St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-03-07
Huseum Notes.
Lecture bV Frank m. ChaPman-Aho
Audubon sOciety-Bird NsSes.


Audubon SOciety-Bird Notes'
Some very attractive posters may De
seen in various places of the town. ao-
vertising the lecture on "Flamingos' "
which is to be given March %, by Frank
M. Chapman. The colored poster was
designed and executed by Miss Winitred
Merrill, and represents Mrs. Flamlngo
with her nest and two eggs--the usual
number to be found in one nest. 1t Is
matter of congratulation for all bird
lovers that these flamingos are now
protected in their Florida homes. This
pro lection has been secured largely
through the efforts Of Mr.. Chapman
who has studied the life OF the bird from
the egg to the adult state, and is PROB
ably more familiar with them than any
other naturalist.
A meeting OF the St. Johnsbury Audi
bon society was held at the Museum
Thursday evening, President {, ii. Hor-
ton, presiding. After the reading OF the
secretarys report, the president spoke
briefly of the work done by the national
society during the past year, and then
called for a resume OF the legislative work
accomplished by Mr. butcher during
1905 An abstract of this follows:
President Roosevelt ordered four bird
reservations to be set aside, the first
consisting of four islands in Stump Lake,
N. D., the second Passage Key, an
island near the mouth of Tampa bay,
Fla, the third, Huron Islands, on the
south shore OF Lake Superior, and the
fourth the Siskiwit group of Islands on
the south side of Isle Royal IN Lake
Superior, Mich. Such birds as the gulls,
terms, ucks, snipe, herons, and ground
doves are protected in the reservations.
The relations of the national Audubon
society with foreign countries, especially
with Germany, Great Britain, and
Japan, were referred to, and some cores
pondence was read between Honorable
Lloyd Griscom of the United States
Legation, Toxic, and the secretary OF
state, showing the willingness OF Baron
Komura to aid in preventing the de-
struction of bird life and traffic in wild
birds between the captains of japanese
and American ships. certain foreigner
laid a proposition before the United
States government requesting that he
should have control of the Laysan and
French Frigate Shoals Island with the
right to kill annually many thousands OF
birds, and in return for the profit from
these bird skins he agreed to improve the
islands, now uninhabited, by planting
cocoanut and other trees, so that in time
the islands would become valuable. By
the foresight OF Mr.. butcher, it was dis.
covered that the plan suggested would
end in exterminating all the birds Of these
islands, thus making the agricultural
benefit practically useless. Mr.. butcher
Immediately laid the matter before the
secretary OF the Interior, and the request
of the foreigner was very promptly
denied. Miss Emily Clark gave an
exceedingly interesting paper upon
"Experience in Feeding Winter Birds. "
While the birds OF the past winter have
been few in number, they have been
CORRESPONDENCE tame, and Miss Clark
has had several entertaining experiences,
which would indicate that the birds
know and appreciate human friendship.
The meeting was closed with an earnest
talk by Mr.. Horton, who spoke strong.
ly of the change in sportsmen's ideals OF
20 years ago. He also outlined methods
by which birds and small game might
be wisely protected.
Large focks of horned larks have been
reported during the last few days. These
have been found couple Of miles above
North Danville, at several places on the
North Danville road, and in Summerville.
These rather curious looking birds come
every year about the first OF March, re-
naming for couple of weeks. They are
frequently to be seen on the fence rails,
and their song, while low and short, is
very sweet, not unlike that Of some OF
the warblers.