New-York tribune., 1896-04-01
"THE REAL Bird"
MRS MILLER GIVES THE LAST OF HER
SERIES OF TALKS AT THE WALDORF.

'"rbe Real Bird" was Mrs Olive Thorne Milers
topic yesterday morning at the Waldorf In the last
OF her series OF six lectures on the feathered race
She spoke first OF the general physical construction
OF the bird. and incidentally OF the characteristic
pec,liari Of the various species which ht'ed
them for their different modes OF life. A bro
eve was marvellous organism the speaker SAID
being both microscopic and telescope. IT was i'oie
to detect the most minute objects and also 10 see
At extremely long range ard the adjustment rom
one focus to another was automatic and exact
Birds which are accustomed TO FISH for tne'r
food said Mrs. Miller. "often prove their aoi'E
to see far beneath the surface even OF ripping ana
foam-coyered water. greatly beyond the depth 10
which the strongest human eye can pierce lhe'!
hearing, too. IL no less acute. IT Is sa'd OF sooc
authority that the robin hears the movements oil
the earth-worm under the sod. and thereby KNOWS
where he may find his prey. The CANADA goose -
able 10 distinguish between the footsteps OF men
and beasts This Ia evidenced by Its fear and night
when II hears the former. while IT Is INDIFFERENT 70
the sound made by the latter It's neighoors IN inc
forests and fields The is hidden under SOFT
feathers. which protect the organ. but DO not I'M
pair Its action .
According TO Mrs. Miller. the BIRDS beak. is, with
the possible exception OF Its wings. Its most d'''ni
and important member. 1t is employed as tool IN
nest building in digging for food. In piuniing Inc
feathers and d multitude OF other occupations IL
grows continually. though It's constant use b! the
wild bird keeps it worn down to IA uniform ienS'h'
The little captves in cages are often much incon-
venenced by having their beaks grow 20 an ab-
normal size Birds dress universally In feathers. al
though these differ widely according to the species
ana on the 'ame bird Several interesting lactS
were given AS to the way in which birds are pro
tected by their colorng. Many OF them, says Mrs.
Miller. seem TO be conscious OF this. The wood
cock sitting on the bare ground will keep perfectly
quiet even IL approached closely. while In winter,
where there q covering Of snow she will escape "a
quickly possible. apparently realizing that she Is
a conspicuous object. .
The popular notion tina; birds sleep with their
heads under their wings must 30 the way ~ o'hfr
ancient myths. Mrs Miller says that any one who
ever a bird with It's head In that position. az Is
occa asionally for the purpose OF trimming the
feathers would at once see that II was entirely
different from the sleeping attitude. The head then
really rests against the soft feathers Of the shoulder
All birds do roos, in trees Qnals. B.spar-
rows ard others sleep the ground. while. Of
course ducks and other waterfowl float all night on
the surface Of pond river. In referrine to the
birds search for food. the speaker said they were
either rivals aids 10 the human race. she was
strongly of the opinion that they did far more good
than harm. and the unfortunate objects OF
much unjust persecution.