The Audubon Societies 



139 



meadows and fields. But shooting was 

 poor. The ducks had all flown northward 

 and the other winged beings he had ex- 

 pected to find in great numbers were missing 

 from their customary haunts, perhaps ap- 

 prised of the coming of the gentleman of 

 the cloth. 



Although he made no statement before 

 the court, it appears that Rev. Craig found 

 nothing that would satisfy his sportsman's 

 lust for a killing. This afternoon the sher- 

 iff of Thomas county happened to be driv- 

 ing in the neighborhood on his work of 

 serving subpoenas. He had, incidentally, 

 heard that some unlawful shooting was 

 being done in the neighborhood. At the 

 sound of a gun he decided to make an in- 

 vestigation. This investigation resulted in 

 the arrest of the Omaha minister. In the 

 game-bag attached to his person were found 

 twenty-two Meadow - larks, on whose 

 slaughter the state of Nebraska has set the 

 seal of its disapproval. 



The minister consented without hesita- 

 tion, although with some misgivings, to 

 accompany the sheriff to this city, where he 

 was soon brought before a justice and 

 bound over without a hitch to the district 

 court for further trial. 



This arrest seems all the more pointed 

 and consistent from the fact that the 

 Meadow-lark is the emblem on the button 

 of the Omaha Society. 



Much interest in Bird Day as celebrated 

 in one of the schools is reported from San 

 Antonia, Texas, by Miss Florence T. 

 Wasson. It must be remembered that the 

 state society came to an untimely end ow- 

 ing to the death of the secretary. Miss 

 Seixas, at the time of the inundation, and 

 it seems unfortunate that there should be 

 now no organization in so important a state. 



Who will lake the initiative? 



Report of Societies 



Extracts from Annual Report of the 

 Audubon Society of R. I. 



The work of the Audubon Society of 

 Rhode Island has been carried on since the 



last annual meeting through the regular 

 meetings of the Board of Directors and the 

 duties of the various committees. We have 

 at present seven local secretaries in as many 

 towns and members in various other places 

 in the state. It is hoped in the coming 

 year to found a number of new branches. 



The traveling lecture has been doing 

 active service. In November it had already 

 been heard in twenty-four different places. 

 It is at present in constant demand by 

 schools, churches and societies. 



The traveling library also has been use- 

 ful during the year. At present it is at the 

 East Greenwich Academy and goes from 

 there to the local secretary in Woonsocket. 



Two lectures have been given in Provi- 

 dence this year under the auspices of this 

 society, — one on February 28, by Mr. 

 Frank M. Chapman on "The Bird Life of 

 Islands," and one on April 20, by Mr. F. 

 Schuyler Mathews. 



Last spring the society helped financially 

 to place bird charts, purchased from the 

 Massachusetts society, in the country schools 

 of the state, Mr. Stockwell, the commis- 

 sioner of public schools, deciding where 

 they would do the best service. This year 

 we shall assist in buying a second set of 

 charts for the schools. Throughout the 

 year there has been a constant distribution 

 of Audubon literature. 



T'he most important advance step taken 

 by the Board of Directors during the year 

 has been the appointment of a millinery 

 committee, consisting of Mrs. Henry T. 

 Grant, Rev. A. M. Lord and Mr. Preston 

 Gardner, to carry on work among the local 

 milliners. 



Attention should be called to the work of 

 the Bird' Commissioners of the state and 

 their efforts to pass laws to protect shore- 

 birds, to prevent the shooting of water- 

 fowl from electric and steam launches and 

 to stop for three years the sale of Ruffed 

 Grouse and Woodcock. 



If the changes recommended by this 

 commission come before the legislature, 

 we earnestly bespeak for them the support 

 and influence of every member of the 

 Audubon Society. 



Martha R. Clarke, Secretary. 



