80 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Yol. 14-No. 5 



Editor O. & O.: 



While camped on the Cour D'Alaine River 

 (Idaho) myself and companions were wakened 

 one night about midnight by the drumming of 

 a Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus, tar Sabinei), 

 near our tent. It was then about 1 a.m., and 

 the bird continued its drumming till daylight. 

 Is this not rather uncommon? Could you in- 

 form me through your paper where I could get 

 an Adirondack Pack Basket, and if they are 

 adapted for collecting? Yours respectfully, 

 Bernard J. Bretherton. 



A New Sub-Species. 



Born far too late to build up a fame, 

 By chance to discover a bird, without name ; 

 Had he lived in the days that have passed, 

 He might with the ornithological great have been 

 classed. 



Many long hours he had spent of his life, 

 In the study of all those things that are rife 

 With what in the eyes of the world take rank, 

 As the make up, in general, of a naturalist crank. 



His room, it was stocked with book upon brxtk. 

 While birds' skins and eggs filled every nook ; 

 The other surroundings, desk, carpet and lamp, 

 Betokened a purse held by poverty's clamp. 



Of his form, and his features. 



We will not comment : 

 Simply one of God's creatures, 



At any event. 



Like many of us, with great (or small) head. 



This lover of nature did work for his bread ; 



All through the day long, he toiled in the town. 



And turned to his study, when the sun had gone tlown. 



Let us follow him home, at the close of a day. 

 And if there's a lesson, we'll give it away ; 

 'Tis a duty we owe to both old and young. 

 If there's anything up, to out with the fun. 



Arrived at his home, he throws off his cloak. 

 Lights the lamp, pokes the Are, fills his pipe for a smoke; 

 Sits down at the desk, and puffs with his might. 

 While he lays out a programme of work for the night. 



Yes, he'd open the box that came by the mail, 



(From the way it was smashed, seemed struck by a gale), 



It contained a small bird, sent in a jest. 



From a chum, who was travelling, far in the west. 



"Dear Jack, we are thinking of you once again. 

 There's nothing else doing, because of the rain : 

 The sport we've had with gun, spear and arrow 

 Is beyond all description, Joe sends you a sparrow." 



Yes, .sent him a sparrow, an off-handed token 

 Of many a joke, on him played and spoken. 

 Ah, well, they were friends, and if this sly shot 

 Afforded them pleasure, no matter; " 'twas his lot." 



He lazily reached and drew the mass to him. 

 Carefully straightened and cut off the string : 

 Unfolded each wrapper, first, second and third. 

 Then came to his view a little mussed V)ird. 



It surely did look as if shot in the rain. 

 So he thought as he smoothed it, again and again ; 

 But what has come o'er him ; why does he start? 

 Why that flash from his eye? He speaks, hark, hark ! 



'' My heavens, what means this what can it be ? 

 Am I right ? Am I wrong ? My senses will flee, 

 Too much overwork, how oft was I warned. 

 And now in an instant, too late it has dawned. 



" Am I all broken up ? Oh sad, such a fate. 

 Is all to be lost, for which I've worked late ? 

 Must I bid a farewell to all chances of fame ? 

 No, no ; I will struggle my balance to gain. 



" I will not give up, for life I will fight. 



Oh MERCY, extend to my poor brain more light; 



Is it failure of eyesight, or diseased brain that made 



When I looked at that sjjarrow, see a peculiar dark shade? 



"On shades, colors and blindness, I had my tuition, 

 Rum I'm not drinking ( I vote prohibition ), 

 But sure I can scarcely believe that I view 

 A bird not included in the last A. O. U. * " 



He aro.se from his seat, and the floor he did w.alk. 

 Pale, haggard and nervous, he continued to talk ; 

 And one would have thought, from his actions so queer, 

 Like some other "Prohibits" he'd been taking Itocic Beer. 



He turned to his bookcase — next to the door— 

 And volume on volume piled up on the floor. 

 Then to the cabinet his footsteps were bent 

 And a bushel of sparrows from their places were ront. 



As again at his desk his seat he did take. 

 He looked like a martyr just tied to a stake. 

 The way things were mixed in that room's internal 

 Would fully eclipse old Dante's infernal. 



He studied, and measured, looked and compared. 

 Made notes of how much the tail feathers flared, 

 Counted each spot on covert and crown. 

 And smiled when he noticed the toe nails turned down. 



Made sketches and chart of each downy quill, 

 Wrote sixteen full pages describing the bill. 

 He found that the wings could open and shut ! 

 And that it possessed heart, liver and gut ! ! 



But the closing note was the glorious claim. 



And gave him the right to stick on his name, 



" He found that the bird when compared with the rest 



Was .tust one shade darker, on the edge of the 



BREAST." 



When next we did meet him, three weeks to a day, 

 You scarcely would know him, so changed was his way ; 

 A sen.se of his greatness, his wisdom and skill. 

 His manner, his action, his life seemed to fill. 



Now that his name is known wide and far. 

 He'll hereafter smoke naught but a ten-cent cigar; 

 And at the next meeting (the hints are not few) 

 There are prospects of election as an " H " A. O. U. ! 



Kind reader, we call to your careful attention 

 This wonderful growth of a modern Invention. 

 Lord knows where we'll end if this craze increases, 

 Such a trotting out yearly of created sub-species. 



XX. 



*Xew check list of the A. O. U. just issued, furnished 

 by the publisher of the O. «S O. at 50 cents. 



/ 



