New-York tribune., 1901-05-07
BIRDS OF THIS REGION.
IMPORTANT COLLECTION REING MADE
FOR THE BROOKLYN INSTITUTE
THE MONTH OF song.

There is 10 he seen in the Museum Building of
the Brooklyn Institute. IN the Eastern Parkway.
the beginnings Of interesting collection Of native
birds. wher completed It viii comprise specimens
OF all the birds in this State, each variety being
represented by the male and female. the nest with
its normal number Of eggs and the foliage Of some
tree IN which il builds.
George X. Cherrie curator OF the ornithological
6epartmcnt Of the Brooklyn Institute, with his
corps o assistants is doing the work Of collecting
preserving mounting and arranging In addition
10 the display for the general public. collection OF
cabinet skins. which be handled. is being made
for the benefit OF students and naturasts.
When Mr.. Cherrie seen in his laboratory in
the chdren's Museum yesterday by a Tribune re-
porter trophies Of the mornings expedition
lay before him. They the bodies Of an oven
bird, myrtle warbler, black and white warbler
catbird and wood thrush. Each wrapped
carefully in paper and awaited the hands Of the
faKidermst. Very small shot had been used in
bringing them down, and mark of the destroyer
was left on the pumage. About the room were dis
tributed evidences OF former explorations-an ali-
gators skeleton in preparation for the museum;
cabinet skin Of Canada wild goose in process Of
drying a stuffed opossum, mounted eagle, birds
nests and birds In all stages OF stufing and mount
ing.
The lsteness Of the season, said Mr. Cherrie. mas
retarded all bird migrations this year. and yet
comparatively few species have been seen During
this month more birds should be seen than in
any other part of the year. The migratory in
stnct has always been a problem. That a bird
should 60 10 warmer lands when the cold breath of
the autumn begins seems fairly demonstrable; but
that he should take himself away from The South
land just when insects fruit and flowers are most
profuse there is remarkable Some OF the warblers
Mr. Cherrie says, travel I'm large companies, sew
eral species going together. Many come from
Ear south the Argentine Republic. Others winter
N Central America and in the Southern States.
None Of those that the best songsters here sing
80 well in the South. on the contrary, their time
s in FanT he Trt tN4l
here most OF the species are IN Their hnest plumage
The largest part Of the long journey is made at
nlshl the day being spent IN napplngS and forag-
the way, the females and the young coming later.
A signal nightfan gathers the hock, which, be-
ioTe advancing, rises 10 height OF quarter TO a
haf mile, and even, some writers state 10 that Of
mile Why the bird seeks this Iofty hight can
enly be conjectured MI Cherrle thlnks IL prooa-
Die that the bird has keener sight and can see
'birds-eye yfewa NAV comprehend a vast tract OF
country. In substantiation OF this theory ne cited
he himself appears not larger than pigeon, sud
denly pauses in his flight, and straight as an arrow
darts down for little squirrel or uny held
mouse.
Il Is common but erroneous idea said MT.
Cherrie that an the birds throughout the trop-
les gaudy clothed Instead OF this, the proper
tion OF dull colored pumage is greater there than
here although ~ course the most brilliantly coll
ored birds are found there. Ihen. TOO, n~otHlthS ~
The most beautifully decked birds have the most
Bulletins are issued weekly by the department
Tor the benefit Of visitors 10 the museum, giving
Ahe dates OF the arrivals OF DlfGs as laSt Aey
are discovered and Mr.. Cherre asks all bird lovers
10 contribute 10 this information, Those which
arrived during the week ending May were the
Indigo bunting. chipping sparrow. hermit thrush.
chimney swift, harm swallow, black ana Mhite
warbler. black throated grain warbler, white
throated sparrow, bird End purple martln
The wood thrush Mr.. Cherries desk was the
nrst by him this season. This bird Is the
sweetest OF songsters here and its song lasts uul
vel into July. The majority OF birds cease singing
as as the nesting season IS fairly under way.
There about $40 species OF birds found IN this
region Mr.. Cherrie stated. about one-slNth or thlS
number breeding here This includes transient
ana accidental visitors and water birds
a collection OF four hundred eggs, represent
~ species. has been given 10 the Brooklyn lnsu-
tlte by Charles Howard Remington Among them
are number that are very rare hut il is composed
mainly OF local varieties. The institute mas also
received a gift Of 2500 shells from Mrs. John H.
burtis. These were collected from Nhalers about
lsn by the donors father. Professor Thomson.