THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
117 
hatch, robin, black snowbird, chimney 
swallow, and yellowbird or goldfinch. 
Many more have been noted within the 
city limits (Syracuse, N. Y.) I mention 
these simply to give some idea of how 
many birds are to be found in the parks 
and yards of our cities. 
While birds have specific character- 
istics or habits (i.e., habits common to 
all the individuals of a species), they also 
have individual peculiarities. These lat- 
ter are often the more interesting, and 
often show something vei'ij much like 7'ea- 
soning power. To trace the relations of 
cause and effect in the actions of a bird is 
both interesting and instructive. Another 
branch, and one that may be very profit- 
ably pursued in connection wi^h the study 
of their habits, is the study of the general 
anatomy (if I may so use the word). See 
how perfectly each part is adapted to its 
own particular use, and how all are modi- 
fied in accordance with the food and 
habits of the species under consideration. 
Examine the plumage of a chickadee; 
how fiuffy the feathers are, and how well 
adapted to resist cold. Do you wonder 
now that the little fellow does not mind 
the weather ? Look at his feet- and com- 
pare them with those of a vireo; what 
broad soles both have, and how well 
adapted for perching. 
But do not think that only the habits 
and formation are to be studied. When 
you have a good collection of notes at 
your disposal, you are just ready to take 
up a new branch of the study — that of 
collecting and examining the various evi- 
<iences of reasonii^ig power which you 
have noted. Begin with some fact and 
ask yourself the question "Why?" and 
answer it. Collate all the parallel in- 
stances and form your theory. Then, 
after it is formed, be ever on the watch 
for facts to support or disprove it. But 
there is no need of my mentioning the 
different branches of the study; a few 
weeks' experience will furnish more sug- 
gestions than could be easily enumer- 
ated. 
Let us next examine the means of 
study. A gun is indispensable for gen- 
eral field work or for an "ornitholo- 
gist," but is usually out of the question' 
in the city. The best substitute, and one 
that is better in many respects, is a field- 
glass. An ordinary telescope or an op- 
era-glass will do. The use of the field- 
glass has been minutely discussed re- 
cently by a writer in " The Ornithologist 
and Oologist." Perhaps I can do no bet- 
ter than to quote some of his remarks : — 
" A bird thoroughly shot with the glass 
is forever alive and fixed in the mind, and 
a hundred little ways and habits have 
been noted, which would have been en- 
tirely lost if shot in the usual manner. 
To know a bird thoroughly it must be 
watched very closely, and it is often the 
case that many habits and queer ways 
are noted before enough of the descrip- 
tive points are obtained to determine the 
species. * * * Having obtained all the 
points as to size, color, particular mark- 
ings, etc., with the aid of any good text- 
book, the species may soon be deter- 
mined. "There are some difficulties in the 
way, and at first some errors may be 
niade. With tlie novice the female pur- 
ple finch might be taken for a sparrow, 
and the hairy and downy woodpeckers 
would, perhaps, cause a little trouble, but 
in a short time nearly all birds will be 
recognized at first sight, A bird should 
be studied for color against a dark back- 
ground ; if seen in the face of strong sun- 
light everything becomes black. * * * 
Measurements obtained at glass range 
may be quite easily determined by com- 
parison with the dimensions given in the 
text-books of some familiar bird like the 
robin or bluebird. For small birds the 
chickadee or some familiar sparrow can 
be taken." I will only add that the note 
will often be of great help in determining 
a species. Many use bird-lime and snares, 
but I have had no experience with the 
former, and little luck with the latter. 
A study closely connected with that of 
our birds, or rather embraced in their 
study, is that of birds' eggs. Many, my- 
self among the number, take a peculiar 
interest in these, but I will leave that 
subject for another time. 
In conclusion I will make a few general 
suggestions. Always keep a record of the 
notes you take from day to day; write it 
out fully and minutely. If you notice a 
