Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 123, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 May 1915 — Page 3

The MIGRATION of BIRDS

by A.W.Douglas

" EW facts in natural bisfory are so fi interesting as the annual mlgra* tlon of birds, and largely because *|gL there is such little real underlsl?f..> II standing as to the nature and {Man w U methods of this remarkable phei. ■ -j o nomenon. Theories are plentiful, but a demonstrable explanation of all the facts involved is still wanting. Some of the Inherent characteristics of migration, such as the apparent sense of direction possessed by birds, seem to defy observation and analysis, and to be absolutely beyond our ken so far as any understanding goes. The. cause itself of this curious habit so fscr is only conjectural, but the most logical explanation seems fco be a search for food. This apparently bolds good for the fall flight from North to South, when insects have perished from the cold, and vegetation died, so that both Insectivorous and grain-eating birds are alike affected. Yet some members of both species, crows, Jays, quail, * partridges, wood ducks, cardinal grosbeaks (the ordinary red bird) and often some red-beaded woodpeckers, remain North throughout the win- - ter and manage somehow to make a living and * their species. Even if these be exceptions to the general rule, tbere still remains the unanswered question, Why do not those birds who winter in the South remain there throughout the year instead of going North when the spring opens? Food is abundant and apparently southern latitudes are as fitting for the rearing of young as the far North/ As a matter of fact, we really do not know, though we have some interesting and-plausible theories about it that do not bear the test of questioning. So as usual when we run across some mystery in animal life that we cannot unravel, we call it “Instipct,” and let It go at that Of this one tjiing we may, however, be quite sure, that instinct in anfmals always Berves some useful purpose, and is usually an expression of nature’s care for the preservation of the species. Years of observation have developed the interesting fact that there are certain wfill-deflned routes in all countries which the migrations follow, certain water courses, certain chains of mountains, certain valleys, and this seems to obtain from one generation of birds to another. Whether the younger birds learn this from the older birds who have been before, or whether they simply mechanically follow the older birds in their flights is largely conjecture, but two facts seem well established. First, that animals evidently have some method of communicating with each other. Everyone who has heard *Bob White call together the scattered covey, or the hen give the alarm for a hawk to her chickens, is convinced on this point. The second fact seems, however, to controvert the theory of the older teaching the younger ones the way they should go, for it has been shown in many Instances that flocks composed entirely of the year’s broods .«f young birds make their first migratory flight alone and unattended by the older birds, and find their way unerringly along the usual routes of migration. Once more we have to fall back upon instinct. Just how birds find their way from one distant .latitude to another is the most inexplicable of all the many mysterious facts of migration. The length of the flight from northern habitat to winter resort varies according to the k different species of birds all the way from 1,000 | to 3,000 miles, and In a few casfes to 6,000 miles. * Yet these distances are apparently traversed In generally direct straight lines, and with the. most orderly and businesslike methods of procedure. To say that the older birds show the younger birds the way (since this has been shown to be -untrue in many cases) only removes the difficulty back into the remote past, for at some time there had to be some birds to find the way the first time, and we only this difficulty when we talk of inherited instinct. It is clearly not a case of birds seeing their way and being guided by landmarks. It is known that migrations as a rule take place at night, and that In general birds fly very high, in fact, at tremendous heights, when migrating. Under such conditions finding their way by sight is impossible. Moreover, the sight theory breaks down in the case of those birds who cross great •stretches of water where there are no landmarks whatever. There is a species of cuckoo which summers in New, Zealand and winters In eastern Australia, which Means a straight flight of some 1,100 miles without, rest or stop across the track-less-Waters. Certain species of humming birds that^"winter in Central and South-America spend their summer vacation Jh the United States, and to do so must fly across some 1,000 miles of the Golf of Mexico. A recent experiment demonstrated that neither •the theory or seeing the way nor previous knowledge of the route can account for the finding of the way in migration. Fifteen terns were taken from their nesting places on Bird Key, Tortngas (one of die islands of the Florida reef) and were released at distances varying from 20 to 850 from their home, and 13 of the 16 found their way back safely. Observations have also •hown that the same birds return to the same spot year after year. -Robins that winter in Florida will build their nests in the same tree 1s t northern state u long Hve ' FoaMsskm ot' ,

tiod —concerning whose physical basis and nature we are-entirely in the dark. It seems to be a eysnse common to most animals. It is extremely weil developed In horses and dogs, and likewise in fishes, who year after year come back to the same stream to spawn. It la possessed a lesser degree by man, being more pronounced In the savage than In the civilized man, probably because In the latter disuse has dulled its perception. The speed' at which- birds fly during migration probably varies according to the natural capacity of the species. Nevertheless, In such flights

The Bird Or the Cat?

"The Bird or the Cat?" has become a scratching subject which is making the feathers fly in many a heretofore peaceful neighborhood. Bird lovers who have attempted to establish sanctuaries for their feathered friends have been compelled to revise their visiting lists according to where her royal highness, Tabbyklns, holds sway. The bird man who has found to his sorrow that any bird and cat combination means cat-astrophe, even while he is taking the mangled body of the little-feathered tenant, that he has worked for months to attract, from the clutches of the inno-cent-looking, fluffy, four-footed murderer, will be assailed by the cat-owner, who indignantly declares that while ether low-bred creatures may catch birds, Bhe knows her own blue-blooded darling Fluffykins is too well bred and too well fed to do such a deed! Naturalists statistically rank the fells domestlcus as third in the bird-destroying agents, holding every, roaming cat responsible for the. lives of at least fifty birds a year. A game warden who reports 200 quail killed by a mother cat in less than a year on the game preserve advocates the wholesale extermination of cats under the supervision of a game warden. The value of the cat to catch mice or rats is disputed by a bird enthusiast, who maintains that this Nero of the animal world will hush forever the Joyous song of any little feathered chorister simply for his own amusement when pot in need of food. When he dines he goes after a cold bird in preference to any other dellckcy, and will catch mice or rats only as a last resort to keep from starving. The most serious arraignment against both the. domestic and stray eat is made by the boards of health, who have found these animals to be carriers of scarlet fever, diphtheria and other diseases most fatal to their human associates. A successful business man says that if a cat kills a little chicken in the yard of the average farmer, the cat is made away with. If the fourfooted hunter comes home with a quail, he is petted; yet the quail is of greater economic value to the farmer than is either the cat or the chicken. He thinks, for humane reasons, the wild or stray cat left on abandoned farms should be put out of the way. A cat-a-comb, where feline prowlers may be laW permanently tojrest, is considered a necessaiy adjunct to every bird sanctuary by a bird conservationist, who has tried, without success, various methods to prevent cats from killing helpless song and insectivorous birds so valuable to man. Another long sufferer from cat depredations considers a near-by deeper bath, in which to immerse and leave the savage., depredators, is the only way in which a bird bath may be maintained. Some friends of the bfrds think to license the cat and hold the owner responsible for his pet’s destructiveuess will solve not only the vexing cat, but also the kitten, question. They conclude that If a person pays tot a license he will not be so

- **V-SH* W'-jSS* .v - THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

they display a speed and endurance entirely out of their ordinary wont. A little sandpiper, which summers in northern Siberia near tlje Arctic, has to fly over the Himalaya mountains in order to reach India, where it passes the winter. In doing this it must vise to heights of four miles and- upwards to clear the towering ranges. Wilson’s petrel Is known to range from the South Antarctic ocean to the northern limits of British America. As ducks and geese are almost the only birds whose migrations have been seen In the daytime, many telescopic observations and instantaneous photographs have been taken of them during flight.-'These observations indicate that the flight of ducks, particularly teal, must frequently reach a speed of 100 miles an hour and over. Even with the slower flying birds It Is possible to cover long stretches in one night, as the flight seems to be pursued without rest “all throught the night" The probable choice of night for flight is that the day may be devoted to feeding. Besides, the dangers of the birds of prey, other than owls, are thus avoided. The ducks that reach this latitude In the spring are frequently very thin and poor, evidently owing to the strenuousness of their voyage. One of the remarkable characteristics of migration is the regularity of its annual movement among the different species, often the same day each fall and spring marking the departure and arrival. The flights seem invariably to be in flocks, whether the species be gregarious or otherwise. No sooner is the destination reached than the nongregarious species separate either singly or in pairs. One exception to this are robins, which are nongregarious In the North, but invariably- go In flocks In the South. Jusl why some birds of the same species stop in one latitude while others go farther on Is not known, though probably the question of food supply is the determining factor. The whole subject of migration is one of the interesting phenomena in nature which has been a matter of common observation for some thousand years and yet of whose essential nature we have only the scantest Information.

apt to desert his cat, leaving it dependent upon hunting for a living. Optimists who still believe that cat nature may be educated or restrained, suggest that bells and bright ribbon be placed on pussy so that a warning will precede her fatal spring. Others advocate that the poles or trees on which bird houses are placedj should be sheathed In tin or wrapped in barb wire -to prevent the cat from climbing up and destroying the half-grown nestlings before they can fly to safety. A thorny rose bush Is advised by another humane person; but the everpresent cynic thinks it much better to plant the cat at the roots of the rose bush, where be Is sure In time to evolve into harmless fertilizer.

MYSTERIOUS JAGS.

"Boffels says he makes it a rule never to take a drink before six o’clock In the evening." "Ahem!” “Well?” "I frequently see him full during the day and I was Jugl wondering If he had hit upon some way 'to take his liquor hypodermically.”

“I never can-tell what you men are talking about,” said the debutante, with a pout. “What’s the matter now, Celestine?” "I met Mr. Brokerly just now, and he said he’d been up to his neck In wheat-all morning, yet 1 never saw him look more immaculate."

IN THE EUGENIC HOUSEHOLD.

"These eggs are exactly as I like them, Hortense.” "Yes, Archimedes, I submerged them in water at 212 degrees Fahrenheit for exactly two and one-half minutes.”

Stdht Wife—How da you like my masquerade costume? I’m a page. Husband —Page? You look more like a volume. —Princeton Tiger.

She —Didn’t yon think the people at Mrs. Gander’s reception were all extremely dull? "Yes, hut you know it was author’s day.”— Life.

NATURAL DEDUCTION.

"I wonder how those spirit messages are writ ten?” remarked the dense party. “With a medium pencil, I imagine.” replied the wise guy. ~

NOT THE RIGHT KIND.

"I don't see how you can stand these howling students with their class yells for everything." "Well, you see, they’re such a cheery sort."

PUZZLED.

TOO BULKY.

HIGHBROWS.

DESIGNS IN NECKWEAR

RADICAL CHANGE FROM THOSE OF LAST YEAR. Fill*, Sheer Voile It • New Material Which May Be Made Up at Home Into the Daintiest of Dreas Accessories. Neckwear designs this season differ radically from of last year because of the change from low to high neck. This naturally means either a considerable expenditure for new neckwear or considerable sewing in spare

New Neckwear Designs.

time at home. Homemade neckwear can be quite as dainty as that seen in the shops, and can be produced at much less cost. Very fine, sheer voile is a new material used for neckwear. It is intended to supersede organdie, and 1 believe if will quickly find favor —if for no reason other than that it is very easily laundered. Since neckwear,, to be attractive, must be ever fresh, any* thing which will tend to lessen the laundry work is sure to be appreciated. Net is a close second to voile. This, too, is not difficult to keep clean, and It wears like iron. Net is lightly embroidered this year. For example, a little vine in the front of the chemisette divides and runs on either side of the collar. This is worked with medium fine embroidery cotton in solid satin and outline stitch. The work is easy to do if the design be backed with tissue paper. The paper can be pulled away when the embroidery is finished.

The fluffy side frill ip in vogue again. A jabot thus adorned will do much to redeem a somber-looking dress or an out-of-date waist. There should be a number of these fluffy frills lying about at home, as it was so popular a model not long ago. Those who must make them will need, for one jabot, half a yard of pretty insertion and from three-quarters to one yard of edging for the frill —according to the width of the frill.

English eyelet embroidery is favored above all else for the strip, though some frills of fine voile are edged with a narrow filet lace and attached to a strip of the lace —but wider. Some models show the frill on both sides of the strip. In this case the jabot ends just below the bust and the frill is carried all around. Tiny pearl buttons are used for trimming neckwear, in place of the little linen buttons of last year. They have no visible means of attachment, but are known as trimming buttons. The ordinary pearl buttons with holes for sewing are not the proper thing. These are small details, but they mark the up-to-date neckwear; and one might as well get the correct thing when purchasing. All neckwear apparently closes in front. The net chemisettes, however, frequently close in the back, but show a decoration which disguises this fact. For example, there may be embroidery and buttons or frills of lace down the

USEFUL LITTLE BLOTTING PAD

Will Repay Time Spent on It* Construction, Say on a Rainy Afternoon In Bummer, Our sketch shows a blotting pad of a very useful type that is quite easy to make. The size in which it is carried out is a matter of choice. For the foundation of the pad itself,

An Easily-Made Blotting Pad.

a piece of very stiff cardboard should be used. The board is bound at the edges with narrow strips of dark brown silk fastened on with a strong adhesive. The pockets on either side are made of some of the same silk and bound at the edges with narrow ribbon. V .1 The material is turned over the edges and fastened on at the back of the board with glue, and diagram A. which shows the underside of the

front and invisible snappers in the back. All tight-fitting high collars are wen boned and are finished at the top with a little frill. —Washington Star.

DICTATES OF FASHION

Charming poke bonnets are fash' ioned of crepe or chiffon. Evening gowns generally have no sleeves, or very tiny ones. Jackets to correspond nicely with the full skirts should be short. Small flat bows of braid-like ribbon are seen on smart little hats. Bell sleeves and bishop sleeves are style innovations for waist fashions as' well as for gowns. Short skirts for day dresses and trained gowns for evening wear aye the last style specifications received. Old-fashioned checked silks in snuff colored browns, greens, blues and yellows and blacks are novelties in dull toned effects. Even though the high waist line will be fashionable, the normal line will be the controlling ppsltion for belt lines this season. The high collared waist with a shirred yoke and collar or organdie and bodice of mull or lawn is another vogue of much Interest.

HOUSE DRESS OF NAVY SERGE

Clever Needlewoman May Fashion * Garment From Costume Which Did Duty Last Year. Here is a quiet little house dress of very fine navy serge, trimmed with graduated bands, and having sleeves and waistband of black taffetas. The simple gutmpe filling up the square hiatus and the high collar are of Organdie gauze, the finest of fine lingerie material procurable, ifiat has yet a certain stability of its own. There is, moreover, a renovating suggestion in this scheme. An existing possession in the guise of a black satin or taffeta dress, that is essentially of last year’s

modeling, could have the skirt cut up to fashion the bands, while the black sleeves would save at least three-quar-ters of a yard of new material, and possibly more, as the serge bodice is such a very slight affair.

board, illustrates how this should be done. D and D Indicate the strips of silk binding the edge of the board, B the silk forming the pocket, and C is the board itself. Sheets of blotting paper must be cut to fit and slipped into the pockets on either side, and letters and papers can also be tucked in at the sides in the manner shown. The cover is made of some of the same brown silk and bound at the edges with narrow ribbon to match, and lined with soft silk. Ribbon strings are provided to secure the case when covered with the flap, as shown by the small sketch. Initials of the owner can be worked In silk where indicated. t " '*

Leghorns for Summer.

Leghorn straw hats are a pleasant revival. Nothing could be lovelier for the warm weather hat with thin ' frocks than a leghorn at its best. And this summer's hats in leghorn are at their best They- are soft with undulating crowns, and they are trimmed with velvet flowers and chiffon in a charming way. Lewis manipulates flat leghorn plaques into smart little tricorns that sit with especial Jauntineas above some of the new frocks.

Embroidered Pockets.

The little embroidered pockets which have long ribbons attached, so that they can be suspended from tee bedpost or fastened to the rod of a brass or Iron bed, are most convenient. Some of these little pockets are made of covered cardboard, circular in shape. Two covered cdrcles are overnanded half way around with an owl on a branch of a tree embroidered on one side. ..." ■ ■ • ■- - V, ;