Reports of Field Agents 423 



nervous at the thought of appearing before this august body. The night 

 I spoke, I carried in my hand the mounted Robin, used the year before in 

 the Virginia Legislature, when the children carried in their petitions. I opened 

 my remarks with an appeal for the Redbreast, and then urged the club-women 

 to cease the wearing of aigrettes and the plumage of wild birds as ornaments 

 for their hats. This was followed by an appeal for a State Game Commis- 

 sioner. Mr. Wallace, of Alabama, was the next speaker, and in a strong 

 address put before this body the needs of the state in game-protection, and 

 thus, through his "eloquent appeal," has won for Florida this long-desired 

 Department of Game. It was a large assembly of distinguished men, and 

 club-women, who came to hear us, in their beautiful Capitol, and throughout 

 the program we had the undivided attention of our hearers. 



I cannot fail to mention the hospitality extended me in their home by that 

 splendid president of Rollins College, Dr. William F. Blackman and his 

 charming wife, who are doing a great, grand, educational work for the state 

 of Florida in the Audubon Society, and better still are training hundreds of 

 young men and women for future life-work. I would also mention the cour- 

 tesies extended me by Mr. and Mrs. McAdow, Punta Gorda; Mr. and Mrs. 

 George N. Chamberlain, Daytona; Mr. and Mrs. Algernon Hayden, Orlando; 

 Dr. H. R. Mills, Department of Health, Tampa; Mrs. Katherine Tippetts, 

 St. Petersburg, and many others who assisted in making the way plain. I 

 visited the "Mosquito Inlet" Bird Reservation, with Mr. and Mrs. George 

 Chamberlain, and had the pleasure of spending the day at Ponce Park and 

 lunching with Mrs. Paccetti, the attractive wife of Captain Paccetti, Chief 

 United States Game Warden. I also had a visit to Orange Lake Rookery, 

 and studied the birds at close range. Both of these expeditions were delight- 

 ful, and will be so helpful in my talks this winter. On my return to Virginia, 

 I went to Clifton Forge, to speak there and give a report of Audubon work 

 in the state of Virginia before the Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs, 

 and reached Charlottesville, May 4, Virginia Bird Day, when I addressed 

 the schools of that city, and conducted two bird outings. There is great interest 

 at the University of Virginia in bird life, and a fine chance to studv bird life 

 on the beautiful campus of that historic place. 



Mr. O. S. Campbell, of New York, has purchased the historic Smith's 

 Island, off the coast of Virginia, formerly the property of Gen. W. H. Custis 

 Lee and family. I wrote to Mr. Campbell, urging him to make of this island 

 a bird-preserve, and to prohibit the collection of eggs, etc., on his property. 

 He replied, assuring me of his hearty cooperation in all bird-protection on 

 his property, and desired to become a member of the Virginia Audubon 

 Society, and sent me his check, which I forwarded at once to our president, 

 Mrs. William Harris, Richmond, Virginia. In the space allowed in Bird-Lore, 

 it is impossible to give more than a glimpse of the vast work done in Virginia 

 and Florida by your agent. It has been most enjoyable to meet so many 



