Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-20

/ ana stimulate ur observing faCultiesI Ma
ture is found t. be everywhere secret and
retiring goddess, not to be wooed by forced
marches over land and sea, who recedes
the faster we advance, like the raiubow's
arch.
The study of birds opens up a new field,
full of wonders and delights to every in.
| tellgent person who has the eye to see. 1t
is perpetual source of profit alleged with
| recreation. The more the student knows
| the more he wishes TO learn, and nature has
ever surprise awaiting him at every step.
1t supplies means of change from the real
business of life, giving zest and an
object to every step we take, to every hour
spent 10 the open air, and the field of OBJ
servation in nature can never be swept clean.
There is always the chance of discovering
something new, new at least to ourselves.
The birds OF our locality may have all
| been described by many competent observ-
ers, but this fact docs not lessen, but rather
enhances the charm Of personal observation.
| Nature has lesson for all, and her objects,
however well embalmed in books are not to
be thus laid by on the shelf. Though of
permanent value perhaps and not to be over
looked, books are at best but partial and i'm
perfect TRANSACTIONS Of natures manuscripts,
which to be enjoyed most, must be read in
| the original. What we want to know event
ually Is the GUe bird and not the stuffed
one, the fresh and fragrant flower, not the
| dry. Hence to derive the most satisfactory
knowledge in this direction we must 90 to
the woods and fields where nature reveals
her secrets. The books show us what 9TH
ers have already accomplished.
| When we have an unknown bird in the
hand, it is usually an easy matter to dctcrm-
inc its name by concise description,
particularly if it has any marked character
istic in plumage. For this purpose there
are several good manuals on the subject.
1t is convenient to have number of authors
in hand to compare their accounts and sec
how thay accord with your own observa-
tion-Wilson, Audubon, INITIAL, and the
more recent writer's.
| Wilson's work, which was originally issued
in nine folio volumes at q cost of one
hundred and twenty dollars, contained
plates and descriptions of two hundred and
seventy-eight birds, Rfty.siE of which were
new to the scientific world. The eighth
volume was nearly ready for the press when
its author died quite suddenly at Phila-
delphia in 1918. This celebrated work,
supplemented by Charles Lucan BonaparIe
has been published in late years in one large
octave volume at very moderate sum.
| Wilson was the pioneer in American Or
anthology and when we consider the mani
| fold disadvantages under which he labored,
we readily overlook any deficiencies which
the progress of science has since detected
He made extensive tours over the country
on foot and in the saddle, to gather mater
ials and and subscriptions, always killing
two birds with the same stone. Twice he
travelled through New England, visiting
Dartmouth College, and on occasion
stopping at Burlington. At Hanover, the
"fathers Of literature" received him cor
4, ,n, TAr |,
says, "made me eat at lis table, and the
professors wed with each other to oblige
me-" In Sept, 1912, he 'coasted as far as
Burlington, IN Vermont. Here" he "found
the coot-tooted tringa (red phalarope), a
hawk, and some black ducks. The shores
are alternate sandy bays and rocky head
lands running into the lake. Every tavern
was crowded with officers, soldiers and
travellers r." The people of Haver-
ILL, New Hampshire, became alarmed at
seeing this stranger taking sketches and
notes among them, and thinking him a
lspy from Canada, had him taken into
custody
In looking o7er the mammoth folios of
Audubon's great work, we see on every page
the work of master-haud. Bird life has
never had a more talented and successful de-
lincator. 1t is lasting monument to the
genius of the man who devoted q long life
TO this single purpose.
No wanton sacrifice Of life is necessary to
} acquaint one with our native birds. Nor
have we any right to make unwarranted
intrusiohs upon the animal life around us.
Many characteristic species belonging to the
smaller and more isolated groups are
easily determined without the gun, such as
} swallows, tanagers, orioles, waXwings,
grosbeaks, blackbirds and the like, not ia
speak Of the more social and better-known
birds.
II one wishes however 10 go deeper into
, the subject and make the acquaintance OF
all the feathered friends of his locality, the
shy wood birds, the warbers, vireos and
sparrows, he will have to procure specimens
OF the smaller and more obscure species.
, Without the occasional use of the gun to
| settle this and that point, and make doubtful
Identification sure, progress in ornithology
must needs ever he slow aud uncertain. But
/ as our knowledge increases and the field
becomes narrower, the gun will be less and
less required.
In studying the birds we wish TO know
when they arrive and depart, their methods
! of house building and housekeeping, their
G songs and STYLES of dress, their favorite
food, and. IN short, the details of their life
? history. The student learns the characters
l tics Of his feathered friends by degrees.
He distinguishes their calls and songs their
plumage and manner of flight. All this,
G cannot, of course, be learned at once, an
! herein lies one of the chief pleasures of thu
, pursuit. There is always something FUR
r Their to be learned, and from year to year We
t gather this and that fact, constructing the
} birds biography piece by piece, as the
, anatomist would a skeleton Nature is
very Jealous of Ler secrets, aud her hints,
! though scattered everywhere, are often well
J covered up.
Another advantage 10 he derived from Tho
$ study of olnithology is the sharpening OF Thu
observation 10 other fields, besides accus
q tomipg one to get his knowledge at frs
. hand. One wishes to be all eyes and ear
D with nature, that no important fact escape
: him. There is The pleasure of the chase anC
$ discovery, the expectation attending ~
j shortest walk. Something may be revealed
u to-day which others have perchance waited
O lifetime to behold believe il was Thoreal
c who SAID that you wait and watch long for {
bird and then one day come suddenly upol
J, the whole family at dinner.
u In regard to places of observation, som'
L writers take the philosophical view tina
Y there is little difference, that the place wher
Is you live is usually the best. But they wi
a study to best advantage who dwell besld
N some important watercourse, lake or river
he which forms natural highway for tn
ne migrations of the feathered population
"a Here, twice in the year at least IN Sprin
# at all seasons animal and plant.lie will b
ls more abundant But the place is Away
st secondary to the individual. Thorea
Ill gathers more in his narrow radius, or Edwar
n the BantT- shoemaker, working at his trad
nc by day and observing by night, than man