The Portland daily press., 1898-01-03
THE oRNlTHoLoGIsTs,
Meeting of the Men Who Know All About
Maine Birds.

OA'V0" OiA4lnologlsCS OF AAlne, which
opened Mt the rooms of the National
History society on Elm street Friday
night last, continued It's session Saturday
morning, about fifty members being
present.
The meeting was called to order by the
president of the society, A. II. Norton of
We 'tbrook, after which the reports of the
treasurer and auditors were read and
approved. The names of Arthur FL.
Merrill, the fish culturist at Cobossee Fish
Hatchery, and W. e. Russell the science
teacher at Gorham Normal school, were
presented and they were elected mem bers.
The report of the committee on lines of
work for the current year. consisting of
Prof. L. H. Lee of Bowdoin college,
Prof. E. T. Hutchings of Colby univer-
sity and Mr.. O. W. Knight of the expert
ment station at Orono was accepted. The
report of the committee on resolutions
consisting of Prof. Lane of Waterville,
Prof. Hutchings of Wateryille and Mr..
Knight of bangor was adopted as fol-
lows: Resolved, that the thanks of this
society are due and are hereby rendered
to the president Of the Society Of Natural
History for the use of their rooms and
other courtesies; to the friends in Port
land and especially to DIR. II. II. Brock
who assisted in making our stay pleasant
and to the Maine Central railway for ra-
duced rates.
The next in order was the reading of
papers and talks on subjects of peculiar
interest to the society. W. L. Powers
principal of the High school in Gardiner,
Me-, read g very carefully prepared and
thoughtful paper on ''OrnithoIogy in
the public schools' The whole tenor
OF the paper was to show that education
was notscomplete which does not train
the perceptive faculties of the students
to observe the world of nature in which
they live. In closing he animadverted
very strongly on the prevailing habit
among many boys of ruthlessly collecting
the eggs of birds. The boys having no
idea Of the irreparable loss of life and
beauty which their mania causes. Nine
tenths OF the eggs taken from the nests
are broken and lost ana the ne-tenth
saved are forgotten before the poor birds
whose homes have been destroyed have
gone south to become the targets Of hunt
ers hired by the millinery establishments
of our large cities.
Hon. George A. Boardman Of Calais,
the Oldest ornithologist in the state, who
has devoted good portion Of the IS
years of his life, to the study OF birds and
their habits, was unable to be present but
he sent paper which was read by one of
the members, taking as his subject Chow
he beoame an Ornithologist and Natural
ist." 1t dealt with personal reminis-
cences covering a large extent of country
and was received with almost pathetic
interest.
Capt. FL. L. Spinney of Seguin, second
assistant keeper at the light station,
which 1T will be remembered is located of
the mouth of the Kennebec river, was
present and read paper entitled Migra-
ton of birds at Seguin light station. -
He referred to the fact that birds were
attracted by the light under certain at
mospheric conditions and that 1t had
come under his personal observation that
hundreds Of them were killed sometimes
in one night by flying against the very
light of which he was the keeper and that
it was matter of record that as many
as 1400 birds were found dead at the foot
of the Bartholdi statue, having been
buffetted against it in single nights
storm. If such mortality as this can be
adduced in single night what" asked
the speaker, "nIust be the aggregate
slaughter in one year at least at all the
light houses OH the coasts of the United
States and Canada. -
birds as Home Lovers was the sub
ject Of paper by o. W. Knight of Ban
gor, while Prof. A. L. Lane OF Water
vile gave 8 talk on "Our Common
Birds J. E. Mead of North Bridgton
took up the subject of "Loons on our
Inland Waters,"' and gave life history
of the bird during it's building season.
Manly Hardy of Brewer was elected to
an honorary membership in the society
and letters expressive Of regret at their
inability to be present at the meeting
were read from Everett Smith of Port
land, Fl. D. Boles of Wateryille, Prof
j. Y. Stanton, Bates college, and Waiter
E. McLain, New Vineyard, Me.
Prof. Hutchings extended an invitation
to the society to meet next year In Water
vile and the matter was taken under ad
visement by the executive committee
The meeting then adjourned sine die.
PTTRGT,ARy a ~ NTWPTET
Newfield, Jan. This quiet village
was startled yesterday morning by the re-
port of q daring burglary committed dur
ing the night. By the light of the moon
and within stones throw of two houses
burglars skillfully removed pane of
glass from the window OF Frank Wood
wards store and easily gained an en-
trance. They then cooly packed together
about 500 worth OF goods, consisting of
coats, overcoats, shirts, fiannsls etc. ::
also many smaller articles, knives, scis.
sors, cigars, tobacco and numerous fancy
articles. After tying the goods together