gS Bird - Lore 



of the past. Steps have been taken toward encouraging the improvement 

 of school -house grounds in rural districts. This is undertaken with a 

 view of bringing children and youth into closer sympathy with nature, of 

 attracting bird life to the immediate vicinity of the schools, and thus 

 indirectly but surely to accomplish the more effectual protection of the 

 birds themselves." 



Ne"w Jersey. — Two wardens were' employed to watch and guard the 

 few remaining Laughing Gulls and Terns on this coast. Both of them re- 

 port an exceptionally favorable season, and an unusually large increase. Even 

 nature was kind in that she sent no heavy storm-tides to sweep away the 

 eggs and young during the breeding season. The summer boarder with a 

 gun, who must kill something, still gives some trouble; but the resident pub- 

 lic are beginning to acknowledge that a strict enforcement of the bird and 

 game laws is a benefit to all. Miss Scribner, the secretary of the Audubon 

 Society, narrates in a few clear words the important and rather strenuous 

 activities of the present year. Very few of the Audubon Societies have ever 

 been called upon to pass through such an ordeal as was presented to New 

 Jersey during the last session of the legislature. That the Society was not 

 caught napping, is a cause for congratulation and an example to other so- 

 cieties who may at any moment have to face the same situation. "The 

 most important result reached during the past year on the part of the New 

 Jersey Audubon Society was that relating to the ' Robin Bill.' It was ru- 

 mored in the preceding summer that the fruit-growers and others had planned 

 to enter a bill in the legislature authorizing the shooting of Robins, Catbirds, 

 Flickers and Doves, thus removing protection from some of our most valu- 

 able insectivorous birds. An educational crusade among the children was 

 deemed advisable, and, accordingly, several thousand leaflets on the Robin 

 were sent to the superintendents and principals" of public schools, who had 

 kindly agreed to distribute them. 



"In consequence of active work on the part of the friends of the society, 

 and as a result of thousands of petitions sent all over the state, the mem- 

 bers of the legislature and the Governor were deluged with thousands of 

 names, and public opinion was sufficiently aroused to prevent the passage 

 of bills in the Senate and House which proposed to make an open season 

 on Robins and other important birds. 



"The next work in which the Society took a hand was that of helping 

 to pass a law forbidding the shooting of Pigeons at traps. In conjunction 

 with the Hudson County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 

 petitions and letters were sent all over the state and public opinion, which 

 had been kept agitated for the previous two years, was thoroughly aroused. 

 The sporting element made a desperate fight, and succeeded in keeping the 

 bill in Committee till the close of the session, but public indignation was 



