346 



Bird - Lore 



Pictures of Ptarmigans 



The photographs of Rock Ptarmigans 

 reproduced in the charming illustrations 

 on this page were taken by I. S. Home, of 

 Kansas City, on Christmas da}', a few 

 years ago. The locality is among the 

 mountains of Colorado, on Turkey Creek, 

 near Morrison, where in winter these 

 birds become so tame in their white dress 

 that one may almost catch them by 

 hand. The first requisite, however, is to 

 see them. When the sun shines, their 

 shadows become visible on the surface of 

 the snow; but when the place is in shadow, 

 or flying snow-dust or falling flakes 

 obscure the view, the birds are virtually 

 invisible. These pictures illustrate capi- 

 tally the value of the white dress as a 

 protective provision. 



The photographs were sent to Bird- 

 Lore by H. R. 

 Walmsley,long the 

 President of the 

 Missouri Audubon 

 Society, who is well 

 known in the West 

 as a worker in the 

 cause of better 

 laws and higher 

 standards of con- 

 duct with respect 

 to sport with birds. 



Signs of Progress 



A most gratify- 

 ing interest has 

 been developed, 



PHOTOGRAPHING A GNATCATCHER'S 

 NEST IN A CACTUS IN ARIZONA 



this year, in the making of nesting- 

 boxes, feeding-devices, bird-baths, and 

 other things of that sort. The Boy 

 Scouts are displaying increased eager- 

 ness in adding this department to their 

 other kindly activities. Competitions in 

 the making of these things are heard of in 

 all directions, and more and more fre- 

 quently officers of this Association are 

 requested to act as judges. This has been 

 stimulated, and the standard of work has 

 been raised by study of the new edition 

 of the Association's Bulletin No. i, which 

 contains specific instructions for making 

 bird-bo.xes, etc. The demand for this 

 pamphlet (price 15 cents) is constant. 

 Exhibitions of material of this kind, with 

 books and pictures illustrating the local 

 bird-life, and specimens of the injurious 

 insects and bad weeds the birds aid us to 

 destroy, are now a feature of agricultural 

 fairs in all parts of 

 the country. Min- 

 isters of rural 

 churches are inter- 

 esting the boys of 

 their congregations 

 in such pursuits; 

 and mothers' clubs 

 are turning to it 

 as a profitable 

 amusement for the 

 children. These are 

 signs of progress in 

 the knowledge and 

 love of birds, and 

 offer encourage- 

 ment to workers in 

 the Audubon field. 



