Reports of Special Agents 305 



half my time has been occupied with other duties than those connected with 

 the work of the Association. The time given to its work has been utilized largely 

 in organizing people interested in the protection of birds in New England, and 

 in soliciting members for the National and State Associations. In August, 

 a series of five illustrated lectures on birds in their relation to the farmer was 

 given at the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst before students 

 in the large and successful summer school of agriculture. This course proved 

 one of the most popular of the year. The students were mainly teachers and 

 others connected with school or college instruction, and the attendance at these 

 lectures included nearly the entire school. 



The bird laws enacted in Massachusetts since the first settlement of the 

 colony have been studied, and a bulletin entitled 'Statutory Bird Protection 

 in Massachusetts ' has been prepared and printed by the Massachusetts State 

 Board of Agriculture for free distribution among farmers and others, in antici- 

 pation of a movement for better legislation. Copies may be had by application 

 to Secretary, J. Lewis Ellsworth, State Board of Agriculture, State House, 

 Boston, Mass. 



As the first edition of 'Useful Birds and their Protection' was practically 

 exhausted within three weeks of its issue, a bill authorizing a second edition 

 was introduced into the legislature and passed. The second edition is now in 

 press, and copies may be obtained of Secretary Ellsworth when issued. I have 

 prepared also an illustrated article on the relations of birds to agriculture for 

 Prof. L. H. Bailey's Cyclopedia of Agriculture, now in press. — Edward Howe 



FORBUSH. 



REPORT OF H. H. KOPMAN 



The work undertaken by your present special agent since his first connection 

 with your Association last May has included three principal lines of activities, 

 viz., a cruise along the Louisiana coast west of the Mississippi river, cover- 

 ing the period from May 15 to June 21, attendance on farmers' institutes 

 in Mississippi, for the purpose of addressing farmers on the importance of bird 

 protection, and covering the period from July 15, to September 6; and pub- 

 licity work in Mississippi, with Jackson as a base of operations, having as its 

 object the organization of a Mississippi State Audubon Society. As this report 

 is being drafted, preliminary steps are under way for making an Audubon 

 exhibit at the Mississippi State Fair, at Jackson, November 5-16. 



The cruise along the Louisiana coast was made in the schooner 'Sea-bird,' 

 of Pass Christian, Miss., owned by Captain William Sprinkle and sailed by 

 Captain Frank Couvillier and Mate O. C. Colson, of Morgan City, La. The 

 breeding colonies found on this trip were: Shell Keys, off Marsh island, at the 

 entrance to Vermilion Bay, the nesting-home of about two thousand Royal 

 Terns, and the resting-place of Brown Pelicans and Man-o'-War birds; that 

 portion of Last island west of 'Caroline's Cut,' where about 6,000 Black Skim- 



