New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-07
THE STORY OF THE NEST.
MRS. MILLER'S LECTURE AT THE TEACH
ERS' COLLEGE.
SHE DEPRECATEs THE DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS
FOR MILLINERY ORNAMENTS. AND SAYS

SHE DEPRECATES THE DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS
FOR MILLINERY ORNAMENTS. AND SAYS
THEY ARE THE FARMERS FRIENDS.
The iecture-hal In the Teachers College, Morning
side Heights Observation-Disclosures. was
tbronged Yesterday morning at Mrs Olive Thorne
Millers lecture on The Story OF the Nest The
talk was under the auspices of the Brooks Aiumnae
an. a large number Of our women school teachers
we're present, and all thoroughly enjoyed the kindly
talk Of the woman who has made the bros her
friends and is doing al in her power to defend
them. There WAS remark made by Mrs. Miller
that made some present wish they had not feathers
on hat or bonnet. In talking OF the destruction oil
BIRDS she mentioned OF the chief causes the
craze for feathers TO disgrace our hats. The I'M
happy man. who was distinctly in the minority
looked around with chucke. he noticed at least
thirty dead birds in the hats around him.
Mrs. Miller. in her tax. said:
From the humming bird to the eagle the daily
existence OF every bird Is remote ana peWl,ch'hs
mystery. The bird is our tt.e brother. and 1t IS
Only during the nesting period that we can study
his domestic life and keep the married coupe un,
der close Investigation. The nest differs from
the moment the nesting can ny the word is his
home, any comfortable twig IS bedroom. ana q
he meets his prey. and whenever he feels hungry
ing kitchen and storcroom In biri life at nesting
time which is the counting time OF our bird friends
they are in great contradstincton TO ourselves.
II Is the male that plunes himself out In his most
gorgeous p,umage while the bride. rule. wears
a d.ngy dress But there fights among the birds
for their brides often alienation of affection. ana
some times murder There are, too. IN birhs tn'
spinsters and bachelors. who look on with cold con,
tempt at the auarre.s of the youngsters many oi
whom to charm win bride sing their sweetest
TThsS h' fe Gf Bird ccc: the site FOR the nest
and In many she s. alone the architect. while
the male bird simply aids her with his song ana
That many birds return to the same resting place
year after year IS undouhtcd. This Is true OF thc
swallow. building its small carthen home under our
caves. and most particularly noticeable WIN me
rocks who most conservative. An autlcntlo
story Is told Of family OF rocks who had Tor
centuries built their nests In cathedral close IN
sciec, tree in the neighborng barrack yard Tho
whole parliament of rocks OF that Goony VIZ .b
subject the cathedral green. An almost gray
headed rock took the Gor ana i Wv was so sDen a
colony. for the birds were allowed to build
In hitrhng the brood there f. great difference
among birds The ruby-;hroated humm.ng bird never
ncar vicini;v The song sparrows however taxi
turn and turn about on the nest. and this IS iru.
birds give mp all care Of their young as sooa as
they are ncdscd. This IS absolutely Incorrect The
fully az do We In seeing our children toddle across
the floor When m" Young bird has Iniscalculatei
the ground the parents sohctous over the
fall any mother over the tumble OF her babe
lump 10 some perch and not infrcquently actually
carry him there Young birds. Ike young children.
IS one Of the mos, obs,rcperous OF iedgllngs caus-
ing his parents innnity OF trouble. They climb
out OF their nests days before they can fly. and
are an easy prey 20 their many enemies especially
man. hut are guarded and fed to the utmost by
their parents.
In the nesting time. especially when the young
are Matched. birds use tho strangest ways 20 keep
an enemy away from the HON" OF the brood.
There has been and IS stil a crusade agsInS.
almost every bird hy n. farmer and fruit grower
and their nests ar" ruihlesslv destroyed robbed
II people would really learn that II IL the Dir
that saves their crops ami their orchards nv killing
huudrc Is Of thousands pf insects that would eat
everything our little brothers would be far moro
plentiful and crops Of all corts far more abundant