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pictures of bird-life, but accurate records of nest-life to illustrate his exact, patient. skilled observations of the habits of old and young.
As for the second objection, the dangers to which the young birds are exposed through the moving of the nest. it is un- tloubtedly serious. We have never tried Professor Herrick‘s plan of moving the nest to a tent, but have placed an artificial bower near the nest, and know from experi— ence ltow quickly birds desert their homes during incubation and, even after the young are boon, how loth they are to return to the nest when they are alarmed by some strange object near it. Most young birds require food at frequent intervals, and when they are deprived of it even for a comparatively short period, fatal results may follow. In ty of death from this cause is increased, and it may become necessary, Professor Herrick states, “to feed the young in the nest and to suspend oper~ atious until the next day.” This. however, is a matter of less importance than exposure to sun and storm, which follows the taking of the nest and young from the shade. Pro» fessor Herrick says, " Young birds from one to five days old cannot, as a rule, stand excessive heat. Even when fed and branded
moving the nest the possib
they will sometimes succumb, and here lies the serious danger to he guarded against," and adds, "it is better to leave the birds to themselves if it promises to be excessively hot or windy.”
As for the danger from bird enemies attendant on removingthe nest from the place of concealment and placing it in a conspicu» ons position, Professor Herrick finds that "predaceous animals of all kinds seem to avoid such nests as if they were new devices " and the only depre- tlator whom he fears is "the irresponsible or malicious small boy.” 'I‘hat cats and the bird-killing Hawks should not take prey which is apparently at their mercy is cer» tainly surprising, and we await further information on this point before accepting Professor Herrick's experience as conclur
to entrap or slay them,
site. In any event. it is clear enouglt that the removal of the nest to an exposed place is
Bird - Lore
attended by great danger to its contents, and should be undertaken only with the utmost care by a person competent to take advantage of the resulting opportunity to photograph and study its life, with due regard to the welfare of the young.
That the end justifies the means, no one who realizes the value of Professor Herrick’s work will deny, and when he tells us that in studying, forty nests of wild birds, the accidents, " which came mainly front inex- perience, could be counted on the fingers of one hand," we are bound to admit that under his control his method has been not only successful but unobjectionable. But, as Mr. Hofimann remarked, in discussing this subject in BIRD-LORI: for October last, “it is emphatically not a method to be recommended to the general public."
WE have received a circular announcing that the fourth session of the Alstead School of Natural History will, as heretofore, be held at Alstead Centre, N. H., during five weeks of the coming summer. Mr. Ralph Hoffmann will conduct the class in orni- thology. Particulars of enrolment may be learned of W. L. W, Field, Milton, Masst
We have also received an announcement of a new Nature Study School, organized under the auspices of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to be held at Sharon, Mass., during the four weeks fol- lowing July 9. The school will be under the direction of Dr. G. W. Field, of the Institute of Technology, whose wide ex» perience in nature-study teaching insures the success of this wholly admirable under» taking,
Dr. Field will be assisted by Mr. E. A. Winslow, who acts as secretary of the school, and may be addressed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Prof. G. H. Barton, Mr. J. G, Jack, Mr. H. A. Kirkland, Mr. Wm. Lyman Underwood, and other well- knotvn teachers.
Mr. Underwood's cooperation is an as- surance that the subject of animal photog- raphy will receive particular attention, and the opportunity for instruction in this branch of work is therefore unusual.
