Evening star., 1932-03-01
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
/. C.. N.


Biological Survey, fellow American
Ornithologists' Union. New YORK
Coward-McCann, Inc.
Both as permanent habitat and mi.
gratory half way house, Florida annears
to have been pre-empted early Nv an
impressive bulk and variety of birds
The long, narrow thrust of that nen-
insula southwark shortens materiallv
the seasonal sea flight of northern mi.
grants. Its tropical climate and nat,I.
raj resources offer food in abundanee
and provide nesting places. ample and
secure. In long course of time. there
fore, the region has taken on the nature
of an immense bird settlement. Sort OF
a paradise for the naturalist bent unon
this particular order of creation.
Long ago interest began to rise and
center upon this aspect of "tbe
Floridas" Something like 400 wears ago
Then, and after, explorer. adventure
buccaneer, each sailing the waters
roundabout, concerned with his own
special brand of loot, did not fail to see
the briliancy of the peninsula bird life
OF 1t he made mention, casual mention
as in the name OF God and king he
delivered lands and treasure to one OF
another European potentate. The runnor
took root here and there, growing an
interest with this and that adyenturer
concerned not wholly in pure piracy. A
student OF nature now and then found
his way across the Atlantic. William
Bartram among them Audubon. Ameri-
can, later inspired genius. These made
studies OF the Florida birds and other
features OF the wild life of America
But, after ALL 1t was at this time not a
love OF nature that animated the new
comers here. Pioneering, settlements
nome, traoe-a living in something like
personal freedom. That, the goal.
AND II was all accomplished. Far
beyond the widest dreams. Then man
began 10 destroy that which he had SC
hardly won. Animals were extermi-
mated In the fur trade of the Northwest
Forests disappeared under the zeal OF
the lumbernan, endangering without
thought, even, the life itself Of a com
pletely denuded soil. And so 1t went
wherever the new European In America
came In contact with natural resources
What the industrialist left the sports
man gathered in as his own.
r
The idea Of conservation projected
and fulfilled in appropriate measures by
the United States Government is not
only one of its most beneficent pro-
grams, 1t was an emergency measure
as well. Man Is a DESTROYER, both
ignorant and ruthless He had to be
restrained by the high power of Fed
eral authority from a pretty complete
destruction of the natural resources of
the country.
Conservation Is today q fundamental
principle, generally recognized means
OF protection set up to save man against
himself. So, throughout the country
there are reservations, true sanctuaries
for the wild life of the country, animal
life and plant life.
Florida Is a natural retreat Of this
sort. An ideal place for the bird man
for the ornithologist. To this region
Mr.. Arthur H. Howell, scientist, has
devoted many years of trained research
many years of deep personal interest
and knowledge, in the pursuit of the
subject of ornithology as it expresse:
itself in that region.
The part Of the public In this Ions
ornithological adventure by DR.. Howell
is a volume of organized knowledge
comprehensive and authoritative. BY
virtue of its scope, Of its clear authen-
ITCHY, of its simplicity of arrangement
of its clarity Of expression, this bis
volume stands, to me, in the way Of 8
university privilege for the acquisition
of facts upon the subject In hand.
With the cooperation of his owr
Biological Bureau of the United State:
Department of Agriculture and with
that also of the Florida Department Of
Game and Fresh Water Fish, DR.
Howell has measured opportunity with
a brimming content Of fulhllment.
A statement of purpose, q pointing
upon the ways of meeting that purpose
and the great bird epic Of Florida i
on its way. Just bit of history fol
foothold and the actual activity of the
big enterprise begins. And at each
point the student, the reader. know:
where he is, which. as you know, Is one
of the crucial tests Of giving out knowl-
true teaching.
At the beginning is a check list oi
the birds Of Florida An amazing list
pages long, named by families in Eng
lish and Latin. And under the English
family names the student comes upor
many familiar friend among the
birds, upon many not so well known be-
sides
A little way along beyond this great
list is another one-that Of birds origi-
nally described as belonging to this re-
gion. Useful both as information ano
specially useful to show the growth oi
the subject under improved facilities
for study and research
An interesting chapter is that de-
scribing the rise and development o1
bird protection in Florida, through leg
islation and through periods of in.
creased public zeal toward this highly
important matter. No longer Is 1t the
sentimental spinster, who keeps 8
canary in a cage, that sets up a plea
for the birds. The hard-fiSted farmer
with an eye to his crops shouts Justify
also in behalf Of the feathered tribe
Economist and pure nature lover, both
are bound to step into this book ano
sit down therein, satisfied and delighted
Audubon societies, national and local
are working together with scientist anc
conservationist down in Florida upor
the big subject.
DR.. Howell divides the State into it:
physiographic zones, studying birds
lLUIl1 IAiCoC 'oAiOAo pSAAeo Va SSe@Se SSA r
and salt mash, Of lake region anc
Miami limestone tract, Of Everglade ane
prairie and the Keys. Each delivers its
own tribe, fitted by its own nature anc
needs, to the locality that it has taker
over and upon which it thrives best
The dominant family Of each locality
comes in for definite and particular de-
scription of its aptitude for that zone
the fitness of that zone for the con-
tinued and lusty existence Of that fam.
ily. There is no point to any naming
of these birds. Your amazement at the
number will serve no purpose. Get into
the book yourself, instead. There in g
simple and most beguiling way you
will be led along by the birds them
selves into knowledge, into intimacy
even.
The great book is illustrated in botr
fullness and beauty Pictures are ar
essential here. And here they are. The
lovely color plates from original paint
ings by Francis L. Jaques of the Amer
lean Museum Of Natural History. Life
vigor. beauty, complete naturalness oi
effect. Such the stamp of these pic