320 Bird - Lore 



produced in 1899 (last census) crops to the value of $263,000,000. Over 

 $16,000,000 was paid for labor alone, but not one cenc of this large sum 

 was paid to the birds for the labor they freely gave to the agricultural folk 

 in the destruction of noxious vermin and insect pests, nor for the thousands 

 of tons of weed seeds that they destroyed. Then let the farmers, at least, 

 repay the birds by seeing that they are accorded the fullest legal protection. 



The Audubon Society can do a great civic work by agitating this sub- 

 ject before every Farmers' Institute in the state. The example of Illinois is 

 a good one to follow in this respect. That the Society has not been idle 

 during the past year is evident from the following report of the secretary, 

 Mrs. William Parrott : 



"During the year 1,000 National leaflets, 1,000 No. i Leaflets, issued 

 by the Iowa Society, and several hundred BiRD-LoRE subscription blanks 

 have been freely distributed at Farmers' Institutes, district meetings of 

 women's clubs, the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs, the Waterloo 

 Chautauqua, teachers' institutes and public schools. One thousand Audu- 

 bon pledges are being placed in city and rural schools and public libraries. 

 Two warning notices have been given. Sixty new members have been 

 added to our membership list, making a total of 331. 



"Several fine addresses have been delivered throughout the state by 

 enthusiastic bird lovers. Mrs. Freeman H. Bloodgood, of Waterloo, has 

 written several excellent articles for our Iowa papers, and secured many 

 new members for the state Society. Prof. Chas. R. Keyes, Mt. Vernon, 

 Iowa, has furnished the Society with a list of the common birds of our state, 

 which we hope eventually to include in an outline of study for the Iowa 

 schools. 



"Mrs. Alice Fletcher, past president of the Iowa Federation of 

 Women's Clubs, rendered valuable service by giving the Audubon Society a 

 place on the Federation programme last May, when the needs of our 

 Society were brought before the club women of the state. We are encour- 

 aged to believe that recognition by the Standing Committee in the Iowa 

 Federation of Women's Clubs will be accorded our btate society in the near 

 future." , 



Louisiana. — Although the Audubon Society of Louisiana is not great 

 in numbers, yet it has boundless energy and, therefore, has secured splendid 

 results. No other Society has accomplished more, in the protection of sea- 

 birds. The control by lease of thousands of acres of islands, and the actual 

 ownership of a large area makes the work of this Society unique. The 

 Society has partially developed plans for future work which will add greatly 

 to its power for good. President Miller presents the following report for 

 the year: 



"Robbing the nests of the wild sea-birds breeding on the coasts of the 



