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ibirbsilnre

A Bien-lontnly Magazine Devoted to the Study and Protection or Birds orrlcut (walls 0? Tu)! sunnsov suctenss Edited by FRANK M, CHAPMAN Published by THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

Published August 1. 1904 No. 4

l7ol. v1

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Price in the United States, Canada and Mexico twenty cents a number, one dollar a year, paste age paid.

CorleGuTEh. mod. at FRANK u. cetmun

Btrd-Lnre'l Motto: A Bird in the Bush is W42th Two in [he Hand

THE editor begs the indulgence of corre- spondents and contributors whose communi- cations, owing to an absence from which he has only recently returned, have remained long unacknowledged.

In this connection it may not be out of place to add a postscript to the letterto BIRD- Lolui written from Miami, Florida. May 2. (leoeLonz, blaerune, p, r03). After some discouraging experiences in the Okee- chobce and Indian River regions, it may be remembered that we turned toward the Florida Keys witll the hope of ﬁnding in these more remote districts some place which has escaped the plume—hunter's attention.

But. alas! \Varden Bradley, who had sailed from Flamingo to Miami to meet us, brought only the most unpromising account of the birds in the county under his care. Plumers had looted the great Cutllberr Rook- ery, killing most of tlle aigrelte<bearing Herons. and other species which it was espe— cially desired to see were not [0 be found.

1n the meantime news concerning Fla- mingoes was received, which required an early departure for the Bahamas; and since the especial object of our trip south was to study the almost unknown nesting-habits of these remarkable birds. we lost no time in setting sail for their headquarters, The uncertainties ol cruising in these waters at this season is indicated by the fact that twelve days were required to make a four days‘ voyage. Nor did we at once discover the object of our search, Indeed, a month

Bird - Lore

had passed before the birds were actually found. cesstul beyond our most ardent expecta- tions. The difﬁculties incident to photo« graphing and studying so wild a bird as the Flamingo were overcome wuh surprising ease. and, inthe endI aseries of photograph: was secured which we believe will illustrate in detail the home-life of this species.

This time, however, we were suc-

SCOFFERS at the necessity for accuracy in nature study, who say that so long as an in- terest is aroused in life out-of doors the means employed is quite immaterial, would, we trust, have a new conception of the respon- sibilities of those who seek to lead their aﬁeld, rather than astray, after reading Mrs, Wright’s admirable editorial on this subject in the last number of Blim- Lokz. In our opinion it would malt: an Audubon leaﬂet which could be used to great advantage.

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AMONG the notes on Warblers which have been sent, us and of which we will make due acknowledgement in a later issue, none have exceeded in interest and scientiﬁc value those by Mr. Isaac Bildersee on the nesting habits of Lawrence’s Warbler, published in this issue of BIRD~LOKE. Indeed, we may add that the observations therein recorded are among the most deﬁnite and satisfactory of any concerning the puzzling relationships of Brewster‘s and Lawrence’s Warblers with which we are familiar.

Reference to the colored ﬁgures of all the birds involved. which were published in the last issue of Brno-Lose, will enable the student to whom specimens are not accessible readily to compare theircolor characters a'nd at the same time to comprehend more clearly the various theories which have been ad— vanced to explain the status of Brewster's and Lawrence‘s Warblers.

Observations made at a later date than those given by Mr. Bildersee, by Mr Miller and others, left little room for doubt that all the six progeny of the Lawrence's and Blueewinged Warbler showed only the characters of the female parent. that is the Blue-wing. Even admitting the truth of this belief, however, it does not follow that the union of the birds was not true hybridism.

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