47° Bird - Lore 



country and Canada, and even from abroad. In reply, Bulletins 2, 3, or both, 

 are sent free under the Applied Ornithology Fund, and letters accompanying 

 often are extended "specifications." For instance, a gentleman in California 

 wrote that he had a "farm" of 180 acres, enclosed with wire fence, including a 

 20-acre pond. He wanted to breed various upland game-birds and wild fowl, 

 and to try to make the place a wild-bird paradise. After describing it carefully, 

 he asked me to write him what I would do if I owned it myself and were embark- 

 ing on such a plan. The variety in these inquiries may be indicated by quoting 

 another from a woman in Pennsylvania, who desired light on how to get rid of 

 a Whip-poor-will which came every night to her domicile and kept up such a 

 noise that her summer boarders could not sleep, and there was danger of it 

 breaking up her business ! 



As usual, a number of estates have been personally inspected. The last, 

 at present writing about to be visited, is the Hewlett Bay Park project on 

 Long Island, which is to be laid out as a wild-bird sanctuary. Public lectures 

 have been given from time to time, including a course of three on game prop- 

 agation at Cornell University, two lectures at Oberlin College, two for a Bird 

 Day celebration at Toledo, Ohio, and others for various schools, bird clubs, and 

 other institutions. 



The Experiment Station and Summer School project at Amston, Conn., 

 has developed in an encouraging manner. Pupils came from various localities, 

 as far away as Cleveland, Chicago, and Cincinnati, and expressed themselves 

 enthusiastically. Mornings were spent afield, returning to the Audubon House 

 at II o'clock, where instruction was given until the dinner hour, using a practi- 

 cally complete collection of New England birds. Afternoons were spent on, 

 in, or at the lake, or in photographing birds. There were occasional picnic 

 suppers at the lake, and moonlight boating excursions, listening to music and 

 night sounds. About one hundred species of birds were found and studied in 

 the Amston sanctuary in July, The experimental work was successful. The 

 bird-boxes were well occupied, and young Quails, Pheasants, and Wild Ducks 

 were reared, the latter including Wood Ducks, Redheads and Canvasbacks. 

 Ninety per cent of the ducklings hatched were reared to maturity. Much 

 credit for this is due to the careful work of the assistant, Richard E. Harrison, 

 son of Prof. Ross G. Harrison, of Yale University, whose keen sight and 

 hearing in locating bird subjects on field excursions were also greatly 

 appreciated. 



The lack of proper intelligent help during the winter months has hitherto 

 been the one drawback to the full success of the experimental work, but this 

 fortunately, has now been overcome. Through the organization of a number of 

 influential men, R. J. McPhail has just been installed at Amston as resident 

 game-keeper and naturalist. Mr. McPhail was brought up on great British 

 game-preserves, and is one of the best professional game-keepers in America. 

 To pay the considerable expense of this experimental work, he is to conduct 



