Part L] REPORT OF STATE ORNITHOLOGIST. 109 



.15. Band concert on Common. 



^^.30. Judging of bird houses and collections of woods on Common. 

 1.45. Town Hall: — 



Welcome by John B. Knowlton, Master, Grafton Grange. 



Music b}^ school children, under direction of Miss Flora Randall. 



Solo, Mrs. Elizabeth E. Rutter, Grafton. 



Stereopticon lecture, 60 sUdes on Birds and Bird Houses, b}'- 

 Walt F. McMahon, Secretarj^, Fish and Game Association, 

 Boston. 



Addresses by RajTnond J. Gregorj^, Chairman of State Grange 

 Bird Committee; Edward Howe Forbush, State Ornithol- 

 ogist; Winthrop Packard, Secretary, Audubon Society; Miss 

 Margaret Brigham, Grafton; Mrs. Geo. S. Ladd, Sturbridge; 

 Mr. Walter Putney, Ashland. Charles Crawford Gorst, 

 Musical Genius of Birds. 



Other organizations in other towns selected and celebrated 

 bird days. Many subordinate or local granges celebrated bird 

 nights during the year. The following circular prepared by the 

 secretary of the bird committee of the State Grange, and 

 published by the lecturer of that body, will give some idea of 

 how these activities were directed : — 



Suggestions for Bird Nights (April or May suggested). 



Birds are most in evidence in May, when it is courting time and singing 

 time for most, and in June, when the greatest numbers are nesting. 



But bird nights are useful at any season. Data and questions may be 

 kept for spare moments, or when programs need something more. 



Decorations. — Two-cent Perry pictures are large (7 by 9) and beauti- 

 fully colored. In Sturbridge Grange a large collection of these was laid 

 against the wall, and a j'oung man, a bird student, showed the appropriate 

 picture as he spoke of the birds he had observed and read of. 



The 1-cent Reed pictures are comparatively accurate and all of native 

 birds, 80 of them, thus being better for contests. 



Audubon colored pictures, accompanied by attractive leaflets and out- 

 line drawings, are unexcelled for beautj', but cannot be seen at a distance 

 as well as Perry pictures. 



Lists of Species seen. — Yearly lists ought to begin on January 1, but 

 if not, can be recalled and recorded. Lists may be read on bird night. 

 Daily Usts may be read and discussed. (One member beat the record with 

 57 species on May 27, 1914.) Reed's "Land Birds and Water Birds" 

 are best for beginners. Fuller descriptions are in Chapman's and Hoff- 

 man's books. 



Essays. — Any bird, as the bluebird, the barn swallow, the downy 

 woodpecker, the ruffed grouse, makes a good subject. An ideal paper 

 truthfully records one's own observations, verified and enriched by reading. 



