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 The Audubon Society 173 gentlemen's watch chains. Some surprise was expressed by the company present at this statement, particularly by the "Lady Rathbone," as Audubon was want to call her. No more was said then, but in due time a tiny pen-and-ink sketch, per- fect in every detail, with the motto, "America my Country," was sent to Mme. Rathbone, with Audubon's signa- ture and compliments. Not long after, Audubon received, to his amazement, a beautiful fob seal, cut in topaz, which he wore on his watch chain as long as he lived. It is now a valued possession held by his family. The accompanying cut is made from a die of this seal, and exactly reproduces it in size, etc. — D. T. A. Tyler. Report of the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia For the District of Columbia the Secre- tary has a most encouraging report. On Saturday, March 25, a very success- ful exhibit of spring millinery was given at the Hotel Corcoran, the ladies' parlors being kindly loaned for the occasion. About 300 women attended the exhibit in spite of a pouring rain, lasting the whole afternoon. Quite a number of bonnets and hats were sold, and every person attending left well supplied with Audubon literature. In April, a free lecture by Mr. Henry Olds, entitled "Some Familiar Birds," was given at the First Baptist church, which was also kindly loaned for this most interesting talk. The lecture was fully illustrated by colored lantern slides, and was made doubly entertaining by Mr. Olds' clever imitations of the notes of the various birds explained. About 400 persons attended this lecture. The Rev. Mr. Leasitt explained the aim and objects of the Audubon So- ciety, Dr. C. Hart Merriam introducing the lecturer in the unavoidable absence of the President of the Society, Surgeon General George M. Sternberg. Audubon literature was again distributed, and some copies of Mrs. L. W. Maynard's valuable book ' Birds of Washington and Vicinity,' were sold. The Audubon Society has started an Audubon collection of books in the new Free Library. This collection is designed primarily to be books of reference, large and expensive works, more especially for the use of teachers. For the work in the public schools, Dr- T. S. Palmer and Miss Elizabeth V. Brown have been untiring and most suc- cessful. In the spring of 1898, two classes were arranged, one for teachers in the Normal School, in charge of Dr. Palmer, and one for teachers in the Second and Fourth grades, in the hands of Mr. H. C. Oberholser. The classes were limited to 12 members each, and work extended over ten weeks in 1898-g. Speci- mens were kindly loaned by the Biological Survey, and the classes were enabled to handle, compare, and identify skins of 175 species of the 290 birds recorded for the vicinity of Washington. These speci- mens included nearly all the land birds from this vicinity. Hints were given concerning the classification of birds, the characters of the principal groups, and the use of keys. Short talks were also given on especially interesting topics, such as the 'Relation of Birds to other Vertebrates,' ' Feathers and Feather Structure,' ' Flight,' ' Migration,' 'Food,' and 'Nesting Habits.' The Society this spring purchased 1,000 Audubon buttons from the Society of the State of Wisconsin, Miss Elizabeth V. Brown taking charge of their sale. A large number were sold to children in and outside the schools, and while not strictly members of the Society, they became more interested in the birds through the wearing of this attractive button. Miss Florence A. Merriam has given several valuable talks this past spring, notably one at the Washington Club, before an audience of about 200 women, which created great enthusiasm and brought the Society an increase in mem- bership. The Secretary has been untiringly busy in trying to get societies organized in the South and in some western states. Jeanie Maury Patten, Sec'y.