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Bird -Lore 



ception that proves the rule) who, in the 

 first enthusiasm at the knowledge that the 

 milliners had offered a compromise, read 

 this agreement to mean that if we would 

 promise to allow the milliners to traffic un- 

 molested in the feathers of all birds not 

 A^orth A7?iei-ican, they would in turn re- 

 frain from dealing in the plumage of the 

 native birds. They hailed this as at least a 

 sure means of saving our own birds, even 

 though it put a premium upon the slaugh- 

 ter of the equally valuable species of other 

 countries, saying "Foreign countries must 

 look after their own birds ; we cannot 

 sacrifice ours because they cannot protect 

 theirs. " Also arguing that, as it seems at 

 the moment improbable that the United 

 States will pass a law making the use of the 

 plumage of foreign birds illegal, there can 

 be no harm in promising not to work in 

 favor of such a measure. 



Considering the proposition from even 

 this ultra practical standpoint, no such con- 

 struction can be put upon it as it is worded 

 We are asked plainly to pledge ourselves 

 to refrain from pushing any legislation 

 which the millinery trade shall consider 

 unjust to itself. 



The ethical side of the question is even 

 more plain, but of equal importance. No 

 Audubon Society that is true in spirit, as 

 well as in letter, to its platform and con- 

 stituents can sign this agreement ; for to 

 do so is literally saying to its members, 

 "We will not interfere with you even if 

 you cover your hats with birds so long- as 

 they are marked 'hilled in Etiro^e ' f " . 



As I have always said, the law is the only 

 path by which satisfactory protection can 

 be given to the birds. The law is the voice 

 of public opinion, sometimes tardily heard, 

 but sure to speak at last. Public opinion 

 has been turned toward bird protection 

 largely by the very societies who are now 

 asked to pledge away their legislative 

 power for what? A mess of pottage com- 

 posed of itiedible native birds ! 



The fact that international laws may be 

 difficult of passage is no reason for ceas- 

 ing to work for them. "Every man for 

 himself and the devil take the hinder- 

 most," is a poor motto for organizations 



such as ours. It was this spirit that op- 

 posed bitterly the International Copy- 

 right bill not so very long ago. Not- 

 withstanding this. International Copy- 

 right is now a law ! 



Mabel Osgood Wright. 



Reports of Societies 



RHODE ISLAND SOCIETY 



( Third Annual Report, March 26, igoo) 



In the third annual report of the So- 

 ciety, it cannot be said that Rhode Island 

 women have given up wearing feathers, 

 or that our boys have stopped collecting 

 eggs ; but there can be no doubt that a 

 public sentiment in favor of bird protec- 

 tion has been aroused and is steadily 

 growing, not only in our state, but in all 

 parts of the country. Audubon Societies 

 exist in at least twenty different states, 

 and many other organizations are work- 

 ing on the same line. 



During the past year five Bird Commis- 

 sioners have been appointed by the Gov- 

 ernor of Rhode Island, and from the 

 character of those who have accepted the 

 office, we have every reason to believe 

 that the laws will be enforced. A com- 

 mittee appointed by the Audubon Society 

 will do what is possible to secure better 

 legislation in regard to certain useful 

 birds which are now unprotected, such 

 as Hawks, Owls, Meadow - Larks, and 

 Gulls. 



The Society has endeavored to keep its 

 aims constantly before the public About 

 fifteen hundred leaflets have been dis- 

 tributed. Thirteen hundred pictures of 

 birds, copied by the Massachusetts Society 

 from their calendar, and accompanied by 

 text, have been purchased and sent to the 

 superintendents of our country schools 

 and given by them to scholars interested 

 in nature study. 



The present Commissioner of Public 

 Schools, Mr. Thomas B. Stockwell, is anx- 

 ious to promote the study of birds, and 

 at the request of your secretary, has 

 kindly written a letter to the school super- 

 intendents of the state, asking them to 



