We had the pleasure of attending the Fifteenth Congress of the American
Ornithologists' Union, which met and held its three days annual session
in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, November 9-11,
1897. Dr. C. Hart Merriam, of the Department of Agriculture, Washington
D.C., presided, and there were present about one hundred and fifty of
the members, resident in nearly all the states of the Union.
The first paper read was one prepared by J. C. Merrill, entitled "In
Memoriam: Charles Emil Bendire." The character, accomplishments, and
achievements of the deceased, whose valuable work in biographizing
American birds is so well known to those interested in ornithology,
were referred to in so appropriate a manner that the paper, though not
elaborate as it is to be hoped it may ultimately be made, will no doubt
be published for general circulation. Major Bendire's services to
American ornithology are of indisputable value, and his untimely death
eclipsed to some extent, possibly wholly, the conclusion of a series of
bird biographies which, so far as they had appeared, were deemed to be
adequate, if not perfect.
Mr. Frank M. Chapman, the well known authority on birds, and whose
recent books are valuable additions to our literature, had, it may be
presumed, a paper to read on the "Experiences of an Ornithologist in
Mexico," though he did not read it. He made, on the contrary, what
seemed to be an extemporaneous talk, exceedingly entertaining and
sufficiently instructive to warrant a permanent place for it in the
_Auk_, of which he is associate editor. We had the pleasure of examining
the advance sheets of a new book from his pen, elaborately illustrated
in color, and shortly to be published. Mr. Chapman is a comparatively
young man, an enthusiastic student and observer, and destined to be
recognized as one of our most scientific thinkers, as many of his
published pamphlets already indicate. Our limited space precludes even a
reference to them now. His remarks were made the more attractive by the
beautiful stuffed specimens with which he illustrated them.
Prof. Elliott Coues, in an address, "Auduboniana, and Other Matters of
Present Interest," engaged the delighted attention of the Congress on
the morning of the second day's session. His audience was large. In a
biographical sketch of Audubon the Man, interspersed with anecdote, he
said so many interesting things that we regret we omitted to make any
notes that would enable us to indicate at least something of his
characterization. No doubt just what he said will appear in an
appropriate place. Audubon's portfolio, in which his precious
manuscripts and drawings were so long religiously kept, which he had
carried with him to London to exhibit to possible publishers, a book
so large that two men were required to carry it, though the great
naturalist had used it as an indispensable and convenient companion for
so many years, was slowly and we thought reverently divested by Dr.
Coues of its wrappings and held up to the surprised and grateful gaze of
the spectators. It was dramatic. Dr. Coues is an actor. And then came
the comedy. He could not resist the inclination to talk a little--not
disparagingly, but truthfully, reading a letter never before published,
of Swainson to Audubon declining to associate his name with that of
Audubon "under the circumstances." All of which, we apprehend, will duly
find a place on the shelves of public libraries.
We would ourself like to say something of Audubon as a man. To us his
life and character have a special charm. His was a beautiful youth, like
that of Goethe. His love of nature, for which he was willing to make,
and did make, sacrifices, will always be inspiring to the youth of
noble and gentle proclivities; his personal beauty, his humanity, his
love-life, his domestic virtues, enthrall the ingenuous mind; and his
appreciation--shown in his beautiful compositions--of the valleys of the
great river, _La Belle Riviere_, through which its waters, shadowed by
the magnificent forests of Ohio and Kentucky, wandered--all of these
things have from youth up shed a sweet fragrance over his memory and
added greatly to our admiration of and appreciation for the man.
So many subjects came before the Congress that we cannot hope to do
more than mention the titles of a few of them. Mr. Sylvester D. Judd
discussed the question of "Protective Adaptations of insects from an
Ornithological Point of View;" Mr. William C. Rives talked of "Summer
Birds of the West Virginia Spruce Belt;" Mr. John N. Clark read a paper
entitled "Ten Days among the Birds of Northern New Hampshire;" Harry C.
Oberholser talked extemporaneously of "Liberian Birds," and in a most
entertaining and instructive manner, every word he said being worthy of
large print and liberal embellishment; Mr. J. A. Allen, editor of _The
Auk_, said a great deal that was new and instructive about the "Origin
of Bird Migration;" Mr. O. Widmann read an interesting paper on "The
Great Roosts on Gabberet Island, opposite North St. Louis;" J. Harris
Reed presented a paper on "The Terns of Gull Island, New York;" A. W.
Anthony read of "The Petrels of Southern California," and Mr. George H.
Mackay talked interestingly of "The Terns of Penikese Island, Mass."
There were other papers of interest and value. "A Naturalist's
Expedition to East Africa," by D. G. Elliot, was, however, the _piece de
resistance_ of the Congress. The lecture was delivered in the lecture
hall of the Museum, on Wednesday at 8 p. m. It was illustrated by
stereopticon views, and in the most remarkable manner. The pictures were
thrown upon an immense canvas, were marvellously realistic, and were so
much admired by the great audience, which overflowed the large lecture
hall, that the word demonstrative does not describe their enthusiasm.
But the lecture! Description, experience, suffering, adventure, courage,
torrid heat, wild beasts, poisonous insects, venomous serpents,
half-civilized peoples, thirst,--almost enough of torture to justify
the use of Coleridge's Ancient Mariner in illustration,--and yet a
perpetual, quiet, rollicking, jubilant humor, all-pervading, and, at
the close, on the lecturer's return once more to the beginning of
civilization, the eloquent picture of the Cross, "full high advanced,"
all combined, made this lecture, to us, one of the very few platform
addresses entirely worthy of the significance of unfading portraiture.
--C. C. MARBLE.
[Illustration: From col. Chi. Acad. Sciences.
MOUNTAIN BLUE BIRD.
Copyrighted by
Nature Study Pub. Co., 1897, Chicago.]