248 



Notes and Nevjs. [^"^ 



tufts of the coarse grass characteristic of such beaches. The group can- 

 not, however, be considered complete until supplied with its large descrip- 

 tive label, now in preparation, and illustrated with enlarged photographs 

 from nature, and with the 'guide leaflet' that will give the details of bird 

 colony life on the beaches of a low sandy island. 



The Museum is to be congratulated on taking the lead in the work of 

 providing realistic representations of bird life 'as it exists under widely 

 varying conditions in nature, for it is perfectly safe to say that no other 

 Museum in the world has placed before its visitors such attractive and 

 instructive bird exhibits as are here to be seen. Therefore not only is 

 credit due the Museum authorities for furnishing the means and the 

 authorization for such work, but especially to the Associate Curator of 

 the Department of Mammalogy and Ornithology, Mr. Frank M. Chapman, 

 for its conception, and the gathering personally in the field of the mate- 

 rial for the groups, the photographs for their illustration, and the super- 

 vision of their preparation. To Mr. H. C. Denslow is also due great 

 praise for the skill displayed in the preservation and posing of the numer- 

 ous individual birds represented, especially the downy nestlings and half 

 grown j'oung which form so important a feature of the exhibit. 



The National Committee of Audubon Societies has begun to issue 

 a series of ' Educational Leaflets,' which it is hoped will be the means of 

 doing much good among agricultural people and in the schools through- 

 out the country. 



No. I, treating of the Nighthawk, was published Jan. i, 1903, and No. 2, 

 on the Mourning Dove, March i. No. 3, on the Meadowlark, and No. 4, 

 on the Robin, will be published May i and July i, respectively. 



It is hoped that the demand for these leaflets will be so large that the 

 Committee will be warranted in continuing the issue at intervals of two 

 months until a large number of the common species of birds of North 

 America have been thus treated. 



The leaflets are of uniform size, 5^ X 8i inches, 4 pp. The flrst page 

 is illustrated with a half tone 4 X 5 of the species treated, from original 

 drawings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. The second page gives the descrip- 

 tion and distribution of the species, while the remainder of the leaflet 

 gives the latest facts regarding the economic status of the species, from 

 data furnished by the Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



Each leaflet contains a series of ' Study Points for Teachers and 

 Scholars,' which will, if followed, enable them to gain a comprehensive 

 knowledge of the bird in question. 



These leaflets can be supplied for 50 cts. per hundred, or $3.00 per 

 thousand, postage or expressage included. 



If the members of the A. O. U. will encourage the distribution of these 

 leaflets they will be advancing the cause of bird protection along educa- 

 tional lines, the channel through which the most good can be done at the 

 present time. — William Dutcher, Chairman, A. O. U. Protection Com- 

 mittee. 



