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diff --git a/30626.txt b/30626.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7060160 --- /dev/null +++ b/30626.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1999 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Birds Illustrated by Color Photograph, Volume +1, Number 2, February, 1897, by anonymous + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Birds Illustrated by Color Photograph, Volume 1, Number 2, February, 1897 + A Monthly Serial Designed to Promote Knowledge of Bird-Life + + +Author: anonymous + + + +Release Date: December 8, 2009 [eBook #30626] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIRDS ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR +PHOTOGRAPH, VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2, FEBRUARY, 1897*** + + +E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper, Anne Storer, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(http://www.pgdp.net). Some images were generously provided by Internet +Archive (http://www.archive.org). + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original lovely illustrations. + See 30626-h.htm or 30626-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30626/30626-h/30626-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30626/30626-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Title added. + + + + + + BIRDS. +ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY +================================ +VOL. I. FEBRUARY 1897 NO. 2 +================================ + + * * * * * + + + FROM: THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. + + _STATE OF NEW YORK_ + _Department of Public Instruction_ + _SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE_ + + _Albany_ December 26, 1896. + + [Illustration: (seal)] + _Stenographic Letter_ + Dictated by __________ + + + W. E. Watt, President &c., + Fisher Building, + 277 Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. + + My dear Sir: + + Please accept my thanks for a copy of the first publication of "Birds." + Please enter my name as a regular subscriber. It is one of the most + beautiful and interesting publications yet attempted in this direction. + It has other attractions in addition to its beauty, and it must win its + way to popular favor. + + Wishing the handsome little magazine abundant prosperity, + I remain + + Yours very respectfully, + [signature] + State Superintendent. + + + * * * * * + + + + + THE WONDERFUL + SINGER + PIANOS + + HONESTLY + CONSTRUCTED + + TONE + QUALITY + DURABILITY + + MANDOLIN + EFFECTS + PRODUCED AT WILL + + SINGER PIANO CO. + COR. JACKSON ST. & WABASH AVE. CHICAGO + + Please mention "BIRDS" when you write to Advertisers. + + + + + HERO BICYCLE MODEL FOR BOYS Diamond or + 1897 OR GIRLS Drop Frame + + GIVEN TO SUBSCRIBERS FOR "BIRDS." WRITE FOR PARTICULARS. + + 20-INCH + WHEELS FOR + 30 + SUBSCRIBERS + + 24-INCH [Illustration: IT'S A BEAUTY!] + WHEELS FOR + 35 + SUBSCRIBERS + + 26-INCH + WHEELS FOR + 40 + SUBSCRIBERS + + These Wheels are made by a responsible firm and are guaranteed by + the Home Rattan Co. Very best of material used throughout in the + construction. + + + + + The Crown Fountain Pen. + + AWARDED TWO MEDALS AND FOUR DIPLOMAS + AT WORLD'S FAIR, CHICAGO, 1893. + + The Pen is of Solid Gold + and the Workmanship One of + is of the [Illustration] These Pens + BEST Price $2.25 + Throughout. Given Away with + Three Yearly Subscriptions + to "BIRDS" + + ADDRESS ... + NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING CO. + FISHER BUILDING, CHICAGO, ILL. + + Please mention "BIRDS" when you write to Advertisers. + + + + + THE + AMERICAN COLLEGE of + ORATORY and ELOCUTION + + is the best place to prepare to become public speakers + and entertainers. A course of #32 Evening Lessons for + $5.00#. 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KAEMPFER, + + Taxidermist and + Bird Fancier + + BIRDS CAGES + GOLD FISH + AND + AQUARIA + + Mocking Bird Food, Bird Seeds, etc. + + TAXIDERMY IN ALL ITS BRANCHES AND A + FULL LINE OF TAXIDERMIST'S + MATERIALS. + + French Moss, Artificial Leaves, + Glass Eyes for Birds and Animals, + Oologist's and Entomologist's Supplies. + + 217 Madison Street near Franklin Street, + CHICAGO, ILL. + + + + + 1897 The Latest Improved and Best Bicycle Lamp + CHEAPEST HIGH GRADE + + + WEIGHT 12 OUNCES THE "STAY-LIT" PATENTS PENDING + HEIGHT 6 INCHES + + Burns Kerosene. + Packed Oil Font Prevents Leaking. + Burns 10 to 12 Hours. + Always Cool. + Perfected Construction. + + [Illustration] + + Impossible to Blow or Jar Out. + Original, New and Beautiful Designs. + Side Jewels. + Rigid Bracket. + PRICE $2.50 + + The "STAY-LIT" Lamp is made of the best grade of Brass highly Nickeled + and Polished. With all parts riveted, and easily cleaned. 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APPLETON & CO., Publishers + NEW YORK--CHICAGO. + CHICAGO OFFICE--243 Wabash Ave. + + + + + What would George Washington + think of + Mark Hanna? + + [Illustration] + + If you want to + know, read + #"SPIRITS + OF '76,"# + By FREDERICK + UPHAM ADAMS, + in last number of + + NEW OCCASIONS + + A magazine of Reform; 96 pages; $1.00 + a year; 10 cents a copy. No free samples, + but to any one sending us 6 2-cent + stamps we will mail a sample copy with + several reform books; over 300 pages + in all. Agents wanted. + + #Charles H. Kerr & Company, Publishers, + 56 Fifth Ave., Chicago.# + + + + + Buy Only the Best Presents for Children. + THE FINEST BLACKBOARD MADE. + + IMPROVED + + [Illustration] + + Indispensable as an element for the general + education of the children. This is not a toy, + but an Educator for the home. Contains Sixteen + Lessons on heavy cardboard: Writing, Drawing, + Marking-letters, Music, Animal Forms, etc. + Frame made of oak, 4 feet high and 2 feet wide. + The Board is reversible and can be used on both + sides. Has a desk attachment for writing. + Weighs 10 pounds, packed for shipment. + + Price $3.50 Agents Wanted. + Send for Agents Prices. + + THE VAN-BENSON COMPANY, + 84 Adams Street, CHICAGO, U.S.A. + + + + + "THE QUEEN" WOOD'S KITCHEN + CABINET. + + [Illustration] + + Has drawers for Linen, Spices, etc. + Receptacles for different kinds of Flour. + + #A Necessity. Price only $10.# + + THE QUEEN CABINET COMPANY, + Dept. ----, 212 Monroe St., CHICAGO. + + Descriptive matter mailed free to any address + on request. + + Please mention "BIRDS" when you write to Advertisers. + + + * * * * * + + + +BIRDS + +A MONTHLY + +ILLUSTRATED BY +COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY + +[Illustration: AMERICAN BLUE JAY.] + +NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY +OFFICE: FISHER BUILDING + + + + + +[Illustration: AMERICAN BLUE JAY.] + +THE BLUE JAY. + + +During about three-fourths of the year the American Jay is an extremely +tame, noisy and even obstrusive bird in its habits. As the breeding +season approaches he suddenly becomes silent, preparing the nest in +the most secluded parts of his native forests, and exercising all his +cunning to keep it concealed. He is omniverous but is especially fond +of eggs and young birds. The Jay may be regarded as eminently injurious +though in spring he consumes a number of insects to atone for his sins +of stealing fruit and berries in autumn. He is a professional nest +robber, and other birds are as watchful of him as is a mother of her +babe. He glides through the foliage of the trees so swiftly and +noiselessly that his presence is scarcely suspected until he has +committed some depredation. The Robin is his most wary foe, and when +the Jay is found near his nest will pursue him and drive him from the +neighborhood. He is as brave as he is active, however, and dashes boldly +in pursuit of his more plainly attired neighbors who venture to intrude +upon his domain. + +The Jay has a curious antipathy toward the owl, perching on trees +above it and keeping up a continual screeching. Some years ago an Ohio +gentleman was presented with a magnificent specimen of the horned owl, +which he kept for a time in a large tin cage. In favorable weather the +cage was set out of doors, when it would soon be surrounded by Jays, +much in the manner described of the Toucan, and an incessant screeching +followed, to which the owl appeared indifferent. They would venture +near enough to steal a portion of his food, the bars of his cage being +sufficiently wide apart to admit them. On one occasion, however, he +caught the tail of a Jay in his claws and left the tormentor without +his proud appendage. + +The Jay remains with us throughout the year. He is one of the wildest +of our birds, the shyest of man, although seeing him most. He makes no +regular migrations at certain seasons, but, unless disturbed, will live +out his life close to his favorite haunts. His wings show him to be +unfitted for extended flight. + +Jays are most easily discovered in the morning about sunrise on the tops +of young live oaks. Their notes are varied. Later in the day it is more +difficult to find them, as they are more silent, and not so much on the +tree tops as among the bushes. + +The Jays breed in woods, forests, orchards, preferring old and very +shady trees, placing their nests in the center against the body, or at +the bifurcation of large limbs. The nest is formed of twigs and roots; +the eggs are from four to six. + + +THE BLUE JAY. + + Something glorious, something gay, + Flits and flashes this-a-way! + 'Thwart the hemlock's dusky shade, + Rich in color full displayed, + Swiftly vivid as a flame-- + Blue as heaven and white as snow-- + Doth this lovely creature go. + What may be his dainty name? + "Only this"--the people say-- + "Saucy, chattering, scolding Jay!" + + + + +THE SWALLOW-TAILED INDIAN ROLLER. + + +Swallow-tailed Indian Rollers are natives of Northeastern Africa and +Senegambia, and also the interior of the Niger district. The bird is +so called from its way of occasionally rolling or turning over in its +flight, somewhat after the fashion of a tumbler pigeon. A traveller in +describing the habits of the Roller family, says: + +"On the 12th of April I reached Jericho alone, and remained there in +solitude for several days, during which time I had many opportunities +of observing the grotesque habits of the Roller. For several successive +evenings, great flocks of Rollers mustered shortly before sunset on some +dona trees near the fountain, with all the noise but without the decorum +of Rooks. After a volley of discordant screams, from the sound of which +it derives its Arabic name of "schurkrak," a few birds would start from +their perches and commence overhead a series of somersaults. In a moment +or two they would be followed by the whole flock, and these gambols +would be repeated for a dozen times or more. + +"Everywhere it takes its perch on some conspicuous branch or on the top +of a rock, where it can see and be seen. The bare tops of the fig trees, +before they put forth their leaves, are in the cultivated terraces, a +particularly favorite resort. In the barren Ghor I have often watched it +perched unconcernedly on a knot of gravel or marl in the plain, watching +apparently for the emergence of beetles from the sand. Elsewhere I have +not seen it settle on the ground. + +"Like Europeans in the East, it can make itself happy without chairs and +tables in the desert, but prefers a comfortable easy chair when it is to +be found. Its nest I have seen in ruins, in holes in rocks, in burrows, +in steep sand cliffs, but far more generally in hollow trees. The colony +in the Wady Kelt used burrows excavated by themselves, and many a hole +did they relinquish, owing to the difficulty of working it. So cunningly +were the nests placed under a crumbling, treacherous ledge, overhanging +a chasm of perhaps one or two hundred feet, that we were completely +foiled in our siege. We obtained a nest of six eggs, quite fresh, in +a hollow tree in Bashan, near Gadara, on the 6th of May. + +"The total length of the Roller is about twelve inches. The +Swallow-tailed Indian Roller, of which we present a specimen, differs +from the Europeon Roller only in having the outer tail feathers +elongated to an extent of several inches." + +[Illustration: SWALLOW-TAILED INDIAN ROLLER.] + + + + +THE RED HEADED WOODPECKER. + + +Perhaps no bird in North America is more universally known than the Red +Headed Woodpecker. He is found in all parts of the United States and is +sometimes called, for short, by the significant name of Red Head. His +tri-colored plumage, red, white and black, glossed with steel blue, is +so striking and characteristic, and his predatory habits in the orchards +and cornfields, and fondness for hovering along the fences, so very +notorious, that almost every child is acquainted with the Red Headed +Woodpecker. In the immediate neighborhood of large cities, where the old +timber is chiefly cut down, he is not so frequently found. Wherever +there is a deadening, however, you will find him, and in the dead tops +and limbs of high trees he makes his home. Towards the mountains, +particularly in the vicinity of creeks and rivers, these birds are +extremely numerous, especially in the latter end of summer. It is +interesting to hear them rattling on the dead leaves of trees or see +them on the roadside fences, where they flit from stake to stake. We +remember a tremendous and quite alarming and afterwards ludicrous +rattling by one of them on some loose tin roofing on a neighbor's house. +This occurred so often that the owner, to secure peace, had the roof +repaired. + +They love the wild cherries, the earliest and sweetest apples, for, +as is said of him, "he is so excellent a connoisseur in fruit, that +whenever an apple or pear is found broached by him, it is sure to be +among the ripest and best flavored. When alarmed he seizes a capital one +by striking his open bill into it, and bears it off to the woods." He +eats the rich, succulent, milky young corn with voracity. He is of a +gay and frolicsome disposition, and half a dozen of the fraternity are +frequently seen diving and vociferating around the high dead limbs of +some large trees, pursuing and playing with each other, and amusing the +passerby with their gambols. He is a comical fellow, too, prying around +at you from the bole of a tree or from his nesting hole therein. + +Though a lover of fruit, he does more good than injury. Insects are his +natural food, and form at least two thirds of his subsistence. He +devours the destructive insects that penetrate the bark and body of a +tree to deposit their eggs and larvae. + +About the middle of May, he begins to construct his nest, which is +formed in the body of large limbs of trees, taking in no material but +smoothing it within to the proper shape and size. The female lays six +eggs, of a pure white. The young appear about the first of June. About +the middle of September the Red Heads begin to migrate to warmer +climates, travelling at night time in an irregular way like a disbanded +army and stopping for rest and food through the day. + +The black snake is the deadly foe of the Red Head, frequently entering +his nest, feeding upon the young, and remaining for days in possession. + +"The eager school-boy, after hazarding his neck to reach the +Woodpecker's hole, at the triumphant moment when he thinks the nestlings +his own, strips his arm, launches it down into the cavity, and grasping +what he conceives to be the callow young, starts with horror at the +sight of a hideous snake, almost drops from his giddy pinnacle, and +retreats down the tree with terror and precipitation." + + + + +THE WOODPECKER. + +The Drummer Bird. + + +My dear girls and boys: + +The man who told me to keep still and look pleasant while he took my +picture said I might write you a letter to send with it. You say I +always keep on the other side of the tree from you. That is because +someone has told you that I spoil trees, and I am afraid that you will +want to punish me for it. I do not spoil trees. The trees like to have +me come to visit them, for I eat the insects that are killing them. +Shall I tell you how I do this? + +I cling to the tree with my strong claws so sharply hooked. The pointed +feathers of my tail are stiff enough to help hold me against the bark. +Then my breast bone is quite flat, so that I may press close to the +tree. When I am all ready you hear my r-r-rap--just like a rattle. My +head goes as quickly as if it were moved by a spring. Such a strong, +sharp bill makes the chips fly! The tiny tunnel I dig just reaches the +insect. + +Then I thrust out my long tongue. It has a sharp, horny tip, and has +barbs on it too. Very tiny insects stick to a liquid like glue that +covers my tongue. I suppose I must tell you that I like a taste of the +ripest fruit and grain. Don't you think I earn a little when I work so +hard keeping the trees healthy? + +I must tell you about the deep tunnel my mate and I cut out of a tree. +It is just wide enough for us to slip into. It is not straight down, but +bent, so that the rain cannot get to the bottom. There we make a nest of +little chips for our five white eggs. + +I should like to tell you one of the stories that some boys and girls +tell about my red head. You will find it on another page of the book. +Now I must fly away to peck for more bugs. + + Your loving friend, + WOODPECKER. + +[Illustration: RED HEADED WOODPECKER.] + + + + +MEXICAN MOT MOT. + + +Mot mots are peculiar to the new world, being found from Mexico +throughout the whole of Central America and the South American +continent. The general plumage is green, and the majority of the species +have a large racket at the end of the center tail feathers, formed by +the bird itself. + +The Houton, (so called from his note,) according to Waterson, ranks high +in beauty among the birds of Demerara. This beautiful creature seems to +suppose that its beauty can be increased by trimming its tail, which +undergoes the same operation as one's hair in a barber shop, using its +own beak, which is serrated, in lieu of a pair of scissors. As soon as +its tail is fully grown, he begins about an inch from the extremity of +the two longest feathers in it and cuts away the web on both sides of +the shaft, making a gap about an inch long. Both male and female wear +their tails in this manner, which gives them a remarkable appearance +among all other birds. + +To observe this bird in his native haunts, one must be in the forest +at dawn. He shuns the society of man. The thick and gloomy forests are +preferred by the Houton. In those far extending wilds, about day-break, +you hear him call in distinct and melancholy tone, "Houton, Houton!" +An observer says, "Move cautiously to the place from which the sound +proceeds, and you will see him sitting in the underwood, about a couple +of yards from the ground, his tail moving up and down every time he +articulates "Houton!"." + +The Mot Mot lives on insects and berries found among the underwood, and +very rarely is seen in the lofty trees. He makes no nest, but rears his +young in a hole in the sand, generally on the side of a hill. + +Mr. Osbert Salvin tells this curious anecdote: "Some years ago the +Zoological Society possessed a specimen which lived in one of the large +cages of the parrot house by itself. I have a very distinct recollection +of the bird, for I used every time I saw it to cheer it up a bit by +whistling such of its notes as I had picked up in the forests of +America. The bird always seemed to appreciate this attention, for +although it never replied, it became at once animated, hopped about the +cage, and swung its tail from side to side like the pendulum of a clock. +For a long time its tail had perfect spatules, but toward the end of its +life I noticed that the median feathers were no longer trimmed with such +precision, and on looking at its beak I noticed that from some cause or +other it did not close properly, gaped slightly at the tip, and had thus +become unfitted for removing the vanes of the feathers." + + + + +KING PARROT OR KING LORY. + + +Lory is the name of certain birds, mostly from the Moluccas and New +Guinea, which are remarkable for their bright scarlet or crimson +coloring, though also applied to some others in which the plumage is +chiefly green. Much interest has been excited by the discovery of +Dr. A. B. Meyer that the birds of this genus having a red plumage are +the females of those wearing green feathers. For a time there was much +difference of opinion on this subject, but the assertion is now +generally admitted. + +They are called "brush-tongued" Parrots. The color of the first plumage +of the young is still unsettled. This bird is a favorite among bird +fanciers, is readily tamed, and is of an affectionate nature. It can be +taught to speak very creditably, and is very fond of attracting the +attention of strangers and receiving the caresses of those whom it +likes. + +There are few things a parrot prefers to nuts and the stones of various +fruits. Wood says he once succeeded in obtaining the affections of a +Parisian Parrot, solely through the medium of peach stones which he +always saved for the bird and for which it regularly began to gabble as +soon as it saw him coming. "When taken freshly from the peach," he says, +"the stones are very acceptable to the parrot, who turns them over, +chuckling all the while to show his satisfaction, and picking all the +soft parts from the deep indentations in the stone." He used to crack +the stone before giving it to the bird, when his delight knew no bounds. +They are fond of hot condiments, cayenne pepper or the capsicum pod. If +a bird be ailing, a capsicum will often set it right again. + +The parrot is one of the hardiest of birds when well cared for and +will live to a great age. Some of these birds have been known to attain +an age of seventy years, and one seen by Vaillant had reached the +patriarchal age of ninety three. At sixty its memory began to fail, at +sixty-five the moult became very irregular and the tail changed to +yellow. At ninety it was a very decrepit creature, almost blind and +quite silent, having forgotten its former abundant stock of words. + +A gentleman once had for many years a parrot of seemingly rare +intelligence. It was his custom during the summer to hang the parrot's +cage in front of his shop in a country village, where the bird would +talk and laugh and cry, and condole with itself. Dogs were his special +aversion and on occasions when he had food to spare, he would drop it +out of the cage and whistle long and loud for them. When the dogs had +assembled to his satisfaction he would suddenly scream in the fiercest +accents, "Get out, dogs!" and when they had scattered in alarm his +enjoyment of it was demonstrative. This parrot's vocabulary, however, +was not the most refined, his master having equipped him with certain +piratical idioms. + +According to authority, the parrot owner will find the health of his pet +improved and its happiness promoted by giving it, every now and then, a +small log or branch on which the mosses and lichens are still growing. +Meat, fish, and other similar articles of diet are given with evil +effects. + +It is impossible for anyone who has only seen these birds in a cage or +small inclosure to conceive what must be the gorgeous appearance of a +flock, either in full flight, and performing their various evolutions, +under a vertical sun, or sporting among the superb foliage of a tropical +forest which, without these, and other brilliant tenants, would present +only a solitude of luxuriant vegetation. + + + + +[Illustration: KING PARROT.] + + + + +THE AMERICAN ROBIN. + +The Bird of the Morning. + + +Yes, my dear readers, I am the bird of the morning. Very few of you rise +early enough to hear my first song. By the time you are awake our little +ones have had their breakfast, Mrs. Robin and I have had our morning +bath and we are all ready to greet you with our morning song. + +I wonder if any of you have seen our nest and can tell the color of the +eggs that Mrs. Robin lays. Some time I will let you peep into the nest +and see them, but of course you will not touch them. + +I wonder, too, if you know any of my cousins--the Mocking bird, the +Cat-bird or the Brown Thrush--I think I shall ask them to have their +pictures taken soon and talk to you about our gay times. + +Did you ever see one of my cousins on the ground? I don't believe you +can tell how I move about. Some of you may say I run, and some of you +may say I hop, and others of you may say I do both. Well, I'll tell you +how to find out. Just watch me and see. My little friends up north won't +be able to see me though until next month, as I do not dare leave the +warm south until Jack Frost leaves the ground so I can find worms to +eat. + +I shall be about the first bird to visit you next month and I want you +to watch for me. When I do come it will be to stay a long time, for I +shall be the last to leave you. Just think, the first to come and last +to leave. Don't you think we ought to be great friends? Let us get +better acquainted when next we meet. Your friend, + + ROBIN. + + + How do the robins build their nest? + Robin Red Breast told me, + First a wisp of yellow hay + In a pretty round they lay; + Then some shreds of downy floss, + Feathers too, and bits of moss, + Woven with a sweet, sweet song, + This way, that way, and across: + That's what Robin told me. + + Where do the robins hide their nest? + Robin Red Breast told me, + Up among the leaves so deep, + Where the sunbeams rarely creep, + Long before the winds are cold, + Long before the leaves are gold + Bright-eyed stars will peep and see + Baby Robins--one, two, three: + That's what Robin told me. + + + + +THE AMERICAN ROBIN. + +"Come, sweetest of the feathered throng." + + +Our American Robin must not be confounded with the English Robin +Redbreast, although both bear the same name. It is the latter bird in +whose praise so much has been written in fable and song. The American +Robin belongs to the Thrush family; the Mocking bird, Cat-bird and Brown +Thrush, or Thrasher, being other familiar children. In this family, bird +organization reaches its highest development. This bird is larger than +his English cousin the Redbreast and many think has a finer note than +any other of the Thrush family. + +The Robin courts the society of man, following close upon the plow and +the spade and often becoming quite tame and domestic. It feeds for a +month or two on strawberries and cherries, but generally on worms and +insects picked out of the ground. It destroys the larvae of many insects +in the soil and is a positive blessing to man, designed by the Creator +for ornament and pleasure, and use in protecting vegetation. John +Burroughs, the bird lover, says it is the most native and democratic of +our birds. + +It is widely diffused over the country, migrating to milder climates in +the Winter. We have heard him in the early dawn on Nantucket Island +welcoming the coming day, in the valleys of the Great and the little +Miami, in the parks of Chicago, and on the plains of Kansas, his song +ever cheering and friendly. It is one of the earliest heralds of Spring, +coming as early as March or April, and is one of the latest birds to +leave us in Autumn. Its song is a welcome prelude to the general concert +of Summer. + + "When Robin Redbreast sings, + We think on budding Springs." + +The Robin is not one of our most charming songsters, yet its carol is +sweet, hearty and melodious. Its principal song is in the morning +before sunrise, when it mounts the top of some tall tree, and with its +wonderful power of song, announces the coming of day. When educated, it +imitates the sounds of various birds, and even sings tunes. It must be +amusing to hear it pipe out so solemn a strain as Old Hundred. + +It has no remarkable habits. It shows considerable courage and anxiety +for its young, and is a pattern of propriety when keeping house and +concerned with the care of its offspring. Two broods are often reared +out of the same nest. In the Fall these birds become restless and +wandering, often congregating in large flocks, when, being quite fat, +they are much esteemed as food. + +The Robin's nest is sometimes built in a corner of the porch, but +oftener it is saddled on the horizontal limb of an orchard tree. It is +so large and poorly concealed that any boy can find it, yet it is seldom +molested. The Robin is not a skillful architect. The masonry of its nest +is rough and the material coarse, being composed largely of leaves or +old grass, cemented with mud. The eggs number four to six and are +greenish blue in color. + +An observer tells the following story of this domestic favorite: + +"For the last three years a Robin has nested on a projecting pillar that +supports the front piazza. In the Spring of the first year she built her +nest on the top of the pillar--a rude affair--it was probably her first +effort. The same season she made her second nest in the forks of an Oak, +which took her only a few hours to complete. + +[Continued page 59.] + +[Illustration: AMERICAN ROBIN.] + + + + +[Illustration: MEXICAN MOT MOT.] + + + + +THE AMERICAN ROBIN. (Continued) + +"She reared three broods that season; for the third family she returned +to the piazza, and repaired the first nest. The following Spring she +came again to the piazza, but selected another pillar for the site of +her domicile, the construction of which was a decided improvement upon +the first. For the next nest she returned to the Oak and raised a second +story on the old one of the previous year, but making it much more +symmetrical than the one beneath. The present season her first dwelling +was as before, erected on a pillar of the piazza--as fine a structure as +I ever saw this species build. When this brood was fledged she again +repaired to the Oak, and reared a third story on the old domicile, using +the moss before mentioned, making a very elaborate affair, and finally +finishing up by festooning it with long sprays of moss. This bird and +her mate were quite tame. I fed them with whortleberries, which they +seemed to relish, and they would come almost to my feet to get them. + +The amount of food which the young robin is capable of absorbing is +enormous. A couple of vigorous, half-grown birds have been fed, and in +twelve hours devoured ravenously, sixty-eight earth worms, weighing +thirty-four pennyweight, or forty-one per cent more than their own +weight. A man at this rate should eat about seventy pounds of flesh per +day, and drink five or six gallons of water. + +The following poem by the good Quaker poet Whittier is sweet because +_he_ wrote it, interesting because it recites an old legend which +incidentally explains the color of the robin's breast, and unique +because it is one of the few poems about our American bird. + + +THE ROBIN. + + My old Welsh neighbor over the way + Crept slowly out in the sun of spring, + Pushed from her ears the locks of gray, + And listened to hear the robin sing. + + Her grandson, playing at marbles, stopped, + And--cruel in sport, as boys will be-- + Tossed a stone at the bird, who hopped + From bough to bough in the apple tree. + + "Nay!" said the grandmother; "have you not heard, + My poor, bad boy! of the fiery pit, + And how, drop by drop, this merciful bird + Carries the water that quenches it? + + "He brings cool dew in his little bill, + And lets it fall on the souls of sin: + You can see the mark on his red breast still + Of fires that scorch as he drops it in. + + "My poor Bron rhuddyn! my breast-burned bird, + Singing so sweetly from limb to limb, + Very dear to the heart of Our Lord + Is he who pities the lost like Him." + + "Amen!" I said to the beautiful myth; + "Sing, bird of God, in my heart as well: + Each good thought is a drop wherewith + To cool and lessen the fires of hell. + + "Prayers of love like rain-drops fall, + Tears of pity are cooling dew, + And dear to the heart of Our Lord are all + Who suffer like Him in the good they do." + + + + +THE KINGFISHER. + + +Dear Children: + +I shall soon arrive from the south. I hear that all the birds are going +to tell stories to the boys and girls. + +I have never talked much with children myself for I never really cared +for people. They used to say that the dead body of a Kingfisher kept +them safe in war and they said also that it protected them in lightning. + +Even now in some places in France they call us the moth birds, for they +believe that our bodies will keep away moths from woolen cloth. + +I wish that people would not believe such things about us. Perhaps you +cannot understand me when I talk. You may think that you hear only a +child's rattle. + +Listen again! It is I, the Kingfisher. That sound is my way of talking. +I live in the deep woods. I own a beautiful stream and a clear, cool +lake. Oh, the little fish in that lake are good enough for a king to +eat! I know, for I am a king. + +You may see me or some of my mates near the lake any pleasant day. +People used to say that we always brought pleasant weather. That is a +joke. It is the pleasant weather that always brings us from our homes. +When it storms or rains we cannot see the fish in the lake. Then we may +as well stay in our nests. + +My home once belonged to a water rat. He dug the fine hall in the gravel +bank in my stream. It is nearly six feet long. The end of it is just the +kind of a place for a nest. It is warm, dry and dark. In June my wife +and I will settle down in it. By that time we shall have the nest well +lined with fish bones. We shall put in some dried grass too. The fish +bones make a fine lining for a nest. You know we swallow the fish whole, +but we save all the bones for our nest. + +I shall help my wife hatch her five white eggs and shall try in every +way to make my family safe. + +Please tell the people not to believe those strange things about me and +you will greatly oblige, + + A neighbor, + THE KINGFISHER. + + [Illustration: KINGFISHER. + Copyrighted by + Nature Study Pub. Co., 1897, Chicago.] + + + + +THE KINGFISHER. + +The Lone Fisherman. + + +The American species belongs to the true group of Kingfishers. It +occupies the whole continent of North America and although migrating in +the north, he is a constant resident of our southern states. The belted +Kingfisher is the only variety found along the inland streams of the +United States. Audubon declares that "belted" should apply only to the +female, however. + +Like most birds of brilliant plumage, the Kingfisher prefers a quiet +and secluded haunt. It loves the little trout streams, with wooded and +precipitous banks, the still ponds and small lakes, ornamental waters +in parks, where it is not molested, and the sides of sluggish rivers, +drains and mill-ponds. + +Here in such a haunt the bird often flits past like an indistinct gleam +of bluish light. Fortune may sometimes favor the observer and the bird +may alight on some twig over the stream, its weight causing it to sway +gently to and fro. It eagerly scans the shoal of young trout sporting in +the pool below, when suddenly it drops down into the water, and, almost +before the observer is aware of the fact, is back again to its perch +with a struggling fish in its beak. A few blows on the branch and its +prey is ready for the dexterous movement of the bill, which places it +in a position for swallowing. Sometimes the captured fish is adroitly +jerked into the air and caught as it falls. + +Fish is the principal food of the Kingfisher; but it also eats various +kinds of insects, shrimps, and even small crabs. It rears its young in +a hole, which is made in the banks of the stream it frequents. It is a +slatternly bird, fouls its own nest and its peerless eggs. The nesting +hole is bored rather slowly, and takes from one to two weeks to +complete. Six or eight white glossy eggs are laid, sometimes on the bare +soil, but often on the fish bones which, being indigestible, are thrown +up by the bird in pellets. + +The Kingfisher has a crest of feathers on the top of his head, which he +raises and lowers, especially when trying to drive intruders away from +his nest. + +The plumage is compact and oily, making it almost impervious to water. +The flesh is fishy and disagreeable to the taste, but the eggs are said +to be good eating. The wings are long and pointed and the bill longer +than the head. The voice is harsh and monotonous. + +It is said that few birds are connected with more fables than the +Kingfisher. The superstition that a dead Kingfisher when suspended +by the throat, would turn its beak to that particular point of the +compass from which the wind blew, is now dead. It was also supposed +to possess many astonishing virtues, as that its dried body would avert +thunderbolts, and if kept in a wardrobe would preserve from moths the +woolen stuffs and the like contained in it. + +Under the name of "halcyon," it was fabled by the ancients to build its +nest on the surface of the sea, and to have the power of calming the +troubled waves during its period of incubation; hence the phrase +"halcyon days." + +A pair of Kingfishers have had their residence in a bank at the south +end of Washington Park, Chicago, for at least three seasons past. We +have watched the Kingfisher from secluded spots on Long Island ponds and +tidal streams, where his peculiar laughing note is the same as that +which greets the ear of the fisherman on far inland streams on still +summer days. + + + + +THE BLACKBIRD. + + "I could not think so plain a bird + Could sing so fine a song." + + + One on another against the wall + Pile up the books--I am done with them all; + I shall be wise, if I ever am wise, + Out of my own ears, and of my own eyes. + + One day of the woods and their balmy light-- + One hour on the top of a breezy hill, + There in the sassafras all out of sight + The Blackbird is splitting his slender bill + For the ease of his heart: + Do you think if he said + "I will sing like this bird with the mud colored back + And the two little spots of gold over his eyes, + Or like to this shy little creature that flies + So low to the ground, with the amethyst rings + About her small throat--all alive when she sings + With a glitter of shivering green--for the rest, + Gray shading to gray, with the sheen of her breast + Half rose and half fawn-- + Or like this one so proud, + That flutters so restless, and cries out so loud, + With stiff horny beak and a top-knotted head, + And a lining of scarlet laid under his wings--" + Do you think, if he said, "I'm ashamed to be black!" + That he could have shaken the sassafras-tree + As he does with the song he was born to? not he! + --ALICE CARY. + + + "Do you ne'er think what wondrous beings these? + Do you ne'er think who made them--who taught + The dialect they speak, where melodies + Alone are the interpreters of thought? + Whose household words are songs in many keys, + Sweeter than instrument of man ere caught! + Whose habitation in the tree-tops even + Are half-way houses on the road to heaven! + + * * * * * + + "You call them thieves or pillagers; but know, + They are the winged wardens of your farms, + Who from the cornfields drive the insidious foe, + And from your harvest keep a hundred harms; + Even the blackest of them all, the crow, + Renders good service as your man-at-arms, + Crushing the beetle in his coat of mail, + And crying havoc on the slug and snail." + --FROM "THE BIRDS OF KILLINGWORTH." + + + + +[Illustration: BLUE MOUNTAIN LORY.] + +BLUE MOUNTAIN LORY. + + +This bird inhabits the vast plains of the interior of New South Wales. +It is one of the handsomest, not only of the Australian Parrots, but +takes foremost place among the most gorgeously dressed members of the +Parrot family that are to be met with in any part of the world. It +is about eleven or twelve inches in length. The female cannot with +certainty be distinguished from her mate, but is usually a very little +smaller. The Lory seldom descends to the ground, but passes the greater +part of its life among the gum trees upon the pollen and nectar on which +it mainly subsists. In times of scarcity, however, it will also eat +grass seeds, as well as insects, for want of which it is said, it often +dies prematurely when in captivity. + +Dr. Russ mentions that a pair obtained from a London dealer in 1870 for +fifty dollars were the first of these birds imported, but the London +Zoological Society had secured some of them two years before. + +Despite his beauty, the Blue Mountain Lory is not a desirable bird to +keep, as he requires great care. A female which survived six years in an +aviary, laying several eggs, though kept singly, was fed on canary seed, +maize, a little sugar, raw beef and carrots. W. Gedney seems to have +been peculiarly happy in his specimens, remarking, "But for the terribly +sudden death which so often overtakes these birds, they would be the +most charming feathered pets that a lady could possess, having neither +the power nor inclination to bite savagely." The same writer's +recommendation to feed this Lory exclusively upon soft food, in which +honey forms a great part, probably accounts for his advice to those +"whose susceptible natures would be shocked" by the sudden death of +their favorite, not to become the owner of a Blue Mountain Lory. + +Like all the parrot family these Lories breed in hollow boughs, where +the female deposits from three to four white eggs, upon which she sits +for twenty-one days. The young from the first resemble their parents +closely, but are a trifle less brilliantly colored. + +They are very active and graceful, but have an abominable shriek. The +noise is said to be nearly as disagreeable as the plumage is beautiful. +They are very quarrelsome and have to be kept apart from the other +parrots, which they will kill. Other species of birds however, are not +disturbed by them. It is a sort of family animosity. They have been bred +in captivity. + +The feathers of the head and neck are long and very narrow and lie +closely together; the claws are strong and hooked, indicating their tree +climbing habits. Their incessant activity and amusing ways make these +birds always interesting to watch. + + + + +THE RED WING BLACK BIRD. + +The Bird of Society. + + The blackbirds make the maples ring + With social cheer and jubilee; + The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee.--EMERSON. + + +The much abused and persecuted Red Wing Black Bird is found throughout +North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific; and it breeds more +or less abundantly wherever found. In New England it is generally +migratory, though instances are on record where a few have been known +to remain throughout the winter in Massachusetts. Passing, in January, +through the lower counties of Virginia, one frequently witnesses the +aerial evolutions of great numbers of these birds. Sometimes they appear +as if driven about like an enormous black cloud carried before the wind, +varying every moment in shape. Sometimes they rise suddenly from the +fields with a noise like thunder, while the glittering of innumerable +wings of the brightest vermillion, amid the black cloud, occasion a very +striking effect. At times the whole congregated multitude will suddenly +alight in some detached grove and commence one general concert, that can +plainly be distinguished at the distance of more than two miles. With +the Redwings the whole winter season seems one continued carnival. They +find abundant food in the old fields of rice, buckwheat and grain, and +much of their time is spent in aerial movements, or in grand vocal +performances. + +The Redwings, for their nest, always select either the borders of +streams or low marshy situations, amongst thick bunches of reeds. One +nest was found built on a slender sapling at the distance of fourteen +feet from the ground. The nest was pensile, like that of the Baltimore +Oriole. + +They have from one to three or more broods in a season, according to +locality. + +In the grain growing states they gather in immense swarms and commit +havoc, and although they are shot in great numbers, and though their +ranks are thinned by the attacks of hawks, it seems to have but little +effect upon the survivors. + +On the other hand, these Black Birds more than compensate the farmer +for their mischief by the benefit they confer in the destruction of grub +worms, caterpillars, and various kinds of larvae, the secret and deadly +enemies of vegetation. It has been estimated the number of insects +destroyed by these birds in a single season, in the United States, to +be twelve thousand millions. + +The eggs average about an inch in length. They are oval in shape, have a +light bluish ground, and are marbled, lined and blotched with markings +of light and dark purple and black. + + +BLACKBIRD. + + 'Tis a woodland enchanted! + By no sadder spirit + Than blackbirds and thrushes, + That whistle to cheer it + All day in the bushes, + This woodland is haunted; + And in a small clearing, + Beyond sight or hearing + Of human annoyance, + The little fount gushes.--LOWELL. + +[Illustration: RED-WING BLACK BIRD.] + + + + +THE BIRD OF SOCIETY. + + +The blackbird loves to be one of a great flock. He talks, sings or +scolds from morning until night. He cannot keep still. He will only stay +alone with his family a few months in the summer. That is the reason he +is called the "Bird of Society." When he is merry, he gaily sings, +"Conk-quer-ree." When he is angry or frightened he screams, "Chock! +Chock!" When he is flying or bathing he gives a sweet note which sounds +like ee-u-u. He can chirp--chick, check, chuck, to his little ones as +softly as any other bird. But only his best friends ever hear his +sweetest tones, for the Blackbirds do not know how to be polite. They +all talk at once. That is why most people think they only scream and +chatter. Did you ever hear the blackbirds in the cornfields? If the +farmers thought about it perhaps they would feel that part of every corn +crop belongs to the Blackbirds. When the corn is young, the farmer +cannot see the grubs which are eating the young plants. The Blackbirds +can. They feed them to their babies--many thousands in a day. That is +the way the crops are saved for the farmer. But he never thinks of that. +Later when the Blackbirds come for their share of the corn the farmer +says, "No, they shall not have my corn. I must stop that quickly." +Perhaps the Blackbirds said the same thing to the grubs in the spring. +It is hard to have justice for everyone. + +In April the Blackbird and his mate leave the noisy company. They seek +a cosy home near the water where they can be quiet until August. They +usually choose a swampy place among low shrubs and rushes. Here in the +deep nest of coarse grass, moss and mud the mother bird lays her five +eggs. They are very pretty--light blue with purple and black markings. +Their friends say this is the best time to watch the blackbirds. In the +flock they are all so much alike we cannot tell one from another. You +would like to hear of some of the wise things Blackbirds do when they +are tame. + +One friend of the birds turned her home into a great open bird cage. Her +chair was the favorite perch of her birds. She never kept them one +minute longer than they wanted to stay. Yet her home was always full. +This was Olive Thorne Miller. If you care to, you might ask mother to +get "Bird Ways" and read you what she says about this "bird of society" +and the other birds of this book. + + + + +THE AMERICAN RED BIRD. + + +American Red Birds are among our most common cage birds, and are very +generally known in Europe, numbers of them having been carried over both +to France and England. Their notes are varied and musical; many of them +resembling the high notes of a fife, and are nearly as loud. They are in +song from March to September, beginning at the first appearance of dawn +and repeating successively twenty or thirty times, and with little +intermission, a favorite strain. + +The sprightly figure and gaudy plumage of the Red Bird, his vivacity, +strength of voice, and actual variety of note, and the little expense +with which he is kept, will always make him a favorite. + +This species is more numerous to the east of the great range of the +Alleghenies, but is found in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and is numerous in +the lower parts of the Southern States. In January and February they +have been found along the roadsides and fences, hovering together in +half dozens, associating with snow birds, and various kinds of sparrows. +In the northern states they are migratory, and in the southern part of +Pennsylvania they reside during the whole year, frequenting the borders +of rivulets, in sheltered hollows, covered with holly, laurel, and other +evergreens. They love also to reside in the vicinity of fields of Indian +corn, a grain that constitutes their chief and favorite food. The seeds +of apples, cherries, and other fruit are also eaten by them, and they +are accused of destroying bees. + +Early in May the Red Bird begins to prepare his nest, which is very +often fixed in a holly, cedar or laurel bush. A pair of Red Birds in +Ohio returned for a number of years to build their nest in a honeysuckle +vine under a portico. They were never disturbed and never failed to rear +a brood of young. The nest was constructed of small twigs, dry weeds, +slips of vine bark, and lined with stalks of fine grass. Four eggs of +brownish olive were laid, and they usually raised two broods in a +season. + +In confinement they fade in color, but if well cared for, will live to +a considerable age. They are generally known by the names: Red Bird, +Virginia Red Bird, Virginia Nightingale, and Crested Red Bird. It is +said that the female often sings nearly as well as the male. + + +THE REDBIRDS. + + Two Redbirds came in early May, + Flashing like rubies on the way; + Their joyous notes awoke the day, + And made all nature glad and gay. + + Thrice welcome! crested visitants; + Thou doest well to seek our haunts; + The bounteous vine, by thee possessed, + From prying eyes shall keep thy nest. + + Sing to us in the early dawn; + 'Tis then thy scarlet throats have drawn + Refreshing draughts from drops of dew, + The enchanting concert to renew. + + No plaintive notes, we ween, are thine; + They gurgle like a royal wine; + They cheer, rejoice, they quite outshine + Thy neighbor's voice, tho' it's divine. + + Free as the circumambient air + Do thou remain, a perfect pair, + To come once more when Proserpine + Shall swell the buds of tree and vine. + --C. C. M. + + [Illustration: CARDINAL.] + +THE RED BIRD. + + + Is it because he wears a red hat, + That we call him the Cardinal Bird? + Or is it because his voice is so rich + That scarcely a finer is heard? + + 'Tis neither, but this--I've guessed it, I'm sure-- + His dress is a primary color of Nature. + It blends with the Oriole's golden display, + And the garment of Blue Bird completes the array. + --C. C. M. + + + * * * * * + + + + + ATTEND THE BEST. + CHICAGO BUSINESS COLLEGE + Wabash Ave. & Randolph St. + + [Illustration] + + Elegant new building. Finer apartments than any other Commercial School + in the United States. Thorough courses in BUSINESS, SHORTHAND and ENGLISH. + Day and Evening Sessions. 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BLACK, ESQ., + Chicago, Ill. + +Dear Sir: I am very much obliged for the copy of "Birds" that has just +come to hand. It should be in the hands of every primary and grammar +teacher. I send herewith copy of "List of San Francisco Teachers." + + Very respectfully, + M. BABCOCK. + + + LINCOLN, NEB., February 9, 1897. + + W. J. BLACK, + Chicago, Ill. + +Dear Sir: The first number of your magazine, "Birds," is upon my desk. I +am highly pleased with it. It will prove a very serviceable +publication--one that strikes out along the right lines. For the purpose +intended, it has, in my opinion, no equal. It is clear, concise, and +admirably illustrated. + + Very respectfully, + W. R. JACKSON, + State Superintendent Public Instruction. + + + NORTH LIMA, OHIO, February 1, 1897. + + MR. W. E. WATT, + +Dear Sir: Sample copy of "Birds" received. All of the family delighted +with it. We wish it unbounded success. It will be an excellent +supplement to "In Birdland" in the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle, and I +venture Ohio will be to the front with a good subscription list. I +enclose list of teachers. + + Very truly, + C. M. L. ALTDOERFFER, + Township Superintendent. + + + MILWAUKEE, January 30, 1897. + + NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY, + 227 Dearborn Street, Chicago. + +Gentlemen: I acknowledge with pleasure the receipt of your publication, +"Birds," with accompanying circulars. I consider it the best on the +subject in existence. I have submitted the circulars and publication to +my teachers, who have nothing to say but praise in behalf of the +monthly. + + JULIUS TORNEY, + Principal 2nd Dist. 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