THE NATURALIST'S VISION 365 



six or seven years, notably robins, bluebirds, gros- 

 beaks, and orioles; while the plover has been a 

 member of this society for five years. 



The student who carries on the kind of inves- 

 tigation here presented, should possess the attri- 

 butes so ably set forth by Professor Gross in his 

 book entitled " The Play of Animals." Speaking 

 of the attainments that he conceived desirable in 

 such a student, he says : 



"He must harbor in his breast not only two 

 souls, but more. He must unite with a thorough 

 training in physiology, psychology, and biology 

 the experience of a traveller, the practical knowl- 

 edge of a director of a zoological garden, and the 

 outdoor lore of a forester. And even then he 

 could not round up his labors satisfactorily unless 

 he were familiar with the trend of modern aes- 

 thetics. Indeed, I consider this last point so 

 important that I venture to affirm that none but 

 a student of aesthetics is capable of writing the 

 psychology of animals. If, in this statement, I 

 seem to put myself forward as a student of aes- 

 thetics, I can only say that I hope for indulgence 

 in view of the many shortcomings which are ap- 

 parent in this effort " (speaking of his book) " on 

 the ground that a versatility so comprehensive 

 is unattainable by an ordinary mortal." 



I can but echo the sentiments here laid down ; 

 the observer and student in this line of work is at 



