EDITORIAL 



251 



unusual lines. It is to induce you to 

 emulate his noble example. "What he 

 has done I can do, on a smaller scale, 

 perhaps, but I can do it, and I will. 

 He shall be my guide." 



On another page is an article by 

 Mr. Faulkner about the astonishing 

 performances of certain plants. We 

 do not expect you to exclaim, "I can 

 scarcely believe it, but it is interesting." 

 No. That article is to suggest that 

 you go and examine those plants, watch 

 them and others for yourself. In 

 others you may discover facts equally 

 stimulating. 



Miss Roe writes about song birds 

 that sought a human audience. A 

 well-known naturalist has severely 

 criticised that article. He does not be- 

 lieve it. To be frank, I do not care 

 whether he believes it or not and I sup- 

 pose that his opinion will not worry 

 the author. We should like that article 

 to stimulate the critic's observations of 

 birds so that he may ascertain for him- 

 self whether or not birds, in any cir- 

 cumstances, ever seek a human audi- 

 ence. We know that birds are shy and 

 timid. Their tendency would be to 

 stop singing when an intruder comes 

 into the vicinity, but are there no ex- 

 ceptions? 



Professor Doolittle has in that num- 

 ber, as he has had in every other, an 

 interesting article on the aspect of the 

 heavens for the month. A certain 

 benefit may follow the reading of that 

 article in a cozy chair in a well warmed 

 room. Perhaps some one says, "I never 

 before understood Mira. I am glad 

 he makes that clear." But, my dear 

 friends, that is not the article's inten- 

 tion and does not represent its value. 

 If you did not take that map right out 

 of doors with a little pocket electric 

 light or some similar method and com- 

 pare it with the stars themselves, or if 

 you did not hunt up Mira to convince 

 yourself that it does increase in bright- 

 ness at this time, then, alas, what a loss 

 to you ! 



Our readers, and especially the writ- 

 ers of the letters in reference to the use 

 of the cat's tail, would be amused if 

 they could see some of the criticisms. 

 One man goes so far as to call another 

 a fool for making such a statement, and 

 another says. "I certainly thought he 

 knew more than that." Others write to 



express their thanks and their satis- 

 faction. What we are trying to do is 

 to stimulate observation of the cat or 

 any other tail bearing animal. Since 

 these articles were published I have 

 taken a great interest in observing the 

 squirrel's use of his tail in jumping and 

 running, or when sitting hunched uj) 

 in a cozy little crotch of a tree. The 

 articles did the editor good. They 

 should have a similar effect on you. 

 If, since reading them, you have not 

 seen a cat's tail or a squirrel's tail or 

 a dog's tail, then these tales are in vain. 



Ever since Mr. Walker sent us that 

 photograph I have been wondering 

 whether the South can exult over the 

 North for using more rails in the fen- 

 ces. Wherever I have been I have 

 noted the fences. A fence has meant 

 more to me than ever before. 



To some of our readers perhaps the 

 least interesting part of the magazine 

 was the lists of contributions in cash 

 or specimens. You may have thought 

 that it was merely to keep the manage- 

 ment of ArcAdiA from lying awake 

 at night and to show that others are 

 helping to pay the bills. But to every 

 one that looks at The Agassiz Associa- 

 tion and its work for nature, these lists 

 are more valuable than anything else 

 in the magazine. If you lived in a war- 

 ring country and had friends in the 

 trenches, would you not be delighted 

 when the reinforcements and the loads 

 of provisions passed bv? You would 

 know that these would increase the 

 soldier's efficiency and the probability 

 that your side would win. Every na- 

 ture lover, especially every friend and 

 Member of The AA, is interested in 

 the outcome of this struggle of reality 

 with frivolity, of enjoyment with pas- 

 time, of eyes with no eyes, of thought 

 with thoughtlessness. 



The AA knows its mission. To ac- 

 complish it is a struggle, as it is for 

 every other organization engaged in 

 an ideal, a philanthropic or a mission- 

 ary work. What religious person does 

 not read with delight of successful mis- 

 sionary endeavors? What politician 

 does not shout hurrah, when his side 

 forges ahead? What college graduate 

 does not feel his blood tingle when his 

 alma mater's football team wins the 

 game? From a similar standpoint, in 

 a similar light, the list of contributions 



