The Audubon Societies 



97 



letter be sent to the vice-presidents and 

 members of the Executive Committee, 

 embodying the wishes of the Society to the 

 following effect : namely, that they should 

 seek to increase the membership of the 

 Florida Society, and arouse as much inter- 

 est as possible in the work of protecting 

 our feathered friends, and to interest per- 

 sons in their own town to form a local 

 society, and to interest all children in the 

 neighborhood, and to urge that the city or 

 town where they reside pass necessary 

 ordinances to protect the birds, and further 

 that all such officers report progress to the 

 meetings of the state society. 



On motion of Mr Baumgarten, the meet- 

 ing adjourned to the call of the Executive 

 Committee. 



Maitland, Fla., March jo, igoo. 

 Mr. Frank M. Chapman. 



My Dea)' Si'r — I have been asked to 

 send you a brief account of the organiza- 

 tion of the Audubon Society of Florida. 



We owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. 

 L. F. Dommerich for the interest which 

 she has awakened for the protection of 

 the birds of Florida. No state or terri- 

 tory in our country has been as richly 

 endowed in plumage and song birds as 

 this state. It has been the meeting place 

 of tropical and northern birds. 



At my first visit to Florida, fifty years 

 ago, I saw at almost every turn on the 

 St. John's river, the Pink and White 

 Curlews, and scores of other brilliantly 

 pluraaged birds. Within the past twenty 

 years I saw, on one occasion, in the woods 

 bordering on Lake Jessup, not less than 

 two thousand Paroquets. 



Many of these beautiful creatures are 

 no longer to be found, unless in the Ever- 

 glades. The murderous work of extermi- 

 nation has been carried on by vandals, 

 incited by the cupidity of traders who 

 minister to the pride of thoughtless people. 



Our best work will be through the 

 teachers of the public schools, for they 

 can reach the hearts of the children, who 

 wantonly destroy both birds and eggs. 



We have been delighted at the enthusi- 



asm and interest exhibited by the people 

 of Florida in this blessed work. 



Our Saviour taught us that these feath- 

 ered friends and companions of men are 

 a special object of our Heavenly Father's 

 care. And should he not have his chil- 

 dren's help in their protection ? With 

 high regards, Yours faithfully, 



H. B. Whipple, 



Bishop of Minnesota. 



MINNESOTA SOCIETY 



Our work goes on with many bright and 

 cheery incidents, which show a gradual 

 gain for the good work of bird protection. 

 Many new branches have been established 

 throughout the state, and many letters 

 received from persons interested in the 

 work shows that the circulars sent out 

 are doing good. Bird-Lore should be 

 credited with much of it. Last spring 

 we had Olive Thorne Miller with us, and 

 her lecture course was well attended, giv- 

 ing us valuable assistance. While there 

 are some discouraging days caused by the 

 want of interest shown by some good 

 women, who still wear upon their hats 

 the bodies of our beautiful birds, we 

 notice that the custom is decreasing, 

 and Bird-Day law is introducing into our 

 schools the study of ornithology. 



John W. Taylor, Fres. 



KENTUCKY SOCIETY 



It is with great pleasure that I write of 

 the formation of the Audubon Society of 

 Kentucky. We have taken hold of the 

 work at once, directing our efforts first 

 toward giving our birds protection under 

 the law as it exists in our statute, and 

 toward the encouragement of a healthy 

 sentiment in the schools for bird life. 



We have bought a large chart for use in 

 the schools, and we propose two public 

 meetings a year in addition to our educa- 

 tional and social meetings from time to 

 time. Interest is manifested already. 



We think we have made a happy choice 

 in our president and vice-president, estima- 

 ble ladies, discreet and tactful, and withaL 

 touched with the value of our work. 



Ingram Crockett, Sec. 



