State Audubon Reports 319 



Mrs. H. Melville French, Mrs. Frank Carpenter, Mrs. F. W. Batchelder, Mrs. 

 John C. Bickford; Vice-president in charge of organizing branches, Miss Mar- 

 gueritte Morrill; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Sarah Hazard; Recording 

 Secretary, Miss Margaret French; Historian, Miss Christine Johnson; Treasurer, 

 Miss Louise Means. 



Our last meeting was in June at the home of our President, Mrs. Arthur E. 

 Clark, and was most delightful and instructive. We met in the arbor in Mrs. 

 Clark's flower garden midst the fragrance of flowers and the singing of birds. 

 A cherry tree nearby seemed to attract the Robins, for they sat in the branches 

 and sang their beautiful song without stint, and quite outshone the orchestra 

 which played later. Mr. Edward Howe Forbush, ornothologist of the state of 

 Massachusetts, and New England Agent of the National Association of Audubon 

 Societies, addressed the meeting, and earnestly advised all bird-lovers to exter- 

 minate as far as possible the English Sparrow and tramp cat — or cats without 

 a home — as a measure for the protection of the birds we love. Mr. Forbush 

 said that we should not allow the Enghsh Sparrow to occupy our bird-houses, 

 that it was much better to close the openings than to have the houses so occupied. 

 He also spoke about feeding the birds in the winter. 



In closing, I should Hke to send Bird-Lore readers some charming lines 

 written some time ago for our New Hampshire Audubon Society. " The Plaint of 

 Chocorua's Tenants," Elizabeth C. BoUes, whose summer home is here in New 

 Hampshire at the foot of Chocorua. They are " a message from the' heart of 

 nature's self" and they will well bear re-reading. — Miss Sarah Hazard, Cor- 

 responding Secretary. 



New York. — The most important incident in the history of the Audubon 

 Society of the state of New York, during the past year, was the failure of the Fran- 

 cis Bill to pass the Assembly. The whole story has been given to the pubhc 

 through the able Leaflets issued by Mr. Dutcher, which may be had upon apph- 

 cation to either the State or the National organization. It presents a very curious 

 commentary upon present-day legislative methods. The Assemblymen who 

 voted against the bill were elected largely by residents of agricultural dis- 

 tricts, and they placed themselves in the anomalous position of neglecting the 

 interests of their constituents in a matter vitally concerning them, and of setting 

 aside all moral and humane claims involved, — for what? To aid a small class 

 of tradesmen to continue a nefarious business. 



There is some satisfaction in knowing that their success cost in dollars more 

 thousands than the Audubon Societies spent hundreds. The National Association 

 again generously shared the expenses; the funds of the State Society were, how- 

 ever, much diminished by the struggle. 



The State Society, in fact, was saved from bankruptcy last December only 

 by a timely donation; however, the members responded finely to an appeal for 

 funds, and all necessary expenses have been met. Through the kindness of our 



