354 Bird - Lore 



have signed the Audubon Pledge and received certificates of associate mem- 

 bership. 



The increase of the public sentiment for bird protection has been quite marked 

 during the past year in this state, largely due to the good work done by the State 

 Zoologist, and the Audubon literature distribution in schools. Indeed, it is to 

 the inteUigent work of the public school teachers who take up the subject that 

 the Audubon Society owes some of its best results in the country districts. 



The Society hopes to follow up its reorganization this winter with several 

 public meetings, where illustrated talks will be given by those prominent in bird 

 protection and ornithology (which seems still to be one of the most successful 

 ways of reaching the general pubhc), and by special work among the schools. 



In closing this report of the Pennsylvania Society, a word must be added 

 in recognition of the splendid work done by its late secretary, Mrs. Edward 

 Robins. Always an enthusiastic lover of animals, Mrs. Robins combined a 

 scientific knowledge of ornithology with her sympathy for the birds, which raised 

 the Society's work above the mere sentiment of the moment to a permanent 

 usefulness of both economic and humane value. The directors feel that the 

 best tribute they can pay Mrs. Robins' memory is to continue on her own lines 

 the work to which she was so devoted. — Miss E. W. Fisher, Secretary. 



Rhode Island. — This Society has now been in existence for ten years. If 

 the millinery question had been the only one to which our efforts had been 

 directed during that time, we should certainly feel discouraged. The majority 

 of Rhode Island women wear feathers, and even members of our Society are 

 beginning to follow the prevaiHng fashion, taking refuge behind the assumption 

 that all ' made-up-pieces ' are composed of ' hen ' feathers. Even if such plumage 

 could be positively identified, it would still seem, for various reasons, to be ill- 

 advised to wear it. A letter was sent by us in the spring to the Women's Clubs 

 of the State Federation, asking them to sign resolutions binding them not to 

 wear feathers, and although no official action was taken, yet many individual 

 signatures were received. The interest of such women will be of great value to 

 the cause, and we hope that the coming year will show the effects of their influ- 

 ence. 



Our branch societies now number thirty, and our membership has increased 

 from 1,100 to 1,646. Most of the new accessions, however, have been children, 

 who pay small fees, and we have only one hundred and twenty-five sustaining 

 members. The chief interest shown in bird-study has been in thQ rural districts. 

 Many teachers there are giving attention to the subject, and we have constant 

 requests for literature and charts. With the assistance of the National Associa- 

 tion, and of our state officials, we have been able to place one hundred and fifty 

 colored bird charts in the country schools. Leaflets to the number of 15,000 

 have been distributed, and twelve copies of Bird-Lore have been sent regu- 

 larly to branch societies. Five travehng libraries, which had seen much use, 



