STUDY OF BIRD LIFE 1 5 



At first he observed the migration and habits of the more common 

 species, and either gave them names himself, or used those that 

 other farm boys had coined. Often these names would not be cor- 

 rect—that is, they would not be authorized by the standard bird 

 books — and sometimes the same name might be used for different 

 ! pecies in different localities. For instance, in some places the 

 Goldfinch is called by the boys the Wild Canary ; in other parts of 

 the country this name is given to the Yellow Warbler. Another 

 species with man)' popular names is known by the uninitiated as 

 i_he Yellow-hammer, the most familiar names to ornithologists 

 being Flicker, High-hole, or Golden-winged Woodpecker. Bui 

 at first, names are unimportant, the main thing is to be sure of 

 knowing all the species that are found in one's locality at the 

 various seasons of the year. In this respect, our farm boy is very 

 keen, and will in a surprisingly short time be well acquainted even 

 with the shiest bird that appears in the blackberry bushes in his 

 father's garden. 



For a long time our young naturalist has depended entirely 

 upon his quick and keen vision in all his observations; but after 

 becoming a member of the local ornitholigical club, he finds his 

 associates all use field glasses for their observations. Occasionally, 

 too, when desirious of securing a rare specimen, or one that is rare 

 at a certain season of the year, they resort to using a gun to take 

 the coveted prize. So our aspiring ornithologist easily follows the 

 lead of his older scientific friends, and does a little shooting, and 

 much observing with his field glasses. By these means he succeeds 

 in adding a number of warblers or fly-catchers, which he had not 

 previously identified, to his list of local birds. 



The seasons of the year come and go with their wonted regu- 

 larity, and each one finds our naturalist unabating in his devotion 

 to the delightful study of ornithology. Ten years make mativ 

 changes in the life around us — in persons no less than in things. 

 At the end of this period our unsophisticated farm boy has become 

 a well set-up and respected citizen in one of the university towns of 

 Indiana. And the reader will not be surprised to learn that one who 

 early gave so much promise of developing into a man of intelligence 

 and integrity, after graduating from his university, is now a member 

 of its faculty, holding the position of assistant instructor in 

 zoology. From this on, we shall let the young professor speak for 

 himself, and give the later story of his career as an ornithologist. 



