New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-26
"THE BIRD As A LOVER"
VARIOUS FORMS OF wOOlNG CHANGES IN Pr.U-
MAGE-MRs. OLIVE THORNE MILLER DE-
sCRIBEs THE METHODS OF COURrSHIP.

VARIOUS FORMS OF WOOING CHANGES IN PIU-
MAGE-MRs OLIVE TIIORNE MILLER DE-
sCRrBEs THE METHODS OF CoURTsHIP.
Mrs Olive Thorne Miller gave the first OF a Lenten
series OF Bird Talks at the Waldorf yesterday
morning Mrs Miller IS the weknown writer and
lecturer birds and has devoted years OF study TO
their habits and characteristics The present series
IL on The Life of the Bird" describing fully the
different periods In its existence. Yesterdays talk
had It's special topic. The Bird a Lover" Mrs.
Miller said tina; birds were as different from each
other in their methods Of courtsh!p were human
beings. she inclined to believe that they ex-
hibited little variety than the latter did. As
a means of partly illustrating her descriptions. she
had mounted specimens Of pairs OF birds belonging
to different species.
"All birds cour: In the spring" said the speaker.
although has been discovered 10y nves;ga-
tons that the majority OF them keep the same mates
for lie. Nevertheless. when that season
around each year the male bird through the
same demonstrations and makes every effort 10
charm his spouse anew.
There are many distnc, methods OF courtship pc
culiar to the various kinds OF birds. Most OF the
commoner species woo by means Of music. many
having special song. low and very sweet which
they never any other occasion. Then there
are other varieties In which the male bird takes
Il gorgeous plumagc at the counting time. which.
however. is only worn during that period and then
discarded TOY the rest OF the year.
toned the scarlet tanager. Immediately after he
has settled down with his mate. the brilliant red
color is replaced BY sober suit Of ove-green.
which causes him resemble almost exactly his
quiet little wife. The bObOlink, when seen here Ia
the North is wearing MS counting dress OF black.
white and buff but when he from the South
in the spring ne is OF a dull reddsh-brown. The
peculiar thing about the way In which he changes
color is that the feathers do not drop out. giving
place 10 new ones, but are worn off at the ends.
showing the entirely different shades a; the roots
In speaking a!grettes much
Women's hats, Mrs. Miller told why practice
OF obtaining them was exceedingly destructive She
said that they could be iOund the birds only at
the time of counting. and that male and female wore
them alike. AS a consequence, the men who in
search Of them shoot both birds. thereby destroying
not only the heads Of the family, but condemninG
the helpless nestl!ngs TO die OF starvation.
third method OF woong. said Mrs: Miller. was
that OF the chase. In this. Audubon declared that
the female bird, though she had many admirers.
always decided herself which one she preferred.
SIN another device OF the male to attract the aten
tion OF his sweetheart was to make a sort Of ath-
letic display OF his powers OF flying and spreading
his wings This was especially noticeable in the
marshhawks and tiny humming birds. There
many vicssitudes and uncertainties in birds court
ships" said Mrs. Miller. Just as there are In those
OF higher orders
The next talk Will be on Tuesday. March .. on
Nests and Nestl!ngs.