BIBB NOTES ANB NEWS. 



1892 Miss Hannah Poland, who had taken over 

 the secretaryship from Mrs. Williamson, was suc- 

 ceeded by Mrs. F. E. Lemon, the present hon. 

 secretary of the Society. 



Meanwhile the scope of the Society was rapidly 

 extending, and it had become evident that some- 

 thing of a much broader and more inclusive 

 character was called for than had originally been 

 contemplated. Sympathy with its efforts quickly 

 brought naturalists and other bird-lovers into its 

 ranks ; ornithologists as well as humanitarians 

 recognized from the first the potentialities of such 

 an association as a leader in promoting laws for 

 bird protection, and in educating the general public 

 to a fuller sense of the utility of birds as well as of 

 their beauty and charm ; and it is through the 

 co-operation of many varying minds working for 

 a common end that the Society has expanded 

 from an anti-plumage league into an organization 

 working for the protection of wild birds in every 

 way and by all available means from wanton 

 slaughter and cruelty, and especially for the pre- 

 servation of rarer species. 



Among the earliest of its members and supporters 

 were Lord Lilford, Professor Newton, Mr. Auberon 

 Herbert, Mr. H. S. Marks, R.A., Canon Tristram, 

 Dr.Sclater,Dr. Bowdler Sharpe,Mr.W.H. Hudson, 

 Mr. Harvie-Brown, the Rev. F. O. Morris, Mr. John 

 Colam, Mr. Linley Sambourne, Mr. G. D. Leslie, 

 R.A.,Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bishop Westcott, Bishop 

 Barry, Dr. (now Bishop) Welldon, Canon Jessopp, 

 Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Sydney Buxton, Lord 

 Wolseley, and Sir Ross O'Connell ; while the ladies 

 foremost in strengthening its influence included 

 Elizabeth Duchess of Wellington, the Duchess of 

 Somerset, Eleanor Duchess of Northumberland, 

 Aldine Lady Forester, Lady Lyall, the Hon. C. M. 

 Powys (now the Hon. Mrs. Drewitt), the Hon. 

 Mrs. Boyle, Lady Grey, Mrs. Brightwen, Mrs. Owen 

 Visger, Mrs. R. F. Sturge, Miss Power Cobbe, Lady 

 Hooker, Dr. Sophia J ex-Blake, and Miss Rhoda 

 B rough ton. 



Increased aims and efforts naturally demanded 

 increased funds. At first the young Society had 

 even declined donations ; recognition of the fact 

 that literature was absolutely necessary to spread 

 abroad its propaganda brought about a speedy 

 change of attitude. The first guinea to the funds 

 came from Professor Newton, followed by a second 

 from the Rev. A. L. Hussey, and a donation of 

 ^10 from Mr. Harvie-Brown enabled the treasurer 

 to open a modest banking account. It was, however, 

 evident that a settled income was a matter of first 



importance, and at a general meeting held in 1893 

 the present constitution of the Society was framed, 

 in which the title of Associate for annual sub- 

 scribers was adopted, the minimum amount being 

 fixed at one shilling so as to suit every class of 

 sympathiser, while a guinea was made the quali- 

 fication for Life Associateship. The term Fellow, 

 for those subscribing a guinea a year, was not 

 introduced until 1897. At the end of 1893 the 

 register showed nearly 500 Associates ; less than 

 ten years have multiplied the number by ten, and 

 it may be hoped that future increase will be at 

 least in corresponding ratio. 



In 1895 Mr. Montagu Sharpe, whose wide 

 experience and legal knowledge have been of 

 great advantage to the Society, became chairman 

 of committee, succeeding Mr. Hudson, who in the 

 previous year had relieved Mrs. Phillips of the post 

 which she had held from the formation of the 

 committee. 



For years the business of the Society was 

 carried on from the private residences of the lead- 

 ing workers, the committee meetings being held at 

 105, Jermyn Street, through the kindness of the 

 R.S.P.C.A. ; but the increase in correspondence 

 and clerical work having made this arrangement no 

 longer possible, in 1898 the committee started head- 

 quarters of their own by renting a room of the 

 Zoological Society of London at 3, Hanover 

 Square, W. 



It may be of interest to add the names of those 

 gentlemen who have presided at the annual meet- 

 ings : — 1894, Mr. E. H. Bayley, M.P. ; 1895, Mr. 

 Sydney Buxton, M.P. (now the Society's hon. 

 treasurer) ; 1896, Sir Herbert Maxwell, M.P. ; 

 1897, the Earl of Stamford ; 1898, Mr. Montagu 

 Sharpe ; 1899, Sir Edward Grey, M.P. ; 1900, the 

 Marquis of Granby ; 1901, Mr. Montagu Sharpe ; 

 1902, Sir George Kekewich, K.C.B. ; 1903, the 

 Duke of Bedford, K.G. 



ANNUAL MEETING, 1903. 



The annual meeting of the Society, held on 

 February 10th, was reported in an unusually large 

 number of newspapers, and in many cases editorial 

 articles and notes commented on the work. The 

 Times, in a leading article, advocated a knowledge 

 of birds and their ways as the best preventive of 

 " the wanton destruction of a form of wealth that 

 cannot be replaced." " Not necessarily scientific 

 knowledge, but that possessed by the true sports- 



