Reports of Field Agents 435 



the nominations were made and how those most interested in birds were chosen. 

 To the chairman of the Directors I gave Audubon Society Hterature and urged 

 him to write immediately for more and for suggestions concerning special local 

 needs. The Directors (who I advised should be composed about equally of men 

 and women) then appointed a date, time, and place for a Directors' Meeting 

 about a week ahead, giving the Chairman time to write or inquire concerning 

 available bird-lecturers, literature, etc. I advised that the Directors elect their 

 officers at that meeting, from their own number, and plan for a pubUc meeting 

 which would consist of an address or other program on birds, followed by an 

 explanation of the bird club's origin and purpose and by an exhortation to the 

 public to join. 



I urged each Board of Directors to establish some bird-work among the 

 children of the town, and especially to keep them interested in birds during the 

 summer vacation when the schools' activities cease. 



These meetings were usually followed by many questions about desirable 

 bird literature and about the common and interesting things of bird-life. I 

 was much interested to see how often both men and women who had paid little 

 attention to birds declared themselves back to childhood, the time when nearly 

 all of us are somewhat interested in them ; and how some people who respond 

 little to the presentation of the economic value of birds, will become enthusi- 

 astic when the poetry and sentiment connected with birds is emphasized. 



During June and July the lecture-entertainment was given in forty-six cir- 

 cuit towns of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and New York. Five of these 

 already had bird clubs; four failed to organize; in thirty-seven it was voted to 

 organize and committees of directors were elected. During August I filled 

 independent Chautauqua engagements. This necessitated so much more rail- 

 road travel and so much less time in each town that I did not attempt to 

 organize clubs. Two towns, however, early in August, voted for clubs and 

 elected directors. During two months of lyceum engagements this fall I shall 

 continue the organization of clubs in co5peration with the National Associa- 

 tion wherever possible. 



Bird clubs were formed, at the conclusion of my lectures, at Niles, East 

 Liverpool, Lima, Martin's Ferry, New Philadelphia, Coshocton, ChiUicothe, 

 Cresthne, Washington, Middletown, Versailles, Sidney, East Cleveland, Akron, 

 Ravenna, Tiffin, and Dormont— all Ohio towns. Also at Coraopolis, New 

 Brighton, Coudersport, Ridgway, Du Bois, Vandergrift, Blairsville, Varnes- 

 boro, Ligonier, Irwin, Washington, Somerset, and McDonald, in Pennsylvania; 

 at Wyandotte, Pontiac, Bay City, Owosso, Jackson, and Adrian, Michigan; 

 at Elkhart, Indiana; and at Hornell, New York. 



