Great Nebraska
Naturalists and ScientistsNebraska Ornithologists’ Union
Letters, 1904, April
1904, Apr. 8
APR 21 Ans’d
4/8 – 04 Eiche
Dear Sir: Can you inform me by card when the next Bulletin will be out and the amount of my dues. Will the number soon to be published be for the year 1903. Yours truly, J. L. Sloanaker Box 397 Carthage, Ill.
Home Newton, Ia. [illegible] 12 – 25 = 38 You 1-3 4-18
371-00121d
1904, Apr. 19
Lincoln, Nebr., Apr. 19, 1904.
Miss Edith Johnson, Weeping Water, Nebr.
Dear Madam:- The bird which you described in your letter of the 18th was a Coot or Mud hen one of our commonest and at the same time rather foolish birds, hence the peculiar actions mentioned by you. Tell your little brother that a rabbit has hair in its mouth because he is a relative of the pocket gopher and ground squirrel, who are furnished with cheek pouches or pockets. These pouches are formed by an infolding of the cheek skin and of course are hairy like the remainder of the head covering. I enclose herewith some descriptive matter concerning Nebraska birds which I thought might be of interest to you. Yours very truly,
371-00116b
1904, Apr. 21
A. T. Klopp, Pres. J. B. Redfield, Secy
Klopp & Bartlett Co. Printing, Lithographing Designing, Engraving and Blank-Book Making
Office Stationery Bank Supplies
Cor. 10th and Douglas Sts. Telephone 364.
Omaha, Neb. April 21, 1904
APR 26 Ans’d
Lawrence Bruner, Lincoln, Nebr.
Dear Sir: Your letter of April 19th received and in reply will say that we have the contract for printing the report of the State Board of Agriculture for 1903 with a time limit of 60 days, but the time limit does not commence until we have received the final copy, so that if we do not receive your copy immediately it will not make any difference to us as to the time limit as we have 60 days from the receipt of the final copy to complete the work. We will say, however that we have the matter nearly all up but yours and if you do not get the copy to us immediately, you will delay the work, as we expect to have all the composition done on this work by Monday, April 25th. Hoping that you will be able to forward it to us at once, we remain, Yours very truly, Klopp & Bartlett Co. A. T. Klopp
A.T.K.
371-00117a
1904, Apr. 21
Lincoln, Nebr., Apr. 21, 1904.
Mr. J. L. Sloanaker, 397, Carthage, Ill.
My Dear Sir;- Your card of recent date addressed to Mr. Eiche of this city has fallen into my hands. So near as I can tell at present the next Proceedings of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union will be printed some time during the summer or early fall, though we are now short of funds, having something like $400 tied up in back Proceedings. These we have decided to place on sale for which we hope to obtain sufficient funds to publish our next number, which will contain the proceedings of meetings 4 and 5.
By the way, Dr. Robt. H. Wolcott tells me that he has had some correspondence with you in the past concerning attendance at this institution. While I cannot definitely guarantee a position in connection with the department of Entomology and Ornithology by which a student might earn all or part of his expenses, the chances are very good for the right person, since I have had so many requests for men to fill positions in these lines that I was unable to supply the demand. During the past year four of my advanced students have secured positions bringing them from $1000 to $1200 a year and expenses, or what is practically the same thing. I am now looking around for another set to take their place. Wiht kindest regards, I remain, Yours very truly,
371-00121c
1904, Apr. 23
MAY 3 1904
Weeping Water, Nebr., April 23, 1904.
Prof. Bruner. Lincoln, Nebr.
Dear Sir: I thank you very much for answering my question about the bird that I saw. Yours truly, Edith Johnson
371-00116a
1904, Apr. 26
Lincoln, Nebr., Apr. 26, 1904.
Miss Jennie M. Grant, 2420 Harney St., Omaha.
Dear Madam:- I have your favor for April 25th concerning a new edition of my Birds of Nebr. In reply I am pleased to be able to inform you that there is now a complete revision of this paper in the hands of the printer. It has been prepared very carefully and instead of being a mere record of occurence will be a complete write up of the different birds reported from within our borders or anywhere near them. It also contains synoptic tables by the aid of which any bird can be determined. It is to be printed along with the annual report of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture. For the convenience of bird students an arrangement will be made whereby the bird paper can be obtainable separate from the other part of the report. For this separate it will be necessary to charge about .50 cents for paper, and .75 cents for the cloth bound. We expect this to be ready for distribution about the middle of June or the first of July. Yours very truly,
371-00118
1904, Apr. 26
Carthage, Ill. 4 – 26 – 04
APR 28 1904
Lawrence Bruner Dear Sir: Your letter received recently. To cash tied up in back Proceedings, I can help you out by taking Nos I & II and index if you will make me a good figure. I have spent this school year at Carthage College our church school, and have not made plans for next year. No one of the Profs. at the College are interested in Ornithology. If I should ever come to the Uni. I would not care so much to be helped with expenses as much as to have access to big collections, libraries, to meet personally the Ornithologists & perhaps accompany them in collecting trips for the Univ. Yours Respectfully, J. L. Sloanaker.
371-00121b
1904, Apr. 27
Lincoln, Nebr., Apr. 27, 1904.
Mr. L. Skow. Florence, Nebr.
My Dear Mr. Skow;- Mr. Wolcott, Swenk and myself have been going over my notes on Nebraska’s Birds and other records for the purpose of getting out an entirely new paper on birds. In doing so we have come across several records made by yourself of certain birds concerning which we would like to have a little more definte information. If you will kindly inform me when and where I could meet with you to go over such points, I would consider it a great favor. In this second Nebraska Birds we wish to be so careful that no errors shall appear. This second paper contains tables for determining each species and the exact status of each bird recognized as a Nebraska species is briefly noted so that one may know when it arrives, whether it breeds, comparative abundance, exact district, etc., making the little book a very desirable one for bird students of the state. It is now in the hands of the printer and any changes to be made must be attended to at the time of proof reading, possibly inside of two weeks. Hoping that you will have sufficient interest in the subject to give me the desired information at an early date, I remain, Yours very truly,
371-00119
1904, Apr. 27 (2)
Lincoln, Nebr., Apr. 27, 1904.
Miss Edith Tobbit, Librarian Omaha Public Library. Omaha, Nebr.
My Dear Madam;- Yours of the 16th addressed to Prof. J. A. Barrett of the State Historical Society has been referred to me. In reply I am able to inform you that there is now a complete revision of my former paper on Nebraska Birds in the hands of the printer. It has been very carefully prepared and instead of being a mere record of their occurence, will be a complete write up of the different birds reported from within our borders or any where near them. It also contains synoptic tables by the aid which any bird can be determined. It is to be printed along with the annual report of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture. For the convenience of bird students and librarians an arrangement will be made whereby the bird paper can be obtained separate from the other part of the report. For this separate it will be necessary to charge about .50 cents for paper bound and .75 for the cloth bound copies. We expect this to be ready for distribution about the middle of June or the first of July. Yours very truly,
371-00120
1904, Apr. 28
Lincoln, Nebr., Apr. 29, 1904.
J. S. Sloanaker, Carthage, Ill.
My Dear Sir;- Yours of the 26th instant received. Am glad to hear from you. I note that you say concerning your interest in Ornithology and that you would like to have an opportunity to examine the collections, libraries, etc., and to meet personally the ornithologists here at the University. This desire of yours would very easily be satisfied should you desire to come here and I think you could also give you opportunity to accompany field expeditions possibly with some chance of remuneration while engaged in this kind of work. I also note what you say concerning [illegible] of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Proceedings and will hand your card concerning these to the proper authorities Yours very truly,
371-00121a
1904, Apr. 30
MAY 3 1904
Falls City, Nebr. Apr 30 ’04. Dear Prof. Bruner:- Well, it is about time I am letting you know about the birds in this region. I am much disappointed, not with the locality, for it gives evidence of a veritable ornithologist’s paradise, but with the temporary conditions due to the high water. There is a lot of fine timber along the Nemaha but it cannot at present be approached to within a half mile, so I have been compelled to do most of the work up to this time in the little patches of timber along the Muddy Creek, and on the uplands. However the water is fast receding and I hope soon to get into the deep woods.
I have been keeping close migration notes, and to give you some idea of what has been doing this last week in arrivals, I will give some of my first seen dates. Apr 20. Lesser Yellowlegs. Semipalmated Sandpiper Apr 22. Junco last seen; also Pine Finch. Apr 23. House Wren (W) arr. Apr 24. Catbird, Chimney Swift, Bartramian’s Sandpiper arr. Apr. 25. Brown Thrasher, arr. Apr. 26. Orchard Oriole, Rosebreasted Grosbeak, Myrtle Warbler, Orange crowned Warbler, Tree Swallow arr. Apr 27. Sora, Kingbird, Grasshopper Sparrow, Northern Yellorthroat, Swamp Sparrow, Longbilled March Wren, arr. Apr. 28. Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, Redstart, Yellowthroated Vireo, Claycolored Sparrow, White throated & White crowned Sparrows, Chipping Sparrow arr.
Up to the 26th the cold wet weather kept back the middle migrants, but on that day and since they have been pouring in thick and fast. Some of them surprise me, but the whole list of Apr 28 are birds which will hardly reach Lincoln before the 2 or 3rd of May this year. It merely goes to show how little we really definitely know of these movements.
371-00122a
Until I can get to the deep woods I will occupy myself with getting the commoner birds which the University does not have, and try to fill up many of the gaps in the series.
As this is the last of the month I enclose my bill for April. The $6.00 is work I did at Lincoln before I left (up to Apr. 6) and the $5.20 the time I have put in here along with $1.20 expended for bobinette, primers, cotton, arsenic and thread, making in all $11.20. Of course I am but started, and next month will put in a great many more hours, so if you deem it desirable to “even up” by adding some hours to this month’s bill, say 50 hrs., why it might be well to do so.
I am banking on that Omaha trip, and unless I hear from you to the opposite, shall come home on the 12th to go up with the Lincoln folks. Shall I bring along the gun? It works fine with small shot but reloading goes slow because of the smallness of the wad cutter – as soon as Mockett gets the 45 cal cutter I wish you would send it to me. I got a Yellow-throated Vireo Thursday at fully 40 yards with 1 shot.
How is the “Manual” progressing? Give Wolcott my best regards and tell him if it is not too much trouble to drop me a card and let me know what the eastern authorities did with our determinations, as I am very curious about it. No doubt they squelched our Mosker and Sparrow hawk! I am paying particular care to find out as many of these subspecies problems as possible. Our House Wrens are all western, one yellowthroats brachidactyla and all the White-crowns I have yet seen are true leucophrys. The Field Sparrow is common but I have not yet been able to shoot a specimen. One that I saw in town seemed quite [illegible], but the song is not different from that of arenacia.
Say “Hello” to the girls for me and tell Ruth that if she should have occasion to print my lables to stick in a “Richardson County” and “Falls City.” I don’t remember whether we have “Rulo” or not. Well so long for this time, hope everything is going all O. K.
