TH E 
Agassiz association 1 
Established 1875 Incorporated, Massachusetts, 18S2 Incorporated, Connecticut, 1910 
Reorganization of Pittsfield A Chapter 
No. i. 
Officers: President, Mrs. A. B. Haw- 
ley; Vice-President, Mr. C. Dudley 
Holman ; Corresponding' Secretary, 
Mrs. F. C. Saul; Treasurer, Mr. War- 
ren Phelps. 
A meeting was Held on October 28, 
1920, in the lecture room of the Berk- 
shire Athenaeum for the purpose of 
reorganizing the Pittsfield (Massa- 
chusetts) A Chapter No. 1 of The Agas- 
siz Association. Though there were but 
six or eight present at that meeting, 
officers were chosen and plans made 
for work during the winter. It was so 
late in the fall that there was not much 
time for walks into the country, but so 
far as possible at every meeting we 
have had on exhibition some specimen 
from one or all of the three kingdoms. 
It was thought best to call upon 
either residents or visitors to this part 
of the country to speak to us on various 
subjects. Mr. Harlan H. Ballard, Hon- 
orary Vice-President of The Agassiz 
Association and a member of our Chap- 
ter, spoke to us of the work of The AA 
and of Berkshire County, Massa- 
chusetts, as an especially fine section 
for the study of birds. It is in the path 
of the migratory birds and so has the 
advantage of those nesting here and of 
many passing through on their way to 
nesting places farther north. He also 
called attention to the fact that in the 
flowers we have those which grow 
above limestone bottom and those 
which do not. This peculiar under 
formation also makes the section more 
or less rich in fossils. He also told us 
what he has found out about mush- 
rooms and various other things. 
Mr. S. Waldo Bailey, one of our 
members, is a great help in our study 
of ferns, flowers and birds. 
Mr. F. C. Saul, another member, gave 
us a lecture on the honeybee, its nature 
and habits. 
Mr. Keegan, also a member, told us 
of the fish in the lakes of this region 
and what the state has done in this 
work. 
Mr. Sloper, not a member, told us of 
the Whitney estate and its importance 
in relation to the water supply of 
Pittsfield. 
In January we began to bring speci- 
mens of birds from the museum and to 
study the habits and nesting places of 
the specimens exhibited. 
With the coming of spring with all 
its life and beauties we have taken 
several walks. One was to see some 
orchids being raised in Mr. Cooley’s 
greenhouse. Later we were so fortu- 
nate as to secure Mr. Lincoln to tell 
us of the wild orchids of this part of 
the country. We have enjoyed our 
walks, and there are many around 
Pittsfield, for bird study. 
The Berkshires being the home of 
the Indian, Mr. H. C. Darling told us 
something of the relics which have 
been found here. 
One evening was given to the review 
of the life and work of John Burroughs, 
another to the work the Boy Scouts 
are doing, and another to the carrier 
pigeon, its training and work. 
Those in charge of the museum have 
asked us to record the incoming birds, 
both those which nest here and those 
which are migratory. Through the 
kindness of the Boy Scouts we have 
been furnished with a number of bird 
houses which have been placed in favor- 
able positions by AA members. 
Mr. Edward Avis lectured in the 
auditorium of the high school. The 
Agassiz members helped advertise and 
sell tickets for this lecture and it was 
one to do one’s heart good. 
We desire eventually to establish a 
bird sanctuary and to interest more 
people in the wonderful possibilities of 
