Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
LIVE WEAVER BIRDS
SPECIMENS OF THEIR SKILL ON
EXHIBITION.
Address Before Audubon Society Of
the District-Bird Whistles
Strain From the Mikado.

A members meeting of the Audubon So
ciety was held last Wednesday at the
Friends Select School. 1911 / street. Mr..
H c. Oberholser presided and the speakers
of the evening were DR.. T. s. Palmer and
Mr.. Henry OIdys.
DIR. Palmer exhibited some live weaver
birds in cages showing specimens of their
weaving and giving an account of their
classification, distribution and habits. He
stated that they are found chiefly in Africa
and compose a large group. comprising
sixty genera and more than two hundred
species They are known to the trade Tin
cage BIRDS by such names as bishops,
nuns, Napoleons billed weavers and
Java sparrdws: Java sparrows, DR.. Palm
er said are, excepting the canaries, the
commonest cage birds in this country.
Their color is a rather striking comolna-
ton of black and gray and is the same in
both sexes. They are often called paddy
birds, from East Indian word meaning
rice, product for which they have great
liking.
DR.. Palmer gave amusing description
of the actions of the two occupants of one
of the cages, rare weaver plru ana d
bishop The weaver bird was placed In the
cage with the bishop and soon commenced
weaving into the bars of the cage some
strands of worSted that were furnished H.
The bishop objected and undertook to undo
the work of his cagemate. but the latter
soon forcibly effected peace. The weaver
bird worked asslduously, and on being hb-
Grated from the cage would fly short dis
lance away and take a critical survey OF
his handiwork from the outside. Then he
would fly to. the, cage and carefully tuck In
the projecting ends of the worsted Mean
time the bishop had been passing from
condition of antagoniSm to one OF frlendly
interest, and finally undertook to aid in the
work. His weaving was rather amateur
ish and had to be pulled out and doEe over
by his skilled mate, but in tucking in the
do be bef1 me ulite proficient, ana
both birds worked together amfcably in this
labor until the offensive raggedness was en-
tirely removed and the ends were all con-
cealed.
Progress in Bird Protection.
After finishing his remarks about the
weaver birds DR.. Palmer gave resume or
the progress made In the bird-protectlon
movement during the past summer. He
cursorily reviewed the bird-protection laws
enacted by the different states and by the
provinces of Canada, which indicated
very satisfactory progress along the lines
advocated by the Audubon societies. rms
has been due largely to the activity or MI.
William butcher Of New York, the chair.
man of the committee on bird protection OF
the American Ornithological Union. and of
DIR. Palmer himself.
In the organization of new Audubon So
cieties much has been done. and the move
ment begun a few years ago is now repre-
scented in all the states east of the Missis-
sippi except Michigan, Georgia and Missis-
sippi and In goodly proportion of those
west of the Mississippi.
In the course of his remarks DIR. Palmer
stated that while there Is large millinery
trade in feathers this autumn, yet less than
5 per cent of the feathers are of those the
use of which is antagonized by the Audu-
bon societies. About 60 per cent, said Dr.
Palmer, are the plumage of domestica ted
fowls, such as chickens, ducks turkeys and
geese, 20 per cent are ostrich plumes and
the rema lining 10 per cent or more are the
bodies and feathers of foreign birds, mainly
parrakeets and birds of paradise. While
the wearing of feathers of any birds whose
lives are sacrificed for the purpose is depre-
Gated by the Audubon societies, yet the
especial object for which they are organized
is the protection of our native birds. Hence,
Dr. Palmer stated, this is a very satisfac-
tory showing.
Bird Songs Noted.
Mr. Oldys followed with a brief and infor
NAL account of new bird songs he had noted
during the past season. He gave an ex-
ample from a progressive Baltimore oriole
that whistled strain from the "Mikado,'
finishing it with a ragtime flourish: some
new songs from chewink. wood thrush,
Carolina wren song sparrow and blue jay;
some antiphOnal music by field and white
throated sparrows; and some new examples
of rythmical singing by wood pewees and
summer tanagers. In concluding Mr.. Oldys
stated that he was more than ever con-
WINGED that birds have an appreciation of
music which differs from our own only in
degree.
The death of Major Merrill. a vice presi
dent Of the society and a prominent orni-
biologist. was announced by DR.. Palmer,
who briefly sketched his life and work. An
announcement was also made of the ap-
preaching meeting of the American Orni-
biologists Union. to be held in Washington,
in the lecture hall of the United States
National Museum. November IL IL and
49, and in conjunction with this national
conference of Audubon societies. A cordial
invitation was extended to the people of
Washington to attend the public meetings
of both associations.
The meeting closed with informal notes
from members, participate in by Mr.. Hen
ry w. Maynard, Justice Job Barnard and
Mrs. Wallace Radcliffe.