Evening star., 1899-04-15
THE AUDUBON SOCIETY.
Preparing for n Spring Campaign in
Interest of Song Birds.

With the coming of spring interest is
awakened in the pathological world. The
birds are beginning to twitter in the forest
and each day brings in thousands of the
feathered beauties that have wintered in
the south. A sympathetic influence natural
ly arouses renewed activity in the affairs
of the Audubon Society of the District of
Columbia, which has for its purpose the
protection of song birds and the teaching
of bird lore.
In the endeavor to arouse interest in the
work of the society a popular and public
meeting has been planned for Tuesday,
April %. The meeting will be held in the
First Baptist Church, corner of 10th and o
streets. and will begin at o'clock in the
evening 1t will not be dull with routine,
but instead an attractive program is being
prepared. The opening remarks will be
made by DR.. Leavitt, who will dwell upon
the aims and work of the Audubon Society.
The feature of the evening will be q lee
ture by Mr.. Henry Olds, member of the
executive committee of the society, upon
the subject of Some Familiar Birds" The
lecture will be profusely illustrated with
colored stereopticon views. The habitat of
the birds will be noted, their traits and
mode of life explained and illustrated in the
most interesting style. The meeting will
be popular one in every sense of the
WOru ne society issues a general invita-
ton to the public. There will be no charge.
A general advance movement is being
made by the Audubon societies throughout
the country. Other organizations of infiu-
ence are taking upon the work of bird
protection and there are many indications
of the progress of the education of the peo-
pie on the subject. The New York Musical
Society, at its meeting Thursday, indorsed
the efforts of Lilli Lehman, the we'll
known operate star, who is deeply interest
ed in An6nbon work The society rendered
her its support.
The District Audubon Society has adopted
a button to be worn by the school children.
The little ones are very proud of their con-
nection with the movement and accomplish
a world of good. Whenever tempted to de-
spoil nest. or upon seeing a companion
in such an act, they are reminded of their
duty by the button in the lapel of their coat
and act accordingly. The influence for good
thus induced cannot be overestmated. 1t
is not necessary to join the society to Sc
cure these buttons. All school children
are eligible to wear them. Their cost is only
three cents.
The study of birds in the schools of the
city is becoming more general and popular.
The teachers are Identifying themselves
with the Audubon Society and are learning
and teaching much of value. Besides its
influence for good the study is one of the
most attractive and Interesting that could
be included in curriculum.
The Audubon Society is just now very
luteItSlSu III Inc enforcement Oh tn6
bird and game law enacted during the last
days of the Congress recently adjourned.
The section of the act which the society
is particularly anxious to uphold is that
having reference to insectivorous birds,
providing that no person shall expose for
sale or have in possession dead at any
time, any wren, bluebird, humming bird,
blue jay, robin or migratory thrush, wood
or song robin, martin, mocking bird, swal-
low, oriole, red or cardinal bird, catbird
pewit, whip-poor-will, goldfinch sapsucker,
hanging bird, woodpecker, crow blackbird,
or other insectivorous bird, save for scien-
tific purposes upon permit from the super
intendent of police of the District of Column
bia, in accordance with such restrictions as
the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
may prescribe, and excepting the English
sparrow; nor rob the nest of any wild bird
of eggs or young or destroy such nest ex-
cept in the clearing of lands of trees or
brush.