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 I50 Bird - Lore being made to spread a knowledge of tliu usefulness of birds among the farmers of the state. 1"he wearing of feathers for ornament is almost a thing of the jiast, and unquestionably an impression has been made upon women, but we realize that as soon as the Parisian law- givers announce that aigrettes and wings are again fashion- able, we shall have everything to do over again, unless we carry on educational work with all possible earnestness in this little breathing space that is granted us. One of the primary objects of Audubon Societies, all over the country, has been to secure better legislation for the protection of birds. Wisconsin, following the example of several eastern states, has recently enacted a law which forbids the killing of our wild birds, and makes it illegal to deal in their plumage. This applies not only to resident birds, but to all that visit the state during migration. As it was thought desirable that some one should speak for the work of the Audubon Societies of the United States at the meeting of the National Federation of Women's Clubs, held in Milwaukee last June, the Wisconsin Society, aided by the societies of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and Ohio, secured Miss Mira Lloyd Dock, of Harrisburg, whose earnest and moving address on "The Quality of Mercy" will l)e long remembered by those who heard it. On April 13, Prof. O. G. Libby, of the University of Wisconsin, gave an illustrated lecture on "Our Native Birds" for the teachers and school children of Milwaukee, riiis lecture took the place of the customary annual meeting. The main line of work in the Society has been to develop an interest in bird protec- tion and bird study among young people, and in this it has achieved remarkable suc- cess, having brought 13,441 enthusiastic teachers and children into its ranks. A monthly paper, costing twenty cents a year, with a course of bird-study, is issued, prizes and honor badges are awarded for the best reports and observations, and our little wren button is furnished at a nominal price, while the Gordon Library of bird books, and the collection of colored bird slitles, owned liy the Madison Branch, are sent all over the state. This work has been repeatedly commended by the eastern so- cieties, and it is certainly uncommon for so much to be accomplished with so small a sunt of money as is at the disposal of the Executive Board. Elizabeth G. Peckh.am, Secretary. A Good Example Many attempts have been made to com- pound a "white list" of milliners who, if they could not wholly dispense with bird plumage in their trimmings, owing to the insistence of customers, would at least make it easy for those wishing Aiuiobonnets to obtain them. This attempt has, we regret to say, met with no general response, so that it is surprising as well as gratifying to hear that the Shepard Company, of Provi- dence, R. I., held a successful exhibition and sale of these hats and bonnets on the 15th and 1 6th of May. The circular an- nouncing the exhibit, after a summary of bird destruction for millinery purposes and the work done for bird protection, says: "The Sheph.'rd Company, sympathizing with this great and beneficent work and be* lieving that most women, if conscious of the extent of this slaughter of the innocents, as well as of the beautiful and fashionable ef- fects in millinery which are possible with- out their use, has decided to hold a special exhibition of hats and bonnets in which none of the articles listed ' ' contraband ' ' by the Audubon Society shall appear. "This exhibition is intended to demon- strate that hats and bonnets can be fully in keeping with prevailing styles and will show exceptional beauty in design and color without the use of the plumage of wild birds. "Carefully selected specimens of the latest foreign and domestic styles will be on view. " We invite the inspection of the pui)lic, and especially of such women as are inter- ested, to assist in influencing popular opin- ion along humanitarian lines.