BY THE WAYSIDE 
3 
i 
i r 
to be the fact that Prof. Mitchell did 
his work in the capacity of a Normal 
school Teacher. If we inspect the ac¬ 
tivities of a science teacher at one of 
the Gterman Gymnasia, we find that he 
is carrying on in his spare hours a. 
good deal of research work. True it 
is often local work,—a study of local 
flora, avifauna, mamalia, fishes, insects, 
and so on all thru the long list of nat¬ 
ural sciences. The fact that it is local 
deprives it of none of its interest or 
significance. Furthermore, he is in 
touch with some professor who in turn 
communicates with several or many 
other teachers in various gymnasia. 
Thus a wide territory is intensively 
studied to the mutual advantage of 
teacher and professor. When the teach¬ 
ers in our public schools carry on such 
activities, we shall have a state of af¬ 
fairs which will be more attractive to 
abler men and women. 
In conclusion, we would endeavor to 
set at rest an ugly rumor current 
shortly after Mr. Mitchell s death. 
Close friends inform us that he was 
. 
not estranged from his wife, and that 
his death was accidental, due to an 
| overdose of a medicine he was in the 
habit of taking. 
Do Birds Fear Us? 
By Andrew M. Dudley 
That our common birds have little 
fear of us there is not the least doubt. 
They rather prefer building near our 
homes, providing we are kind to them. 
Some birds permit an examination of 
their nests and one may make notes of 
incubation, feeding, etc. 
Last summer while grubbing in the, 
fields I came upon what appeared a 
flicker’s nest. No sign of life could I 
see anywhere, I gazed downward into 
the nest but all was dark, believing 
there were no birds about I shook the 
old stump and pounded it with my 
grubbing hoe but still no sign of life. 
Having never thoroughly examined 
the nest of a Flicker, I thought this 
was my chance. I clipped and broke 
away enough of the opening to admit 
my hand and then thrust my hand into 
the opening. When 1 reached the bot¬ 
tom of the cavity my hand came in con¬ 
tact with something alive. When I 
brought the creature out into the light 
I found, I had in my hand the mother 
Flicker. 
To say the least I was very sorry I 
had molested the nest. I held her for 
some time trying only to be kind and 
to think what I ought to do. At last 
I put her back into the hole leading to 
her nest and she instantly descended to 
her eggs. I hastened away, but had 
scarcely left the stump when she came 
out and flew away to a hedge about a 
hundred yards away. 
T counted the eggs and was surprised 
to find so many. There were nine eggs 
in the nest. During the afternoon of 
the same day, I was again in the pas¬ 
ture and was delighted to see that the, 
bird had returned and Avas hopping 
about apparently examining to see Avhat 
damage had been done. 
These birds cared for the eggs; I say 
these for the male bird takes part in 
the hatching and care of the young, and 
before long nine little birds fleAV away. 
1 trust I’ll be able to write you many 
little sketches of birds but I am glad 
I have never before or since caused a 
bird to suffer. Let us care for them, 
they are' our friends, 
