24 Report of Committee on Bird Protection. a 
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 the 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 diffusion 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. 
