to Mildred A. Robinson, of Waltham, Massachusetts, whose essay will
appear in our next number; the other to Floyd C. Noble, of New York
City, whose description of a walk in Central Park appears in this issue
of Bird-Lore.
Much to his surprise, the Editor found that he was competing for the
prize he himself had offered! He had written an account of some Central
Park birds for this department before Master Noble's article was
received, and is obliged to confess that Master Noble mentions several
species which he had not observed. He, therefore, presents only that
part of his manuscript relating to the Chickadee, and leaves Master
Noble to tell of the other birds in the Park.
The selection of the winning essays was made with much difficulty,
and, in addition to the two chosen, we would especially commend those
written by the following named boys and girls:
Philip Baker, Indianapolis, Ind.; Harriet J. Benton, New Bedford,
Mass.; Zelda Brown, Yuma, Ariz.; Donald Bruce, East Hampton, Mass.;
Walter S. Chansler, Bicknell, Ind.; Marion Flagg, 90 Washington
St., Hartford, Conn.; Charles B. Floyd, Brookline, Mass.; Kathryn
Gibbs, Kalamazoo, Mich.; Albert Linton, Moorestown, N. J.; Clara T.
Magee, Moorestown, N. J.; George S. Mac Nider, Chapel Hill, N. C.;
Barnard Powers, Melrose, Mass.; Elden Smith, Milville, Mass.; Lydia
Sharpless, Haverford, Pa.--Ed.
A February Walk in Central Park, New York
BY FLOYD C. NOBLE
(Aged 14 years)
[Illustration]
On February 18, 1899, my friend and I started out 'bird-hunting,' as
usual, in the 'Ramble,' Central Park. It was during the comparatively
warm spell after the blizzard of the 12th, and the preceding zero
weather. On the way we saw a Starling, perched high on a building,
trying to sing. On entering the Park we saw a White-throated Sparrow. I
have seen this species more times than any other this month--of course,
excepting the common Sparrow.
On nearing our 'hunting-grounds,' we heard the familiar '_cree-e_' of a
Brown Creeper, and soon discovered the little fellow hard at work, as
usual. A little later we came upon the beautiful Cardinal, with his two
wives. It is a fact that there are one male and two females, though
probably only one is his real mate. He does not, however, appear to be
partial to either.
Further on we found what we were chiefly looking for--a flock of lively
little Chickadees. I found that I had only a very small supply of
hazelnuts with me, but I made the best of them. There was a good deal
of snow on the ground, which made the Chickadees unusually tame--being
hungry. They would light on our hands, inspect the pieces of crushed
nut there, knock off the ones that did not suit them, and finally fly
off with one--usually the largest. We soon began to recognize separate
birds, and gave them names: such as 'Buffy,' 'Pretty,' etc. Then our
attention was attracted by the queer noise made by the Nuthatch, and
this trunk-crawling friend of ours appeared. We think that continued
close inspection of tree-trunks has made him near-sighted, because when
you throw him a piece of nut he generally just gazes at it, grunts a
little, and then looks at you again. My cousin suggested that when he
did find what you threw him, it was by the sense of hearing rather than
that of sight, as he can generally find a big piece that makes a noise
in falling. When he succeeds in getting 'something good,' he wedges it
into the bark somewhere and hits it with his bill.
But, between the Nuthatch, the Chickadees, and the hungry
squirrels--that would sit up with their paws on their breasts, and
their heads on one side, imploring for food, it is needless to say
successfully,--our small supply of nuts was soon gone. So we went home
as fast as we could, procured more nuts, and in twenty minutes were
again in the 'hunting grounds.' But we found, to our dismay, that
others had monopolized our flock of chickadees! However, what partly
compensated for this, was a good close view of a Downy Woodpecker.
There is a pair of these birds around here, which you are almost sure
to see,--either together or singly.
But it was soon time to go home, and on the way we heard the lively
song of the European Goldfinches, and soon found four of them high up
in a tree. They are shy birds, and flew as we approached. They feed on
pine cones, and a flock of them will take possession of a pine tree,
hide themselves in the dark tufts of pine needles, and eat the seeds at
their leisure. The only way you can have knowledge of their presence is
by the frequent cracking of the seeds heard. For a long time we thought
they were Crossbills, but one day a flock of noisy Sparrows came into
the tree and drove the quiet Goldfinches out of their tufts--much to
my surprise, for I did not suppose that Goldfinches, which I had been
accustomed to find singing loudly, could keep so quiet. We also saw a
Song Sparrow quietly picking away at some bird-seed scattered there.
[Illustration]
The Myth of the Song Sparrow
BY ERNEST SETON THOMPSON
His mother was the Brook, his sisters were the Reeds,
And they every one applauded when he sang about his deeds.
His vest was white, his mantle brown, as clear as they could be,
And his songs were fairly bubbling o'er with melody and glee.
But an envious Neighbor splashed with mud our Brownie's coat and vest,
And then a final handful threw that stuck upon his breast.
The Brook-bird's mother did her best to wash the stains away,
But there they stuck, and, as it seems, are very like to stay.
And so he wears the splashes and the mud blotch as you see,
But his songs are bubbling over still with melody and glee.
=Notes from Field and Study=
Sparrow Proof Houses
Mr. D. R. Geery, of Greenwich, Conn., sends us descriptions of the two
bird-houses here figured. When designed for Bluebirds, they should be
suspended from a limb ten or twelve feet from the ground, in such a
manner as to allow them to swing slightly. Mr. Geery writes: "It may
happen that the Sparrows will go to these houses and even commence to
build, but, as soon as they find that they swing and are not firm, they
will abandon them entirely. Wren boxes should be stationary, with an
opening not much larger than a twenty-five-cent piece, and placed so as
to be well shaded most of the day."
[Illustration: Made of rough boards. Size, 6 inches high, 5-1/2 inches
square at the bottom, 3-1/2 inches square at the top.]
[Illustration: Made from a bark-covered log, 8 inches long and 8 inches
in diameter, a hole 5 inches in diameter being bored from end to end,
leaving an outer wall 1-1/2 inches thick.]
A Musical Woodpecker
In the pursuit of my profession I had occasion for some time to travel
over a certain road, along which is a telephone line, the glass
insulators of which are placed on short pieces of hard wood which are
nailed directly to the post.
Probably half a dozen times, when on this road, I saw a male Downy
Woodpecker perched directly beneath the hard wood block, pecking at it
in a manner to make the wire ring, then pausing and evidently listening
to the music it had produced.
When the vibration ceased the performance was repeated and continued
at intervals until I was obliged to drive by and frighten the bird
away.--Dr. D. L. Burnett, _South Royalton, Vt._
An Ornithologist at San Juan
An English newspaper correspondent, who called at the American Museum
of Natural History to identify certain birds which he had seen in
Cuba, gave an interesting illustration of how, under the most adverse
circumstances, an enthusiastic naturalist may exercise his powers of
observation. He said, "I noticed at San Juan a bird which seemed to
be much alarmed by the firing. He hopped from the bushes to the lower
branches of trees, and then, limb by limb, reached the tree tops," and
continued with a readily identifiable description of the singular Cuban
Cuckoo, locally known as Arriero (_Saurothera merlini_).
There is one bird in Cuba, the Turkey Buzzard or Vulture, of which many
of our soldiers probably retain a too vivid recollection, but how many
of the men who were at San Juan can recall any other bird observed
during the day of battle?
=Book News and Reviews=
Sketch Book of British Birds. By R. Bowdler Sharpe, L. L. D., F.
L. S. With Colored Illustrations by A. F. and C. Lydon, London:
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New York, E. & J. B.
Young & Co. 4to. Pages xx + 255. Numerous colored illustrations.
Price, $6.
Although more books have been written about British birds than on
the birds of any other region, and although Dr. Sharpe has written
more bird books than any other living ornithologist, this we believe
is the first treatise he has produced on the birds of his native
land. He explains that the text is only a "running commentary" on
the pictures, but claims that his "Systematic Index" is "the most
complete record of the birds in the 'British List' yet published." It
enumerates 445 species of birds which, according to Dr. Sharpe, have
been recorded from Great Britain. In his 'Introduction' he classifies
these according to the manner of their occurrence, as follows: Species
which have probably escaped from confinement, 14; Indigenous species,
138; Visitors from the South--regular, 70, occasional or accidental,
69; Visitors from the East--regular, 5, accidental or occasional, 38;
Visitors from the North--regular, 35, occasional or accidental, 29;
Visitors from the West--regular 1, occasional, 43. The latter are all
American species, and the number recorded indicates how much more
frequently our birds are found on the other side of the Atlantic than
European birds are observed here.
The illustrations consist of colored vignettes in the text of nearly
every species. They are not above criticism, but, on the whole,
are excellent and form a far more certain and convenient aid to
identification than the most detailed description or elaborate key. In
many cases even American species of accidental occurrence are figured,
and, in this connection, we are tempted to ask why British authors
cannot use for our birds the names by which they are known in this
country? Who would recognize the Rusty Blackbird under the name of the
"Rusty Black Hang-Nest," a misnomer in every sense of the word, or our
Robin as the "American Thrush," to cite two among numerous examples.
F. M. C.
Book News.
It is exceedingly gratifying to find the American Ornithologists'
Union, as represented by Mr. Witmer Stone, the Chairman of its
Committee on Bird Protection, taking so strong a stand on the question
of egg-collecting. In his annual report to the Union (The Auk, XVI,
January, 1899, p. 61), Mr. Stone says, "Egg-collecting has become a fad
which is encouraged and fostered by the dealers until it is one of the
most potent causes of the decrease in our birds. The vast majority of
egg-collectors contribute nothing to the science of ornithology, and
the issuing of licenses promiscuously to this class makes any law for
bird protection practically useless.
"Too often boys regard the formation of a _large_ collection of eggs or
birds as necessarily the first step towards becoming an ornithologist
of note; but if those who have already won their spurs will take the
trouble to point out to the beginners the lines of work which yield
results of real benefit to science, they will be led to see exactly
how much collecting and what sort of specimens are really needed for
scientific research, and not needlessly duplicate what has already
been procured. Further, they will in all probability become known
as original contributors to ornithological science, while as mere
collectors they would bid fair to remain in obscurity."
Mr. Stone's report is of the utmost interest to all workers for the
better protection of our birds. We have not space to notice it further
here, but it may be obtained by addressing him at the Academy of
Natural Science, Philadelphia, Pa., and enclosing six cents in stamps.
* * * * *
Two ornithological organizations established, in January, magazines
for the publications of their proceedings and papers relating to the
avifauna of their respective states. The first, the 'Journal of the
Maine Ornithological Society,' an octavo quarterly, is edited by C.
H. Morrill, at Pittsfield, Maine; the publisher and business manager
being O. W. Knight, of Bangor, Maine. The second, the 'Bulletin of
the Cooper Ornithological Club,' is edited by Chester Barlow, of
Santa Clara, California, with the assistance of Henry Reed Taylor and
Howard Robertson. The business managers are Donald Cohen, of Alameda,
and A. I. McCormick, of Los Angeles, California. Both journals are
the outgrowth of a demand on the part of the societies they represent
for an official organ, and they will undoubtedly exert a stimulating
influence on the study of birds in the states in which they are
published.
* * * * *
We have also to acknowledge the receipt of the initial number of a
third new periodical, 'Nature Study in Schools,' conducted by the
well-known naturalist, C. J. Maynard, at West Newton, Mass. It is an
illustrated monthly of 26 pages, containing papers interesting alike
to teachers and students, and should prove very helpful in its chosen
field.
* * * * *
Houghton, Mifflin & Company have in press a bird-book for children by
Mrs. Olive Thorne Miller, to be entitled 'The First Book of Birds.' As
its name indicates, it will aim to introduce its readers to the study
of birds by taking them from the nest through all the ordinary phases
of a bird's existence, and including chapters on structure, economics,
directions for study, etc. The book will be illustrated, and its
author's experience as a student and teacher of birds is an assurance
that it will be a valuable addition to ornithological literature.
* * * * *
Few nature books not designed to assist in identification of species
have met with the sale that has been accorded Ernest Seton Thompson's
'Wild Animals I Have Known' (Charles Scribner's Sons). Published late
in October, it went rapidly through several editions, and by January 1,
or little more than two months after its appearance, 7,000 copies had
been disposed of.
The reason for this phenomenal success is not hard to find; it appears
on every page of the book, the text, illustrations, and make-up of
which are equally pleasing.
Mr. Thompson goes a step further than most students of animals in
nature. He does not present us with the biography of the species,
but with its personal history, and his minute knowledge of and close
sympathy with his subjects leads to his writing a singular charm.
* * * * *
Josephine A. Clark, of 1322 Twelfth street, N. W., Washington, D. C.,
publishes a useful 'Bird Tablet for Field Use.' It is abridged from the
'Outline for Field Observations' in Miss Merriam's 'Birds of Village
and Field,' and may be obtained from the publisher for the sum of
twenty-five cents.
* * * * *
Mr. C. A. Babcock, well-known as the originator of Bird-Day, has in
manuscript a book entitled 'Bird-Day and How to Prepare for It,' which
will undoubtedly be of much assistance to teachers, and add greatly to
the value of Bird-Day observances.
* * * * *
The following books and papers relating to birds have been received and
will be reviewed in future numbers: The Cambridge Natural History, Vol.
IX, Birds, by A. H. Evans (The Macmillan Co.); The Birds of Ontario in
Relation to Agriculture, by Charles W. Nash; The Winter Food of the
Chickadee, The Feeding Habits of the Chipping Sparrow, by Clarence
M. Weed; A Preliminary List of the Birds of Belknap and Merrimack
counties, New Hampshire, with notes, by Ned Dearborn; Check List of
British Columbia Birds, by John Fannin.
=Bird-Lore=
A Bi-monthly Magazine
Devoted to the Study and Protection of Birds
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETIES
=Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN=
=Published by THE MACMILLAN COMPANY=
=====================================================
Vol. 1 April, 1899 No. 2
=====================================================
=SUBSCRIPTION RATES.=
Price in the United States, Canada, and Mexico,
twenty cents a number, one dollar a year, postage
paid.
Subscriptions may be sent to the Publishers, at
66 Fifth avenue, New York City, or to the Editor,
at Englewood, New Jersey.
Price in all countries in the International Postal
Union, twenty-five cents a number, one dollar and
a quarter a year, postage paid. Foreign agents,
Macmillan and Company, Ltd., London.
-----------------------------------------------------
Manuscripts for publication, books, etc., for review,
should be sent to the Editor at Englewood,
New Jersey.
-----------------------------------------------------
Advertisements should be sent to the Publishers
at 66 Fifth avenue, New York City.
-----------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHTED, 1899, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN.
-----------------------------------------------------
The establishment of Bird-Lore has brought its editor in touch with
many previously unknown friends, who, with the utmost kindness, have
expressed their approval of the new publication and predicted for it
a successful career. To thank all our correspondents individually has
been out of the question, and we take this means, therefore, to assure
them of our appreciation of their good wishes.
Doubtless they will be interested to know that within two weeks after
the publication of Bird-Lore, the publishers had disposed of more
copies than it was supposed they would sell in two months, while the
demand for specimen copies was so large, that at the end of the same
period our edition of 6,000 was nearly exhausted and we were obliged
to issue a notice to the effect that the remaining copies would be
delivered only to subscribers.
* * * * *
The Lacey-Hoar Bird Bill has met with a greatly to be regretted fate.
With earnest advocates of bird protection in both the House and Senate,
and with sufficient support to ensure the passage of any desirable
measure, the prospects of securing needed legislation seemed to be
excellent. Doubtless both Congressman Lacey's and Senator Hoar's bills
would have passed if they had been presented separately, but making the
latter an amendment to the former, created a series of contradictions
that apparently could not be adjusted in conference, and, as a result,
measures the intent of which the majority of both houses evidently
favored, failed to become laws.
However, the terms of neither Mr. Hoar nor Mr. Lacey have expired, and
it is to be hoped that before the next Congress convenes they will have
prepared a bill in which their interests in birds will be harmoniously
presented.
* * * * *
One of the most dangerous enemies threatening our birds to-day is the
man who, under the mask of 'science,' collects birds and their eggs in
wholly unwarranted numbers. He is dangerous not alone because of the
actual destruction of life he causes, but because his excesses have
brought into disrepute the work of the collector who, animated by the
spirit of true science, and appreciating the value of life, takes only
those specimens which he needs to assist him in his studies.
For this reason we feel it to be our duty to publicly protest against
such wholly inexcusable nest-robbing as Mr. L. W. Brownell, of Nyack,
N. Y. confesses himself to be guilty of in the January issue of
'The Osprey.' In describing a visit to Pelican Island, Florida, he
states that in "about an hour he had collected all the eggs he could
conveniently handle, about 125 sets."
This is an outrageous piece of bird-slaughter. It is especially to
be deplored because Brown Pelican quills and back feathers are fast
becoming fashionable, and, unless the species is protected, Florida
will speedily lose one of its most characteristic and interesting
birds. But how can we expect women, unfamiliar with the bird in nature,
to aid in its protection, when people who have seen it in its haunts,
and know how much it adds to Florida's coast scenery, ruthlessly
destroy it.
=The Audubon Societies=
"_You cannot with a scalpel find the poet's soul,
Nor yet the wild bird's song._"
Edited by Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright (President of the Audubon Society of
the State of Connecticut), Fairfield, Conn., to whom all communications
relating to the work of the Audubon and other Bird Protective Societies
should be addressed.
DIRECTORY OF STATE AUDUBON SOCIETIES
With names and addresses of their Secretaries.
=New Hampshire= Mrs. F. W. Batchelder, Manchester.
=Massachusetts= Miss Harriet E. Richards, care Boston Society
of Natural History, Boston.
=Rhode Island= Mrs. H. T. Grant, Jr., 187 Bowen street,
Providence.
=Connecticut= Mrs. Henry S. Glover, Fairfield.
=New York= Miss Emma H. Lockwood, 243 West Seventy-fifth
street, New York City.
=New Jersey= Miss Mary A. Mellick, Plainfield.
=Pennsylvania= Mrs. Edward Robins, 114 South Twenty-first
street, Philadelphia.
=District of Columbia= Mrs. John Dewhurst Patten, 3033 P street,
Washington.
=Wheeling, W. Va.= Elizabeth I. Cummins, 1314 Chapline street,
(branch of Penn Society) Wheeling.
=Ohio= Miss Clara Russell, 903 Paradrome street,
Cincinnati.
=Indiana= Amos W. Butler, State House, Indianapolis.
=Illinois= Miss Mary Drummond, Wheaton.
=Iowa= Miss Nellie S. Board, Keokuk.
=Wisconsin= Mrs. George W. Peckham, 646 Marshall street,
Milwaukee.
=Minnesota= Mrs. J. P. Elmer, 314 West Third street,
St. Paul.
The Conducting of Audubon Societies
It is one thing to organize a society or club and quite another to
set it upon a permanent footing and keep it in step with the constant
requirements of progression. At a time when a great majority look
askance at the startling array of societies that they are asked to
'join,' it behooves all Bird Protective bodies to conduct themselves
with extreme conservatism, that they may not bear the stigma of being
called emotional 'fads,' but really appeal to those whom they seek to
interest.
Many men (and women also) have many minds, and a form of appeal that
will attract one will repel another. It is upon the tactful management
of these appeals and the bringing of the subject vitally home to
different classes and ages, that the life of the Audubon Societies
depends.
Leaflets have their influence with those who already care enough to
take the trouble to read them. Special exercises in schools have a
potent influence for good. But the best method of spreading the gospel
of humanity, is that by which it was first spread 1900 centuries ago,
by personal contact and the power of the human voice. A few spoken
words are worth a score of printed ones. A compelling personality is
worth a well of ink in this Bird Crusade of 1899. Let the heads of
societies come in contact with the members as much as possible, and
gather them in local circles. Let those who are able to speak about
birds do so, and let those who lack the gift of words read aloud from
the works of others.