Clinton Hart Merriam was selected as the su
perintendent and Dr. Albert K. Fisher as his
assistant. Both of these noted ornithologists
were among the founders of the American Or
nithologists' union."
It was from tnis humble beginning that the
present biological survey, a division of the
United States department of agriculture, has
grown. It is perfectly apparent from the let
ters which agriculturists send to Washington
constantly that the work of the biological sur
vey has its value appreciated more and more
every year. The survey has published a great
mass of valuable statistics of the food habits
of birds and their relation to agriculture and
forestry.
As has been said, there are Audubon soci
eties for bird protection in nearly every state
in the Union. They are affiliated in one great
society called the National Association of Au
dubon societies. The writer of this article
from personal knowledge can speak of the be
ginnings of one of the largest and most ac
tive of the state organizations.
Persons who were known to be Interested in
birds were asked to meet to form a protective
organization. A good many persons not par
ticularly interested in bird protection also
were invited. Several women came to that
first meeting, wearing the plumage of wild
birds in their hate. At first the society in
tended to do its vork by persuasive mission
ary efforts, and along this line to a consider
able extent the endeavor has been ever since,
After a lapse of a quar
ter of a' century it is
hard for the people of
the present day to real
ize the enormous num
ber of birds that were
slaughtered for the mil
linery trade alone.
