310 Bird -Lore 



tributed during the last session of Congress, among the clergy and other promi- 

 nent members of Society, in behalf of the Appalachian and White Mountain 

 bill, for the preservation of our forests. 



In the interests of industry and nature study, packages of garden seeds were 

 distributed among all pupils of six of the League Chapters. 



A present League interest is the completion of the fund to be appropriated 

 to the purchase of a bird refuge on the New Jersey coast. But a while ago, thou- 

 sands of Gull wings swept in untold beauty on errands of usefulness over New 

 Jersey's shores; today, through woman's demand for their plumage, a few hun- 

 dreds linger around the old nesting-place, and these only through the vigilance 

 of the Audubon Society, whose wardens act as guards. The La Rue Holmes 

 Nature League is seeking the means necessary to make this breeding-ground 

 the possession of the Gulls, and other shore birds, for all the future. — Georgiana 

 K. Holmes, General Secretary. 



New York. — Governor Hughes' suggestion that the entire bird and game 

 laws should be revised resulted in the adoption of the Cobb-Mills Bills. Mr. 

 Dutcher urged several amendments to these bills, and was successful in secur- 

 ing "no open season at any time for the Wood Duck;" also a month's additional 

 protection on Long Island for shore-birds. Other legislative action favorable 

 to birds' protection was the increase of the non-resident and alien hunters' 

 license to twenty dollars; resident license, one dollar. 



The amendments recommended by Mr. Dutcher which failed to pass were: 

 To prevent possession of wild-fowl sixty days after beginning of the close season; 

 to prohibit killing of Brant from January i, to May i; to secure protection for 

 the Snowy Owl, the useful Hawks, and the Crow Blackbird; to prohibit the sale 

 of the plumage of wild birds wheresoever killed. A vigorous effort will be made 

 made to secure the passage of these amendments the coming session of the 

 Legislature. 



At the annual meeting of the Society, which was held on March 19, 1908, 

 Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn was elected President. 



The new certificate, in colors, is now ready for distribution. The present 

 membership is 9,403. 



The routine of the work of the New York Society has been the same as in 

 the past, and until the movement takes firmer hold upon the public conscience 

 and larger contributions are received, and more clerical aid secured, no great 

 change is to be expected. 



In Buffalo, a Society is being organized to increase the interest in Audubon 

 work in that city. This will be an important factor in the development of bird 

 protection in the western portion of the state. 



A year ago, an enthusiastic local secretary moved to Binghamton and reported 

 great need of the work there. Last spring she wrote that "interest is on the 

 increase, " and now she asks for " double the amount of literature sent last year, 



