3o8 Bird - Lore 



made in the case of the cat. Further, to abandon a cat and thus make it 

 homeless is decidedly cruel; therefore, a law compelling those who desire to 

 keep a cat or cats as pets should be passed, holding owners to the strictest 

 accountability for their welfare and maintenance. In some parts of Europe 

 this question is receiving the most earnest and studious consideration, and in 

 Germany many of the cities have passed restrictive ordinances. This ques- 

 tion is too important in the United States to be passed over lightly, and it is 

 hoped that some action will soon be taken to prevent the increase of this 

 most potent of bird-destroyers. 



School Bird-Clubs. — Probably one of the most important subjects to be 

 considered by the National Association, a subject ranking with legislation, 

 reservations, or the warden system, is how to interest the boys and girls of 

 the country in the preservation of birds. This subject was mentioned in the 

 president's annual address of 1903 (p. 98) and at more length in that of 

 1904 (p. 60). Certainly the time has now arrived when this subject should 

 be taken up systematically, and means should be adopted to organize the 

 miUions of children in the country into Bird Clubs or Junior Audubon So- 

 cieties. This, of course, will have to be accomplished through and by the 

 aid of teachers. If we can create among the children an interest in wild life, 

 this Association will grow immensely in strength and ability to carry out the 

 objects for which it was organized. In this issue of BiRD-LoRE, a plan is 

 detailed by which the teachers of the country may become auxihary mem- 

 bers of the Association, and through their membership receive all the educa- 

 tional Hterature that has already been, or will be, published in the future. 



So many requests are received for information regarding the method of 

 organizing a Bird Club that it is deemed advisable to publish a leaflet on the 

 subject; this will be ready for distribution about January i, 1906. 



Women'' s Clubs. — Organization of the women of the country for mutual 

 improvement and sisterly help is going on all the time. The local club which 

 influences the village becomes a part of the State Federation, thus enlarg- 

 ing its influence ; the State Federation in turn becomes an influential factor 

 in the National Federation. Women's Clubs exert an ever-growing influence 

 in social purity, village improvement, good civics and other public interests 

 of a like character. There is one other subject that should receive their most 

 earnest attention and hearty support, — the protection of birds. For women, 

 birds were killed, that their plumage might be worn as an ornament, — not a 

 necessary article of clothing, but something entirely superfluous. The club 

 women of America, with their powerful influence, should take a strong 

 stand against the use of wild birds' plumage, and especially against the use of 

 the Aigrette. Every club should have its Audubon Committee and should 

 always have Audubon literature and BiRD-LoRE in its library and reading- 

 room. A close affihation between this Association and the National Feder- 

 ation of Women's Clubs will be mutually helpful. 



