Page 276 - Our Vanishing Wild Life

254 OUR VANISHING WILD LIFE
Fortunately, Commissioner John M. Phillips, of Pittsburgh is the ardent supporter of Dr. Kalbfus and a vigorous fighter for justice to wild life. He devotes to the cause a great amount of time and effort, and in addition to serving without salary he pays all his campaign expenses out of his own pocket. His only recompense for all this is the sincere admiration of his friends, and the consciousness of having done his full duty toward the wild life and the people of his native state.
The State Audubon Societies.—It is impossible to estimate the full value of the influence and work of the State Audubon Societies of the United States. Thus far these societies exist in thirty-nine states. From the beginning, their efforts have tended especially toward the pre- servation of the non-game birds, and it is well that the song and other insectivorous birds have thus been specially championed. Unfortu- nately, however, if that policy is pursued exclusively, it leaves 154 very important species of game birds practically at the mercy of the Army of Destruction! ItwouldseemthatthetimehascomewhenallAudubon Societies should take up, as a part of their work, active co-operation in helping to save the game birds from extermination.
The National Organizations of New York City
On January 1, 1895, the United States of America contained, so far as I am aware, not one organization of national scope which was devoting any large amount of its resources and activities to the protection of wild life. At that time the former activities of the A.O.U. Committee on BirdProtectionhadlapsed. To-daythecityofNewYorkcontainssix national organizations, and it is now a great center of nation-wide activities in behalf of preservation. Furtherinore, these activities are steadily growing, and securing practical results.
The New York Zoological Society.—In 1895 there was born into the world a scientific organization having for its second declared object "the preservation of our native animals." It was the first scientific society or corporation ever formed, so far as I am aware, having a specifically declared object of that kind. It owes its existence and its presence in the field of wild-life conservation to the initiative and persistence of Mr. Madison Grant and Prof. Henry Fairfield Osborn. For sixteen years these two officers have worked together virtually as oneman. ItisnotstrangetofindasportsmanlikeMr.Grantpromoting the wild-life cause, but it is a fact well worthy of note that of all the zoologists of the world, Professor Osborn is the only one of real renown who has actively and vigorously engaged in this cause, and taken a place in the front rank of the Defenders.
Mr. Grant's influence on the protection cause has been strong and far-reaching,—far more so than the majority of his own friends are aware. He has promoted important protectionist causes from Alaska to Louisiana and Newfoundland, and helj^ed to win many important victories.
The Boone and Crockett Club.—This organization of big game