The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-01-23
Institution for Studying Habits
OF Feathered CaptiyeS
LOCATED In PENNSYLV ANIA
Professor W. E. D. Scott, Director Of
Observatory Endowed by C. c. Worth
ington, Tells Of Experiments
to Be Worked Out.

A thoroughly equipped bird obserya.
tory and prehaps the only institution |
in the world for the study Of live birds |
has recently been. established at Shaw
nee, Monroe county. Pa. says the New |
York Tribune. Through the generos-
ity of G. G. Worthington. who has en-
dowed the institution aud has lent
some 10000 acres Of his extensive and |
picturesque estate bordering on the
Delaware river for it's use, a new field
of research is made possible. Here the
daily habits of captive birds win be
continually observed and their life his.
tory scientifically reported
Professor w Il. d. Scott, curator Of
ornithoIogy at Princeton university,
who ranks as one Of the foremost bird
observers and naturalists Id the coun-
try, has been appointed director OF the
observatory.
The present temporary observatory
consists Of roomy two story cottage
structure Here preliminary work is
NAs AMAtA1AE hhE INV 01AtNAAh =
under construction. The birds draw
ing room. lined from door to ceiling
with series OF gilt cages, contains
rare inmates from all the five con-
tinents. A great chorus and medley
from the throats Of 500 winged song
sters fills the place. The interior pre-
sents an unusual scene. Opening from
the left OF the entrance is the main
compartment, containing spacious com
municating flying cages, with win
dows, and supplied with sections OF
miniature forests and great square
pool of fresh running spring water pip
| ed from the mountain top.
Cozy boxes and gourds form nesting
places, well filled platters Of food on
| the floor give a natural environment,
with near approach to freedom, shell
tering a happy community, the largest
/ congregation OF live birds, native and
foreign, perhaps in confinement in all
the world Nearly every cline tropic-
| al, temperate and arctic, has been
| searched to obtain the hest representa-
tives Of each kind. They are kept In
corresponding temperatures to suit
| their native homes.
When asked to give an outline Of the
| observatory and the various new prob
lens and experiments in bird life to
be worked out, Professor Scott said.
Here are some of the main inquiries
into bird life proposed to be practically
| worked out The study and considera-
ton Of the bird as an individual. il
| is believed that by means Of observa-
ton carried through the entire life OF
| the bird much will be learned regard
ing matters which are now obscure,
such as growth, habits, health, temper,
etc. These viii be daily reported: The
study OF the nature and cause Of varia-
i ton In different representatives Of the
same species; changes in color and
appearance, along with age, sex and
season: effects in color due to light.
heat, presence or absence Of moisture
and to food. 1t will be possible to
draw conclusions as to what artificial
/ conditions tend to produce certain coli
ors-heredity and what general char
acteristlcs are transmitted; expert
ments in breeding hybrids and the pos
Il sibiIity Of establishing a new physio-
logical species; the change Of color
, due to mott, the periodic shedding
and replacing of the coat--a veXed
4 question, whether due to the wear Of
the feathers or whether the feathers
themselves change In color; the lei
sure Of birds. how acquired and em-
played: instinct habit and development
Of intelligence,
zone of the useful economic expert
ments carried on will be the breeding
and the selection Of certain species of
birds for suppressing insects, so that
when particular pests make their APP
pearance In a community the agricul-
turist will have a natural remedy at
hand by introducing the appropriate
insectiyorous birds for the radiance of
the plague. Another special investlga-
ton Is to be made in the consideration
of song. Do singing birds inherit the
instinct Of the method Of the song or is
It acquired by imitation? TO demon.
strate this question a series OF exhaus-
tive experiments viii be arranged. A
number Of sound proof rooms have been
constructed. In these brood Of young
singing birds will be shut up and en-
tlrely isolated They will be reared by
hand and not allowed TO see or hear
any bird OF their neighbors until they
are two years old. At this age it will
be taken for granted that habits are
fixed and the notes they produce are
natural and not the outcome Of initial.
ing other birds. on the other hand
young broods will be secluded so that
they can hear no sound save q simple
combination OF bird notes entirely for
eign to their own, which win be play.
ed on the photograph. II they learn
and continue TO use this song it will
20 far to prove that imitation and not
inheritance governs song In that par,
tlcular species
/ Professor Scott gave a pretty exam
pie among his recent observations Of
] song In the case Of two hand raised