The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-09
BIRD MIGRATION.

20 solve, in scientific way, the problems sug-
gested by the spring and fall movements of
our birds It is only by careful study OF
their food, breeding range and geographical
distribution that correct knowledge Of their
economic relations to agriculture can be Sc
cured.
The object of the committee is to find the
whereabouts of our migratory birds in the
winter season, the exact date of the be-
ginning of the migrations of each species,
the average rate of speed the different
species travel, the dates of their APP
pearance and disappearance in as many
as a thousand localities, between their winter
homes in the Southern States and South
America, and their summer homes in the
Northern States and British America.
Their comings and goings are to
he noted, both spring and fall, for number
of years. and as far as possible, the breeding
areas of each species mapped out North
America north of Mexico. To this end the
committee wishes to secure the volunteer
services of a large corps of observers, each of
whom is to fill out blanks relating to the or
astrological meteorological and contemporary
phenomena of each species observed in their
locality.
Perhaps nothing is more difficult to de-
termine than the way of bird in the air,
II Il IL H-I
Of the eighteen hundred species of fishes in
the fresh and coast waters Of North America
much has been determined by the revival Of
technology instituted in the last decade by
Profs Jordan and Gilbert, backed by the
hearty cooperation of Spencer F. Baird, the
head Of the United States Fish Commission
Over four hundred species have been added
to the old-time list, and thousands Of pages
relative to the habits, distribution, food-sup-
ply and general economic and scientific rela-
tons of this group. The habits of the salmon
were totally unknown to science, until the
Jordon at its head. to study them for
three months in the Columbia river. Half a
million ffty-pound cases are shipped annually
from the Columbia river, and without this
knowledge the species would be in danger 'of
extinction. Now the legislation looking to
their preservation can be put on a basis of fact
While it is not, apparently. so directly con-
nected with the bread-and- butter question,
the breeding and migratory habits of birds is
actually none the less SO than those of fishes.
Probably in all that goes to make up history
and the total complex of modern civilization,
the Western world is, next to Palestine, in
debted to Greece, but, curiously enough, of
the fishes of Greece, less is known than of
those of Indiana
1t is well that country does not neglect
art, history and literature, but at the same
time, every civilized people should take a
lively interest in the development of its natu-
al history and resources. Our State museum
mould have typical specimens of all its life
i.rms, present and extinct-its mammals,
plants and animals; its Goals, ores, building
materials series of all its native plants and
collections of woods. These are quite
as important as libraries, art collec-
tions and old euriosities illustrating
pioneer or civil or military life.
No one would object to collection of the
cave relics from south France, or to series
from the lake-dwellers of Switzerland, and
why to series of remains of the mound
builders, or even of the various Indian tribes
that once inhabited IndianaY But the day for
the latter has gone by, and we shall never
gaze upon the form of Tecumseh picked in
alcohol. AS much good as it would have done
the pioneers, it would have been greater
acquisition for science and history.
Indiana has done well with her fishes, and
is just bringing her fossil life to light in geo.
logical reports. Not much can be hoped from
the State Legislature in the line of the nat
ural history of the State, as they can s,e no
pay-dirt in it. What is done in the future,
as in the past, will be by scientific men work
ing for the love of it, as Rafinesque Owen,
Leseuer and Audubon worked in Indiana half
a century ago; as Jordan, Coulter, Branner,
Collet, Stein, Evermann and others, in and
out of colleges, ars working now.
The Journal is not so much Of a partisan or
political paper as not to see the value of nat
ural science in ell Of its forms, and takes not
less interest in the course of the fish or bird
ban of the star or comet. Man is to be
aught on all sides by nature, for close to the
great beating heart of it he lies from it he
IL and TO it he returns. This eide of LIE Il