habits that it has regarded as inherent rights,--in the cause of
humanity and agricultural economy.
So far so good; but should not these would-be teachers of good will to
animals, themselves be educated in consistent humanity, in order to
keep their doctrines above the ridicule level?
Upon the discrimination of its humanity depends the future of the
Audubon Society. A discrimination that shall render its workings
logical, and make it able to see that it must at least give as much
as it takes. A breadth of knowledge to realize that if the Society
restricts the hat trimmings of women, the egg-collecting habits of
boys, and the "just to see if I can hit it" proclivities of both boys
and men, it is bound to give them something beside "the consciousness
of rectitude" in return. The very least it can do is to help them to
become as intimately acquainted with "the bird in the bush" as they
were with the egg in the pocket and the feather on the hat.
It is here that the educational responsibility of the Audubon Society
lies. Instead of issuing tracts simply to decry feather-wearing, and
to say that something should be done, I would have each Society send
out one or more illustrated bird lectures to the remoter corners of its
range, where people do not have the privilege of hearing professional
ornithologists. Also to the groups of remote country schools whose
scholars have no "key to the fields" that lie so close at hand. I would
have the Societies send small circulating libraries of bird books in
the same way. To introduce people to the bird in the bush is the way to
create a public sentiment to keep it there, and to make it possible to
obtain legislative authority for the enactment and keeping of good bird
laws, which are the backbone of protection.
Again, there should be no sort of conflict between ultra bird
protectionists and legitimate scientific ornithology. That many of the
best known ornithologists occupying public positions in the United
States favor the restriction of egg-collecting, etc., is amply proved
by a leaflet issued in May, by Witmer Stone,[H] called "Hints to Young
Bird Students," and signed by such men as J. A. Allen, Robert Ridgway,
C. Hart Merriam, A. K. Fisher, Wm. Brewster, F. M. Chapman, John H.
Sage, C. W. Richmond, T. S. Palmer, and Wm. Dutcher.
[Footnote H: See page 125 of this number of Bird-Lore.]
The Audubon Societies are responsible for meeting these liberal-minded
and progressive scientists half way. There must be anatomists and
embryologists to study the human body, why not then, also, of the
feathered brotherhood, _only_ it is not necessary for mankind in
general to keep skeletons of either birds or people in their closets
for this purpose, and the random collecting of either should be
regarded as equally reprehensible.
I would see humanity and science allied in this matter. If the Audubon
Societies confess that this is impossible, they are taking the
responsibility of harnessing humanity with ignorance,--a horse that
will drag any companion into the ditch.
Let "For the Protection of Birds" be the banner motto under which the
Audubon Society shall go out, as it is bound, to teach (not to preach)
the 'bird in the bush,' but the teaching need be none the less humane,
and will be far more effectual if, instead of 'dicky-bird' platitudes
of uncertain sex and species, it deals out good, sound, popular
ornithology.
M. O. W.
The So-called Sparrow War in Boston
In the month of March, 1898, a committee organized by the American
Society of Bird Restorers presented to the Mayor of Boston in person
the following petition, signed by a host of representative Bostonians:
"_To Hon. Josiah Quincy, Mayor of Boston._
"The undersigned petitioners hereby respectfully represent that the
presence in Boston of hosts of the noxious imported Finch, known as
the English Sparrow, has come to be a public nuisance, general expense
and serious esthetic injury, imperatively calling for prompt municipal
abatement.
"Your petitioners would, therefore, most earnestly request that, as the
Chief Executive Officer of the city, you direct the immediate reduction
and suppression of this pest in such places (instancing the Common and,
conditionally, the cemeteries of Boston) as may now be under, or may
with this purpose in view be brought under, municipal control."
Under the law of 1890, the Mayor proceeded at once to take such
measures as seemed advisable for clearing the Common, Public Garden,
and city squares, of the Sparrow pest.
The work was done under the general oversight of the Committee on the
English Sparrow, of which Mr. Fletcher Osgood, manager and organizer
of the Bird Restorers, was and is the chairman. Five men, with Foreman
Kennedy, proceeded to clear English Sparrow nests from the Common, by
removing them from orifices in the trees, from openings in the Sanitary
Building, and from electric hoods. The nest-boxes, put up years ago by
misguided persons to accommodate the English Sparrow were all removed,
and the Sanitary Building on the Public Garden was cleared.
In the progress of this work, thousands of small orifices in the trees
of the Common (all known to exist) were cleared out and effectively
closed with wooden stoppers, and much dead wood, inviting the breeding
of the Sparrow, was removed. As a whole, great good in the way of
arresting decay and generally improving the trees of the Common was
done by Foreman Kennedy and his force, even if we leave out of account
the checking of the breeding of the Sparrow. The work began on March
15, and ended April 5. During that period about 5,000 nests and 1,000
eggs were destroyed. No young birds were found. The protest against the
work, based mainly on sentimental grounds, which Mr. Angell, of the
S. P. C. A., put forth, resulted in two picturesque hearings at the
City Hall. An account of these hearings, with some of their informal
adjuncts, would certainly entertain and instruct the readers of
Bird-Lore were it possible to embody it here.
Let it suffice to say, that the weight of common sense, of real
humanity, and of economics, as well as of science in overwhelming
measure, was, in the judgment of the best informed, wholly with
those who would reduce the Sparrow. The Mayor, however, decided to
suspend the work, assigning as a reason the difficulty and expense of
continuing it. The committee sent to the Mayor a letter expressing its
regret that the work should thus be brought to an untimely close, and
fully outlining plans for its continuance. At the present writing,
no definite prospect is in sight of the resumption of the work. The
committee proposed, after the closure of the nesting orifices, to pull
down by means of hooked poles such nests as were built by the Sparrows
in the branches of the trees on the Common and Garden, timing visits
so as to destroy nests and eggs only, thus preventing the hatching
of young. With the onset of cold weather it was proposed to trap and
destroy the Sparrow by devices which were already proved at once
efficient and merciful. These two methods, aided, perhaps, by others,
carefully planned to avoid cruelty, were the ones much relied on by the
committee to do the needed work of clearance.
After the stoppage of the work the Mayor wrote to Chairman Osgood,
asking his opinion as to the advisability of putting up bird-houses
on the Common, so built, without perches, as to keep out the Sparrow
and admit the White-bellied Swallow, Bluebird and House Wren. Mr.
Osgood replied in effect that perchless bird-houses, judging from
recent evidence, would probably invite and shelter the breeding of
the Sparrow, and, with the Common still uncleared, would hardly
aid in restoring any native bird. He was willing, under certain
strict conditions, that the experiment should be tried purely as an
experiment, provided that every box should be instantly removed upon
proof that these perchless devices sheltered the Sparrow. He, however,
expressed little hope that any good would come of such a measure beyond
the absolute demonstration, once for all, and publicly, that perchless
boxes were not Sparrow-proof. The "Sparrow committee" could not advise
the putting up of bird-boxes under existing circumstances, and if any
are erected the responsibility for the trial will not rest in any way
with this committee. At this writing, the Sparrows shut out from the
tree orifices are building to some extent in the branches of the trees
upon the Common. To note how extensively this breeding is carried on
this season, and to attain general information as to the presence of
any native birds upon the Common and Garden, a patrol of the Boston
Branch of the American Society of Bird Restorers has been assigned to
observation work through the spring and summer.
Results will be officially reported to the National Biological Survey
(U. S. Department of Agriculture) at Washington, D. C.
Fletcher Osgood,
Organizer and Manager of the American Society
of Bird Restorers.
Reports of Societies
MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY
In February and March, Mr. Ralph Hoffmann gave a course of eight
lectures on birds, under the auspices of the Society. These were well
attended, and not only increased the interest in bird study, but
informed the public more fully of the work of the Society, and also
added materially to the treasury.
March 22nd, the Society held a 'Hat Show' at the Vendome, which was
a success. Many of the best milliners exhibited, and it served the
purpose of interesting both milliners and public in the work of bird
protection. In spite of bad weather, the room was crowded all day, and
many hats were sold. The newspapers reported it with illustrations; the
milliners were pleased; and the Audubon Society was talked about with
renewed interest.
The Society has purchased the publisher's stock of the Audubon Calendar
colored plates, without the Calendar numbers, and are offering them for
sale at 25 cents for the set of twelve.
The large sale of the chart is very satisfactory, about 1,200 having
been sold since Christmas. Appreciative letters are daily received, and
the school teachers especially commend it.
New circulars have been purchased for distribution, from the University
of Nebraska and Cornell University; also "A Letter to the Clergy,"
republished by the Wisconsin Society.
Harriet E. Richards, _Sec'y._
CONNECTICUT SOCIETY
The second annual meeting of the society took place on June 1, in the
United Church Chapel, New Haven Conn., and was largely attended. It
being part of the policy of the Society to hold its public meetings
each year in different parts of the state.
The president made a short address, outlining the work for the coming
season, which will include: (1) the consideration of a practical method
for destroying the English Sparrow, as a bird distinctly injurious
to song birds and others having agricultural value; (2) an effort to
obtain legislation to stop the spring shooting of shore and water
birds; (3) the addition to the societies' equipment of several small
libraries of bird books, to be circulated free throughout the state
where there are no public libraries, after the manner of the lecture
outfits; (4) the addition of an illustrated lecture suitable for small
children.
The report of the corresponding secretary-treasurer showed a membership
in the various classes of 814; also, receipts of over $500 during the
year, no debts, and a balance in the treasury.
The chairman of the committee on free lectures reported the great
success of the undertaking. The two lectures, "Birds about Home," by
Mrs. Wright, and "Some Facts about Birds that Concern the Farmer,"
by Willard G. Van Name, having been out over fifty times since early
spring. These lectures, accompanied by sets of colored slides and
oil-lanterns, are loaned free to any responsible person within state
limits, and the Granges have lately taken them up with results most
gratifying to the Society.
A few changes were made in the management as the election of officers.
Mrs. H. S. Glover, the first corresponding secretary and treasurer,
having resigned, received a hearty vote of thanks for her work, and
Mrs. Wm. Brown Glover was elected as general secretary in her stead,
Mrs. Howard H. Knapp being elected treasurer.
The event of the meeting was the lecture by Mr. F. M. Chapman, upon
Photography as an Aid to Bird Study, all the beautifully colored slides
used as illustrations having been photographed from life.
The detailed annual report of the Society's work will be mailed upon
application.
Helen W. Glover, _Sec'y._
TENNESSEE SOCIETY
It is with great satisfaction that we report the organization in the
court house at Ripley on May 26, of the Audubon Society of the State of
Tennessee. Without the assistance of the southern states, the work of
the northern section of the country must necessarily be hampered by the
inability to protect the birds in their winter haunts and during the
migrations.
It is also gratifying to note the common sense basis upon which the
society is founded, the president, having stated in his initial
address, that "the society had for its leading object the creation of
a public opinion that would secure legislation in the interest of bird
protection, that would spare our birds from threatened extinction."
_... JUST READY. PRICE, $1 NET ..._
Nature Study For Grammar Grades
_A Manual for the Guidance of Pupils below the High School in the Study
of Nature_
BY
WILBUR S. JACKMAN, A.B.
Dep't of Natural Science, Chicago Normal School
Author of "Nature Study for the Common Schools," "Nature Study and
Related Subjects," "Nature Study Record," "Field Work in Nature Study,"
etc.
REVISED EDITION
In preparing this Manual, it has been the author's aim to propose,
within the comprehension of grammar school pupils, a few of the
problems which arise in a thoughtful study of nature, and to offer
suggestions designed to lead to their solution.
That pupils need some rational and definite directions in nature
study, all are generally agreed. But to prepare the outlines and
suggestive directions necessary, and to place these within the reach
of each pupil, is more than any ordinary teacher has time to do, even
granting that she is fully prepared for such work. The utter futility
of depending upon oral suggestions during the class hour, when the
pupils are supposed to be doing individual work, is easily apparent
on a moment's reflection. With a manual of directions in hand, each
pupil may be made strictly responsible for a certain amount of work,
either in the field or in the laboratory. This removes all occasion for
that interruption in his work, which is, otherwise, due to the pupil's
attempt to _think_ and at the same time _hear_ what the teacher says.
* * * * *
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to fit the student to do really effective science work in the high
school.... Altogether both teacher and pupils who use this book are
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--_Southern Educational Journal._
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--_Inland Educator._
PUBLISHED BY
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY, New York.
* * * * *
VOL. 1 20c. a Copy
No. 5 OCTOBER, 1899 $1 a Year
=Bird-Lore=
[Illustration]
Edited by
FRANK M. CHAPMAN
The Macmillan Company
ENGLEWOOD, N. J.
NEW YORK LONDON
_R. Weber_
COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN
=Bird-Lore=
October, 1899
CONTENTS
PAGE
Frontispiece--Founders of the American Ornithologists' Union 142
The American Ornithologists' Union. Illustrated. _J. A. Allen_ 143
American Bitterns. Photographed from nature by _E. J. Tabor_ and
_F. M. Chapman_ 149
The Angler's Reveille. Illustrated by _E. W. Smith._
_Henry van Dyke_ 150
The Prairie Horned Lark. Illustrated. _Robert W. Hegner_ 152
Screech Owl. Photographed from life. _A. L. Princehorn_ 154
A Pleasant Acquaintance with a Hummingbird. Illustrated.
_C. F. Hodge_ 155
A Peculiarity of a Caged Skylark. _H. M. Collins_ 157
FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
On the Ethics of Caging Birds--Letters to the Editor.
{_Anna Harris Smith_ 158
{_C. F. Hodge_ 160
FOR YOUNG OBSERVERS
Oliver Twist--Catbird. _Isabella McC. Lemmon_ 163
NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY 166
Birds and Caterpillars, _Caroline G. Soule_; An Odd Nesting Site,
_L. H. Schwab_.
BOOK NEWS AND REVIEWS 167
Mrs. Miller's 'The First Book of Birds;' Knoble's 'Field Key to the
Land Birds;' Hodge's 'Suggestions for the Study of Our Common
Birds;' Book News.
EDITORIALS 169
AUDUBON DEPARTMENT 170
Editorial: Illustration, Quills to Avoid; Audubon's Seal,
illustrated; Report of the Society of the District of Columbia.
×*× _Bird-Lore is published on the first of the month, at Englewood,
New Jersey, where all notices of change of address, manuscripts intended
for publication, books, etc., for review, and exchanges should be sent._
PUBLISHERS' ANNOUNCEMENT
Bird-Lore for December will contain, among other interesting articles,
'The Story of a Pet Sea Parrot,' by E. W. Nelson; 'A Search for the
Reedy Island Crow Roost,' by Witmer Stone; 'A Large Family,' by Frank
M. Chapman, all illustrated. An account of How the Central Park
Chickadees were Tamed by Anne A. Crolius, one of Garrett Newkirk's
admirable bird poems for children, etc., and a detailed Statement
of the Plans of the Magazine for 1900, including an announcement of
special interest to all bird students.
[Illustration: FOUNDERS OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION, 1883.
T. McIlwraith. J. B. Holder. D. G. Elliot. Chas. Aldrich.
J. M. Wheaton.
E. A. Mearns. H. W. Henshaw. S. F. Baird.
Geo. N. Lawrence. A. K. Fisher.
Nathan C. Brown. Robert Ridgway, _Vice Pres._
J. A. Allen, _Pres._ William Brewster. Elliott Coues, _Vice Pres._
C. F. Batchelder.
R. W. Shufeldt. C. B. Cory. C. Hart Merriam, _Sec'y._
M. Chamberlain. D. W. Prentiss.
H. A. Purdie. C. E. Bendire. E. P. Bicknell. H. B. Bailey.]
=Bird-Lore=
A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE
DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS
Official Organ of the Audubon Societies
=======================================
Vol. 1 October, 1899 No. 5
=======================================
The American Ornithologists' Union
BY J. A. ALLEN
(First President of the Union)
[Illustration]
During the sixteen years that have passed since the founding of the
American Ornithologists' Union, in August, 1883, the study of North
American birds has advanced with constantly accelerated strides. That
this progress has been due largely to the founding of the Union is
beyond denial, as will become evident from the following brief history
of its work and the causes that led to its formation.
In all lines of human endeavor, the union of kindred interests and
individual effort toward a common end is the key to success. Before the
founding of the American Ornithologists' Union, its nucleus existed
in a local organization of bird students in Cambridge, known as the
Nuttall Ornithological Club. At first its meetings were informal, and
its membership was limited to a few individuals living in the immediate
vicinity of Cambridge. Later it became regularly organized as a club,
with both resident and corresponding members, the latter embracing most
of the leading ornithologists of this country. The papers presented at
its meetings were often of permanent value, and were later published
in scientific journals. In 1876 these had become sufficiently numerous
and important to warrant the club in establishing its own medium of
publication, the first number bearing date April, 1876, with the title
'Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club.' As years passed it
served not only as the official organ of the club, but as a medium of
communication between American ornithologists at large.
This led to the consideration of the desirability of organizing a
national society of ornithologists as a means of bringing the workers
in this field into more intimate association and more thoroughly
consolidating their interests. The advantages of such consolidation
seemed so evident that a call was issued August 1, 1883, dated
Cambridge and Washington, for "a convention of American Ornithologists,
to be held in New York city, beginning September 26, 1883." The call
was signed by the editor of the 'Nuttall Bulletin' (J. A. Allen),
associate editor of the 'Nuttall Bulletin' (Elliott Coues), and the
president of the Nuttall Club (William Brewster). The response to the
call, sent to forty-eight of the more prominent ornithologists of the
United States and Canada, was most cordial; twenty-five expressed
their intention to attend the convention, and twenty-one were actually
present, including several who came a thousand miles or more to attend
the convention. Not only were by-laws adopted and officers duly
elected, but, as will be noticed later, important lines of work were
laid out and assigned to committees, the principle of coöperation being
applied in a broad sense.
The Nuttall Ornithological Club is still an active and widely known
organization, although upon the founding of the Union, it generously
voted to discontinue its 'Bulletin' and to place its subscription
list and good will at the service of the Union, which was already
considering the desirability of establishing an official medium of
publication. As a result, the 'Nuttall Bulletin' became 'The Auk,'
which, in recognition of the generous action of the Nuttall Club, was
officially designated as the _second series_ of the 'Nuttall Bulletin.'
Between isolated workers in any field, jealousies and misunderstandings
arise which personal contact tends to obliterate. Such was the case
with our ornithologists for some years prior to the founding of the
Union. There were two rival check-lists of North American birds, each
perhaps equally authoritative though differing in important details,
which led to confusion, and a tendency to array our ornithologists into
two somewhat hostile camps. This being recognized as a threatening
evil of considerable gravity, one of the first acts of the Union was
to appoint a committee on the Classification and Nomenclature of
North American Birds, so constituted as to include the most competent
authorities on the subject and at the same time safeguard all
conflicting interests. The work of this committee long since became a
matter of history. It was conducted with the utmost conscientiousness
and care; personal interests and personal bias were generously
waived, differences of opinion were settled by appeal to facts and
the evidence, with a result that agreement was established in respect
to all points of nomenclature and other technicalities, and a new
impetus given to systematic investigation. Thus, through the work of
this committee alone one of the primary objects in view in founding
the Union was most happily accomplished. Not only a new check-list of
North American birds was substituted for all previous check-lists,
but a new 'Code of Nomenclature' was devised and adopted as the basis
for determining the names to be used in the check-list. After more
than two years of work by the committee the check-list, with its code
of nomenclature, was given to the world in 1886, and became at once
the accepted standard of authority with all American writers on North
American birds; the 'Code' included important innovations in respect
to certain principles of nomenclature, which have since become very
generally accepted the world over. It is, therefore, to be regretted
that a small faction has recently arisen in the ranks of the Union,
that, objecting to certain rules of the 'Code,' is seeking to foment a
break in the good feeling and harmony that have marked the last ten or
twelve years of the history of American ornithology.