Page:Bird-lore Vol 04.djvu/192

 The Audubon Societies

Audubon kindled a like spirit in the breasts of dealers. who have made up their mindsto defy the sentimentalists. The trade at large should pay no attention to Audubon cir— culars or newspaper comments, but move along in the even tenor of its way, awaiting the action of the civil authorities, who alone have the right to enforce the laws of the state, and who will do it when they see a necessity for it. Sooner or later this matter will have to be taken to the courts. when it will be found that what Uncle Sam passes through the custom-house goes,"

It is easy to laugh at these tirades, but we are not certain enough of having the last word to laugh—at least not now,

It behooves each state society to ohtain the best possible legal adtice and guidance in framing or amending its own laws at the same time that it woos every eﬁort to educate public opinion and furnish a better view- point to the rising generation.

In November the delegates of these societies will meet at Washington for the Annual Audubon Convention. Let them bring re- ports and queries digested, pertinent and well threshed, the kernel of the wheat only, so that we may not spend the limited time in sweeping up chat}. That the convention is held in conjunction with the annual meet- ing of the A. 0. U. should bc an inspira» tion to the delegates, and the fact that it is really the only chance in a twelve-month for the societies to meet face to face, should be enough to make each act in all serious~ ness, for many will journey to the joint meeting to whom attendance at the spring meeting at the Advisory Committee will be impossible,

A good plan would be to have a question box. placed the first day of the A. 0. U., to be opened during the conference and the queries answered and discussed there and

then M. 0. Wt Bird Protection Abroad In connec n with the destruction of for-

eign birds, the appended information, quoted from ‘Science' in :egard to an international law for the protection of birds, is of interest:

"The Paris correspondent of the London ‘ Standard ’ states that the Ministers of Fan

171

eign' Altairs and Agriculture, just before the summer recess, presented to the Chamber a bill approving the international conven~ tion for the protection of birds useful to agriculture. has been gned by eleven European states Encouraged by the constantly renewed reso- ltltions of the Councils General and the agricultural societies, which deplored the systematic destruction of certain birds useful to agriculture, the French Government, in r892, took the initiative in the matter of inviting the European powers to send their representatives to an international commis— sion intrusted with the task of elaborating a convention That committee met in Paris in June, 1895i Attcr long negotiations, the convention thus framed has now obtained the adhesion of France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Lux- embourg, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the principality of Monaco. All the other states are empowered by the terms of the agreement to adhere, if they t it fit. to this convention for the protection of birds. The various contracting govern— ments undertake to prohibit the employ» ment of snares, cages. nets, glue, anti all other means for the capture and destruction

The international convention

of birds in large numbers at a time. lu addition to this general measure of protec- tion, no one is to be allowed to capture or kill, between March r and September .5. any of the birds useful to agriculture, of which a complete list is contained in the international agreement. birds comprises sparrows, Owls. common Brown Owls, Tawny Owls, Sea Eagles. Woodpeckers, Rollers, Wasp-ealers. Pt- wits, Martins. Fern Owls. Niglltingales, Redstarts. Robin Retlbreasts, White Btls~ tards, Larks of all kinds. Wrens, Tomtits, Swallows, Flycatchers, etc."

This list of useiul

Reports of Societies

REPORT OF THE FLORlDA AUDUBON SOCIETY

our second annual meeting occurred in

March last, and since that time there has

been an increased interest in the saving of

our birds. Throughout the state. and in