74 
BY THE WAYSIDE 
tion will be gained only after years of patient 
observation and experiment. 
Prof. Scott says: 
“I have already met with success in some 
preliminary experiments at Princeton, but in 
the short span of my lifetime the definite re¬ 
sults aimed at can hardly be accomplished. 
Science will have to await the new revelations 
which are destined to be the outcome of Mr. 
Worthington’s establishment. 
“Here are some of the main inquiries into 
bird life proposed to be practically worked 
out: The study and consideration of the bird 
as an individual. It is believed that by means 
of observation carried through the entire life 
of the bird much will be learned regarding 
matters which are now obscure, such as 
growth, habits, health, temper, etc. These 
will be daily reported. The study of the na¬ 
ture and cause of variations in different 
representatives of the same species. Chang¬ 
es in color and appearance, along with age, 
sex and season. Effects in color due to light, 
heat, presence or absence of moisture, and 
to food. It will be possible to draw conclusions 
as to what artificial conditions tend to produce 
certain colors. Heredity and what general 
characteristics are transmitted. Experiments 
in breeding birds and the possibility of 
establishing a new physiological species. The 
change of color due to moult, the periodic 
shedding and replacing of the coat—a vexer 
question, whether due to the wear of the feath¬ 
ers or whether the feathers themselves change 
in color. The leisure of birds h'ow, acquired 
and employed. Instinct, habit and develop¬ 
ment of intelligence. 
“One of the useful economic experiments 
carried on will be the breeding and the se¬ 
lection of certain species of birds for suppres¬ 
sing insects, so th'at when particular pests 
make their appearance in a community the 
agriculturist will have a natural remedy at 
hand, by introducing the appropriate insecti¬ 
vorous birds for the riddance of the plague. 
Another special investigation is to be made 
in the consideration of song. Do singing birds 
inherit the instinct of the method of song 
or is it acquired by imitation? To demon 
strate this question, a series of exhaustive 
experiments will be arranged. A number of 
soundproof rooms have been constructed. In 
these a brood of young singing birds will be 
shut up and entirely isolated. They will be 
reared by hand, and not allowed to see or 
hear any bird of their neighbors until they aie 
two years old. At this age it will be taken 
for granted that habits are fixed and the 
notes they produce are natural, and not the 
outcome of imitating other birds. On the 
other hand, young broods will be secluded, so 
that they can hear no sound save a simple 
combination of bird notes, entirely foreign 
to their own, which will be played on the 
phonograph. If they learn and continue to 
use this song, it will go far to prove that 
imitation and not inheritance governs song 
in that particular species.” 
Professor Scott tells some of the interest- 
iim- results he has obtained in his experiments. 
O 
Two rose-breasted grosbeaks which had been 
reared by hand were placed in a cage near an 
Indian bulbul. The young grosbeaks abandon¬ 
ed their natural song and imitated the song 
of the bulbul very perfectly. Other experi¬ 
ments along this line gave similar results, 
wild birds have been successfully reared by 
tame canaries. 
Bird lovers everywhere will await with in¬ 
terest the further results of this most ex¬ 
tensive attempt to add to our knowledge of 
bird life. R,. M. 
RUBY THROAT. 
Little bright plumed humming bird 
Flashing ’round the flowers 
Like a ray of sunshine bright 
In our darkest hours. 
Tiny nest up in the pine,— 
Dainty eggs of pearl,— 
May no harm to you e’er come 
By thoughtless boy or girl. 
You bring us thoughts of other lands, 
Lights from brighter clime 
Like bits of glory from on high 
You glow in summer time. 
Gathering sweetness from each flower, 
Teaching us to do 
To gather sweetness from each day,— 
Life’s dearest flowers true. 
Then hide your dainty nest of grey 
Upon the pine tree’s arm, 
