3o8 Bird -Lore 



data coiuerning the food habits of this bird, which the Senator used in its 

 defence. 



The amended non-game bird bill prepared by the Society passed both branches 

 of the legislature with practically no opposition, received the approval of the 

 Governor, and is now in efTect. It is a great improvement over the old law, 

 making, as it does, illegal goods of all plumes and skins of birds native or migrant 

 in California, whether taken in or out of the state. It also defines "game" birds 

 more closely, restricts the collection of eggs and skins for alleged scientific pur- 

 poses, and otherwise strengthens the old law in several essential features. Hun- 

 dreds of circular letters were sent out to milliners throughout the state, notify- 

 ing them of the change in the law, and that it would be enforced by the Audubon 

 Society. As far as I know, no effort is being made by these milliners to evade 

 the law, many of them being glad of the opportunity given them to cease carrying 

 aigrette plumes and skins, obtained in such an inhumane way. 



An important change in the game law, and one for which our Society has 

 long worked, was giving the Mountain Quail a closed season for a period of years. 



By means of the Humane Education Committee of the California Club of 

 San Francisco, a law was enacted making March 7, of each year (the anniversary 

 of the birth of Luther Burbank), Bird and Arbor Day, and directing that all 

 public schools observe this day, not as a holiday, but by including in the school 

 work suitable exercises and instruction of the value of birds and trees, and the 

 promotion of the spirit of protection toward them. 



About the middle of the year, Miss Gretchen L. Libby, of Riverside, was 

 appointed as School Secretary to take charge of the school work. So successful 

 was she in creating an interest among teachers and pupils that the Directors 

 voted to engage her entire time for the year beginning October i, 1909. She will 

 have at her disposal the Society's lantern and colored bird-slides to illustrate 

 her lectures. Much good is expected to come from this educational campaign. 



The greatest calamity that has befallen the Society at any time is the removal 

 from the state of its beloved and efficient Secretary W. Scott Way. He it was 

 who started the Audubon movement in California and placed it on a firm footing. 

 The new Secretary and the Board of Directors, because of their interest in the 

 work and their regard for its founder, are determined that it shall continue, and 

 to that end are putting forth every effort for a successful year. — Mrs. Harriett 

 W. Myers, Secretary. 



Connecticut. — The work of the Connecticut Audubon Society has continued 

 mostly along educational lines during the past year. We hav^e added six new 

 libraries of books for the Public Library Committees' traveling libraries, and 

 twenty-five sets of bird charts. 



Our libraries, charts and portfolios have been sent out between three and 

 four hundred times. 



We have distributed Educational Leaflets of the National Association, and 



