The Washington herald., 1906-11-15

Henry Oldys, assistant biologist in the
Department Of Agriculture. has 1000 sam
pies Of bird music, written in popular
form. so that it is possible for the human
voice exactly TO initiate the songsters Of
the field and the forest. He has recorded
the actual tones, setting them in the
proper musical key, and their reproduc-
ton is easy for anybody who can read
musical symbols.
Mr.. Oldys has been gathering bird Ian
guage for thirteen years. and during
most Of that time has been devoting his
expert Knowledge of the subject 10 Off
ciaI reports which find their way in the
government archives. He has extended
the work Of other eminent naturalists,
and to-day is foremost among those who
have made a study Of this unique branch
OF science
The forests Of the South and the fast
nesses Of the West have been the hand
book Of this student. He has collected as
far as possible all the bird notes capable
Of reproduction for human expression.
Asked last night if he would formulate
these in popular form he said that it prob
ably would not be possible, as his samples
are short and often disjointed. He
thought the composer however, might
supplement the work Of the scientist.
Bird Opera Is Possible.
There is in this collection. then, the pos
sibIe groundwork for a magnificent bird
opera. II the blending of notes can sue
cessfully be accomplished. the theater-
goer of the next decade may be treated
with wonderful entertainment and may
hear in the course Of one evening the
songs Of the feathered musicians Of the
world, executed by human vocal chords.
Mr.. OIdys explains that many Of the
bird tones are almost identical with those
Of the human. Taking this as basis, he
has recorded the symbols whereby the
human can read, and the human voice
express, these harmonious sounds. Where
fore it is possible for the concert singer
who never has been without the precincts
Of the large city, 20 reproduce exactly
the woodland song Of the thrush
Among the more prevalent birds whose
tones are ike those of the human and
can be reproduced and written as music
are the wood thrush. the chewink, the
song sparrow, the field sparrow. the Bal
timore Oriole, the wood peewee. and tho
Carolina wren.
SHOWS HOW It's Written.
Mr.. Oldys lectured on bird music be-
fore yesterdays session Of the American
Ornithologists' Union, In the hall OF the
National Museum. He initiated the songs
of the wood thrush and the field lark
before the audience and showed how the
notes could be written on an ordinary
sheet Of song and reproduced by any one
who can read.
He is preparing the material for book
on bird music, in which the samples of
every songster Of the woods that has the
human tones VIII be given.
Mr.. Oldys is connected with the bioloEi-
cal department, and his work is 70 aid fin
the preservation of the games and birds
OF the country. His work is credited
with being Of immense scientific value.
Tells of Western Hardships.
(. W. Nelson's paper, "On horseback
through the deserts Of Lower California,
was another feature Of the session. Sew
eraI other essays attracted attention. but
the story accompanied with lantern slides
of this daring trip through a practically
unknown country. fraught with hardships
and dangers, was followed breathlessly.
Mr.. Nelson's party traversed the long
peninsula from end 10 end. twice crossing
and recrossing it from east 10 west, eight
times over the never-ending desert
It was probably the most daring and
thrilling journey ever undertaken by an
American CrnithOlOgist. and many peTilOus
experiences We're related of days on the
desert without water and supplies, and
providential rescues just as men and pack
animals were ready to drop with ex-
haustion.
All Of these were heightened with real
istic lantern slides of actual scenes. Some
of the scenery displays were marvellous.
and contrasted strangely with the pictures
OF hardship and privation.
Many New Plants Discovered.
= It was explained that no especial Hnowl-
Edge Of ornithology was gained. but vast
SsaI of general information was obtained
u other subjects not before exploited. \
nE4nber of new varieties Of plant life were
Uncovered, one of which was q cactus
thst grew TO enormous size under the
sed3chiHg heat Of the sandy wastes \
nuIber Of other novel things in the
'Ologies were picked Up.
The wonderful docility and domesticity
of d young California condor, the largest
bird Of prey IN the Western Hemisphere.
paper by William L. Finley. of Portland.
Oreg., illustrated with slides by himself
and II. T. Bohiman. The paper and pic
lures told the life Of a young condor
from the time It was taken from the
nest until it reached the age Of about
six weeks
The bird readily became domesticated
and acquired many Of the habits of the
ordinary yellow dog losing all his Wild
ness and timidity toward man. He be-
came pet in the camp IN the mountains.
and greatly attached 10 his master. He
would follow him around and although
allowed full liberty, never left the camp
Condor Learns Many Tricks.
He learned many tricks. and could
readily distinguish a stranger. and like
milady's pet pup. would have nothing to
do with him. The bird was shipped East
after Mr.. Finley had fully ACCOMPLISHED
the wonderful feat of his domesticatfon
and gained a store Of knowledge on the
subject. He is at present in the Museum
at New York
William l. Bailey. Of Ardmore. Pa.
gave a fine exhibition of lantern slides
dealing with a variety OF bird life He
described the life Of night hawks from
the time they were hatched until six
weeks old
The other papers read during the day
were: THE effects OF intense humidity
on the colors of zonotrichia. hyloclchIa.
and scardafella, by c. William Beebe
OF New York THE life zones Of New
York State as determined by its avi-
fauna Illustrated with lantern slides, by
+. Howard Eaton, OF Canandaigua, \.
Y: a review of the genus junco." or