The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-11
A Book About Birds.


sThe Story OF Bird Lover" Che Outlook
Company. is one OF the foremost experts
in America in his own particular depart
ment Of knowledge. He is curator of the
department OF ornithology at Princeton
University, where a great part OF his time
Is spent in caring for and studying a col
lection OF about five hundred live birds,
native and foreign.
In this volume, which will appeal to men
and women who love nature and are in
terested in all the living creatures that
share the world with us. the author tells
how step by step he acquired his knowl-
edge, through observation, out-of-doors
exploration. training Of the senses and in
some degree through books and tuition.
After graduating from Harvard. where he
was a pupil OF Louis Aeassiz, Mr. Scott
began his life work "a scientist and ornith-
ologist, and his volume Is . curious and
interesting record Of his experiences. per-
sonal and scientific. in many not well-known
parts Of the country. The intricate habits
and the development Of intelligence in
birds have been studied under varied con.
ditions and In scientific way and an at
tempt has been made to attain some def
mite knowledge on such q subject, for in
stance, as the vexed question Of the mu-
liability OF species a. set forth In Darwin's
hypothesis Of evolution. Mr.. SCOTS theory
may best be summed up In his closing quo
tation from The Play Of Animals by
Prof. Gross.
If the observation OF animals Is to be
rendered fruitful for the unsolved problems
of anthropology, an untried way must be
entered upon: attention must be directed
less to particular resemblances to man, and
more to specific animal characteristics
Hereby q means may be found for the
better understanding Of the animal part
in man than can be attained through the
discussion OF human examples alone. Mans
animal nature reveals itself in instructive
acts, and the latest investigators tell US
that man has at least as many instincts as
the brutes have. though most OF them have
become unacceptable through the in
fuence of education and tradition. There
fore. an accurate knowledge Of the animal
world, where pure instinct is displayed, is
indispensable in weighing the importance
OF inherited impulses in man.
Some Verso.
In a slim volume entitled The Gates
OF Silence, With Interludes OF Song
(Knckerbocker Press), Mr.. Robert Love-
man has collected number OF melodious
verses reprinted from qarper's and other
magazines. Verses In which the inevitable
ness OF Death and the mystery unfathomable
OF the Whence, the Whittier and the Why
are varied by some lyric experiments in
lighter vein. Thus In joyous mood the
poet sings:
II isn't raining rain 10 ma.
But nelds OF clover bloom =
where every buccaneerng bee
May IND bed and room.
A health unto the happyi
ne for him who frets,
II Isn't raining rain 10 me.
It's raining violets
In contrast to which outburst Of cheering
optimism we find, on page o., this most
melodic groan:
Another day comes up the east
And totters down the west
Another night will rock 10 sleep
The stars upon her breast
Year In. year out thry nle along
sans in,ermlssiou. thus.
Isomeumes think the programme
a bit monotonous.