24 



JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



AN APPEAL TO MEMBERS OF THE 



MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL 



SOCIETY. 



The attention of individual members 

 cf this society is called to assist in 

 the establishment of Audubon So- 

 cieties in Maine, by the committee ap- 

 pointed at the last meeting, to aid 

 and encourage these societies. Bird 

 protection at this period of history, 

 though attracting considerable at- 

 tention and receiving new strength 

 each year, is beset with difficulties, 

 owing to popular thoughtlessness and 

 ignorance. The great value of bird 

 life to the world has been sufficiently 

 demonstrated, to prove that this phase 

 of ornithological interest has advanced 

 beyond the stage of pure sentiment 



Hence, every movement designed 

 for the better protection of birds 

 should receive the support and en- 

 couragement of all serious ornitholo- 

 gists. 



The organization best calculated to 

 reach and inform the largest number 

 of persons, undoubtedly, is the Aud'.i- 

 bon Society, organized and conducted 

 to instruct in the economic import- 

 ance, interest and direct in the 

 aesthetic value of birds, and having 

 interested, to lead all to support meana 

 for their better support. 



It will be seen that the Audubon 

 Socities' future lies in its being adapt- 

 ed to the minds of youth. Here lies 

 the key to the situation, if the birds 

 are to be protected in the future, and 

 certain species preserved from extinc- 

 non. Here, too, it is, that by far the 

 largest return is to be had from the 

 least effort. The committee of this 

 society has resolved to ask each mem- 

 ber to act in his respective locality for 

 the promotion of a local Audubon So- 

 ciety. The governing board should con- 

 sist of a President, one or several vice- 



presidents, and a Secretary. 



Upon this board there should be, at 

 least, one accurate ornithologist, (not 

 necessarily more) and of the influen- 

 tial citizens and teachers as many as 

 can be secured, for members and all 

 possible young people and school 

 children, should be secured. 



The work of the society should be 

 conducted to instruct the young and 

 to maintain a permanent interest in 

 all for the protection of birds. 



Members or others, who will under- 

 take the formation of local societies 

 are invited to correspond with anyone 

 of the committee named in the last 

 Journal. 



Those wishing Audubon constitu- 

 tions, pledge cards etc., are referred 

 to Prof. A. L. Lane, president of the 

 "Maine Audubon Society," Waterville, 

 Maine. 



As the "Maine Audubon Society*' 

 has been formed with five local 

 branches, our work is to be co-opera- 

 tive and local societies, started by 

 M. O. S. members are recommended to 

 become united with that organization. 

 ARTHUR H. NORTON, 



For the Com. 



NOTES ON THE OLIVE-BACKED 

 THRUSH. (TURDUS USTULA- 

 TUS USTURLATUS SWAIN- 

 SONII, CAB.) 



Along the Kennebago river where 

 the writer passed most of the summer 

 of 1901, the olive-backed thrush was 

 uie chief representative of its family. 

 In the large forests covering the re- 

 gion it made its summer home, rang- 

 ing from the thick growth of spruce 

 and fir, to the more open growth 

 where hardwood trees predominated. 



It is with the former growth that I 

 associate the bird chiefly. The mem- 

 ory of its song recalls the beautiful 



