The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-22
OUT AND ABOUT.

In the east wing of the capitol in
IopeKa' Kansas, writes a correspond
ent, may be seen one of the largest
and most valuable collections of mount
ed birds in the country. This collec
tlon, the achievement of the greater
part. OF the active life of it's donor Col.
N. s. Golf, now deceased numbered 500
specimens several year, ago, and must
now be very much larger; it is known
as the Goss ornithological collection.
and is so complete in its representa-
ton of Kansas birds of ALI kinds that
especial attention is directed to it by
residents in conducting visitors through
the capitol. Col. Goss, it's collector, was
a New Highlander; he became interested
in bird-life while still living in the
east, and when he settled in Kansas
he devoted all his time and money to
his work as a naturalist, and most of
1T to discovering and collecting speci-
mems of birds
After long and enthusiastic effort
in discovery, he prepared full descrip-
tons of the birds he had seen, and unit
ing these with descriptions which he
had read from other naturalists, he
brought them out together in. a volume
which, although named A History of
the Birds of Kansas, is rather his
tory of the birds of the west.
One is constantly reminded, in read
ing these accounts of the fact that
among hundreds of birds which are
commonly found in Kansas, are dozens
which are common to New England !.
Here are chick a-deeS, swallows spar
rows, bob-o-links, whip-poor- wills, tit
mice, wood thrushes, coots, plovers.
pewees, golden-eyes, and others, and
others, and others.
Col. Goss made his discoveries from
Nova Scotia to California, and ranged
over the southern swamps and in the
Manitoban fields, returning to his own
state to add to his special study Of the
birds of Kansas such observations as
he had made of birds found in other
states which he had previously found
in that state; hence his reports have
wide interest and value, and his col
lection in the state house at Topeka
may not be overlooked without positive
loss to him who would gather a fair i'm
preston of the natural history of the
west. His compilation includes IS
plates, which show the species of which
he. writes, and an amount of informa-
ton, both first and secondhand,
which must prove of permanent aid to
Gil SLuutIln vi lleibLl Ill itlGlOl
The work extends to about 700 pages.
There is much in it which is strictly for
the use of Students and is matter for
reference. | am not so much interested
in measurements as in the sentiment of
bird-life; and the notes of Col. Goss'
delightful experiences of bird discovery
on the sentimental side are satisfying
where mere measurements and classf-
flcations are not. 1t is reassut'ing to the
lay mind that DR. Elliott Coues,' one of
the most laborious and intellectual ma
turaliSts This world ever saw, is often
quoted in Col. Goss' volume; also that
Audubon and Wilson and Flagg and
Ridgway are drawn on frequently for
statements of their observations OF
many of these birds; but the authors
own notes are sufficiently interesting
to me, and | have marked a few in
which he refers to birds with which I
am familiar.
Here he speaks of the blue jay, the
registering fellow who puzzled me one
morning in the park in Brattleboro, Vt,
by his strange tapping. This writer EN-
bodies his own observations of this bird
by quoting from Bewick that he re-
marks that he once heard a jay so eX-
actly counterfeit the action of a saw
that, although the day was Sunday, he
could scarcely be persuaded but that
sumo carpenter was at work. "A blue jay
OF which the writer quoted had heard,
learned TO hound a cur upon domestic
cattle, whistling and calling him by
name, to such an extent that a serious
accident happened and the owner of the
premises had to kill the bird in order
to prevent further mischief.
Then we come to our old friend Bob
White. This bird is in all the fields
along the Atlantic coast from Massa-
chusetts to Connecticut during the
summer and fall, and behold Col. Goss
has had his eye on him in Kansas.
They often nest near our dwellings, Z"
says he. In the spring of 1867 I was
SHOWN, on Owl Greek, Kansas. a nest
containing 10 eggs; 1T was placed in the
dooiyard, and not more than % yards
from the house, several dogs were run
ming about the yard, and the house cat
was purring in the doorway. Fearing
the eggs would be destroyed, suggest