New-York tribune., 1909-02-26
BIRD GROUPS SHOWN.
Many attend PriUdte Vie1c at Amer
icdn Museum, of Natural HistOru.

After eight years work. requiring than
sixty-fve thousand miles OF travel and the develop
ment Of many original methods in preparation IN
der the direction OF DR.. Hermon c. Bumpus. di-
rector of the American Museum OF Natural His
tory. the Museum will open to its members this
afternoon and to the public tomorrow its hall OF
Habitat Groups OF North American Birds
The groups are unusual in museum exhibitions.
and each one is the result of special expedition
in charge of Frank NJ. Chapman. curator OF birds.
usually accompanied by preparator and artist
Nearly every group includes the nest, eggs. adult
and young. with painted background Of the sur
roundngs
From the Bahamas to the Gulf OF ST. Lawrence.
from the Atlantic to the Pacific localities rep
resented which show at least the more character
istc phases of the American landscape.
Before obtaining specimens the birds were studied
and photographed at short range from specially
constructed umbrella-blind. At the same time the
artist made studies on which 10 base The back
ground as well as detailed color sketches OF leaf
and blossom while the preparator collected the
needed accessories making casts or preserving
vegetation in solutions.
The vegetation. for which J. D. Higgins. chief
of the museums department of preparation. is Te
sponsibe. has been reproduced in wax, either from
plaster casts of the original by careful duplica
ton. The color has been applied with an arbrush.
or atonzer thus producing the most delicate tints
Dr. Bumpus said yesterday that the museum was
Indebted for the bird groups to the generosity OF
number of its members. including John l. Cadwal-
ader Mrs. Morris K. Jesup, Mrs Philip Schuyler,
Mrs John B. Trevor, Mrs Robert Winthrop. +
Augustus ScherInerhorn H. B. Hcns. Henry Clay
Pierce Henry W. Poor. Charles Lanier and Court
enay Brandreth.
Among those invited to the private view yester-
dav most of whom attended. were members OF the
Audubon Society of the State Of New York fellows
and members of the American OrnithOOgical Union,
Mr. and Mrs Edward d. Adams, John W. Alex
ander ]. Carroll Beckwith, NJ. c. D. Borden, Mr.
and Mrs John Crosby Brown. Dr. and MrA Mich
oIas Murray Butler, william NJ Chase Mr.. ani
Mrs Joseph H. Choate, Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke
and Lady Clarke Mr.. and Mrs Charles F. Cox c. c.
Curran Mr. and Mrs Robert Fulton Cutting, Pro-
fessor and Mrs. Bashford Dean. Mrs. William E.
Dodge, Mr.. and Mrs. Robert w. de Forest. Mr..
and Mrs Elbridge T. Gerry. Richard Watson Glider.
Robert W Goelet Madison Grant. Mrs. H o. Have
meyer Mrs. Abram S. Hewitt. Profezzor Franklin
w Hooper DR.. and Mrs. ". T. Horneday, Mrs.
c. P Huntington. Mr.. and Mrs, Adrian Isein. jr-,
Mrs. Morris K. Jesup Mr.. and Mrs. John s. Ken
nedy Francis C Jones' Mr.. and Mrs Seth Low.
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Parsons. Mr.. and Mrs. Doug
las Robinson. Mr.. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller.
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller. jr.. Mr. and Mrs.
Jacob H Schin Charles r Sheldon. Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Stewart Smith, Mr. and Mrs. George W.
Vanderbilt, Mr. and Mrs w. X Vanderbilt and
Mrs. Henry Willard