Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29

An Hour with the OrnifhOl0gist 0f tn
Smithsonian InstitutiOu.

Smithsonian InstitutfOn.
BIRDs-sTORIEs OF BIRDS AND THEIR
HABITs-How THEY ARE CAUGHT IoR NU.
sEUMs AND THE MILLINERY TRADE
and the National Museum contain a record OF
log, 900 specimens, which have been received
In the pathological department. There are
now on hand In the cases and chests, in which
are stored away the pathological wealth of
the museum, $4,000 specimens. OF course
there are many birds of the same species. In
addition to the type specimens preserved for
exhibition and study, q duplicate collec-
ton is maintained, and besides that, there is
serve collection, used in making exchanges, by
means Of which the museum Is enabled to get
rare pros nom collections in other countries.
Mr. ROBERT Ridgway. the ornithologist, is now
Of North American birds, with the view of
having always on exhibition in the museum q
Eo ade enoS tbe Then reausitSn
recent New Orleans exposition, the request
lection In the museum. At present the public
sees only 2 very small portion Of the ornitho-
,Tgicai collection Of the museum. This is dis,
Played In exhibition cases in the museum hall
VI me Sm1Chs0n1an building, and consists chiefly
OF birds, which, on account of their size, their
Of tbs mrsh
down upon the hall Mr.. Ridgway has his studio
or workroom. At one side is q row of cases
which are closely packed with ' specimens.
In one OF the large apartments in the basement
OF the building are stored away twenty-three
coros OF birds In chests and cases. They are
mostly birds of large size, and birds kept in the
duplicate collection The basis of the coliec-
longing to Prof. Baird, and which he donated to
the Smlthson1an Institution upon becoming
assistant secretary of the institution.
THE GRowTH OF THE COLLECTION
has been very rapid. Since Mr. Ridgway as
sumed the curatorship Of the department OF
birds in 1869 the number in the collection has
trebled. During the last few years the collec-
ton has increased In increasing ratio. While
last year about 5000 skins were received dur
Ing the previous year the number was about
1000: One who can get the privilege Of talk
with Mr.. Ridgway while he is deity at work
feathery kingdom around him, viii discover
that there are thousands Of curious little facts
about birds and their habits he never heard of
working out his share of the great problem of
life and evolution, which, OF course, entails
much hard and dry study that has little popu-
lar interest, he gathers around him much that
Is beautiful and wonderful and interesting from
the popular standpoint 1t is the fairy-land Of
science.
WHERE BIRDS ARE HUNTED.
There are many persons engaged in hunting
birds and eggs, not for scientists only, but for
trade purposes. Mr.. Ridgway said to STAR re-
porter, who invaded his sanctum, that a great
place for hunting birds in this part Of the
made an expedition to CObb's Island in 1873
and collected many fine specimens. The island
Is fsyorite stopping place for migratory birds.
In 1879 Mr.. Henshaw returned there with Mr..
Rldgway and spent most profitable season
gathering archaeological riches. In 1881 q
island and captured four thousand specimens.
Ihen the island having become famous the
professional collectors raided it. In the season
beautiful birds to supply the milli-
merry trade of Paris. Under such q draft the
birds are rapidly disappearing from the island.
THE MILLINERs AND THE BIRDS.
The milliners do great damage to the birds in
alone last year 10000 birds were killed as a
sacrifice to fashion and female vanity. These
birds were sent to New York. The Slaughter
OF the birds in the interest of science is compar-
specimens of the same birds from different
parts OF the country or of the world for the pur-
pose Of discovering the Intermediate species,
For instance, there is little difsrepce between 1i
the robin redbreast east of the Rocky
cept that the western robin is a little larger.
The orinthologist has discovered, however
that the eastern robin has little white dappled
m ark1ng on the end of the tail feathers, which
the western robin has not. To ascertain whether
this was an invariable rule 1T was necessary of
course, to examine great many specimens of
robins. Now, an eastern robin can be picked
out Of a large number ofrobins at once by means
OF the label which nature has attached to it's
workroom are IS 900 specimens. The coliec.
ton OF North American birds which takes up
most OF the space, Is the finest of its kind in
the world. Next to 1t Is the collection
of South American birds, which Is rated as the
second best in the world. A private collection
belonging to q wealthy gentleman in England,
who spent much time and money in perfecting
it, and recently presented it to the British. mu-
scum, is considered as the finest collection of
America are especially rich in birds. a about
Of the known species Of birds in the
world have their habitat there. The depart
world.
HOW THE SPECIMENS ARE KEPT.
These birds preserved for study and COMPARE
son are slowed away in fiat cases, which in
turn fit securely, one over another, in the rows
or top of glass, the sash edge of which is fitted
with tongue, which drops into a groove in the
edge OF the drawer, making perfect protection
love to get at o dead bird just as the tabled
donkey took pleasure in kicking at the dead
lion lion The bird hunter secures the skin Of the
complete. The professional collector skins a
bird very neatly, SO that it can be
trouble When the kn Tsa
curator, 1t is filled out with little padding OF
cotton and placed away in its proper CASE A
complete record is kept Of each specimen re-
ceived. fit is desired TO mount the specimen
the dried skin is sent to the room of the taxi
dermist, Mr.. Marshall. There 1t is buried for
two or three days In damp sawdust, and when
1t is resurrected the skin is soft and piable The
specimens, however, with proper
care may be kept for years, and are Just as
valuable to the scientist as when they are
stuffed and pOstdred by the taxidermist Some
of the specimens of North American birds in
the collection belonged to Audubon, and were
used by him in making illustrations for HIS
work on birds.
THE RUNNING BIRDS
form one of the most attractive parts OF the COL
lection to one, who looks at it from the esthetic
standpoint. There are $50 kinds Of humming
birds known. While they differ widely in size
and appearance, they bear a resemblance
and have similar habits feeding
upon honey and insects. The collection COM
humming bird of Mexico, which boasts of pro-
portions nearly as great as as those of the robin
to tiny humming bird OF Jamaica, scarcely
more than an inch long. There are humming
birds with bills longer than their bodies, which
they use In extracting honey from deep-cupped
n ana n11imming birds with no more beak
than an ordinary wren.. Many OF the
are distinguished only by the marking OF their
feathers. The cOlors are rich and gorgeous.
The crown, throat and breast are marked with
topaz, gold and ruby, in the most exquisite
shades. The colors seem tridescent. A pecu-
liarity OF some of the birds which Mr.. Ridgway
pointed out to THE STAR reporter is that you
can see only one color at o time. When the
throat or breast is thrown back at q certain
angle the first color seen disappears and an
other comes to view. The feathers have n sheen