they had undoubtly frequently heard before, but now it was heard in a 

 different way. it had a meaning, and they learned to recognize the song of 

 several birds." 



"During the nesting season I think there were but few nests robbed, 

 and fewer birds killed just for fun. which goes to show that the small boy, 

 however malicious, can be taught to respect and love the friends of the 

 air, if the right course be taken. " 



6. Let us work to introduce bird study into thp schools along with 

 Botany. 



While legislation may be of vast benefit in protecting all bird life, yet I 

 firmiy believe that fhe true solution will be the education of the childn-n 

 of our schools, both public and private. They should be taught in every 

 grade from the kindwrgarten to the college, not only the aesthetic but the 

 economic value of the birds Bird protection must be the outgrowth of 

 public intelligence rather than sentiment. 



When people are taught the economic value of birds, that bird protec- 

 tion is a matter of dollars and cents to them, t)ird protection will be as- 

 sured. It is found to be extiemely difficult to convince the great bulk of 

 the adults of the present day of the economical value of birds and that 

 they should not be destroyed. In a. generation i^ will be possible to 

 change this sentiment so that every adult will recognize the importance of 

 birds as aids in preserving the econom'cal balance of nature. 



The American Ornitholoeists' Union has a committee on protection of 

 North American birds which has done most excellent work the past year. 

 Some of the above suggestions were from them. They have distributed 

 thousands of leaflets and column after column has appeared in the public 

 press relative to the cruelty, necessitated by the use of fea'hers for mil- 

 linery ornamentation. 



Their work has been carried on for the most part under the manage- 

 ment of Audubon societies. Very valuable work is being done and will be 

 done in the future by thest societies. 



The first of these, the Massachusetts Audubon Sock ty. was organized in 

 1886. As each one is planned on the same lines, and with the same ob- 

 jects in view, a quotation froua the prospactus of the Massachusetts 

 society will serve to give a character c/f the work it hopes to accom- 

 plish. 



"The purpose of the society is to discourage the buying and wearing for 

 ornamental purposes the feathers of any wild birds, and to otherwise fur- 

 ther the protection of our native birds. We would awaken the community 

 to the fact that this fashion of wearing feathers means the cruel slaugh- 

 ter of myriads of birds, and that some of our finest birds are already de- 

 cimated, and may ultimately be exterminated by the demand for their 

 feathers. We would make an appeal to all lovers of nature, siuce by this 

 reckless demand of fashion the woods and fielas are being stripped of one 

 of their chief attractions, and the country deprived of indispensible friends 

 of agric::lturf'." 



Any person is elegible for membership who is willing to subscribe to the 

 following single pledge: "Being in sympathy with the principles of the 



