New-York tribune., 1912-03-12
PLANTS BIRDS IN PARK
Abbot H. Thayer Demonstrates
Ideas in Protective CoIoratlon.
MANY FAIL TO FIND THEM
Artist Tells Audience Only Roose-
velt's Opposition to Theories
Had Prevented Spread.

Abbot II Thayer. the artist. has his own
tbeories about the protective coloration In
the animal kingdom. He illustrated them
Yesterday before two hundred or more per-
sons on one of the lawns back Of the Mu-
scum OF Natural History and on hillside
in Central Park. But Mr.. Thayers ideas
are not those advanced by Theodore Roose-
Welt And for that reason the name of the
latter was frequently interjected into the
open air talk of the painter.
The naturalists were all coming TO my
way of thinking" said Mr.. Thayer. when
Mr. Roosevelt sought to discredit It, When
he did so It caused them all to get cold feet
or cold something. and they now have
doubts about my theory. But can't you see
It is perfectly plain2"
There were a number of well known ar
lists present at the open air demonstration
including Childe Hassam, Ben Foster, r.
NJ. shurtleff, D. W. Tryon. William s. Rob
inson. Steven Parrish, jr., f. X NJ. Rehn'
F. X. NJ. REIN, jr.. and Henry Fitch Tay-
lor
Mr.. Thayer had the first part of his open
air lecture under way at IL o'clock He was
demonstrating to his hearers how birds
that inhabit the earth-and he had some
stuffed specimens which had brown hulls
and white keels-hoodwink those enemies
who prey upon them. On top they were the
color Of the grass and not easily distin-
guishable from above.
"Just come here and look. said Hr
Thayer as he pulled his listeners from be-
hind the shelter of wing Of the museum.
where they basked in the sunwaiung for
him TO get his birds adjusted.
Now. isn't it ell clear to your
There were numerous assents, Even the
cops" who were there to keep order drew
closer to get a better look. Dozens Of
youngsters chased in from Columbus ave-
nue. and Joined the close-knit group of spec
tators centred about the artist and peering
At his stuffed brown birds.
But that was only the beginning of the
demonstration. Mr.. Thayer moved that
the meeting adjourn to Central Park. and
leading, he conducted his audience to the
park entrance at Slst street. Here he called
halt. The spectators must wait a minute.
He wanted 10 hide some humming birds IN
an szalea bush. Mr.. Roosevelt didn't be-
lieve in his theories. but he wanted only
fair chance to demonstrate them 20
others. The spectators waited AT given
signal all the audience rushed down the
hillside into the valley where the flower
pots and the humming birds-also stuffed
we're placed. Mr.. Thayer was pleased
nightly by the inability Of many of the
audience to discover the birds except on the
closest inspection.
THE obiecting naturalistS." declared the
artist. SAY that Of course II one search
long enough TO find a place where any
Coloration matches its background II
doesn't show They miss the whole point
Of my great discovery. The point is that
tho background an animal matches rs IN
variablv in the most Characteristic scenes
of his life. and is equally invariably that
particular one against which his enemies or
prey would see him.
Mr. Thayer expressed audibly the sincere
wish that Mr. Roosevelt could be there 10
see for himself. It was all right TO be
doubling Thomas. but IL the colonel would
only come and look at the azalea bush and
the dozen or more humning birds that were
scattered about it he might have change
Of mind
MIR. Roosevelt is too busy declared the
demonstrator.
What's the dope on this thing, Billy
asked 2 cab driver as he came TO a stop on
pathway back of the audience. The patrol
man be asked, said
Search me OF think it's about burds."
Cid up" and the cabby drove on,
Mr.. Thayer's last demonstration was with
p bluejav. or three of them. He wanted 10
show how the bluejay matched in with the
shadow on the snow. AS there was no
snow on hand the artist had four bed
sheets which he stretched ont on the lawn.
Then he carried several Christmas trees
which he had ready for the occasion to the
spot where the sheets were stretched out.
He sent the audience to hilltop some dis
tance away. 1t took Mr.. Thayer about ten
minutes to conceal his three bluejays. They
we're not put in the recesses Of the trees,
for that is not his purpose. The reason
for the delay was because the bluejays had
TO be wired on to the limbs of the trees.
Once more he called his audience toward
him, leading them shepherdlike to an emf
nence, where he asked all TO look down on
the trees and find the birds. Again the
elusIveness of the stuffed specimens caused
the artist great pleasure
..Now. on the first cloudy day. said MI
Thayer, 'I am going 70 have demonstra-
tasp with a wild ass and zebra"
3hs zebra. Mr.. Thayer contends, IL not
ire conspicuous animal the colonel says II
IN: in fact, a wild ass, or even plain OLD
donkey with It's monochrome tint. is much
more distinguishable.