50 
BY THE WAYSIDE 
trees, while the yellow rumps, the blue, 
green, yellow, black-and-white warblers 
-indeed an almost innumerable throng 
of those industrious tenants of our trees 
—challenge our admiration and invite 
to closest study. 
To the old-time sportsman, as well 
as to the younger generation of would- 
be Nimrods, let it be suggested that in¬ 
stead of mourning over the inevitable de¬ 
crease in our so-called game-birds, which 
no amount of game laws and game-war¬ 
dens can materially remedy, there is a 
new sort of sport—a grand substitute 
for the oldtime “shooting,” and one 
which, by the way, the whole family 
can participate—one which does not 
destroy—one which builds up and fos¬ 
ters love and sympathy for all animated 
nature. Try bird-hunting with camera 
and fleldglass. In other words, learn 
just to see things. 
Birds are among the most interesting 
types of animated nature. They are of 
such various forms and colors! Their 
messages are indicative of the approach¬ 
ing seasons! They were the earliest 
barometers known to man. 
When winter winds howl furiously 
and doors are bolted and barred against 
the Storm King, even then the much- 
abused sparrow comes to your porch or 
window-sill in search of the tiniest share 
from your table of plenty. And if you 
are a bird-lover, he comes not in vain. 
The familiarity of the little guest and 
his cheery chirrup of gratitude for his 
meal leaves a warm spot in one’s heart 
—one is at peace with the world—harks 
back to days agone—to summer sun— 
to bird-songs and blithe flowers—or per¬ 
chance imagination peers into the fu¬ 
ture—the wintry snows are seen to dis¬ 
solve—the brook sings merrily as it 
kisses' the early buttercups—the bobo¬ 
link, lark, sparrow, robin are sur¬ 
charged with love and happiness. Even 
the sombre crow caws derisely at the 
mistaken farmer who has placed a 
bounty on its head. It continues to 
gather [for eating the cutworms and 
white grubs that are so potent in dam¬ 
aging agricultural products. 
Indeed, in all places where Man holds 
communion with Nature, the study of 
bird-lore imparts a finishing touch to 
his researches. Birds are to animated 
nature what roses and daisies are to the 
vegetable world. 
Go where you will and be the season 
what it may, be the sky serene or 
stormy, there is almost always a bird to 
be found. To both the learned and the 
unlearned, the study of birds is not only 
one of the most certain sources of ra¬ 
tional enjoyment, but it is one which 
leads more directly than any other to 
the love, and consequently the know¬ 
ledge, of all Nature—and from Nature 
up to Nature’s God. 
EDITORS NOTE 
Mr. Skavlem’s article has many 
points both interesting and instructive, 
and among them is one which is often 
only to infrequently emphasized by 
bird-lovers. We refer to his suggestion 
to sportsmen to give up hunting with a 
gun, and to adopt the camera and field- 
glass as their weapons. In other words, 
to “learn just to see things.” Hunting 
in a country such as Southern AViscon- 
sin at least, has become unjustifiable. 
Originally the settler and the traveller 
in his region was dependent upon the 
wild life for his existence; he could 
not as yet get a sufficient food supply 
