154 Bird -Lore 



Using as material his splendid collection of living Pigeons, of which 

 he has some forty species, from all parts of the world. Dr. Whitman 

 explained the mode of determining the genesis of different structural 

 characters, illustrating both modes of reasoning and modes of obser- 

 vation. 



The lectures were on "Color and Environment" and "Nests and 

 the Influences Governing their Site and Construction," by Mr. F. M. 

 Chapman; on "Migration," by Dr. R. H. Wolcott ; on "Moult" 

 and "Geographical Distribution," by Mr. Witmer Stone; on "Mater- 

 nal Instincts," by Dr. F. H. Herrick ; on the " Relation of Structure 

 to Environment," by Mr. Dearborn; and on "Anatomy" and Influ- 

 ences Produced by Food," by the director. 



Thus it is seen that this course, as outlined, was essentially dif- 

 ferent, in being much less elementary, from probably all other bird- 

 study courses of the year throughout the country. The students in 

 it were, for the most part, teachers, and some of them not only 

 experienced teachers but also good field ornithologists ; and the 

 aim of the course was to present suggestions as to lines of work, 

 rather than to teach methods or to inculcate facts. From such a 

 course a good student, one open to suggestion, might derive benefit, 

 while one who simply expected to glean a series of facts would 

 probably be disappointed. 



One thing needs to be strongly emphasized, namely, that nature- 

 study in the true sense ; i. e., accurate and appreciative observation 

 of the behavior of organisms in their natural environment, cannot 

 be taught. The nature-student, that is to say, the naturalist, must 

 be to a great extent self-made and independent in his work. A 

 course in nature-study is, or should be, mainly suggestive, showing 

 principally what are the more important and fruitful lines of work, 

 and how this work is to be carried on ; the remainder rests with 

 the student. But there are many teachers who are obliged to teach 

 these subjects, and yet have not the time nor opportunity to learn 

 them sufficiently for themselves ; for such, of course, some teaching 

 of facts is essential. In a course for experienced teachers, how- 

 ever, the suggestion should have precedence over the presentation of 

 the fact, and this has been attempted in our course of this year, 

 with what success the students themselves can alone decide. 



The Seventeenth Annual Congress of the American Ornithologist's- 

 Union will convene in Cambridge, Mass., on November 12, 1900. 

 Public sessions for the presentation and discussion of papers will be 

 held on November 13-15 from 11 to i and 2 to 5, doubtless in one of 

 the lecture halls of Harvard University, and to these sessions all per- 

 sons interested are invited. 



