Senn High School - Forum Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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Spring Eirh Stung. The study of birds during the spring is best carried on during April since it is during this month that the most of our common spring birds migrate through this region. There are, however, many of us who do not study birds because we do not know how, where, and when the birds may be found. The methods of studying spring birds are not definite and each can follow his own course. Some prefer to walk about and look for the birds while others pre- fer to sit still and observe the birds as they pass by from tree to tree. Both of these methods have their merits espec- ially the latter during the last spring when the birds are as numerous as they are now rapidly becoming. A held book and held glass are valuable aids in iden- tifying the birds, but these are not alto- gether necessary since the birds may be seen with the naked eye, and with the aid of notes taken when in the field, identi- fied by guide books found in our library. In studying birds one has a choice of many excellent places in and about Chi- cago where there may be found many species of birds. These places consist of the woods and parks, the former be- ing found at a walking or short riding distance. A favorite place for observing birds is the Chicago River, west of Crawford Ave. In this region the spring birds are very abundant. Another place located not far west of the city is along the banks of the Des Plaines River. 'lihese two spots, together with several others, are ideal places, but one does not have to go outside of Chicago as there are many parks inside the city that are excellent places for the study of birds. Of these parks, Lincoln Park is within a few minutes ride and is very good when there are iew people. If one rides far- ther, he can go to jackson l'ark which is considered the best place to study birds inside of the city. This is true es- pecially on Xllooded Island, where the April immigrating birds are abundant. XVhen one desires to study birds he must know the approximate date when the birds appear, since all birds migrate at a certain time. The dates of the ar- rival of birds that may be seen at the present time or a little later are given in the following table. This date is the average and it may be possible to see these birds a little earlier or later. Mourning Dove . ............. .. Whip-poor-Will ..,,............ Vester Sparrow ........ . . , Hinslow Sparrow ....... . White-Crowned Sparrow .. April 15 April 20 April 15-20 April 10 'ff April 25 zo Swamp Sparrow , . ...... .,,. A pril Purple Martin .. ........ .... A pril 10 Barn Swnlluw .... . .,..... .... A pril 15 Tree Swallow .. .............. April 20 Black and White Creeper ....... April 20 Yellow -Warbler ....,.......,.. April 25 Myrtle Warbler .... . . ......... April 15 Black-throated Green Warbler .... April 25 Pine Warbler ...............,. April 20 Palm Warbler . .........,..... April 25 Catbird .......... . . April Brown Thrasher . . . . . .. House Wren ............ Blue-grav Gnateatcher . . Wood Thrush ......... Veery .. ...... . ............ Olive-backed Thrush .,...... . . April . . . April . . . .April 25 15 .. April 15 25 25 April 30 '. .April 25 Carl Sandstrom. sexing

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Aquarium Eliiaheu Among the pets familiar in our zool- ogy laboratories and homes, not the least attractive is the little gold fish. They require little space and are easily cared for, thriving under a variety of conditions. The glint of gold color among the plants is fascinatingg and their response to attention, although much slower and less intelligent than in many animals, adds much to their at- tractiveness. Among the inexpensive varieties are the pure gold, silver, black and oriole- while to the more ambitious aquarist the very beautiful fan-tails, with great, double, tilmy tail tins, the similar comet fish, the telescope, very short wide lit- tle creatures with protruding eyes, and thelion heads, with large roughened heads and with no dorsal or back lin, are fam- iliar. Few observers know the origin of gold fish. For this we must look to the Orient. Native to the streams of China is the carp, a very hardy fish, black and with large scales. These, although of only fair food value, because of their hardihood, were introduced into the streams of Germany, and later into the United States. Known as German carp, they have been alternately protected as of economic value, and condemned as de- the eggs of more valuable structive to fishes. The young carp show sides bur- nished with gold, and from this charac- patient Chinese and japan- teristic, the ese by selective breeding have produced the gold tish. It is interesting to note that the little fry when first hatched re- vert to the original type, always being black in color. YVith fanciers small tropical fishes are becoming more popular than gold Fish. These vary greatly in form and color, one specimen often combining many bril- liant hues. 4 They lack the hardihood of gold fish, and so require much more care. The aquarium must be stocked with growing water plants to insure a constant supply of oxygen. The temperature of the waa ter must be kept even and very high, and the quality and variety of food must be carefully considered. One group of these fancy fishes is known as labyrinth fishes, so called because of a rosette for- mation arising from the top of the gill arches. This is used as a breathing or- gan, and filled through the mouth at the surface. Thus they are able to travel overland in search of other streams. A second group are distinguished as mouth breeders, because after the eggs are laid, the mother gathers them into her mouth where she keeps them constantly rolling during the ten days of incubation. This necessitates a period of comparitive fast- ing for the mother. Occasionally, how- ever, she blows the eggs from the mouth, seizes something to eat, and then quickly regathers the eggs. Even after hatch- ing, the young when frightened take re- fuge in the mouth of the mother. In still a third species a nest is made of bubbles blown to the surface by the male. After the female has deposited the eggs in this nest the male drives her away, and guards his little family until they are old enough to care for themselves. In many other species the young are born alive, not hatched from eggs. A. E. Maddock. Note: If the weather continues warm enough, I expect to transfer some of these fishes which were given me by the mem- bers of the Chicago Aquarium Society, to gloom 309 where all are welcome to see em. 'Ld B tw

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Ellie minlngirul Svtatinna nf the Mnrlh V 6 1 w T the beginning of the ' N ' investigation o f minute forms of life, students searched d i t c h e s, ponds, and lakes for the organisms which they studied. Today zoologists are more fascinated with the richness of the mar- ine fauna. Numerous animal groups of common occurence in the sea were found to be missing in fresh water, and the as- tounding richness of the tropical and sub-tropical oceans with which Euro- pean investigators came early in contact on the shores of the Mediterranean and in the new lands of the tropics, entirely overshadowed the life that had been found hitherto in ponds or ditches, Many marine forms were not only dazzling in beauty of form and in the brilliancy of their color, but also proved to be con- necting links in the evolution of the plant and animal kingdom. The quieter, more unassuming fresh water forms in the temperate regions could make no corresponding impression on the minds of the observers. So the scientific world went to the seashore to study and every- where along the coast of Europe and even in the tropical islands are found the vacation resorts of scientists. The interest in the life of the sea led to the foundation of marine stations, among which that of Naples was the First. To Bohemia belongs the honor of having had the first building for lacus- trine investigation, in the form of the B0- hemian Portable Laboratory which is un- der the direction of Professor Fritsch of the University of llraguc. In Finland is the laboratory of Esborliifii on one of the small islands which, although pri- marily a marine station, is located so near bodies of fresh water that it has conducted valuable investigations of fresh-water fauna. In Germany all types of stations are represented. Proh- ably the best known fresh water station in the world is that on Lake Pliin in Holstein. f,g?V'i ing But why should the American scien- tist go to Europe to do research work, when we have equally good stations, such as Friday Harbor and XVoods-Holl? The biological station at Friday Har- bor is an outgrowth of the work in mar- ine cxploration carried on for many years by the University of XVashington and other institutions. In 1904, a mar- ine station was established at Friday Harbor on the Island of San juan, Arch- ipelago, and since then sessions have been held there every summer. It is un- der the direction of Professor Trevor Kincaid of the University of Vlfashing- ton, and Professor T. C. Frye and Pro- fessor XV. J. Baumgarten of the Univer- sity of Kansas. The purpose of this station is to en- able biologists to pursue their researches on marine life in one of the richest tields for biology on the coast of the United States-to enable teachers and students to study animals and plants in their nat- ural habitants, to serve the state of XVashington and the Northwest through the study of its commercial forms of marine animals and plants, and to serve as a meeting place for biologists to af- ford mutual inspiration and exchanges of ideas. i This station located in the northern section of Puget Sound, surrounded by waters unrivaled for, their wealth of ocean life, is an ideal place for the study of marine organisms, while the land Hora and fauna of the islands present a favorable opportunity for the study of many striking species of birds, plants, and insects. In the spring of 1910, a commodious building was constructed which contains upon the main floor a general laboratory for class work, the office of the director and a store-room for two large salt wa- ter aquaria. The second door is occu- pied hy a lecture room, and nine rooms for the convenience of persons engaged in research work. The third story is utilized as a store room and drying loft. The equipment of the Station includes microscopes and general laboratory