History of the Audubon Movement 53 



Audubon Society, have proven inadequate to keep pace with the growth 

 of the movement, and now the Society is to have its own special 

 medium in the world of journalism. ' The Audubon Magazine,' devoted 

 to extending and building up song-bird protection, will be published in 

 the interest of the Society by the Forest and Stream Publishing Company. 



"The special purpose of the new monthly will be to advance the 

 work already so well under way, give stability and permanence to 

 that work, and broaden the sphere of effort in such directions as may 

 with reason suggest themselves. Ornithology, discussed in a popular 

 way, will, as a matter of course, take precedence over other subjects 

 of natural history, to which the pages of the new magazine will be largely 

 devoted, but it will treat of outdoor life and animated nature in many 

 forms. The price has been made merely nominal, fifty cents per year. 

 The Audubon Society will hereafter grant admission to associate member- 

 ship. This step is taken out of deference to the expressed desires of a 

 large number of persons who are in hearty sympathy with the Society 

 in its aims and in all of its methods, except the pledging of members. 

 For one reason or another such persons do not care to sign the Audubon 

 pledges. They will, however, be glad to lend to the work their influence 

 and active aid, and it is therefore desirable that they should in some way 

 be recognized." 



In May the Audubon Society reported a membership of about 30,000, 

 and 'Forest and Stream' in an editorial said: "The expenses of this 

 movement, which have been very heavy, have been borne by Forest 

 and Stream Publishing Company without any assistance from outside 

 persons. Four numbers of the Audubon Magazine have appeared and 

 we are able to form an intelligent judgment of the character of the 

 periodical. It is full of matter which is both instructive and entertain- 

 ing. Each number contains a full-page illustration of some well-known 

 bird, carefully reproduced from Audubon's plate, together with a descrip- 

 tion and life history of the species figured. Besides this the story of 

 the life of the great artist -naturalist is appearing as a serial. Economic 

 questions are treated in an intelligent and novel way, and there are lighter 

 articles and stories for the younger folks." June 30, 1887, the Secretary 

 of the Audubon Society reported a membership of 36,000, and, in 

 August, 38,400. 



At the fifth meeting of the A. O. U. held at the Museum of the 

 Boston Society of Natural History, October 11-13, 1887, Mr. Sennett, 

 chairman of Committee on Bird Protection, reported as follows: "The 

 Committee was doing all in its power to disseminate information in relation 

 to the subject, the chief obstacle to its work being the ignorance of 

 the public on all matters relating to the utility of birds and the measures 

 necessary for their protection. This ignorance was especially dense among 



