I believe more than ever at this time we should 

 endeavor to keep the love and beauty of Nature before 

 the public and to turn their thoughts to something 

 besides war. — Harry G. Higbee, 13 Austin Street, 

 Hvde Park, Massachusetts. 



WHAT WE STAND FOR. 



This department desires especially 

 articles of general interest pertaining 

 to bird study. To promote a love for 

 the birds and a sincere desire to study 

 them in the woods and fields is our 

 object, rather than to give strictly 

 scientific data which would be of in- 

 terest to a comparatively few. 



We intend to print no records which 

 are not known to be accurate, and we 

 welcome any observations of an orni- 

 thological nature, either from young 

 or old, which would tend to stimulate 

 first-hand study. Good illustrations 

 add greatly to the interest of an ar- 

 ticle, and these need not necessarily be 

 large if the photographs are sharp and 

 clear. 



This is a popular magazine, with a 

 wide-spread circulation, and a diversi- 

 fied group of interests as regards the 

 big subject of Nature Study. We be- 

 lieve Ornithology to be an important 

 part of this general study, and we wish 

 to make this department so full of in- 

 terest and so completely in harmony 

 with other subjects treated in our mag- 

 azine, that it may add materially to its 

 general usefulness and to its circula- 

 tion. 



We believe that all of our readers 

 should be "bird-lovers," even though 



they are not strictly "ornithologists," 

 just as we believe that all should be 

 lovers of the stars and of the flowers, 

 though they may not aspire to be 

 learned astronomers or scientific bo- 

 tanists. 



We would by no means discourage 

 the most painstaking and detailed 

 study in any form of science, for only 

 thus are new facts being constantly 

 added to our store of knowledge, but 

 where one person may seek to know 

 the structural parts of a bird and its 

 minute classification, one hundred may 

 be found who would gladly become 

 acquainted with its name, its general 

 habits and its song, so that they may 

 know it as a friend, and may know its 

 general relation with other creatures 

 which they encounter and enjoy in the 

 day's walk. 



Let us aspire to bring the greatest 

 portion of pleasure to the greatest 

 number of people. 



Harry G. Higbee. 



Albino Coot from Wallingford, Iowa. 



A pure white coot, or "mud-hen," 

 shot some time ago in the marshes near 

 High Lake, Wallingford, Iowa, has 

 been reported by B. O. Holden of that 

 place. 



