The fields and woods are as silent as death. Indeed, the entire aspect of Nature then is a reminder to us that the Winter of Death. is at hand. The very reverse of this is true of spring. Then is the best time to plant all kinds of trees and shrubs. Planting them is easily accomplished and may be well done. The birds are coming and full of the song of the new life that is then so abundant and full of promise. It is then that our children are so joyous and can so readily be attracted to the wonderful works of Nature. For these and other reasons that might be given, I would have our Arbor and Bird Day occur in the springtime.

In this connection it is well to note the origin and growth of the Audubon Societies in this country. They are named after and in honor of John James Laforest Audubon, the most distinguished ornithologist of America, who was born May 5, 1780, near the village of Mandeville, in the parish of St. Tammany, Louisiana, on a plantation by the same name on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain. His father was a French Admiral and his mother a Spanish Creole whose surname was Rabin. His education was wholly French. As a man he was quick-tempered, enthusiastic and romantic, yet affectionate, forgiving and with unlimited industry and perseverance. His fame as a naturalist rests on one magnificent book, "The Birds of America," for which all his life may be said to have been a preparation, and which certainly surpasses in interest every other ornithological publication. For fifteen years

38-Fish Com.

before the thought of making use of his collections in this way, he annually went alone with his gun and his drawing materials into the deep unexplored forests of America, making long journeys on foot and counting nothing a hardship that added to his specimens. This passion had controlled him from his earliest childhood and continued to control him as long as his physical strength permitted him to pursue it. The "Birds of America" is now very rare and copies of it have sold for as much as $3,000. Of Audubon's death it is recorded that "just as sunset was flooding the pure, snow-covered landscape with his golden light, at five o'clock, January 27, 1851, the 'pard-like spirit,' beautiful and swift, out-soared the shadow of our night." In a quiet spot in Trinity Cemetery, not far from where he spent the last years of his life, his remains were laid with all honor and respect. What was his home is now one of the most beautiful parks of New York, known as "Audubon Park.”

The first Audubon Society was organized in Massachusetts in January, 1896. The Indiana Society was organized April 26,

1898.

State societies now exist in almost all of the states, and in some of them there are many auxiliary societies. The object of these societies is the protection and preservation of our native wild birds, and the work of the societies has been very effective in the passage of laws by Congress and the legislatures of the various states for this purpose. Already there is a noticeable increase of our birds and this is attributable, in a great measure, to the agitation that has been kept alive by the Audubon societies for their preservation and protection.

Outline Program for Arbor and Bird

Day.

Prepared for the Schools of Indiana by FRANK L. JONES, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

1. Devotional Exercises.

Song. Scripture Reading and Prayer. Song.

2. Reading Proclamation and Other Formal Documents. 3. Songs. Arbor and Bird Day.

d. How and When to Plant and Care for Trees.

e.

The Best Trees and Shrubs to Plant.

Recitations:

a. Poems About Trees, Birds, Flowers and Patriotism. b. Gems About Trees, Birds, Flowers and Patriotism. Songs:

a. About Trees, Birds, Flowers and Patriotism.

5. Brief Reports of Observations by Pupils―

a.

Of Finely Ornamented Home Lawns.

b. Of Finely Ornamented School Grounds.

C.

Of Finely Shaded Highways and Drives.

d. Of Fine Specimen Trees Along Highways, on Lawns

e.

and in the Forests.

Of Species of Trees in Home Forests.

f. Of Dense Forest Tracts in the Vicinity.

Our Duty in Planting Trees and Protecting Birds.

7. Organization of Pupils' Clubs for Planting Trees and Pro

tecting Birds.

8. Planting and Dedication of Trees.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROGRAMS.

1. Study the material, the conditions and possible participants available before formulating the exercises.

2. Make the program long enough to admit of pleasurable variety, but guard against such length as to kill interest. Diversity and conciseness should be the motto.

3. Have as many patrons as well as pupils on the program as possible. Appeal personally to patrons.

4. Give special emphasis to poems, gems, songs and reports by pupils. Have them commit and speak.

5. Have holes for the trees made large and filled with rich soil (not light loam) several days beforehand.

6. Have the club appoint a committee to see that the trees planted are watered and cared for during the year.

7. Select a person for the address who can talk in the realm of the children and is personally liked by them.

Bird Law.

AN ACT for the protection of birds, their nests and eggs.

[Acts 1891, p. 113. Approved and in force March 5, 1891.]

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That it shall be unlawful for any person to kill any wild bird other than a game bird, or purchase, offer for sale any such wild bird after it has been killed, or to destroy the nests or the eggs of any wild bird.

Sec. 2. For the purpose of this act, the following only shall be considered game birds: The Anatidae, commonly called swans, geese, brant, and river and sea ducks; the Rallidae, commonly known as rails, coots, mudhens and gallinules; the Limicolae, commonly known as shore birds, plovers, surf birds, snipe, woodcock and sand-pipers, tattlers and curlews; the Gallinae, commonly known as wild turkeys, grouse, prairie chickens, quail and pheasants, all of which are not intended to be affected by this act.

Sec. 3. Any person violating the provisions of section one of this act shall, upon conviction, be fined in a sum not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars, to which may be added imprisonment for not less than five days nor more than thirty days.

Sec. 4. Sections one and two of this act shall not apply to any person holding a permit giving the right to take birds or their nests and eggs for scientific purpose, as provided in section five of this act.

Sec. 5. Permits may be granted by the executive board of the Indiana Academy of Science to any properly accredited person, permitting the holder thereof to collect birds, their nests or eggs for strictly scientific purposes. In order to obtain such permit the