Birds' Fear of Man

944 a his first opportunity for his interest to be aroused by the reptiles of the southwest and we all know how keenly he was interested in the fauna of this region until his death, 53 years later.Last spring, the first time I visited the National Museum after L. S.'s death, his devoted assistant, Miss Cochran, showed me his exquisite drawings of birds from Bering Island, Japan and Kamchatka which proved that he had indeed a talent which rivaled that of Robert Ridgway as an artist.Had his time not been so completely occupied he would have made a reputation for himself in still another field.I believe very few people know that these drawings exist or that there is any such tangible proof of his first love--the birds.It is difficult not to be trite and to say the obvious when one attempts to appraise Stejneger or even to set forth his extraordinary versatility and the diversity, range, and depth of his talents and attainments or to attempt to praise the modesty, simplicity, dignity and innate kindliness of his character.He was sparing only in expressing his dislike of unworthy actions or unworthy deeds.To say that he was the greatest naturalist who has ever trod the halls of the Smith-sonJan Institution is to step on fairly safe ground.To say that he was a great friend, a benefactor, and one who aided hundreds of members of the rising generation of investigators, is sheer understatement.It would take more than the tongues of men and of angels to sing his praise.Cambridge Massa ch use t ts BIRDS' FEAR OF MAN BY H. R. IVOR THE following paper is intended to record occasional observations made on certain passefine birds with respect to this display of fear; it is not based on any formal series of experiments.The birds observed were native species, largely individuals either confined in my aviary or fostered there and allowed daily freedom.A few observations concern wild, native birds.I have used the term 'fear' to mean, simply, alarm.More completely the term is defined here as an objective manifestation of the self-preservation instinct, usually displayed by crouching or, retreat.