The morning call., 1891-10-04
BEHRING SEA
SEAL FISHERIES.
Professor Merriam One Of the Commits
SiOlGrS Sent to Investigate.
The ornithologist of the Department OF Agri-
culture and His Talented sister-A
Day at "Homewood"
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL

Professor C. FL. Merriam, Ornithologist
of the Department of Agriculture, and one
OF the two Commissioners to Alaska APP
pointed by the President to be sent to gather
information in regard to the Behring Sea
seal fisheries, and who has lately been on
scientists tour through Death Valley, Is a
native of New York State.
Professor Merriam wrote a scientific
treatise for the Government, published at
Washington, when he was only II years
of age, being the youngest author whose
works have been thus accepted.
He is a remarkable naturalist and con-
sidered the highest authority on the sub
jects to which he devotes himself, con-
stantly enlarging his profound studies with
the most thorough researches in nature.
A little incident related to us by his
mother on a recent visit to his old home
may illustrate some what how early and in
what manner he began his naturalistic
studies, continued on through the days OF
his Youthful vacations from school and
college.
In the da 8n of the morning when asmall
lad, with a comrade and cousin of like ten
denotes, he used to equip himself with shot
gun, ammunition and scientific apparatus,
to which he added kaapsack we'll stored
with materials for an abundant, though SIM
pie, lunch, minus the I" venison pasty ."
whose place he supplemented with fresh
game which he. the youthful champion OF
hunters lore" procured by his own skill
from the surrounding forest, dressing and
cooking it upon an.improVsed hearth of his
own construction, then Toasted with his
companion in true piOneer-hunter style,
after which lie repaired to his scientific ex-
porings in the wide wood affording such
ample scope. This eminent naturalist seems
to have been fitted for ndefatigable Work OF
both brain and body from his earliest youth
upward.
HIS MUSEUM.
A visit to his old museum, or what is left
of 10, after the most important OF the original
collection has been removed to Washington,
goes very strongly to prove the truth of the
foregoing dec aration; for what yet remains
of the curiosities-f0und in the vicinity aud
brought from foreign lands evince the
study and labor expended in obtaining them
Besides being giant genius, Professor
Merriam seems to have ha every educa-
ti6nal advantage AID help from his parents:
His mother, a lovely woman, active and
thoroughly interested in her family 5
achievements is descended from an old and
prominent family OF the metropolis, who
trace their ancestry far back into the past.
%
ancient bedstead--ascended by a flight of
steps-an heirloom that has descended
from generation to generation for 400
years.
Our approach to "HomewOod" was
beraIded Ivy the loud and alarming protest
of its faithful sentinel, large, handsome
black dog, with whom, remembering that
bark ing dogs do not bite" we were soon
on friendly terms.
His call brought out the owner Of the
| place, his master. the Hon. Clinton Mer-
riam, father of Professor G. Fl. Merriam, q
genial gentleman of tile old-school type, one
whom it is pleasing to meet
Upon our entrance to the mansion a
glossy green educated parrot "a native
brought from the West Indies by Mr.. Mer-
riam-gaye us rather esitating welcome
in Spanish; but, since he did not present US
| with walking papers in tnat language, we
were content. Though many visit this in
teresting place-surrounded by an extensive
natural park-they are always Hospitality
welcomed and charmingly entertained by
the cultured and kindly host and hostess.
who accompany the guests about their
| beautiful home. cheerfully and delightfully."-
| explaining to them the many objects OF
| curiosity and interest, which they have
| gathered about them, many of which Were
! brought home with them from foreign
! travels.
They took US to drive through the
| wooded grounds, where openings have been
| made amid the trees, through which the
| distant AdirOndacks can be seen towering
| in a long line at the north like mighty
| host, marshaled by their grand leader.
THROUGH THE FOREST.
Through this beautiful forest, wherein its
| many deniZens spend an unfettered, happy
| existence. the gifted daughter and sister OF
| this delightful home at "HomewOod''-s
| appropriately named-traversed on horse
back, or sought the more secluded bypaths
| of the tbickeL where, IN her ornltholOglcal
| studies from nature, she observed the
characteristics of the lovely but shy in
| habtantS.
Far in the depths of the wood, where the
sunlight CLEANS through the shining-leaved
| tree tops, whose swaying branches make
| such shifting pictures of light and shade as
| move the soul OF the artist, is made square
Enclosure of considerable extent, wherein is
patch of raSpberries, blackberries and
mountain ash, planted by Mr.. Merriam, in
which the birds could congregate at tneiI
| matutinal, MONDAY and veSper gatherings.
Tnither went Miss Florence Merriam to
| pursue her studies of t1e forms and habits
of the fairy sOngSters.
Knowing so much of the advantages that
| have been hers. with having graduated
| from two colleges, 1t is eaSy to understand,
if not to appreciate. how this gifted young
| student of nature has become one OF the
most remarkable girl ornithologists of her
| time.
She has written articles for many of the
leading publications, published one book on
birds and has another nearly completed.
| Her study is lined with well-stOcked book
| shelves, above and about which are rare
| works of art and curios.
In the center of the study, in a large,
handsome desk, is the fine type-w writer OF
the authoress. About the room are copies
from the old masters and original paintings
| by the moderns, photographs of unearthed
] npPiput pnamplS- Onalnt luQS lainns
etc In conspicuous place hangs an origi-
nal painting by the writer, tourist and
artist, Bayard Taylor. representing the
Midnight SUM-" which was executed in
that land afar Of odd days and nights. Miss
Merriam, whose work and work-room have
been thus slightly sketched, has lately been
at the West, where, at Rockford, H., she
was urged to establish q summer school of