REvSTiNG IN MIDAIR. hj 



the revolutions of the cylinder by means of a wire, shut- 

 ting off the current the moment the thrasher's song be- 

 came weak or faltering. In this way was secured a per- 

 fect record of the bird's exquisite melody. Its volume 

 and timbre were pronounced faultless by the American 

 Ornithologists' Union, before whose session the grapho- 

 phone record was produced. 



With equal success Dr. Judd has been experimenting 

 with other birds, and his achievements are attracting at- 

 tention in the scientific world. The educational possibili- 

 ties of the undertaking are generally conceded. Nature 

 study in schools just now is receiving more attention than 

 ever before in history, particularly along lines of direct 

 economic interest. Now that many species of valuable 

 birds are threatened with extermination it is regarded as 

 especially important that the growing generation be made 

 conversant with American bird life. Students taught from 

 childhood the sounds of birds faithfully reproduced by 

 graphophones in the schoolroom would be able instantly to 

 recognize various species singing in the woods and fields. 



Resting in Midair. 



" While I never have seen it explained in print," said one of the 

 ornithological sharps of the zoo, "it is a wonder to nie persons 

 should express amazement at the ability of certain birds to hang 

 poised in the air without wing motion. 



" It is a favorite trick of the great condor. Away in the air, far 

 beyond the mountain tops, these birds hang poised as motionless 

 as if perched on solid rock. True, their wings are outstretched, 

 but even through glasses not the slightest motion is perceptible. 

 They remain in this position for many minutes, sometimes_for an 

 hour, making a careful scrutiny of everything below them in their 

 search for prey. Then, with a slight tilting of the wings, they flap 

 slowly away, or, having found what they were seeking, dart like a 

 bullet toward it. The eagle, hawk and other species have this 

 same faculty of poising apparently on nothing. 



