The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-03
FINE FIJI BIRD EXHIBIT ,'l|
Audubon Society Displays Species
Native to Minnesota for
Study.
Familiar Roadside Weeds, With
Their Names, Shown in Fed
Grafton Building.

MIS-. 81. .. WIG ISpI CSSiAeS eA'S
interests Of the Audubon society at the
federation building has added new and
instructive feature to her bird exhibit this 4
year, It is a collection of about seventy
five mounted specimens of birds OF Mime
sofa, lent by the Minnesota agricultural
school thru the courtesy of Professor +.
l.. Washburn. These specimens enable
Mrs Hudson to show clearly the differ
ences between the males and females,
which are often SO unlike In appearance
as to- be taken for entiry different species.
The collection also illustrates the differ
ence in appearance in different seasons,
noticeable In some birds.
Mrs. Hudson uses the collection as a
strong argument against the shooting Of
birds for study by amateurs, arguing that
there are already in existence numerous
collections that answer every legitimate
purpose Of study and there is no need
for the individual student to kill the birds:
in order to learn all about them, as the
collections are in public places easy Of
access. n
A chimney swifts nest is the chief
treasure Mrs. Hudson has added to her
collection of nests this year. These are
common enough but are very difficult to
secure, being built in inaccessible places.
| The nest is Of small twigs, glued together.
| The bird never lights except on its nest
| and these twigs are snatched as it skins
| lightly among the trees. The glue Is
| secretion in the throat Of the bird. The
mounted specimens Of the swift show the
| barbed tail feathers by means Of which 1t
helps to support itself in the nest on the
side Of a chimney. Another interesting
| new nest in the collection is that OF a
domney woodpecker tn hollow of a dead
branch of a tree. An orchard orioles nest
! is one hard to- find, because it Is built Of
green grass which is not dried out enough
to be distinguishable until after the nest.
lings are ready to shift for themselves.
This exhibition of nests, birds and eggs
| Is one that has had much influence lin
creating and promoting a sentiment In
favor Of bird preservation and this Is due
| largely to the interesting talks given in
| formally by Mrs Hudson in regard to
the nests. all Of which she has collected
herself and has interesting stories to tell
about. Quite a number of them are made
| in part of material that she put out for
the birds use. She had an interesting ex-
perience this spring with the nesting
| birds. She cut into fine shreds a quantity
of pink and white striped percale and put
! that with gray wool rawlings and white
cotton out in the trees. The pretty pink
and white stuff disappeared with the ra-
.pidity of bargain sale transactions, the
cotton was employed much as the woman
shopper buys staple articles, while the I'M
interesting gray wool went begging. Much
Of the cotton Is found in some of the
nests shown but Mrs. Hudson never saw
4 a scrap of her pink and white striped
goods in a. nest. "a ~.. J.! 80
r., Another nature, exhibit shown besides
"A Mrs Iiudson's is a small collection Of IA
miliar, roadside weeds with a brief de-
scription, giving their names, history,
4 properties and associations. In this lot
) are tEistles, dwarf mallows, called
'cheeses'' by the children Russian this
} ties, ragweed, tall and mat spurge, plan
} tain, %burdock, yarrow, purple vervain,
evening primrose shepherds purse, SOW
thistle, pig weed, pepper grass and smart
" weed. , Ut ian Indication Of the popular
a lack Of observation that few. visitors seem
to know more than two or three of these
by name. It is planned to make this ex-
h1bit much larger next year with a view
: Of promoting an interest in the familiar
plant growths -. ~.
The woman's auxiliary Of the Mime.
sofa Horticultural society has in it.
room a considerable supply Of literature
:. on various horticultural topics and on thu
walls several plans and specifications fol
the planting Of grounds for various uses
and a. collection of forestry and garden
photographs. A member of the society II
constantly present to advise with visitors
on horticultural topics. st ......
: The drawing and industrial work dis
!. played Is from all Of the grades below tn
. high school OF the Minneapolis schools
= 1t covers the course Of study in these de
partments and Is arranged by grades.
covers the walls of the main hall and
: large room upstairs and fills g. number O
$ show cases. All grades of rugs and ham
mock weaving and basketry are shown
A similar display from the John Ericsson
school of st. Paul emphasizes rattan bas
ket and mat weaving. 49,