80 Bulletin Wisconsin Natural History Society. [Vol. 7, Nos. 3-4. 



Mr. Ward reviewed the results of various students of bird archi- 

 tecture in their efforts to determine whether the building- of nests 

 was directed by instinct or by reason. He quoted liberally from many 

 authors, including Wilson, Audubon, Dickson and Wallace who be- 

 lieved that intelligent volition ruled. Wallace could find no evidence 

 of instinct, saying "I can not find a particle of evidence to show the 

 existence of anything- beyond those lower reasoning and imitative 

 powers, which animals are universally admitted to possess." 



The most careful observer of all, Herrick. who with note book and 

 camera had followed the construction of nests from their inception 

 writes : "Few more typical examples of instinctive behavior can be 

 witnessed in higher animals than in the serial acts which the adaptive 

 and often beautiful nest of the wild bird is produced." 



Mr. Ward thought that the true solution lay in a union of instinct 

 and intelligence. That the impulse to build was instinctive, that thu 

 motions accompanying the work were perhaps habitual but that intel- 

 ligence was shown in certain adaptions to conditions. 



A series of colored lantern slides showing the marvelous bowers 

 constructed by the Australasian Bower Birds were shown and described 

 as architectural works not connected with the nests. Then followed a 

 series of nests illustrating the various types of these structures. 



After a five minutes intermission the regular business meeting was 

 held, although the annual meeting had to be postponed as only 13 of 

 the necessary 15 members as quorum for such meeting were present. 



The minutes of the last section meeting were read and approved. 



The secretary then read the resolution adopted by the section 

 meeting which was adopted by the society : 



Whereas, The cutting of our. forests is now proceeding at a much 

 more rapid rate than the forests can be restored ; and 



Whereas, It is of the most vital importance to the future of the 

 country that this excessive cutting of our native forests should be 

 checked ; and 



Whereas, The price of lumber to the customer has increased by 

 leaps and bounds during the past twenty years with nothing- but 

 future increases in sight ; and 



Whereas, The lumber industry of this country is the largest in 

 the world and needs no protection against foreign competition ; and 



