PROTECT THE BIRDS. 67 



PROTECT THE BIRDS! 



As this work will fall largely into the hands of those interested in birds 

 and bird-life, I think much good may be done toward furthering the efforts 

 of the "American Ornithologists' Union Committee on the Protection of 

 North American Birds," by publishing the following, clipped from " Bulle- 

 tin No. 1," as explanatory of their objects. And in doing so, I most ear- 

 nestly appeal to parents, teachers, ministers, and the leaders of the various 

 societies, especially the ladies' societies, to awaken to the fact that unless 

 the birds, so valuable as a check upon insect-life, and whose presence and 

 song gladden the heart, are protected, they will soon become exterminated, 

 like our " buffalo," that so short a time ago were in almost countless num- 

 bers upon our prairies, slaughtered, as our native birds are now, for the 

 sport and their skins. Just in the ratio as the birds decrease, will the price 

 set upon their heads for their plumage increase, unless the craze for feathers 

 as ornaments can be checked. It is therefore time for action, and I feel 

 confident our appeal will not be in vain. 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION COMMITTEE ON 

 BIRD PROTECTION. 



The American Ornithologists' Union Committee was recently organized in New 

 York city, with the following membership: Mr. George B. Sennett, chairman; Mr. 

 Eugene P. Bicknell, secretary; Mr. Willian Dutcher, treasurer; Mr. J. A. Allen, Dr. 

 J. B. Holder, Dr. George Bird Grinnell, and Mr. L. S. Foster, all of New York city; 

 Mr. William Brewster, Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. Montague Chamberlain, St. John, N. B.; 

 Col. N. S. Goss, Topeka, Kan. 



The committee is desirous of collecting facts and statistics bearing upon the sub- 

 ject of the destruction of our birds, and will welcome information from any source. 



It also extends the promise of its hearty cooperation to all persons or societies 

 who may be interested in the protection of birds. 



The headquarters of the committee are at the American Museum of Natural His- 

 tory, Central Park, New York city, where the officers or any of the members may be 

 addressed. 



THE AUDUBON SOCIETY. 



In order to give an opportunity for definite and systematic effort by all those who 

 believe that our birds ought to be protected, the Forest and Stream has recently 

 founded the Audubon Society. Membership in this society is to be free to every one 



