The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-10-20

derful fidelity as he sees and loves
them, and only recently brought to
the knowledge that he is master in
his line, by his discovery by Prof.
Dawson and other western bird stu
dents.
Love of birds, says Prof Dawson
in his preface, is a natural and an
cient passion. bird lovers among the
snclents being Aristotle, Pliny the
elder and Aelian. ORTHODOXY, how
ever, is a modern science, not over
two centuries and half old. while
as popular pursuit, its age is better
reckoned in decades
West is Waking.
I'VE of the west" he continues.
ARE just waking, not too tardily we
hope, to a realization of our price
less heritage OF friendship in the
birds. Our homesteads have been
chosen and our rights to them estab-
lished: now we are looking about us
to take accounts of our situation, to
see whether indeed. the lines have
fallen to us In pleasant places, and
to reckon up the forces which make
for happiness, welfare and peace. And
not the least of our resources we find
to be the birds of Washington. They
are here az economic allies to bear
their part in the distribution OF plant
life, and to wage with us unceasing
war against insects and rodent foes
which would threaten the beneficence
of that life. They are here. some of
them, to supply our larder and to fur
nish occupation for us in the pred
atory mood. But above all, they are
here to add zest to the enjoyment of
life itself; to please the eye by dis
play of graceful form and piquant
color; to tease the imagination by
their exhibition of hight; or to goad
aspiration as they seek in their mi
grations, aluring and ever insatia-
BILE beyond"
A Good Stylist.
Aside from classifications and tab
ulated descriptions. each bird receives
informal treatment in a short and gen.
orally localized description. Prof. Daw-
son is not only a scientist, he is a
master of a good prose style pointed
with humor. He writes of the birds
in manner which the lay reader can
understand and appreciate.
The book, Il large subscription af-
fair, is an expensive one, but quite
worth the money to every public Ii
brary and to every private library
which can afford it, In spite of the
price, Prof. Dawson frankly admits
that it is not a paying proposition
his desire to have the book come up
to his ideals rather over running the
fund set aside for publishing. So
few artistic achievements have bust
ness success.
Much Still to BE Done.
There is still much to be done in
bird study in Washington" Prof.
Dawson says. THE distribution of
birds is still imperfectly made out
Some of our most characteristic spe-
cies are stifl little known. Study of
economic relations is yet in it's in
fancy. unceasing advocacy of pro-
tective measures is necessary and I'M
renting vigilance in the enforcement
of law. Then, in order that these ends
may be pursued inteligently, great
state collection is imperative"
| He asks bird students in all parts
Of the state to cooperate with him
in this movem ent and offers to act as
a bureau of iAformation on all knetty
points.
A copy of his book has been pur-
chased for the public library where it
will be of invaluable assistance to
those studying birds in the schools.