pS Ciuciiniati Society of Natinal History. 



BIRDS. 



A lecture delivered before tlie Ci/ieiiiiia/i Society of Natural 

 History, March 25///, 1887/!= 



By Dr. F. W. Langdon. 



Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen : 



Birds are objects of much interest and importance to all man- 

 kind, savage and civilized, of all ages, both sexes, and every social 

 condition. 



The savage prizes their products for food, clothing and personal 

 adornment; tips his weapons with their feathers and constructs 

 many articles of household utility from their bones and skins. 



In the history of the early American civilizations we are told 

 that one of the most gorgeous robes of state of the great Monte- 

 zuma, was composed ahiiost entirely of the plumage of brilliant 

 birds; and many a South- American princess to-day wears a dress 

 of feathers, which for scantiness and unique effect might well 

 excite the envy of some of her fashionable civilized sisters. While 

 civilized man /;/ general is attracted by their beauty of plumage, 

 melody of voice and wonderful structure and architecture, to cer- 

 tain classes of civilized men, Birds possess an especial importance 

 economic or resthetic, as the case may be; and each of these 

 classes is apt to have its own peculiar views as to the 

 Relation of Birds to Mankind. 



As a distinguished American philosopher has said, "every- 

 thing depends on the standpoint of the individual" — 



The epicure for instance, sees in their structure, form and 

 flavor, ao especial adaptation to artistic cookery and gastromomic 

 attainments; and few of us perhaps, are entirely oblivious to the 

 charms of "({uail on toast." 



The sportsman, considers them chiefly useful in connection 

 with the training of dogs, and the cultivation of marksmanship, 

 with the mental and physical excitement attendant thereon. 



The taxidermist, might infer, from the very convenient distri- 

 bution of their feathers and the positions of their joints, that birds 

 were constructed especially to be skinned, stuffedand mounted for 



*Publislied by s;)eci;il re ciii 'St of llie Publishing Coimiiitto. 



