city last spring was productive of good 

 results. 



" Finally, I would report that the Delaware Valley Ornitho- 

 logical Club has a Committee on Protection of Birds, which is 

 prepared to deal with any questions which may be brought to its 

 notice." 



Illinois. 



Mr. Ruthven Deane, of the Committee, reports as follows : 

 " In regard to the present use of birds for millinery purposes, 

 I have made considerable investigation, having been introduced 

 to a number of our largest and best-posted firms in that business. 

 The result of my inquiries is that while feathers and plumes are 

 extensively used in the trimming of hats, few, if any, native 

 birds, aside from the Egret, are now used. 



