*'The Bird Study Book'' 



REVIEW OF A NEW BIRD BOOK OF (IREAT CHARM 



IT IS well known to ;ill who have tried to 

 popularize science how diftii-nlt it is to 

 write in such a way that the advanced 

 student as well as the beginner finds the 

 reading so interesting that he enjoys every 

 word from beginning to end. To con- 

 dense the greatest amount of information 

 into the smallest compass and make it also 

 entertaining is an ait. Mr. Pearson not only 

 possesses this art, but also knows how to 

 season it with a strain of delicious humor. 

 His own enthusiasm is so strong that it 

 transfers itself involuntarily to the reader, 

 making of the merest tyro in ornithology 

 both a well-informed student and an ardent 

 bird lover. 



The Avork covers in its twelve chapters a 

 very large field of bird knowledge, and dis- 

 cusses in a comprehensive way, altliough con- 

 cisely, the relations of bird to man. Through 

 it we learn how to identify birds in the field 

 by characteristic movements of various fami- 

 lies and even of genera and sj^ecies, how to 

 study birds in close proximity by erecting 

 blinds, and how to locate bird nests and 

 study them. Particularly fascinating are 

 the stories of bird domestic life, which seems 

 as full of joy and sorrow as that of the 

 average human being. We are told of the 

 tragic fate of a bluebird's nest, of the 

 faithfulness of mated birds, of the large 

 number of unmated birds, of certain polyga- 

 mous kinds, and of the domestic relations of 

 the parasitic cowbird. In the story of the 

 migration of birds surprising facts, such as 

 the long annual flight of the ruby-throated 

 humming bird across the Gulf of Mexico, 

 are brought out ; and the reasons for such 

 long flights, the perils attending them, and 

 the gathering of the birds, with rustling 

 wings "falling dreamily through the sky," 

 are but a few of the many subjects charm- 

 ingly discussed by Mr. Pearson. 



Contraiy to ordinary opinion, the author 

 tells us that winter is a good time for the 

 bird student to go afield; that if bird life 

 is less abundant then, so is the human life, 

 and one has the country almost to himself 

 for undisturbed observation. We learn that 

 man is not alone in suffering hardship dur- 

 ing the cold season from lack of shelter and 



food, and attention is called to Avays in 

 which we may help our feathered friends. 



Most people are in these days aroused to 

 the economic value of birds in destroying 

 the insects which attack our orchards and 

 gardens, but the truth is considerably more 

 vivid after reading Mr. Pearson's pointed 

 statements. Those Avho believe in the exter- 

 mination of haAvks and oavIs on the supposi- 

 tion that it would be in the interest of game 

 birds, are admonished that just the contrary 

 seems to be the case. Birds, like all crea- 

 tures, are subject to sickness, and the quick 

 removal of diseased birds prevents spread- 

 ing of contagion, Avhich Avould do more harm 

 than the occasional capture by a predatory 

 bird. The author is backed by all natural- 

 ists Avhen he says, "All birds have their part 

 to play in the great economy of the earth, 

 and it is a dangerous exi)eriment to upset 

 the balance of Nature." The harrowing tale 

 of the slaughter of thousands of our most 

 beautiful song birds in order to secure 

 feathers for commerce, creates a reneAved in- 

 terest in the list of the seventy bird reserva- 

 tions Avhich have been established by the 

 Government since March, 1903. The history 

 of the beginning of bird study in the public 

 schools, together Avith the growth of the 

 movement and its present status, is folloAved 

 ))y instructions for forming a "Junior Audu- 

 bon Class" for bird study. 



The Bird Study Bool- is particularly Avell 

 fitted for use in school Avork. It is a volume 

 Avhich Avill prove most useful to all Avho are 

 interested in acquiring a greater familiarity 

 Avith the habits and activities of Avild birds, 

 and Ave believe that no other book supplies 

 general oi'nithological information in such 

 concise and readable form. Mr. Pearson, 

 to Avhom the Avorld already OAves so much for 

 the iinmeasurable good he has done and is 

 still doing in connection Avith the Audubon 

 Societies of the country, has added greatly 

 to his service by this neAV spread of bird 

 knowledge, and by contributing through this 

 means to the conserA'ation of Avliat Ave are 

 all draw II to consider the most beautiful and 

 geiitli' life in Nature's realm — that of our 

 wild birds. Otto Widmann 



Fflldw of llif Aiiierioaii OrnitliDlouists' Union 



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