A BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE 

 DEVOTED TO THE STUDY AND PROTECTION OF BIRDS 



Official Organ of the Auouson Socicties 



Vol. VI November— December, 1904 No. 6 



How to Study a Bird 



By ERNEST THOMPSON SETON 



A DEFINITE plan is so helpful, that long ago 1 devised a formal 

 scheme of bird study. This was published in 1887, and again, in 

 1899. in 'The Osprey,' but it has been so much modified since that 

 1 venture to bring it again to the notice of bird students. I have always 

 felt that the "real history of a bird is its life history. The deepest inter- 

 est attaches to everything that reveals the little mind, however feebly it may 

 be developed, which lies behind the feathers." So says the celebrated Eng- 

 lish ornithologist, Seebohm, and I am very sure that there is no lack of 

 bird-lovers to re-echo the sentiment. The first two questions about a new 

 bird — "What do you call it?" and "Where did you get it?" — are of very 

 great importance, and of such a nature that they insist on first notice; 

 but, having settled them, as we now have, sufficiently for the purposes of 

 the ordinary observer in eastern America, we are brought face to face with 

 what is, after all, of chief interest, the great question of the "little mind." 



I am satisfied that a harvest of profit and pleasure awaits any one who 

 will try to fill out this schedule for anv one bird; taking, preferably, the one 

 he knows best and adding to his own information all that he can gather 

 from outside sources. 



In the present schedule I have purposely omitted the anatomical studies 

 that were prominent in the original. This is not done because I think less 

 of anatomical studies and of collectors' work than formerly. I still believe 

 that one important fact is worth many small birds, but the time has gone 

 by when adequate good can result from ordinary collecting in well-known 

 regions. The experts of our museums are the only ones who should be 

 allowed to collect bird -skins today. It is safe to say they will not abuse 

 the privilege. Knowing the value of birds, as they do, better than any other 

 class of men, they are not likely to take the life of a Sparrow, even, without 

 a very sufficient justification. 



The headings and questions here given are limited by the knowledge 



