Vol. XIV 
i857 Report of Committee on Bird Protection. 31 
“Tf I can be of use at any time I shall be glad to furnish any 
aid possible.” 
Following the suggestion of Mr. Anthony, strong letters to the 
proper authorities, urgirig the protection of all Herons, were sent 
through Mr. Stone, and by Prof. J. A. Allen in behalf of the 
Linnzean Society of New York, to whose attention the matter was 
brought. No report of the direct results obtained has been 
received as yet. 
AUDUBON SOCIETIES. 
Very valuable work is being done, and will be done in the future, 
by the Audubon Societies which have been established, or are now 
in process of organization. ‘The first of these, the Massachusetts 
Audubon Society, was organized in 1886. As each one is planned 
on the same lines, and with the same objects in view, a quotation 
from the prospectus of the Massachusetts Society will serve to 
give the character of the work hoped to be accomplished. 
‘The purpose of the Society is to discourage buying and wearing 
for ornamental purposes the feathers of any wild bird, and to 
otherwise further the protection of our native birds. We would 
awaken the community to the fact that this fashion of wearing 
feathers means the cruel slaughter of myriads of birds, and that 
some of our finest birds are already decimated, and may ultimately 
be exterminated by the demand for their feathers. We would 
make an appeal to all lovers of nature, since by this reckless 
demand of fashion the woods and fields are being stripped of one 
of their chief attractions, and the country deprived of indispensa- 
ble friends to agriculture.” 
Any person is eligible for membership who is willing to sub- 
scribe to the following simple pledge: ‘“‘ Being in sympathy with 
the principles of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, I hereby 
agree not to purchase or encourage the use of feathers of wild 
birds for ornamentation.” A very small fee is required of 
members, the same being used solely for the purpose of printing 
and disseminating the necessary literature of the subject. 
Societies similar to the above are now actively working in Phila- 
delphia and Chicago, and I am pleased to state that one is in 
