72 
FOREST AND STREAM 
February, 1919 
FORESTaHISTREAM 
FORTY-EIGHTH YEAR 
FOUNDERS OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETY 
GOVERNING BOARD: 
GEOEGE BIRD GEINNELL, New York, N. Y. 
GAEL E. AEELEY, American Museum of Natural History, New York 
FEANH S, DAGGETT, Museum of Science, Eos Anreles, Cal. 
EDMUND HELLEE, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 
C. HAET MEEEIAM, Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. 
WILFEED H. OSGOOD, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 111. 
JOHN M. PHILLIPS, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
CHARLES SHELDON, Washington, D. C. 
GEOEGE SHIEAS, 3rd. Washington. D. C. 
WILLIAM BRUETTE, Editor 
TOM WOOD, Manager 
Nine East Fortieth Street, New York City 
THE OBJECT OP THIS JOURNAL WILL BE TO 
studiously promote a healthful interest in outdoor rec- 
reation, and a refined taste for natural objects. 
August 14, 1873. 
COLONEL THEODORE ROOSEVELT 
A S this issue goes to press the country is saddened 
by news of the death of Colonel Theodore Roose- 
velt, probably the most widely known sportsman in 
the world. Colonel Roosevelt always cherished a 
great affection for Forest and Stream, as it was 
the paper for which he wrote the first of those stories 
of hunting and adventure which have become fa- 
miliar as far, and farther, than English is read. 
When this paper was reorganized, the meeting to 
elect the present Governing Board was held at Col- 
onel Roosevelt’s home at Oyster Bay. 
An ardent sportsman, a fair antagonist, a forceful 
personality, has gone from among the walks of men. 
As long as men’s spirits thrill at tales of the Chase 
and the Great Outdoors, and as long as the printed 
page endures, this great-hearted personality will 
continue to speak to generations of sportsmen yet 
unborn. 
A YEAR OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETY 
■THE annual report of T. Gilbert Pearson, Execu- 
■ tive Head of the National Association of Audu- 
bon Societies, just being issued is a concise document 
covering a wide range of activities. In the past 
year, Mr. Pearson, at the request of the United 
States Food Administrator, went to the southern 
coasts to investigate a wide complaint that the brown 
pelican was destroying valuable food fish and should, 
therefore, be exterminated. By visiting all the peli- 
can colonies from Mexico to Key West, he learned, 
on the contrary, that these birds, of which he esti- 
mates there are only 65,000 adult specimens, prey 
almost exclusively on fish not eaten by man and 
which are destructive to the young of the fish ordi- 
narily offered in our markets. 
The sea gulls, accused of despoiling the sheep 
ranges on the islands off the coast of Maine, were 
found, after careful study, to be a material aid to 
increasing the vegetation in those regions. 
Valuable contributions to our knowledge of the 
practical uses of birds were made through the Asso- 
ciation’s Department of Applied Ornithology in 
charge of Mr. H. K. Job. At his experimental bird 
farm at Amston, Connecticut, Mr. Job has made im- 
portant investigations and has also distributed in- 
formation to neighboring land owners, and spread 
facts through his lectures and writing, as well as 
through the publications of the organization. Read- 
ers will recall the interesting account of the wild 
fowl farm at Amston, published in the May issue of 
Forest and Stream. 
The Association has been active in saving the 
Klamath and Malheur Bird Reservations in Oregon 
and California from being dismantled and drained 
on the plea that the land was needed as ranches. It 
was shown that the birds which found refuge there, 
especially in the breeding season, justified the pro- 
tection afforded them as the winged conservators of 
grain and fruit crops. 
With the passage of the Enabling Act of the Mi- 
gratory Bird Treaty, the means for shielding the 
birds from destruction on their way from the United 
States to Canada has been greatly increased and 
with the coming of peace, the champions of the wild 
life of the forests and thickets, will have both federal 
and state legislation to aid them. 
Despite the many demands made by the war, the 
Association and its affiliated societies in all parts of 
the country, have made steady progress. The at- 
tention which has been focused upon the economic 
factor in bird protection brought into the organiza- 
tion one hundred and sixty-one Life Members, the 
largest number ever received in one year in its 
history. This meant an addition of $16,100 to the 
much-needed permanent endowment fund, $10,000 
of which was invested at once in bonds of the Third 
and Fourth Liberty Loans. 
The Junior Classes, which are devoted to the study 
of bird life under the direction of teacher volunteers, 
did not increase as much as usual owing to the many 
needs of the War Stamp and Red Cross Funds and 
other worthy causes connected with the war. 
The fiscal year closed, however, with an additional 
150,000 American boys and girls enrolled in the 
6,297 classes of the Association distributed through- 
out the Union. The work of instructing the younger 
generation in the ways of birds and in nature obser- 
vation was made possible, in a large measure, 
through the generosity of the late Mrs. Russell Sage, 
General Coleman DuPont, George Eastman, and a 
benefactor, unknown even to the officers of the As- 
sociation, whose subscription was $20,000 for this 
purpose. 
The Sustaining Membership now numbers 3,890 
persons, who pay an annual subscription of $5 each. 
The total receipts for the year were $121,535.28. 
The movement toward the erection of a perma- 
nent building with museum and administrative 
offices will be urged during the coming year. 
DIED A SOLDIER’S DEATH 
■^HE Audubon Association met a great loss in 
^ the tragic death of an ornithologist of its staff, 
Mr. Walter Freeman McMahon, familiarly known 
as “The Bird Walk Man,” who was killed in action 
while on duty as a soldier in France. His keen ob- 
servation of nature made him useful as a scout, for 
