30 



THE OOLOGIST. 



trary they avoided carefully a flight be- 

 tween trees, as if a stunning blow might 

 be fatal or hurtful. While they often 

 fly low, especially if a cat is around, 

 which they try to chase off. they never 

 fly where bushes obstruct their airy 

 progress. I would be pleased if others 

 of your readers had made like observa- 

 tions. — Mrs. Wilhelmine Seliger, Hart- 

 Jord, Conn., in Meehans' Monthly for 

 March. 



For Closer Union. 



If I knew what to say and how to 

 say it, I might set the whole world to 

 thinking, but as this is beyond my 

 power I will try to secure the attention 

 of a few, in hopes of causing them to 

 think with me. 



It seems to me that the one thing the 

 Ornithologist lacks is union with his fel- 

 low workers. He has a plentiful lack of 

 societies. Prior to my beginning the 

 work of an ornithologist, I had been a 

 stamp collector, in which pursuit I had 

 become accustomed to societies galore; 

 societies international, national, state 

 and local. Upon my taking up my new 

 work I was surprised at the scarcity of 

 them. I felt the need of them immed- 

 iately and have felt it ever since. I 

 feel that if I had a membership in a so- 

 ciety similar to the one in Michigan my 

 progress in ornithological lines would 

 be greatly facilitated. As it is I have 

 nothing but my own experience and 

 what I can glean from books and mag- 

 azines to aid me. Most of that taken 

 from the magazines is written by col- 

 lectors from other states and consider- 

 able of it pertains to birds not found in 

 this state, and many of the birds whose 

 habits I desire to know about are not 

 mentioned. When they are, I usually 

 have to allow a little leeway on the 

 time of arrivals, nesting, etc., on ac- 

 count of the writer living In a different 

 latitude from myself. If there were 



a state society in Illinois, the other 

 members could receive the full benefit 

 of my notes, and I, of theirs; and by 

 comparing and noting likenesses and 

 differences I could obtain a fair if not 

 a first-class account of the bird 

 whose habits I want. 



If I had my choice of societies or the 

 power to make one to my liking I 

 would have notes gathered by taking 

 one bird at a time, and making a com- 

 plete canvass of all the state by means 

 of the members residing in the several 

 parts, similar to the plan adopted by 

 the Michigan society; and I would pub- 

 lish the notes thus obtained in a book 

 or pamphlet form, giving authority for 

 each note. I would have a department 

 of identification, supported at the ex- 

 pense of the society (if there should 

 be any occasion for such expense), the 

 only requisite on the part of the person 

 sending, to be to send stamps for their 

 return. The person for this should 

 have a fair knowledge of the avi-fauna 

 of the state and if necessary should re- 

 ceive a certain price per specimen from 

 the society. I would have an Auction 

 department, to which persons having 

 specimens for sale might send them for 

 disposal. They should be sold to the 

 highest bidder, and the bidding should 

 be conducted by mail, and no bids 

 opened until the day upon which the 

 sale is to come off. The society should 

 receive 10 per cent of the selling price 

 as commission of which one-half should 

 go to the auction agent in payment for 

 his services, the remaining half to be 

 placed in the treasury. As a protection 

 against fraudulent practices, I would 

 make a provision for the expulsion of 

 any member who should be found 

 guilty of willfully practicing deception 

 upon any person whether members or 

 not. 



I would have an annual convention 

 held at some resort or picturesque spot 

 where the members and officers could 

 renew acquaintances, compare notes, 



II 



