140 



THE OOLOGIST. 



impossible to get a correct average on 

 this account. 



"Quiscalus" (A. B. B.,) 

 New (Means, La. 



"A tftep in the Right Direction." 



True to its principle, the Oologist 

 has instituted another grand step in 

 the righ, direction; namely: the pub- 

 lishing of frauds, and the debarring 

 them from advertising in or contribu- 

 ting for that paper. Any one who could 

 come into the sacred circle of science and 

 covering himself with the holy cloak of 

 "love of nature." perpetrate dishonesty 

 on others, proves himself guilty of the 

 vilest of hypocrisy, and despite all pro- 

 testations of penitance and reform we 

 are bound to regard him with distrust, 

 until by a long period of faithful, ear- 

 nest study and labor,he has proved that 

 his reform is genuine. This may seem 

 severe, but he has been guilty of a hein- 

 ous crime and it is but right that he 

 should do penance accordingly. 



It is as might be expected; one who 

 will thus cheat his neighbor does not 

 hesitate to steal material for those cheap 

 literary ( ? ) productions wherewith he 

 hopes to win a false fame. 



Witness that one who has recently 

 been so thoroughly exposed that it is 

 superfluous to further mention his name 

 in a recent issue of a paper which is far 

 too good to be thus corrupted, publishes 

 an article of which all the meritorious 

 parts are taken; without one word of 

 credit being given, direct from a publi- 

 cation of the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



Another culprit says "lam sorry, I 

 will do so no more if you will not pun- 

 ish me" and then comes out and ranks 

 in the foolish style of a spoilt child who 

 has been punished just enough to be 

 made angry without correcting its 

 naughty spirit. It is time that such as 

 these were entirely expelled from the 

 ranks of honest collectors. We can 



stand it to be duped and defrauded, but 

 it is a disarrace to us if we permit our 

 noble science to be dragged in the 

 dust. "My house shall be called the 

 house of prayer but ye have made it ■ 

 a den of thieves." 



It behooves us to support well the 

 paper that has set us the right example. 

 B, S. Bowdish. 



A Winter Acquaintance. 



Although winter in the Northern 

 States is a season of cold and snow, it 

 is not without its charms to the orni- 

 thologist. What if the birds have fled — 

 the birds that made milder seasons vo- 

 cal with their songs — there is still left a 

 hardier race that leads a merry life in 

 out snowy woods, careless of the rigor- 

 ous weather that sends the others south- 

 ward. 



The cheeriest of these winter resi- 

 dents are the sturdy chickadees. Who 

 ever saw a sad or quiet chickadee? 

 When the wind howls the loudest and 

 the air is full of whirling snowflak es, 

 they may seem somewhat subdued as 

 they scud from one pine thicket to an- 

 other, but a light-hearted "cheep," now 

 and then, betrays the factrthat the de- 

 pression is only apparent. Like mar 

 people it requires a few trials and buf- 

 fetings to bring out all that is best in 

 their natures. 



The bird lover need never stay in-i 

 doors for the want of something inter- 

 esting afield. Not the least of a winter 

 day's pleasures is to be had in watch- 

 ing the chickadee. How they sport 

 and scramble about the tips of the 

 branches! The dark pines and hem- 

 locks — reminders of summer in a wil- 

 derness of white — are their chosen 

 haunts. Pass that way on some bright 

 morning and see how cheerfully they 

 take things, even finding time to play 

 or to investigate that curious animal, 

 that, warmly wrapped up, comes plow- 

 ing through the snow on two legs to 

 visit them. 



