BULLETIN 
OF THE 
WISCONSIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
Vol. 4, New Series. JULY, 1906. No. 3. 
PROCEEDINGS. 
April 26, 1906. 
Kegular monthly meeting of the society and annual meeting. 
President Teller in the chair and about 75 persons present. 
Owing to the considerable amount of business to be transacted, the 
lecture of the evening was given before the business meeting. 
Mr. H. L. Ward spoke on "Some Factors in Bird Study," a popular 
exposition of some of the underlying principles of ornithology. 
The speaker referred first to the peculiarities of ancient birds, 
referring to the Archaeopteryx, or earliest known bird, found fossil in 
the rocks of the Jurassic period. It had a long cat-like tail, teeth, and 
three separate fing'ers ending in claws. Another fossil bird, the 
Hesperornis, from the Tertiary rocks, more like modern forms, with 
shortened tail and teeth was also described. 
Among modern birds the difference in development and condition 
at birth were shown in relation to the habits of different birds. The 
evolution of different parts of the body, such as feathers, bills, and 
feet, as adapted to environment, and the formation of sub-species by 
climate revealed the constant changes brought about by adaptation to 
different sorts of surroundings. 
Especially interesting is the question of protective coloration of 
eggs and the birds themselves, \vhereby they escape their enemies on 
account of being colored like surrounding objects. In this connection 
the bright colors of males of some species in which the females are 
of inconspicuous appearance was mentioned as was also the varying 
coloration at different ages and seasons. 
Special adornments of birds, particularly during the breeding 
season, were described, and the speaker made an appeal against the 
barbarity of using these for hat ornaments and otherwise. 
The lecture was illustrated by colored steropticon views of the 
specimens referred to. It closed with a consideration of the nests 
and nesting habits of birds. 
The business meeting followed after five minutes' intermission. 
The minutes of the last monthly meeting ere read and approved. 
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