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diff --git a/41141-0.txt b/41141-0.txt index 0d1d217..40efe93 100644 --- a/41141-0.txt +++ b/41141-0.txt @@ -1,40 +1,4 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Children's Book of Birds, by Olive Thorne Miller - -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: The Children's Book of Birds - -Author: Olive Thorne Miller - -Release Date: October 22, 2012 [EBook #41141] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41141 *** THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS @@ -8992,361 +8956,4 @@ Page 212, book number was added to Woodcock. 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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: The Children's Book of Birds - -Author: Olive Thorne Miller - -Release Date: October 22, 2012 [EBook #41141] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - -THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS - -[Illustration: BARN SWALLOW] - - - - - -THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS - -BY - -OLIVE THORNE MILLER - -WITH SIXTEEN COLORED PLATES AND MANY OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS - -[Illustration] - - BOSTON AND NEW YORK - HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY - The Riverside Press Cambridge - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1899 AND 1901, BY H. M. MILLER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - - - -PREFACE - - -THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS combines under a single cover the First and -Second Books of Birds, originally published in 1899 and 1901 -respectively and still popular with children in and out of school and -with other beginners in the study of birds. - -The book is intended to interest young people in the ways and habits of -birds and to stimulate them to further study. It has grown out of my -experience in talking to schools. From the youngest kindergarten scholar -to boys and girls of sixteen and eighteen, I have never failed to find -young people intensely interested so long as I would tell them about bow -the birds live. - -Some of the results of these talks that have come to my knowledge have -been astonishing and far-reaching, such as that of one boy of seven or -eight, who persuaded the village boys around his summer home to give up -taking eggs and killing birds, and watch them instead, and who was -dubbed "Professor" by his eager followers. The effect has always been to -make children love and respect the living bird. - -It has therefore seemed to me that what is needed at first is not the -science of ornithology,--however diluted,--but some account of the life -and habits, to arouse sympathy and interest in the living bird, neither -as a target nor as a producer of eggs, but as a fellow-creature whose -acquaintance it would be pleasant to make. - -Naturally I have drawn on my own observations for much of the matter -contained in this book, but these have been supplemented by consultation -of recognized authorities in the various fields of ornithology. - -In each bird family treated of in the Second Book I have given accounts -of species to be found in the South and West as well as in the Eastern -States, and I have selected the most common or typical species of each -family. In cases where it was possible, I have chosen species -represented in the different sections of the country, not only because -the family traits are better shown, but because it is more encouraging -to a beginner to become acquainted with birds he can see almost -anywhere. When familiar with these, he will be able to identify and -study the rarer species. - - OLIVE THORNE MILLER. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - FIRST BOOK - - I. WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW 1 - II. WHEN THEY COME IN THE SPRING 3 - - - THE NESTLING - - III. THE BIRD'S HOME 9 - IV. THE BABY BIRD 13 - V. HOW HE IS FED 17 - VI. HIS FIRST SUIT 21 - VII. HOW HE CHANGES HIS CLOTHES 25 - VIII. HIS FIRST FLIGHT 29 - IX. HIS EDUCATION 33 - X. SOME OF HIS LESSONS 37 - - - THE BIRD GROWN UP - - XI. THE BIRD'S LANGUAGE 43 - XII. WHAT HE EATS 48 - XIII. MORE ABOUT HIS FOOD 52 - XIV. WHERE HE SLEEPS 57 - XV. HIS TRAVELS 61 - XVI. HIS WINTER HOME 66 - XVII. HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS 70 - XVIII. HIS KINDNESS TO OTHERS 74 - XIX. HIS AFFECTIONS 78 - XX. HIS INTELLIGENCE 83 - - - HOW HE IS MADE - - XXI. HIS BODY 91 - XXII. HIS BEAK AND TONGUE 95 - XXIII. HIS EYES AND EARS 100 - XXIV. HIS FEET AND LEGS 105 - XXV. HIS WINGS AND TAIL 109 - XXVI. HIS DRESS 114 - XXVII. DIFFERENT COLORED SUITS 118 - - - HIS RELATIONS WITH US - - XXVIII. HOW HE WORKS FOR US 125 - XXIX. HOW TO ATTRACT HIM ABOUT OUR HOMES 131 - XXX. HOW TO STUDY HIM 136 - - -SECOND BOOK - - I. WHAT IS A BIRD FAMILY? 1 - II. THE THRUSH FAMILY 5 - American Robin 6 - Hermit Thrush 11 - III. THE KINGLET AND GNATCATCHER FAMILY 14 - Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14 - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 16 - IV. THE NUTHATCH AND CHICKADEE FAMILY 18 - White-breasted Nuthatch 18 - Red-breasted Nuthatch 20 - Chickadee 22 - Tufted Titmouse 24 - V. THE CREEPER FAMILY 27 - Brown Creeper 27 - VI. THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY (First Branch) 30 - House Wren 31 - VII. THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY (Second Branch) 34 - Mockingbird 34 - Catbird 37 - Thrasher 40 - VIII. THE DIPPER FAMILY 42 - American Dipper 42 - IX. THE WAGTAIL FAMILY 46 - Sprague's Pipit 46 - X. THE WARBLER FAMILY 49 - Yellow Warbler 50 - Oven-bird 52 - Yellow-breasted Chat 53 - XI. THE VIREO FAMILY 55 - Yellow-throated Vireo 56 - Warbling Vireo 57 - XII. THE SHRIKE FAMILY 59 - Loggerhead Shrike 59 - XIII. THE WAXWING FAMILY 63 - Cedar-bird 63 - Phainopepla 67 - XIV. THE SWALLOW FAMILY 69 - Barn Swallow 69 - Cliff Swallow, or Eave Swallow 72 - Purple Martin 72 - XV. THE TANAGER FAMILY 75 - Scarlet Tanager 75 - Summer Tanager 78 - Louisiana Tanager 78 - XVI. THE SPARROW AND FINCH FAMILY 80 - SPARROWS - Song Sparrow 81 - FINCHES - Goldfinch 82 - Towhee, or Chewink 84 - XVII. THE GROSBEAK BRANCH 86 - Rose-breasted Grosbeak 86 - Black-headed Grosbeak 88 - Cardinal Grosbeak, or Cardinal 88 - XVIII. THE CROSSBILL BRANCH 91 - American Crossbill 91 - White-winged Crossbill 92 - XIX. THE BLACKBIRD FAMILY 94 - MARSH BLACKBIRDS - Red-winged Blackbird 94 - Cowbird 98 - XX. THE MEADOW STARLINGS 100 - Meadowlark 100 - Western Meadowlark 102 - XXI. THE ORIOLE BRANCH 104 - Baltimore Oriole 104 - Orchard Oriole 107 - Arizona Hooded Oriole 108 - XXII. THE CROW-BLACKBIRD BRANCH 110 - Purple Grackle 112 - Bronzed Grackle 112 - Brewer's Blackbird 113 - XXIII. THE CROW FAMILY 117 - American Crow 117 - Blue Jay 121 - Steller's Jay 126 - American Magpie 126 - XXIV. THE LARK FAMILY 131 - Horned Lark 131 - Prairie Horned Lark 131 - XXV. THE FLYCATCHING FAMILY 135 - Kingbird 136 - Arkansas Kingbird 140 - Wood Pewee 140 - Western Wood Pewee 142 - XXVI. THE HUMMING FAMILY 143 - Ruby-throated Hummingbird 144 - Anna's Hummingbird 149 - XXVII. THE SWIFT FAMILY 150 - Chimney Swift 150 - XXVIII. THE GOATSUCKER FAMILY 155 - Whip-poor-will 155 - Chuck-will's-widow 157 - Poor-will 157 - Nighthawk 158 - XXIX. THE WOODPECKER FAMILY 160 - Northern Flicker 161 - Red-shafted Flicker 162 - Red-headed Woodpecker 165 - Californian Woodpecker 167 - XXX. THE KINGFISHER FAMILY 170 - Belted Kingfisher 170 - XXXI. THE CUCKOO FAMILY 174 - Yellow-billed Cuckoo 174 - XXXII. THE OWL FAMILY 178 - Screech Owl 180 - Burrowing Owl 182 - XXXIII. THE BARN OWL FAMILY 185 - American Barn Owl 185 - XXXIV. THE HAWK AND EAGLE FAMILY 188 - American Sparrow Hawk 189 - American Osprey, or Fish Hawk 190 - Bald Eagle 192 - XXXV. THE SCAVENGER FAMILY 194 - Turkey Vulture 194 - APPENDIX - Characters of the North American Representatives of the - Families mentioned in this Book 197 - INDEX 205 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - BARN SWALLOW (colored) _Frontispiece_ - - -FIRST BOOK - - BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND NEST (colored) 10 - REDSTARTS (FEMALE ON NEST) (colored) 14 - RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD--MALE, FEMALE, AND - NEST WITH YOUNG 18 - YOUNG WOOD THRUSH 22 - AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (colored) 26 - BLUEBIRD (colored) 38 - INDIGO-BIRD 46 - AMERICAN ROBIN (colored) 60 - CHEWINK 76 - HOUSE WREN 80 - FLICKER 86 - WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH 96 - LESSER YELLOWLEGS 106 - BROWN THRASHER 112 - BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER 120 - CEDAR-BIRD (colored) 126 - SCARLET TANAGER--MALE AND FEMALE 142 - - -SECOND BOOK - - HERMIT THRUSH 10 - RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 14 - CHICKADEE 22 - BROWN CREEPER (colored) 28 - CATBIRD 36 - AMERICAN DIPPER 42 - SPRAGUE'S PIPIT 46 - YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (colored) 52 - YELLOW-THROATED VIREO AND NEST 56 - LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 60 - SCARLET TANAGER (colored) 76 - ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (colored) 86 - CARDINAL 90 - RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD 94 - MEADOWLARK (colored) 100 - BLUE JAY 122 - AMERICAN MAGPIE (colored) 126 - DESERT HORNED LARK 132 - KINGBIRD (colored) 136 - NIGHTHAWK 158 - DOWNY WOODPECKER 166 - BELTED KINGFISHER (colored) 170 - YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO 174 - SCREECH OWL 180 - SPARROW HAWK 188 - AMERICAN OSPREY, OR FISH HAWK (colored) 192 - - Eight of the sixteen colored plates are from drawings - by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, and these are signed with - his name. The other colored plates and the - twenty-eight plain half-tones are from photographs of - mounted specimens, many of which are in the collection - of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, in Cambridge, - Massachusetts, and are reproduced by permission. - - The First Book also contains twenty cuts in the text. - - - - -FIRST BOOK - - - - -THE FIRST BOOK OF BIRDS - - - - -I - -WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW - - -BIRDS seem to be the happiest creatures on earth, yet they have none of -what we call the comforts of life. - -They have no houses to live in, no beds to sleep on, no breakfast and -dinner provided for them. - -This book is to tell something about them; where they live and what they -eat, where they sleep, how they get their beautiful dress, and many -other things. But no one can tell all about their lives and habits, for -no one knows all their ways. - -Men who study dead birds can tell how they are made, how their bones are -put together, and how many feathers there are in the wings and tail. Of -course it is well to know these things. But to see how birds live is -much more interesting than to look at dead ones. - -It is pleasant to see how mother birds build their nests, and how they -take care of their nestlings. It is charming to see the young ones when -they begin to fly, and to know how they are taught to find their food, -and to keep out of danger, and to sing, and everything young birds need -to know. - -Then when they are grown up, it is interesting to find out where they go -in winter, and why they do not stay with us all the year round. - -One who goes into the field to watch and study their ways will be -surprised to find how much like people they act. And after studying -living birds, he will never want to kill them. It will seem to him -almost like murder. - - - - -II - -WHEN THEY COME IN THE SPRING - - -IN the long, cold winter of the New England and Middle States, not many -birds are usually seen. In the cities there is always the English -sparrow, and in the country, now and then a chickadee, or a woodpecker, -or a small flock of goldfinches. - -But very early in the spring, long before grass is green, even while -snow is on the ground, the birds begin to come. - -Some morning a robin will appear, standing up very straight on a fence -or tree, showing his bright red breast and black cap, flirting his tail, -and looking as if he were glad to be back in his old home. - -Then perhaps the same day will come the hoarse chack of a blackbird, and -two or three will fly over and alight in a big bare tree, looking, it -may be, for a good place to build a bird city. - -Soon will be heard the sweet little song of the song sparrow or the -bluebird, and then we shall know that summer is coming, for these are -the first birds of spring. - -Day after day, as the snow melts away and the sunshine grows hotter, -more birds will come. One day a catbird or two, another day an oriole in -black and gold, and another day a pert little wren. So it will go on, -till by the time June comes in, all our birds will be back with us, very -busy, hopping around in our bushes and trees, making their nests all -about, and singing the whole day long. - -Almost the first thing every bird thinks of, when he comes to us, is -making the nest. For summer is the only time in his life that a bird has -a home. - -He does not need a house to live in. He cares nothing for a roof to -cover him, because when the sun is hot, he has the broad green leaves on -the trees to shade him. And when it rains his neat feather coat is like -a waterproof that lets the drops run off, leaving him warm and dry under -it. - -He does not need a dining-room, because he eats wherever he finds his -food, and he wants no kitchen, because he prefers his food raw. - -He has no use for a bedroom, because he can sleep on any twig; the whole -world is his bedroom. - -He cares nothing for closets and bureaus, because he has only one suit -of clothes at a time, and he washes and dries that without taking it -off. - -He wants no fire to keep him warm, for when it is too cold he spreads -his wings and flies to a warmer place. A bird has really no need of a -house,--excepting when he is a baby, before his eyes are open, or his -feathers have come, or his wings have grown. While he is blind, naked, -and hungry, he must have a warm, snug cradle. - -So when the bird fathers and mothers come in the spring the first thing -they do is to find good places and build nice cradles, for they are very -fond of their little ones. They spend the spring and summer in working -for them, keeping them warm, feeding them till they are grown up, and -then teaching them to fly and to take care of themselves, so that when -summer is gone they will be ready to go with the other birds to their -winter home. - - - - -THE NESTLING - - - - -III - -THE BIRD'S HOME - - -EACH bird mother has her own way of making the nest, but there is one -thing almost all of them try to do, and that is to hide it. - -They cannot put their little homes out in plain sight, as we do our -houses, because so many creatures want to rob them. Squirrels and snakes -and rats, and some big birds, and cats and many others, like to eat eggs -and young birds. - -So most birds try, first of all, to find good hiding-places. Some tiny -warblers go to the tops of the tallest trees, and hide the nest among -the leaves. Orioles hang the swinging cradle at the end of a branch, -where cats and snakes and naughty boys cannot come. Song sparrows tuck -the little home in a tuft of weeds, on the ground, and bobolinks hide it -in the deep grass. - -After a safe place is found, they have to get something to build of. -They hunt all about and gather small twigs, or grass stems, or fine -rootlets, and pull narrow strips of bark off the grapevines and the -birch-trees, or they pick up strings and horsehairs, and many other -things. Robins and swallows use mud. - -[Illustration: BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND NEST] - -As they go on building, the mother bird gets inside and turns around and -around to make it fit her form, and be smooth and comfortable for her to -sit in. - -When a nest is made, it must be lined. Then some birds go to the chicken -yard, and pick up feathers, and others find horsehairs. Some of them -pull off the soft down that grows on plants, or get bits of wool from -the sheep pasture, or old leaves from the woods, and make it soft and -warm inside. - -Some bird homes are only platforms, where it seems as if the eggs must -roll off, and others are deep burrows, or holes in the ground, where no -one can get in. Some are dainty baskets hung between two twigs, and -others are tiny cups of felt with lichens outside. - -Each species of bird builds in its own way. There are as many different -ways to make nests as there are kinds of birds to make them. - -Then after all the trouble birds have taken to build a nest, they seldom -use it a second time. If a pair have two broods in a season, they almost -always build a new one for each family. - -A few birds, such as eagles, owls, and sometimes orioles, and others, -repair the home and use it again, and woodpeckers sometimes nest in the -old holes. But generally, after the young birds have flown, we may be -sure the nest will not be wanted again. - -When the nest is finished, the eggs are laid in it, one by one. We all -know how pretty birds' eggs are. Some are snowy white, some are delicate -pink, and some blue. Many have tiny dots and specks on them, and a few -are covered with queer-looking streaks and lines. But pretty as they -are, I think no one would be so cruel as to take them away from the poor -little mother, if he remembered that her young ones are inside them, and -that she loves them as his own mother loves him. - -I have heard people say that birds do not care for their eggs. Let me -tell you what a little chickadee mother did when a man tried to steal -the eggs out of her nest. - -The nest was in a hole in an old stump, and the man could not get his -hand in, so he had to take them out one at a time with a little scoop. - -At first the mother flew at him and tried to drive him away. Then -chickadees and other birds who lived near came to help her. All flew -about his face with cries, so that he had to use one hand to keep them -away from his eyes. But still he went on taking out the eggs. - -At last the little mother was so wild with grief that she dashed into -the hole and sat there in the doorway, right before his face. He could -not get another egg without hurting her, and he was ashamed to do that. - -This was as brave in the tiny creature as it would be for a human mother -to throw herself before a fierce, hungry tiger. Do you think she did not -care for her eggs? - - - - -IV - -THE BABY BIRD - - -A BABY bird, as you know, always comes out of an egg. And beautiful as -these eggs are, they are most interesting when you think that each one -holds a tiny bird. - -Eggs are not all alike, of course. One the size of a bean is large -enough to hold a hummingbird baby, till it is old enough to come out. -But the young ostrich needs a shell nearly as big as your head. So there -are all sizes of eggs to fit the different sizes of birds. - -If you should break a fresh egg you would not see a bird, for it would -not be formed at that time. After the egg is laid in its soft bed, it -has to be kept warm for many days, and that is why the mother bird sits -on her nest so quietly. She is keeping the eggs warm, so that the little -ones will form and grow, till they are as big as the shells can hold. - -While the mother is sitting her mate does all he can to help, though -each species has its own way. The blue jay brings food to his mate, so -that she need not leave the nest at all, and many others do so. But the -kingbird father simply watches the nest to protect it while the mother -goes for food. A redstart gets into the nest himself, to keep the eggs -warm while his mate is gone, and a goldfinch coaxes his mate to go off -with him for a lunch, leaving nest and eggs to take care of themselves. - -[Illustration: REDSTARTS (FEMALE ON NEST)] - -Another thing the father birds do is to sing. This is the time when we -hear so much bird song. The singers have little to do but to wait, and -so they please themselves, and their mates, and us too, by singing a -great deal. - -When the little birds begin to be cramped, and find their cradle too -tight, they peck at the shell with a sort of tooth that grows on the end -of the beak, and is called the "egg tooth." This soon breaks the shell, -and they come out. Then the mother or father carefully picks up the -pieces of shell, carries them off, and throws them away, leaving only -the little ones in the nest. Perhaps you have found these broken shells -on the ground sometimes, and could not guess how they came there. When -the birdlings break out of their prison they do not all look the same. -Ducks and geese and chickens and quails, and other birds who live on -the ground, as well as hawks and owls, are dressed in pretty suits of -down. They have their eyes open, and the ground birds are ready to run -about at once. - -A man who studied birds, once saw a young duck get its first suit of -down. He picked up the egg just as the little bird inside was trying to -get out. In a few minutes the shell fell apart, and out stepped the -duckling on his hand. It seemed to be covered with coarse black hairs, -which in a moment began to burst open, one by one, and out of each came -a soft fluff of down. So in a few minutes, while the man stood there and -held him, the little duck was all covered with his pretty dress. - -But most birds hatched in nests in trees and bushes, like robins and -bluebirds, are very different. When they come out of their shells they -are naked, have their eyes shut, and look as if they were nearly all -mouth. A young hummingbird looks about as big as a honey bee, and a -robin baby not much bigger than the eggshell he came out of. - -They lie flat down in the nest, seeming to be asleep most of the time. -All they want is to be warm and to be fed. - -To keep them warm, the mother sits on them a great part of the time, and -for the first few days of their lives, the father often brings most of -the food. Sometimes he gives it to the mother, and she feeds the little -ones. But sometimes she gets off the nest, and flies away to rest, and -get something to eat for herself, while he feeds the nestlings. - -There is one bird father who--it is thought--never comes to the nest, -either to watch the eggs or to help feed the nestlings. That is our -hummingbird, the ruby throat. - -We do not know the reason for this, and it is not fair to say hard -things about him until we do. It may be that he thinks his shining ruby -would show the hiding-place of the nest, or it may be that the little -mother is not willing to have any help. I think this last is the real -reason, for she has a great deal of spirit, and always drives away -others from her feeding-places. - -Young birds grow very fast, and soon feathers begin to come out all over -them. They are not very pretty at this time. - - - - -V - -HOW HE IS FED - - -SOON after the young bird comes out of the egg, he begins to be hungry. -All day long, whenever the father or mother comes near, he opens his -great mouth as wide as he can, to have it filled, and the moment he gets -his voice he cries for food. - -Then the old birds have to work hard. Three or four hungry nestlings can -keep both father and mother busy from morning till night, hunting for -caterpillars and beetles and grubs and other things to feed them. It -seems as if the little fellows never could get enough to eat. Each -swallow baby wants seven or eight hundred small flies every day, and a -baby robin needs more earthworms in a day than you can hold in your hand -at once. - -At this time you will see robins hunting over the lawn, and carrying -great beakfuls of worms up to the nest. Bluebirds you will find looking -in the grass, and sparrows hopping about on the ground, all seeking -soft worms and grubs and insects for the nestlings; and they are so busy -they do not get much time for singing. - -[Illustration: RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD] - -At this time the orioles go all over the orchard trees looking for tiny -worms, and little warblers seek them under every leaf. - -Woodpeckers find the insects hidden behind the bark of trees, by cutting -holes through it. Chickadees and nuthatches pick the tiniest insect eggs -out of the crevices, and flickers hunt everywhere for ants. - -As soon as one of the old birds has his mouth full, he flies to the nest -to feed the young. - -But not all birds feed in the same way. A robin just drops a big -earthworm, or a part of one, into the gaping baby mouth. Many other -birds do so also. Sometimes, when an insect is too big or too hard, they -beat it till it is soft, or break it up, before giving it to a little -one. - -But hummingbird mothers and flicker mothers have a different way. When -they collect the food they swallow it, as if they wanted it for -themselves. Then they go to the nest, and jerk it up again in mouthfuls, -and feed the nestlings. This is called feeding by "regurgitation," or -"throwing up." - -The way they give the food is very curious. They push their long beaks -into the nestling's throat, and poke the food far down; so the young -one does not even have the trouble of swallowing. - -This looks as if it must hurt, but the nestling seems to like it, and is -always ready for more. The pigeon mother lets the young one poke his -beak down her throat, and get the food for himself. - -If the food is hard, like corn, birds who feed in this way let it stay -in the crop till it is soft and better fitted for tender throats, before -they give it out. - -It is comical to see a nest full of little birds when the father or -mother comes with food. All stretch up and open their big mouths as wide -as they can, and if they are old enough, they cry as if they were -starving. - -Some birds bring food enough for all in the nest, every time they come. -A cedar-bird, feeding wild cherries, brought five of them every time, -one for each of the five nestlings. One cherry was held in his mouth, -but the other four were down his throat, and had to be jerked up one by -one. - -Other birds bring only one mouthful at a time, and when there are five -or six in the nest, they have to make as many journeys before all are -fed. - -Some persons who have studied birds think that each nestling is fed in -its turn; but they look so much alike, and are so close together, that -it is hard to tell, and I am not sure that it is so. - -I will tell you a story I have heard about feeding little birds. A child -picked up a young goldfinch who had fallen out of the nest. He took him -home and put him into the canary's cage, which was hanging on the front -porch. - -Soon the family heard a great noise among the birds, and went out to see -what was the matter. The baby goldfinch had hopped on to a perch in the -cage, and seemed to be afraid to come down, though the old birds had -brought food for him, and were calling him to take it. - -The canary looked on a while, and then all at once he flew to the wires -and took the food from the birds outside; then he went back to the perch -beside the little one and gave it to him. This he did many times. - -The next day another young goldfinch was picked up and put in the cage, -and the canary took food from the parents and fed both. - -After a few days the old birds came with a third little one, and as all -were now old enough to fly, the cage door was opened, and they all flew -away. - - - - -VI - -HIS FIRST SUIT - - -SOME birds that live on the ground--as I told you--have dresses of down -to begin with. These little fellows have no warm nest to stay in, but -run around almost as soon as they come out of the egg. Young ducks and -geese wear this baby suit for weeks, before they begin to put on their -feather coats. - -Young birds that spend most of their time in the water, like grebes, and -others that live in a cold country, have the down very thick and fine, -like heavy underclothes, to keep them dry and warm. - -Birds whose home is underground, like the kingfisher, or in the trunk of -a tree, like the woodpecker, have hardly any down at all. They need no -baby clothes in their warm cradles. - -Robins and most other song birds have only a little down on them, and -very soon the feathers begin to grow. - -When the tiny quills push themselves up, they look like little white -pins sticking out all over. Each bit of down grows out of a little -raised place on the skin that looks like a pimple, and the feather comes -out of the same. - -[Illustration: YOUNG WOOD THRUSH] - -As the feather grows, the bit of down clings to it till it is broken -off. Sometimes it holds on till the feather is well out. We can often -see down sticking to a young bird's feathers. - -The little feathers grow very fast, and before he is ready to fly a -young bird is well covered. Birds hatched with their eyes open, and -already dressed, who have to run and fly very soon, get their wing -feathers early; but birds who live many days in the nest, like robins -and bluebirds, do not get theirs till they are nearly grown. - -The tail feathers are the last to come to full length, and you will -notice that most birds just out of the nest have very dumpy tails. - -A bird's first suit of feathers is called his nestling plumage. In some -families it is just like the dress of the grown-up birds, but in others -it is not at all like that. It is usually worn only a few weeks, for the -young one outgrows it, and needs a new and bigger one before winter. - -When a bird is fully dressed, his body is entirely covered, and it looks -as if the feathers grew close to each other all over him. But it is not -so. The feathers grow in patterns, called "feather tracts," with -spaces of bare skin between them. These bare places do not show, because -the feathers lap over each other and cover them. - -The pattern of the feather tracts is not the same in all birds. A few -birds of the Ostrich family have feathers all over the body. - -There is another curious thing about the nestling plumage. You would -expect a young bird to look like his father or mother; and some of them -do. Many nestlings are dressed exactly like their mothers; and not until -they are a year old do the young males get a coat like their father's. -Some of them, indeed, do not have their grown-up suits for two or three -years. - -Then, again, many young birds have dresses different from both parents. -Young robins have speckled breasts, and spots on the shoulders, which -the old birds have not. - -When the father and mother are dressed alike, as the song sparrows are, -the young birds generally differ from both of them. When the father and -mother are different, like orioles or bluebirds, the young are usually -like the mother the first season. In some cases the father, mother, and -young are almost exactly alike. - -Birds who live on the ground need dresses of dull colors, or they would -not be very safe. The ostrich mother, who makes her nest in plain sight -on the sand, is dressed in grayish brown. When she sits on the eggs, she -lays her long neck flat on the ground before her; then she looks like -one of the ant-hills that are common on the plains of Africa, where she -lives. - -The South American ostrich, or rhea, fluffs out her feathers and looks -like a heap of dry grass. The male ostrich is dressed in showy black and -white, and he stays away all day, but takes care of the nest at night, -when his striking colors cannot be seen. - - - - -VII - -HOW HE CHANGES HIS CLOTHES - - -IT takes a bird weeks to put on a new suit of clothes. He has nothing -but his feathers to protect him from cold and wet, and as feathers -cannot grow out in a minute, he would be left naked, and suffer, if he -lost them all at once. So he changes his dress one or two feathers at a -time. - -Some day a feather will drop from each wing. If you could look, you -would see that new ones had started out in the same place, and pushed -the old ones off. When the new ones are pretty well grown another pair -will fall out. - -If all dropped out at once, besides suffering with cold he would not be -able to fly, and he could not get his living, and anybody could catch -him. But losing only one from each side at a time, he always has enough -to fly with. - -It is the same way with his tail feathers. He loses them in pairs, one -from each side at the same time. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN GOLDFINCH] - -The soft feathers that cover his body drop out one by one. Thus all the -time he is putting on a new suit he still wears part of the old one. In -this way he is never left without clothes for a moment. - -Most birds put on their new suits just after the young ones are grown -up, and before they all start for the South to spend the winter,--that -is, with many of our common birds, in August. At that time they are -rather shy, and stop singing. If you did not see one now and then, you -might think they were all gone. - -Sometimes the new fall suit is not at all like the old one. There is the -goldfinch, all summer in bright yellow. When he comes out in his new -suit in August, it is dull-colored, much like the one his mate wears all -the year, and in winter, when goldfinches fly around in little flocks, -they look nearly all alike. - -In the spring, the male goldfinch comes out again in yellow. He has two -suits a year,--a bright yellow one in the spring, and a dull olive-green -for the winter. But his new spring dress is not a full suit. The yellow -of the body is all fresh, but the black wings are the same the year -round. - -Some birds have two, different colored dresses in a year; one they get -without changing a feather. Suppose they have feathers of black, with -gray on the outside edges. All winter the gray shows and the birds seem -to have gray coats. But in spring the gray edges wear or fall off, and -the black shows, and then they look as if they had come out in new black -suits. It is as if you should take off a gray overcoat and show a black -coat under it. - -There is another interesting thing about birds' dress. Some of them look -like their mates, the father and mother birds so nearly alike that it is -hard, sometimes impossible, to tell them apart. But when that is the -case, you will notice that the color is not very gay. If the father -wears a bright-colored suit, the mother does not look like him. - -For this reason the little mother is not too easily seen when she is on -her nest. If the goldfinch mother were as bright as her mate, everybody -who came near would see her on the nest, and some animal might take her, -and leave the young birds to starve to death. That is probably why -mother birds dress in such dull colors. - -When birds live on the ground, or very near it, in most cases both of -the pair wear the dull colors, so they will not easily be seen. Wrens -and sparrows and many others are so. But birds who make their nests in -holes, or under ground, are often as bright as their mates, because -they cannot be seen while sitting, and do not need to wear dull colors. - -A curious thing about a bird's color is that the same species, or kind -of bird, is darker in one place than another. Where there is much -dampness or wet weather, the colors are darker. For instance, a -bob-white who lives in Florida, or one who lives in Oregon, will be much -darker than his cousin living in New England. - - - - -VIII - -HIS FIRST FLIGHT - - -WHEN young birds are in the nest they are not very pretty. But when they -are nearly feathered, and sit up on the edge, exercising their wings, -and getting ready to fly, they are lovely to look at. Their feathers are -more fluffy and fresh than those of the old birds. - -At that time they have not learned to be afraid of us, and if we do not -frighten them by roughness, loud talking, or quick movements, we can -often get near enough to see them well. They will sit up and look at us -without fear. - -Then some day, all at once, a young bird will begin to flap his wings, -and off he will go, fluttering very hard, beating his wings, and trying -to reach the next tree. - -Sometimes he will reach it, and perch on a twig, and sit quite still a -long time, tired with his first flight. Then the parents will come and -feed him, and after a while he will fly again. This time he will go -farther. - -So he will go on, till in a few days he can fly very well, and follow -his parents about, and begin to learn where to get food. - -Sometimes when a young bird leaves the nest he does not reach the tree -he starts for, but falls to the ground. Then there is trouble among the -birds. He is in danger of being picked up by a cat or a boy, or of -getting tangled in the grass or weeds. - -The poor parents are half wild with fear. They coax him to try again, -and they follow him about in the grass, in great distress. I have many -times picked up a little bird, and set him on a branch of a tree, or -stood guard over him, driving away cats and keeping off people, till he -reached a place where he would be safe. - -When young birds are out, but cannot yet fly very well, there is much -anxiety about them. Then, if any one comes around to disturb them, what -can the poor little mother do? Sometimes she makes her young ones hide. -Some of the birds who live on the ground will give a certain cry, when -in a second every little one will crouch on the ground, or creep under a -leaf, and be perfectly still. And their dark colors look so like the -earth one can hardly see them. - -Then the mother tries to make one look at her by queer antics. She -pretends to be hurt, and tumbles about as if she could not fly. If it -is a man or an animal who has frightened her, he will usually think he -can easily catch her; so he will forget about the young ones, and follow -her as she goes fluttering over the ground. She will go on playing that -she is hurt, and moving away, till she leads him far from her brood. -Then she will start up and fly away, and he cannot find his way back to -where the little ones are still crouching. - -Sometimes when a mother is frightened, she will snatch up her young one -between her feet, and fly away with it. Sometimes a mother will fight, -actually fly into the face of the one she fears. Often, too, other birds -come to her aid; birds of many kinds,--catbirds, robins, thrashers, and -others,--all come to help her drive away the enemy, for birds are almost -always ready to help each other. - -I once found a young blue jay who had come to the ground while trying -his first flight. I thought I would pick him up and put him on a branch. -But the old birds did not know what I meant to do, and perhaps they were -afraid I would carry him off. - -They flew at me with loud cries to drive me away, and I thought it best -to go, for I did not want to make them any more unhappy than they were -already. - -I did not go far, because I wanted to see that no one caught the little -one. He hopped about in the grass a long time, while his parents flew -around him in great distress. Many times he tried to fly, but he could -not rise more than two feet from the ground. - -At last he seemed to make up his mind to climb a tree, for when he came -to one with a rough bark he began to go up. He would fly up a few -inches, then hold on with his claws to rest. And so, half flying and -half climbing, he went on till he reached the lowest limb. On that he -perched and was quiet, glad to rest after his hard work. The old birds -were happy, too, and brought food to him, and so I left them. - - - - -IX - -HIS EDUCATION - - -THE young bird has to be educated, or trained for his life, just as we -do, though not exactly in the same way. - -He does not have to know arithmetic and history; and what he needs of -geography is only the road to the South, where he spends his winters. - -I suppose the first thing he learns is to fly. You have heard, perhaps, -that the old birds drive their young out of the nest. But do not believe -any such thing, for it is not true. I have seen many little birds leave -the nest, and almost every one flew when the parents were away after -food. - -The parents sometimes try to coax a nestling who is afraid to try his -wings, like an oriole I knew of. All the young orioles had flown except -this one, and he seemed to be too timid to try. He stood on the edge of -the nest, and called and cried, but did not use his wings. - -The father came to see him now and then, and at last he made him fly in -this way. He caught a fine, large moth, and brought it to the nest in -his beak. The young bird was very hungry, and when he saw the food, he -opened his mouth and fluttered his wings, so eager to get it he could -hardly wait. - -But the parent did not feed him. He let him see the moth, and then, with -a loud call, he flew to the next tree. When the little oriole saw the -food going away, he forgot he was afraid, and with a cry of horror he -sprang after it; and so, before he knew it, he had flown. - -After the young bird can fly, he needs to be taught to get his own -living, or to find his own food, and also where to sleep. Then he must -learn what to be afraid of, and how to protect himself from his enemies. - -He needs to know the different calls and cries of his family, and what -they all mean. He has to learn to fly in a flock with other birds, and -he must learn to sing. No doubt there are many more lessons for him that -we do not know about. - -If you watch little birds just out of the nest, you may see them being -taught the most useful and important lesson, how to find their food. - -The robin mother takes her little one to the ground, and shows him -where the worms live and how to get them. The owl mother finds a mouse -creeping about in the grass, and teaches the owlets how to pounce upon -it, by doing it herself before them. - -The old swallow takes her youngsters into the air, and shows them how to -catch little flies on the wing; while mother phoebe teaches hers to sit -still and watch till a fly comes near, and then fly out and catch it. - -If you watch long enough, after a while you may see the old bird, who is -training a young one, fly away. She may leave the young one alone on a -tree or the ground, and be gone a long time. - -Before many minutes the little one will get hungry, and begin to call -for food. But by and by, if nobody comes to feed him, he will think to -look around for something to eat. Thus he will get his lesson in helping -himself. - -Once I saw a woodpecker father bring his little one to a fence, close by -some raspberry bushes that were full of berries. He fed him two or three -berries, to teach him what they were and where they grew, and then -quietly slipped away. - -When the young bird began to feel hungry he cried out; but nobody came. -Then he looked over at the raspberries, and reached out and tried to -get hold of one. After trying three or four times, and nearly pitching -off his perch, he did reach one. Then how proud he was! - -The father stayed away an hour or more, and before he came back that -young woodpecker had learned to help himself very well; though the -minute his father came, he began to flutter his wings and beg to be fed, -as if he were half starved. - -A lady, who fed the wild birds on her window sill for many years, and -watched their ways, says she often saw the old birds teaching their -little ones. They showed them where the food was to be found, and, she -says, regularly taught them the art of eating. - -Then she saw them taught to be afraid of people, not to come too near -her. And once she saw an old bird showing a young one how to gather -twigs for nest-building. The young one looked on a while, and then tried -hard to do it himself, but could not get off a single twig. - -Best of all, the same lady heard an old robin giving a music lesson. The -teacher would sing a few notes and then stop, while the pupil tried to -copy them. He had a weak, babyish sort of voice, and did not succeed -very well at first. - -I have heard several birds at their music lessons. - - - - -X - -SOME OF HIS LESSONS - - -IT is very easy to catch the birds teaching their little ones to -exercise their wings and to fly together. You will see the young birds -sitting quietly on fences or trees, when all at once the parents begin -to fly around, with strange loud calls. In a minute every youngster will -fly out and join them. Around and around they all go, hard as they can, -till their little wings are tired, and then they come down and alight -again. - -Once I saw a young bird who did not go when his parents called. All the -others flew around many times, and I suppose that young one thought he -would not be noticed. - -But mothers' eyes are sharp, and his mother saw him. So when she came -back, she flew right at her naughty son, and knocked him off his perch. -The next time she called, he flew with the rest. This was a crow mother. - -I have seen a bluebird just out of the nest, taught to follow his -father in this way. He stood on a small tree, crying for something to -eat, when his father came in sight with a beakful of food. He did not -feed him, but flew past him, so close that he almost touched him, and -alighted on the next tree, a little beyond him. - -[Illustration: BLUEBIRD] - -The little bluebird saw the food, and at once flew after it, perched -beside his father, and was fed. Then the old bird left him, and in a few -minutes he felt hungry, and began to call again. - -I kept close watch, and soon the father came and did the same thing -over. He flew past the young one with an insect in plain sight in his -beak, and perched on another tree still farther along in the way he -wanted the little one to go. - -The hungry baby followed, and was fed as before. In this way he was led -to a big tree the other side of the yard, where the rest of the family -were, and where they all spent the night. - -An old robin wanted to teach her young one to bathe. She brought him to -a dish of water kept for their use by some people who were fond of -birds. The little one stood on the edge and watched his mother go in, -and splash and scatter the water. He fluttered his wings, and was -eager to try it for himself, but seemed afraid to plunge in. - -At last the mother flew away and left him standing there, and in a -moment came back with a worm in her mouth. The young robin was hungry, -as young birds always are, and when he saw the worm, he began to flutter -his wings, and cry for it. - -But the mother jumped into the middle of the water dish, and stood -there, holding the worm in his sight. The youngster wanted the worm so -much that he seemed to forget his fear of the water, and hopped right in -beside her. She fed him, and then began to splash about, and he liked it -so well that he stayed and took a good bath. - -Birds, as these stories show, teach their little ones by coaxing, and -not by driving them. - -An Englishman, Mr. Lloyd Morgan, once had some ducks and chickens -hatched away from their mother, to see how much their parents had to -teach them. - -He found that these little orphans had to be taught to pick up their -food, and to know what is good to eat. He had to show the young ducks -how to dive, and teach all of them that water is good to drink. - -To see if chickens had to be taught the hen language, he put them out -by their mother when they were a few days old. - -The hen was going about with her brood, all brothers and sisters of Mr. -Morgan's chicks, and she was quite ready to adopt the new ones. She -clucked and called to them with all her might, but they did not come. -They acted as if they did not hear her. When the others ran and crept -under her wings to be brooded, the strangers looked on, but did not -think of going too. - -They did not understand the calls or the ways of their own mother. They -had not been taught. - -A careful watcher will see the birds teach these things, and many others -as interesting. But no one will see anything unless he is quiet, and -does not frighten them. - - - - -THE BIRD GROWN UP - - - - -XI - -THE BIRD'S LANGUAGE - - -WHEN the bird is grown up, there are many other interesting things to -know about him,--one is, whether he can talk. - -It is plain to those who have studied the ways of birds, that they are -able to tell things to each other, and many writers have said plainly -that birds have a language. - -If you notice birds in cages, you will find that when two or more of a -kind are in the same room, you will hear little chirps and twitters and -other notes, not at all like their song. But if one is alone in a room, -he hardly makes a sound except when singing. - -Then see a robin out of doors. He is less afraid of us than most birds, -and easiest to watch. If something comes up on him suddenly, he gives a -sharp note of surprise. If a cat appears, he has another cry which every -one can understand, a word of warning to all. If everything is quiet and -his mate is near, he will greet her with some low, sweet notes. - -When a partridge mother sees danger, she gives one call, which all her -brood know, and at once run and hide. When the hen speaks to her chicks, -they know well whether it means to come to her, or to run away. - -Of course birds do not use our words. When it is said that the quail -says "Bob White," it is meant that his call sounds like those words. To -some the notes sound like "more wet." One may call it almost anything, -like "all right" or "too hot." - -You will read in books about birds, that a certain warbler says "Witches -here," or that the white-throated sparrow says "Old Sam Peabody," and -other birds say still different things. The writer means that the words -remind one of the bird's notes, and so it is useful to know them, -because it helps you to know the bird when you hear him. - -I have many times seen birds act as if they were talking to each other. -You can often see the city sparrows do so. - -There is nothing in a bird's ways that we like so well as his singing. -And in all the many species of birds in the world, no two sing exactly -alike, so far as I can find out. You may always know a bird by his song. -A robin does not sing like a thrush or a catbird. And what is more, not -one of the sounds he utters is like those made by any other bird. If you -know him well, whatever noise he makes, you will know at once that it is -a robin. - -But there is something still more curious about it. No robin sings -exactly like another robin. When you come to know one bird well, you can -tell his song from any other bird's. Of course, all robins sing enough -alike for one to know that it is a robin song, but if you listen -closely, you will see that it is really different from all others. - -Persons who have kept birds in cages have noticed the same thing. - -There is still another point to know. One bird does not always sing the -same song. I have heard a song sparrow sing five or six different songs, -standing all the time in plain sight on a fence. In the same way I have -known a meadowlark to make six changes in his few notes. - -Besides their own natural songs, many birds like to copy the notes of -others. Our mockingbird is very fond of learning new things, and he does -not always choose songs either. - -He will imitate the noise of filing a saw, or the pop of a cork, as -readily as the sweetest song. I have heard one sing the canary's song -better than the canary himself. - -[Illustration: INDIGO-BIRD] - -Other birds can do the same. A common English sparrow picked up in the -streets of a big city, hurt, and not able to fly, was put into a room -with a canary. - -No doubt the wild bird found his life in a cage rather dull, after -having been used to the streets, and he soon began to amuse himself -trying to do as the canary did, to sing. In a few weeks he learned the -whole song, and he could sing it even better than his roommate, for his -voice was full and rich, and not so shrill as the canary's. - -Most people think that birds sing all summer. They think so because they -have not taken notice. We who are very fond of bird song know it is not -so. - -Singing begins when the birds first come in the spring. It goes on while -the nest is being built, and the mother bird is sitting. The father has -little to do at that time, and so he sings. And besides, he seems to be -so happy that he cannot help it. - -But when little ones begin to call for food, he has to be very busy, and -does not have so much time for music. Some birds stop singing as soon as -they go to feeding. - -But not all do so. Many go on singing till they begin to change their -clothes, or to moult, as it is called. This happens in August or -September, and when it begins, a bird seems to lose his voice. - -One of the first to stop singing is the bobolink. He is rarely heard -after June is past. The veery is another whose singing days are over -early. You may hear his call in the woods, if you know it, but not a -song will you hear after the middle of July. - -By the time August comes in, almost every bird is silent, except for his -calls or "talk." The birds to be heard then are the red-eyed vireo, who -seems never to tire, and now and then the indigo-bird, or the wood -pewee, and best of all, the dear little song sparrow, who keeps up his -cheery songs till the very last. - -Then you will know that all the birds are busy putting on their new -suits for their long journey. - - - - -XII - -WHAT HE EATS - - -WHAT the bird eats and where he gets his food are useful things for us -to know. It has only lately been found out that birds are the most -valuable of helpers to us. - -What we cannot eat ourselves, they are happy to live on, and things that -make us a great deal of trouble are their daily food. - -Some of the things they are fond of are little animals, like mice and -ground squirrels, that eat our crops. Others are insects which spoil our -fruit and eat up our vegetables, cankerworms and cutworms, and a hundred -more. - -Besides these, many birds eat the seeds of certain weeds that farmers -have to fight all the time. - -One reason this helps us so greatly is that birds eat much more for -their size than we do. A boy of six or eight years could not possibly -eat a whole sheep in one day, but a young bird can easily eat more than -his own weight every day. - -They want more than three meals too. They need to eat very often. One -catbird will take thirty grasshoppers for his breakfast, and in a few -hours he will want thirty more. So he destroys a great many in a day. - -Birds begin eating long before we are out of bed, and keep it up till -night comes again, or as long as they can see. - -You must not think the birds are greedy, as a person would be if he ate -every few minutes all day. They are made to do so. It is their business -to destroy insects, small animals, and weeds that trouble us so much, -and the more they eat the better for us. - -Let us see where they go for food. Each bird has his own place to work. - -The catbird watches the fruit-trees, and all day long eats insects that -are spoiling our fruit or killing the trees. When the cherries are ripe, -we should not forget that he has saved the fruit from insects, and has -well earned a share for himself. - -If you spent days and weeks picking off insects, would you not think you -had earned part of the fruit? "For every cherry he eats" (says a man who -has watched him), "he has eaten at least one thousand insects." - -The robin eats great numbers of cankerworms, which destroy our apples, -and cutworms, which kill the corn. - -The bluebird sits on the fence keeping sharp watch, and every few -minutes flies down and picks up a grasshopper or a cricket, or some such -grass-eating insect. - -Woodpeckers hunt over the trunks and limbs of trees. They tap on the -bark and listen, and if they hear a grub stir inside, they cut a hole in -the bark and drag it out. The downy is fond of insects that infest our -apple-trees, and he makes many holes in the trunks. But it does not hurt -the trees. It is good for them, for it takes away the creatures that -were eating them. - -Orioles go over the fruit-trees, and pick out tiny insects under the -leaves, and when they find great nests on the branches, they tear them -open and kill the caterpillars that made them. - -Little warblers, such as the pretty summer yellow-bird, help to keep our -trees clear, doing most of their work in the tops, where we can hardly -see them. - -Swallows fly about in the air, catching mosquitoes and tiny flies that -trouble us. - -Very useful to us are the birds who feed upon dead animals, such as the -turkey buzzards, who may be seen any day in our Southern States, -soaring about high in the air, looking for their food. - -What they eat is so very unpleasant to us that we are apt to despise the -birds. But we should cherish and feel grateful to them instead. For they -are doing us the greatest kindness. In many of the hot countries people -could not live, if these most useful birds were killed. - -Some persons think buzzards find their food by seeing it, and others are -just as sure that they smell it. Perhaps they use both senses. - - - - -XIII - -MORE ABOUT HIS FOOD - - -SOME of the big birds work all the time for us. When you see a hawk -sitting very still on a dead limb, what do you suppose he is doing? - -A good deal of the time he is looking on the ground for a mouse, or a -ground squirrel, or a rat, or some creature that he likes to eat. - -When he sees one of them move in the grass, he flies down and pounces -upon it. Thus he helps the farmer greatly, for all of these little -animals destroy crops. - -When it grows dark, hawks stop work and go to sleep. Then the owls, who -can see better in the dusk, come out of the holes where they have been -half sleeping all day. They hunt the same little creatures, most of all -rats and mice, which like best to run about in the night. - -Perhaps you have heard that hawks and owls carry off chickens. Many -people who keep chickens shoot every hawk and owl they see. But if they -knew more about them they would not do so. Only two of the common hawks -and one owl[1] disturb chickens. All the others kill thousands of the -little animals that give the farmers so much trouble. - -Owls have a curious way of eating mice. They swallow them whole, and -after a while they throw up a queer-looking little ball made of the -bones and fur of the mouse. - -You may some time have seen a long-legged heron walking about on the -seashore or in the salt marsh. Now and then he would thrust his long, -sharp bill into something, and lift up his head and swallow. Or you have -noticed a little sandpiper running along on the beach or the bank of a -river. - -The heron was probably eating frogs or fish, and the sandpiper some of -the small sea creatures thrown up by the waves. If these were not taken -away they would be very bad for us, and perhaps make us sick. - -Not less useful to us than these birds are the whole family of finches. -The goldfinch in bright yellow coat, the purple finch in red, and the -sparrows in plain brown. All of these are fond of seeds as well as -insects, and most of all they like the seeds of some weeds that are hard -to get rid of. - -The goldfinch is called the thistle-bird, because he likes best the -seeds of thistles, though he eats the beggar's-ticks too. - -The chipping sparrow, the little red-headed bird who comes about our -doors, eats the seeds of fox-tail and crab grasses, that spoil our -lawns. - -The white-throated sparrow, a large and very pretty bird, eats the seeds -of smartweed and ragweed. Other finches like bittersweet, sorrel, and -amaranth, all of which we are glad to have them eat. - -The seed-eating birds can find their food in winter, even when snow -covers the ground, because the dead weeds hold on to their seeds, and -the snow is not often deep enough to cover them. - -Some birds gather their food in the fall, and hide it away where they -can find it in winter. Blue jays collect acorns and beech-nuts, and -store them in a hole in a tree, or some other safe place, to eat when -food is scarce. A woodpecker who lives in the West picks holes in the -bark of a tree, and puts an acorn into each one. - -The oddest store I know of was made by a woodpecker. He found a long -crack in a post, and stuffed it full of live grasshoppers. He did not -like dead grasshoppers. He wedged them into the crack so tightly that -they could not get out, and I do not know that they wanted to. When -grasshoppers were scarce in the fields, he came day after day to his -queer storehouse, till he had eaten every one. - -One of the woodpecker family who lives in Mexico stores nuts and acorns -in the stems of plants. These stems are hollow and made in joints like -bamboo. The bird cuts a hole at the upper end of a joint, and stuffs it -full. When he wants his nuts, he cuts a hole at the lower end of the -joint and pulls them out. - -I once had a tame blue jay, who was fond of saving what he could not -eat, and putting it safely away. The place he seemed to think most -secure was somewhere about me, and he would come slyly around me as I -sat at work, and try to hide his treasure about my clothes. - -When it was a dried currant or bit of bread, I did not care; but when he -came on to my shoulder, and tried to tuck a dead meal worm into my hair -or between my lips, or a piece of raw beef under a ruffle or in my ear, -I had to decline to be used as a storehouse, much to his grief. - -He liked to put away other things as well as food. Matches he seemed to -think were made for him to hide. His chosen place for them was between -the breadths of matting on the floor. - -Once he found a parlor match, hunted up a good opening, and put it in. -Then he went on, as he always did, to hammer it down so tightly that it -would stay. One of the blows of his hard beak struck the lighting end of -the match, and it went off with a sharp crack. The noise and the flame -which burst out made the bird jump three feet, and scared him nearly out -of his senses. - -After that I took care to keep the matches out of the way of a bird so -fond of hiding things. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[1] Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, and great horned or hoot owl. - - - - -XIV - -WHERE HE SLEEPS - - -MOST birds sleep on their feet. - -You know how a canary goes to sleep, all puffed out like a ball, with -his head buried in the feathers of his shoulder. He may stick his bill -over behind the top of the wing, but he never "puts his head under his -wing," as you have heard. - -Sometimes he stands straight up on one leg, with the other drawn up out -of sight in his feathers, but more often he sits down on the perch, -still resting on his feet. Most wild birds of the perching kind sleep in -the same way. - -It is only lately that we have begun to find out where birds sleep, -because it is dark when they go to bed, and they get up before it is -light enough for us to see them. - -The only way to catch them in bed is to go out in the evening, and start -them up after they have gone to sleep. And this is not very kind to the -poor little birds. Some men who are trying to learn about the habits of -birds have tried this way, and so have found out some of their -sleeping-places. - -One thing they have learned is that the nest is not often used for a -bed, except for the mother, while she is sitting and keeping her little -ones warm. - -Robins and orioles, and others, creep into the thick branches of an -evergreen tree, close up to the trunk. Some crawl under the edge of a -haystack, others into thick vines or thorny bushes. All these are meant -for hiding-places, so that beasts which prowl about at night, and like -to eat birds, will not find them. - -Tree sparrows like to sleep in holes in the ground like little caves. -The men who found these cosy little bedrooms think they are places dug -out by field mice, and other small animals, for their own use. And when -they are left, the birds are glad to take them. - -When the weather is cold, some birds sleep under the snow. You may think -that would not be very warm, and it is not so warm as a bed in the house -with plenty of blankets. But it is much warmer than a perch in a tree, -with nothing but leaves to keep off the wind. - -While the snow is falling, some birds find it as good as blankets for -their use. Grouse, who live on the ground, dive into a snow-bank, and -snuggle down quietly, while the snow falls and covers them all over, and -keeps the cold wind off. Air comes through the snow, so they do not -smother. - -Some birds creep into a pile of brush that is covered with snow, and -find under the twigs little places like tents, where the snow has been -kept out by the twigs, and they sleep there, away from the wind and -storm outside. - -Water birds find the best sleeping-places on the water, where they float -all night like tiny boats. Some of them leave one foot hanging down and -paddling a little, while they sleep, to keep from being washed to the -shore. - -Bob-white and his family sleep in a close circle on the ground, all with -their heads turned outward, so that they can see or hear an enemy, -whichever way he comes. - -Hawks and eagles are said to sleep standing, never sitting on the feet -like a canary. Some ducks and geese do even more: they sleep standing on -one foot. Woodpeckers and chimney swifts hang themselves up by their -claws, using their stiff tail for a brace, as if it were a third leg. - -Some birds, like the crows, sleep in great flocks. They agree upon a -piece of woods, and all the crows for miles around come there every -night. Sometimes thousands sleep in this one bedroom, called a crow -roost. Robins do the same, after the young are big enough to fly so far. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN ROBIN] - -Audubon, who has told us so much about birds, once found a hollow tree -which was the sleeping-room of chimney swifts. The noise they made going -out in the morning was like the roar of a great mill-wheel. - -He wanted to see the birds asleep. So in the daytime, when they were -away, he had a piece cut out at the foot of the tree, big enough to let -him in, and then put back, so the birds would not notice anything -unusual. - -At night, after the swifts were abed, he took a dark lantern and went -in. He turned the light upon them little by little, so as not to startle -them. Then he saw the whole inside of the tree full of birds. They were -hanging by their claws, side by side, as thick as they could hang. He -thought there were as many as twelve thousand in that one bedroom. - - - - -XV - -HIS TRAVELS - - -MOST of our birds take two long journeys every year, one in the fall to -the south, and the other in the spring back to the north. These journeys -are called "migrations." - -The birds do not go all at once, but in many cases those of a kind who -live near each other collect in a flock and travel together. Each -species or kind has its own time to go. - -It might be thought that it is because of the cold that so many birds -move to a warmer climate. But it is not so; they are very well dressed -to endure cold. Their feather suits are so warm that some of our -smallest and weakest birds are able to stay with us, like the chickadee -and the golden-crowned kinglet. It is simply because they cannot get -food in winter, that they have to go. - -The fall travel begins soon after the first of July. The bobolink is one -of the first to leave us, though he does not start at once on his long -journey. By that time his little folk are full grown, and can take care -of themselves, and he is getting on his winter suit, or moulting. - -Then some morning all the bobolinks in the country are turned out of -their homes in the meadows, by men and horses and mowing-machines, for -at that time the long grass is ready to cut. - -Then he begins to think about the wild rice which is getting just right -to eat. Besides, he likes to take his long journey to South America in -an easy way, stopping here and there as he goes. So some morning we miss -his cheerful call, and if we go to the meadow we shall not be able to -see a single bobolink. - -There, too, are the swallows, who eat only small flying insects. As the -weather grows cooler, these tiny flies are no longer to be found. So the -swallows begin to flock, as it is called. For a few days they will be -seen on fences and telegraph wires, chattering and making a great noise, -and then some morning they will all be gone. - -They spend some time in marshes, and other lonely places, before they at -last set out for the south. - -As the days grow shorter and cooler, the warblers go. These are the -bright-colored little fellows, who live mostly in the tops of trees. -Then the orioles and the thrushes and the cuckoos leave us, and most -birds who live on insects. - -By the time that November comes in, few of them will be left. Birds who -can live on seeds and winter berries, such as cedar-berries and -partridge-berries, and others, often stay with us,--bluebirds, finches, -and sometimes robins. - -Many birds take their journey by night. Think of it! Tiny creatures, -that all summer go to bed at dark, start off some night, when it seems -as if they ought to be asleep, and fly all night in the dark. - -When it grows light, they stop in some place where they can feed and -rest. And the next night, or two or three nights later, they go on -again. So they do till they reach their winter home, hundreds or -thousands of miles away. - -These night flyers are the timid birds, and those who live in the woods, -and do not like to be seen,--thrushes, wrens, vireos, and others. Birds -with strong wings, who are used to flying hours every day, and bolder -birds, who do not mind being seen, take their journey by daylight. - -Most of them stop now and then, a day or two at a time, to feed and -rest. They fly very high, and faster than our railroad trains can go. - -In the spring the birds take their second long journey, back to their -last year's home. - -How they know their way on these journeys, men have been for many years -trying to find out. They have found that birds travel on regular roads, -or routes, that follow the rivers and the shore of the ocean. They can -see much better than we can, and even in the night they can see water. - -One such road, or highway, is over the harbor of New York. When the -statue of Liberty was set up on an island in the harbor a few years ago, -it was put in the birds' path. - -Usually they fly too high to mind it; but when there is a rain or fog -they come much lower, and, sad to say, many of them fly against it and -are killed. - -We often see strange birds in our city streets and parks, while they are -passing through on their migrations, for they sometimes spend several -days with us. - -A sparrow, who was hurt and unable to fly, was picked up one fall and -kept in a house all winter. He was not caged, and he chose for his -headquarters and sleeping-place a vase that stood on a shelf. - -He went with the family to the table, and made himself very much at home -there. He picked out what he wanted to eat and drink, and scolded well -if he did not have it. - -The thing he liked best was butter, and when he was ready to wipe his -bill after eating, as birds do, he found the coat-sleeve of the master -soft and nice for the purpose. This pleased the bird better than it did -the owner of the sleeve, but he tried in vain to keep the saucy fellow -off. If he forgot for an instant to watch the bird, he would dash up, -wipe off the butter, and fly away out of the reach of everybody. - -In the spring the sparrow left the family, and lived out of doors. But, -with the first cold weather of fall, he came back, went to his old vase, -and settled himself for the winter again. This he did for several -years. - - - - -XVI - -HIS WINTER HOME - - -NEARLY every bird has two homes, one for winter and one for summer. - -We can see why birds leave us and go to a warmer and better place for -the winter; but why they do not stay in that country where there is -always plenty of food, but choose to come back in the spring to their -old home, we do not know. - -It may be because they want more room to build nests, and bring up their -little ones. Or it may be that they want to come back because they love -their old home. - -Whatever may be the reason, it is well for us that they do so, for if we -had no more birds in the summer than we have in the winter, we should -suffer very much from insects. We could not raise fruit, or vegetables, -or grain, for insects would eat it all. That is one reason we are so -glad that birds come back to us in the spring. - -Though so many birds leave us in the fall, they do not all go. A few -come to us who have nested farther north, and some who have been with us -all summer stay over winter too. These last are called "permanent -residents," that is, they stay all the year round. - -In the Middle States of the East--New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, -and Ohio--there are twenty or twenty-five who stay all the year. There -are several hawks and owls and woodpeckers, the crow, bob-white, the -blue jay, and the meadowlark, and, of the little ones, the goldfinch, in -his sober winter coat, his cousin the purple finch, the song sparrow, -the nuthatch, and the chickadee. - -Besides these "permanent residents," there are ten or twelve who come -from the north. The funny little saw-whet owl is one, and the snowflake, -who loves to frolic in the snow, is another. - -Many of our summer birds stay in the Southern States all winter. Those -who can eat seeds and winter berries--for instance, robins and -bluebirds, catbirds and sparrows--need not go very far south; and some -of them even stay in the State of New York. - -Most of our birds who do not eat berries, but must have insects, go -farther, some to Florida or the West Indies, others to Central America, -and a few even into South America,--except the woodpecker, who gets his -insects under the bark of trees. - -The summer birds of the Western States nearly all go to Mexico for the -winter. - -The little birds who stay with us are only those who can eat seeds, as I -said, or the eggs and insects to be found in the crevices of the bark on -trees. These birds do a great deal of good, for each one destroys -thousands of insects before they have come out of the egg. One small -chickadee will eat several hundred insect eggs in a day. - -These little fellows can almost always find their food, for the snow -seldom covers the trunks of the trees; but now and then in the winter we -have an ice storm; then the trunks and branches are buried under ice, so -that the birds suffer, and perhaps will starve to death. - -In such a time it will be kind of you who live in the country to put out -food for them. You can give them any table scraps of meat or vegetables, -or bread, chopped fine for their tiny mouths, with corn or grain for -bigger birds. - -What they all like best to eat is suet,--which the butcher will give -you,--chopped fine, or, better still, nailed or tied to a branch or a -fence, so that they can pick off morsels for themselves. This will make -them all very happy; but you must see that the English sparrow does not -drive them away, or eat it all himself. - -Some persons who live in the country or small towns spread a table every -day through the winter for the birds. Many come for food, and they have -great pleasure in watching them and studying their ways. - -One lady I know who is an invalid, and her greatest happiness in the -long cold months, when she cannot go out, is to set her breakfast-table, -and watch the guests who come to it. - -She lives in the southern part of Ohio, and she has all winter cardinal -grosbeaks, or redbirds as she calls them, blue jays, tufted titmice, and -others. The cardinals are fine singers, and they sing to her every month -in the year. - - - - -XVII - -HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS - - -MANY people think that as soon as the young birds of a nest are full -grown, and know how to take care of themselves, the family separate, and -have no more to do with each other. Some have even said that the old -birds push the little ones out of the nest to get rid of them. - -All this is a great mistake, and any one who has watched them carefully -will say so. - -In many cases, when the brood is grown and all have left the nest, the -whole family keep together. One who has eyes sharp to see will find -everywhere little groups of parents with their young. If the old birds -rear more than one brood in a summer, the young ones of the first nest -keep together. - -I have often seen little parties of young bluebirds or sparrows going -about after food on the grass, or on the newly cut hay. Now and then one -of the parents would come around as if to see that all was well, and -then leave them alone again. When the second brood is ready to go out, -the whole family often unite in a small flock. In some cases, where they -could be watched, they have been known to stay so all winter. All -through July and August, in the New England and Middle States, one may -see these pretty little family groups. - -Some birds who live and nest by themselves, each pair in its own tree, -or bush, or field, come together in larger parties after the young are -grown, in a social way. A few do this only at night, in what are called -roosts, which I spoke of in a former chapter. - -Other birds, when nestlings are out, unite in flocks, and stay so all -the time, or through the winter. Our pretty little goldfinch does this. - -Most of the birds we see about our homes like to have a tree or bush to -themselves for their nest. But there are many birds that live close -together all the time. Some, you may say, in small villages,--swallows, -for instance. We generally see several swallows flying about together. -They make their nests near each other. The barn swallow chooses the -beams inside the barn, and there are often three or four or more nests -in the same barn. - -The eave swallows put their mud cottages in a row, under the eaves -outside the barn. One would think they needed to have numbers on their -doors, to know which was their own. - -There, too, are the common crow blackbirds. They come in the spring in -crowds, and when it is time to make nests, they find some grove or clump -of trees that suits them, and all of them build their nests close -together. Often there are two or three on one tree, like a bird city. -There they live and rear their little ones, and it is said they never -quarrel. - -Then there are the birds who get their food from the sea, such as -penguins. These birds live in big cities, of many thousand nests. They -go to an island where no people live, and build on the ground, or on -rocks, or anywhere. - -Sometimes they are so near together one can hardly walk without stepping -on them. How each mother can tell her own, it is hard to see. They live -very happily together, and if a mother is killed, so that her little -ones are left orphans, one of the neighbors will adopt them all, and -feed and bring them up with her own. - -Some of these birds do not even take the trouble to make a nest. They -put the eggs anywhere on the sand or earth. - -Some one, Mr. Brehm, I think, tells a pretty story about a certain kind -of duck who rears two broods every season. After the ducklings of the -first brood have learned to take care of themselves, they go about -together, getting their food and sailing on the water in a little party, -while their parents are hatching the second brood. But when the younger -ones are big enough, they are led to the water, and at once their elder -brothers and sisters join them. They all swim around together, the -youngest in the middle of the group, where they are protected and fed by -the elder brood as well as by the parents, a lovely and united little -family. - - - - -XVIII - -HIS KINDNESS TO OTHERS - - -BIRDS are helpful to each other when in trouble. If a robin is in -distress, other robins will come to see what is the matter, and to help -if they can. And not only robins, but catbirds, and orioles, and -chickadees, and others, will come, too. - -Sometimes when a person tries to rob a nest, all the birds near will -come in a crowd, to drive away the thief. They will cry and scream at -him, and sometimes fly at his face, and try to peck his eyes. - -Birds are so little they cannot fight a man, but if they can peck at his -face, they can hurt him, and if they really get at his eyes, they can -put them out. We cannot blame the birds for trying to protect themselves -and their young, and it is well for boys to be careful how they disturb -a nest. - -One proof that birds really do help each other is the fact that when a -man wants to know what birds live in a place, he can bring them all -around him by making a sound like a young bird in distress. All who hear -it will come to see what is the matter. - -Let me tell you a story of some young swallows. They were able to fly a -little, and were sitting together on a roof, when a lady who was -watching them noticed that one of them seemed to be weak, and not able -to stand up. - -When the parents came with food, the others stood up and opened their -mouths, and so were fed, but this little one hardly ever got a morsel. - -If birds had no love for each other, as many people think, these strong -little ones would not have cared if their brother did starve; but what -did the lady see? She says that two of the strong young swallows came -close up to their weak brother, one on each side. They put their beaks -under his breast and lifted him up on to his legs, and then crowded so -close against him that their little bodies propped him up, and held him -there; so that he had his chance of being fed as well as they. - -Many times birds have been seen who were blind or old, or who had a wing -or a leg broken, or were in some way hurt so that they could not take -care of themselves, and who were being waited upon by other birds, fed, -and led to the water to drink and bathe. - -[Illustration: CHEWINK, OR TOWHEE] - -Birds have been found caught in the lining of a nest, so that they were -held there and could not go for food. They had been there for weeks, and -would have starved to death if they had not been fed. Yet they were so -well taken care of by other birds that they were strong and able to fly. - -In one case, where the nest was in a tree trunk, the hole in the trunk -had grown up, so that when big enough to fly, they could not get out, -and they had been there for months. Yet when a man cut open the trunk -and let them out, they were well and lively, proving that they had been -fed by friends outside all that time. - -I could tell you many true stories of the kind care of birds for each -other, and for baby birds who had lost their parents, or been stolen -away from them. - -A gentleman in Massachusetts told me that when he was a boy he saw a -small flock of chewinks who came about a house where food was put out -for birds. They came every day, and he soon saw that one was bigger than -the rest, and that he never tried to pick up anything for himself, but -all the others fed him. - -One day he was cruel enough to throw a stone at the bird who was so well -taken care of, and when he took up his victim, he found that the -upper and lower parts of his bill were crossed, so that he could not -pick up anything from the ground, where chewinks find their food. He had -been born thus deformed, and if he had not been fed every day by his -friends he must have starved to death. Yet so well had he been cared for -that he was better grown than any of the others. - - - - -XIX - -HIS AFFECTIONS - - -I AM sure I need not say that father and mother birds love their little -ones. - -So much does the mother love her nestlings that she is often willing to -die for them. Orioles and chickadees will let themselves be caught in -the hand of one who has taken their young, rather than desert them. - -Some birds live in our chimneys, generally in a flue that is not in use, -and are called chimney swifts. If a chimney takes fire the mother swift -tries hard to get her little ones out, but if they cannot fly, she has -been seen to fly into the fire herself, and die with them. - -Robins have been found frozen to death on their nest. They could easily -have saved themselves, but they would not leave their young ones to -perish. A ground bird has been known to sit on her nest during a -freezing storm, till she died, rather than go and leave her little ones -to suffer. - -Once when a young cedar-bird was caught and carried off, the father -followed it for miles, crying and showing so much distress that the man -who had stolen it was sorry for him, and let the little one go. - -Every one who has watched them knows that birds love their mates. A man -once shot a sea bird, when her mate came about him, crying and showing -his grief as well as if he could speak. - -I could easily fill a book with stories to prove that birds are loving -to their mates and young, and all of them true. - -It does not seem strange that birds are fond of their own, but they love -others also. And not only other birds, but even animals like cats, dogs, -and horses sometimes. - -I once had an English goldfinch in the house. He was a little fellow, -not so big as a canary, and he was very fond of another bird in the -room. This was a scarlet tanager, who was much larger than himself. - -The small bird showed his love for his red friend, just as people show -love, by staying close to him, singing to him, and driving away any bird -who came too near. - -A lady once told me this story showing the love of a pigeon for a cat. -The cat was fond of lying on the broad window sill. When the pigeon saw -her there, he would fly down, and alight beside her. Then he would press -up close to her, and rub against her fur, as if glad to see her, and the -cat seemed to enjoy it as much as the bird. - -[Illustration: HOUSE WREN] - -Often a bird who is tamed loves his human friends. A man had a crow who -was very fond of him. He had reared the bird from the nest and never -shut him up, but let him fly about wherever he chose. - -One day he was out in a sudden rain, and his feathers got wet, so that -he could not fly well. Then a boy caught him, and carried him seven -miles away. He clipped one wing, so that the crow could not fly, and -kept him shut in the house all winter. In the spring, the first time he -could get out, the bird started for his old home. - -He could not fly, but he walked the seven miles, through mud and wet, -and came home so tired that he was almost dead. When his master saw him -coming he went to meet him, took him up and petted him, and talked to -him. - -The poor fellow was so happy it seemed as if he could not live. But he -was taken care of, and got well, and lived many years. But never after -that would he leave the place, though when his new feathers came in he -could fly as well as ever. - -Canary birds often love their mistresses. I have heard of one who was so -grieved by a harsh word, that in a few minutes he fell off his perch -dead. - -These true stories show us how tender and loving these little creatures -are, and how careful we should be to treat them gently and kindly. - -An interesting and true story is told by a clergyman in Ohio. It is a -habit of wrens to find a good nesting-place, and then look for a mate to -occupy it. One spring a wren chose a nice bird-box on his place, and -held it ready for the expected bride. But she did not come, and a pair -of English sparrows took a fancy to the same house. - -Sparrows expect to get what they want, and are always ready to fight for -it, so they gave battle to the wren. But wrens also will fight for their -own, and this wren held his house against the enemy for two weeks. Still -the mate did not appear, and finally the lonely bird lost heart, and let -the sparrows set up house-keeping in his box, though he did not go away. - -When the young sparrows were hatched, and feeding began, the wren -suddenly became friendly. He hunted up small green worms, probably such -as are good for wrenlings, and offered them to the young sparrows. - -Nestlings are never known to refuse anything to eat, and wren food -seemed to suit the sparrows, for they soon outgrew the nursery. - -All summer this queer thing went on. The sparrows reared three or four -broods, and the wren did his full share of the work,--and not only of -feeding the young, but of repairing and rebuilding the nest for each -fresh brood. - - - - -XX - -HIS INTELLIGENCE - - -BEFORE people knew very much about the ways of birds, it was thought -that they did not have to be taught anything, but that they knew -everything they needed to know, as soon as they were born. That is, they -were said to act from instinct alone, and not at all from reason, as we -do. - -Another notion that people had was that birds of a kind were just alike; -that they looked exactly like each other, all acted in the same way, and -all sang the same song. - -But since we have begun to study birds more closely, we find these -things are not true. We find that birds learn things by being taught, as -we do. Also, they find out how to do things themselves, and they are not -all alike, as so many machines. - -More than this, we see that they do not look nor act exactly like each -other. For when we know one robin or one oriole well, we can tell him -from any other robin or oriole. And, as I said before, no two of a kind -sing precisely the same song. - -A bird shows his intelligence in many ways. One is by the way he acts -when he cannot do as he is used to doing. A robin I know of wished to -build a nest, but could not find mud to put into it, for it was a very -dry time, and there were no streams near. Now a robin's nest must have -mud, and the bird seemed puzzled for a while. But at last she thought of -a way to get it. - -She went to a bathing-dish that the people of the house kept filled with -water for the birds, jumped into it, and got her legs very wet. Then she -flew to the road, and tramped around in the dust and dirt. - -In a short time her legs had a good coating of mud, which she carefully -picked off with her bill, and took to the nest she was building. - -This she did a great many times, and the lady who told me of it watched -her till she had as much mud as she needed. - -A bird often shows sense by the way she repairs a nest that has been -thrown out of place. Sometimes she will add a new stay, tying the nest -to a stronger limb. One sparrow, whose nest broke loose, put so many -stays to the branch above that they made a little roof like a tent over -it. - -Another way a bird shows reason is in seeing the advantage of a new -place. A pair of swallows lived far out in the West, hundreds of miles -from any house. They had no doubt always nested in a cave, or a hole in -a tree. But one day they found a house put up. It was a mere shed, to be -used as a blacksmith shop, by a party of men who were looking over the -country. - -At once the birds saw how nice it would be to have a roof over their -heads. And although there was a big fire, and the noise of men at work, -they built the nest over the anvil, and reared the family in safety. - -Woodpeckers have shown that they can learn. Some of them have found an -easier way to get food than to dig through the bark of trees for it. - -The flicker, or golden-winged woodpecker, has learned that ants and -other insects are good to eat, and now he does not think of digging into -bark any more. - -The red-headed woodpecker has learned to catch flies like a common -flycatcher. The yellow-bellied, or sapsucker, cuts holes in the trees, -and eats the insects that come to feed on the sweet sap that drips from -them. - -[Illustration: FLICKER] - -Woodpeckers have also learned to cut a hole through a board and nest -inside a building, instead of drilling a deep hole in the trunk of a -tree for a nest. - -Birds show intelligence when they draw us away from their young ones, by -acting as if they were hurt and not able to fly. I have already spoken -about that. - -Sometimes when a bird is caught he will lie quiet and pretend to be -dead. But all the time he is looking out for a chance to fly away. - -A man who watched birds very closely once saw an interesting instance of -their intelligence. They were two of the birds who get their food on the -seashore by turning over stones and eating the creatures hidden under -them. They had found a big dead fish thrown up on the beach and half -buried in sand. Under such a fish they were sure they should find food, -so they went to work to turn it over. The fish was three and a half feet -long, and the birds were about as big as our sandpipers. So it was a -hard thing to do. - -First they pushed against it with their beaks and breast, but it did not -move. Then they went around the other side and scratched away a good -deal of sand from under the fish, and went back and tried again to turn -it over. Still it was too heavy to stir. - -Again they ran around the other side, scraped away more sand, and tried -it once more. They kept up this work for half an hour, but did not -succeed in stirring the great fish. - -At this time the man, who had hidden himself to watch them, saw another -bird coming. The two little workers greeted him with joyful cries, to -which he replied in the same tones. Then all three set to work on the -heavy fish. They dug more sand out from the lower side, and then pushed -against the upper side with all their strength. They lifted it a few -inches, but it fell back. - -At last, after resting a few minutes, without moving from their places, -they worked it in this way. They rested their breasts on the sand, put -their beaks under, and lifted. When the fish was raised several inches, -they held it with their beaks and pushed their breasts against it, when -over it went, down the little pitch they had made. - -They could not stop, and they went with it, but at once came back and -found enough to pay them for their hard work. - -One who really watches birds to see what they are doing will see many -actions that show intelligence and reason. - - - - -HOW HE IS MADE - - - - -XXI - -HIS BODY - - -DID you ever think how well the bird is made to suit his life? Look at -him. - -To fit him to move through the air in flying, his shape is the same that -men make their boats to move through water. It is sharp in front to cut -his way as he goes through, for even the air needs to be cut. - -It is narrower toward the back, and as he flies, the feet are drawn up -or trail behind, and even the feathers lie backward. All this is so he -can go swiftly through the air, and nothing, not even a feather, will -hold him back. - -To keep his body upright, so that he will not be top-heavy and tip over -as he flies, his weight is mostly below the wings. - -If we should try to go through the air as fast as a bird goes, we should -find it very hard to breathe. But the bird is made for it. When you come -to study his anatomy, you will see what a wonderful little creature he -is. - -He can sing while he is working very hard to fly upward. If you will try -to sing while running up a hill, you will see how hard it is to do that. - -A bird's head is joined to his neck at one place, something like a -hinge. Other animals, like dogs and cats, have two hinges, or places of -joining. That is why a bird is able to turn his head around so far that -he can look down his own back. No other creature can do so. - -Because of this, he is able to dress every feather on his body, and to -sleep with his head laid back on his shoulder. - -Nearly all birds have some of their bones hollow, and air-sacs, or -pockets, under the skin. These sacs they can fill with air and make -themselves light, so that those who live in the water cannot sink, but -float like a cork. - -Men who study the way birds are made do not yet know all the uses of the -hollow bones and air-sacs. That is one of the things left for you young -folk to find out. - -Birds who get their food in marshes, or the edge of the water, have long -legs for wading. They have also long necks, so they can pick up food -from the ground. - -Birds who swim have webs between the toes, that turn their feet into -paddles. - -Birds have very large gullets. In many cases the gullet leads into a -place called the crop, where food is kept before it goes into the -stomach. Sometimes the food is made soft in the crop, and then fed to -the young ones, as I told you. - -Birds have no teeth, yet they eat hard seeds, like acorns and grains of -corn. To break these up, and get them ready for the stomach, they have a -gizzard, which is a sort of grinding-mill. And to help in the work of -grinding they swallow small stones. - -One of the wonderful things about birds is the height at which they can -live, and not only live, but fly. A man cannot go higher than twenty-two -or twenty-three thousand feet, while moving about or exercising, because -the air is so rare he cannot breathe. The highest a man was ever known -to go and live, it is said, was less than thirty thousand feet, and that -was in a balloon, where he did not move. - -But birds go a good deal higher than this, and can fly--which is violent -exercise--at that height. It is thought by some that the thinness of the -air may be the cause of the great speed with which birds fly in that -region. But there is still much to be found out about this. - -Besides the marvels of flight, birds have other powers almost as -strange. Many of them can fly under water with perfect ease, and, more -than that, they can, when they wish, sink slowly till nothing is left -above water but their beaks, to breathe. And they can stay so as long as -they choose, keeping still in one spot, without moving. - -A cormorant in a zoölogical garden, who wanted to catch some of the -swallows skimming over the pond, sank his body till only his head was -out, and held himself there perfectly still. - -Birds who are hunted, as geese, have been known to save their lives in -that way, by sinking their body under water, leaving in sight only the -tip of the bill, which is so small it is not readily seen. - -To do such things, birds must be able to make their bodies heavy when -they choose, as well as light, which we know they are able to do by -filling their air-sacs with air. - -There are many things still to be found out about the powers of birds. - - - - -XXII - -HIS BEAK AND TONGUE - - -HOW does a bird get along without a hand? He has to prepare food; to -keep his feathers in order; to build the nest; to feed and take care of -the young; and sometimes to fight other birds. How can all this be done -without a hand? - -[Illustration: FIG. 1. - -Bill of Oriole.] - -The beak is the only thing most birds have in place of a hand, and it is -wonderful to see how many things they can do with it. - -Orioles use it as a needle, in making the nest. With it they weave -strips of soft bark or strings, back and forth, in and out, to make the -firm pocket they hang on the elm-tree (see Fig. 1). - -[Illustration: FIG. 2. - -Bill of Woodpecker.] - -A woodpecker's beak is a chisel or pick, to cut a deep hole in a tree -trunk for a nest (Fig. 2). With a nuthatch it is a hammer, to crack the -nut he has wedged into a crevice in the bark so tightly it cannot slip. - -[Illustration: WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH] - -Some birds use the beak to dig in the ground, as the bank swallows, -while the barn swallows make it a trowel, to carry and plaster mud (Fig. -3). All of them use it as a hand to feed themselves, and a brush and -comb to dress their feathers. - -[Illustration: FIG. 3. Bill of Swallow.] - -Birds need to use the beak a good deal, because in most cases it grows -like our finger-nails. If they did not keep it worn off, it would grow -so long as to trouble them. Sometimes when a bird lives in a cage and -does not use his bill, it grows so long that he can hardly pick up his -food. - -The woodcock's long beak is sensitive, so that he can feel the worms, -deep in the mud where they live. Many waders and swimmers have beaks -soft like leather. - -[Illustration: FIG. 4. Bill of Hawk.] - -You can tell by the shape of the beak how a bird lives, and what he -eats. The strong, hooked beak of a hawk shows that he catches live -animals to eat (Fig. 4). The long, narrow, sharp bill of a heron shows -that he spears his prey, often under water. - -The sharp-pointed bill of a warbler is to pick tiny insects and eggs out -of blossoms, and from under leaves. The sharp-edged bill of a sparrow -(Fig. 5) is to break open the hard shells of seeds. - -[Illustration: FIG. 5. Bill of Sparrow.] - -The curious beak of a crossbill (Fig. 6) is to pick seeds out of pine -cones. - -[Illustration: FIG. 6. Bill of Crossbill.] - -A duck's wide beak, with a strainer at the edge, is to let water out -while keeping food in. A spoon-shaped bill is to scoop up food, and a -thin, flat one is to poke into narrow cracks. - -Both parts of the beak, which take the place of our jaws, are called -mandibles, upper and lower. Both of them can be moved, while we can move -only our lower jaw. - -Birds' tongues are as curious as their beaks. To all birds they take the -place of a finger, as the beak takes the place of a hand, and they -differ as much as the beaks from each other. - -Insect eggs are very small, and often packed snugly into cracks and -corners, and the birds who eat them have a brush on the tip of the -tongue, which brushes an egg out of its hiding-place very easily. - -The nuthatch picks his small grubs out of crevices in bark with the -four-tined fork at the end of his tongue. - -A hummingbird's tongue can be used as a tube, to draw up the honey of -flowers, or perhaps as a pair of tweezers, to pick out the tiny spiders -that live there. - -A woodpecker has barbs on his tongue, to spear insects hidden under the -bark, as shown by Mr. Lucas (Fig. 7). It is said to be sticky also, to -hold small ones, like ants. - -The tongues of birds are of many shapes, but each one is fitted to its -owner's way of getting a living. - -[Illustration: FIG. 7. Tip of Tongue of Downy Woodpecker.] - -Because the tongue is often horny, and they eat strange things, it is -sometimes thought that birds have little sense of taste. But we cannot -be sure of this, and we know they all have notions about their food. - -Dr. Ward tells a story of some geese, which shows that they do not lack -that sense. While sailing upon a river he noticed on the bank some -geese, feeding on the rinds of watermelon, which they picked out of the -garbage dumped there. - -The rind, when taken out of the mass, was none too clean, being covered -with mud and other dirt. When a goose found a piece to suit him, he took -it up, carried it to the edge, and dropped it into the shallow water. -Then he stood and watched it till the running stream washed it clean, -when he stepped into the water and quickly ate off the part he wanted. - - - - -XXIII - -HIS EYES AND EARS - - -BIRDS' eyes are very different from ours. To begin with, they are round. -Then they are placed one on each side of the head, so that they can look -two ways at once. Owls are the only birds who have eyes turned forward -like ours. - -Birds' eyes also are of many colors. Besides our common black, brown, -blue, and gray, birds have light and dark green, bright red, pale and -deep yellow and orange, even white. - -They have, like us, two eyelids. But while we use the upper one to close -our eyes, most birds use the lower one. They have also a third eyelid, -inside the others, a thin, white sort of skin, that moves across the eye -from side to side, and is called the "nictitating membrane." - -There are other ways in which birds' eyes differ from ours. The men who -try to know exactly how birds are made have found out that birds' eyes -make everything look much larger than it is, in other words, they are -like magnifying glasses, or microscopes, so that a tiny insect egg, that -we can hardly see, looks very big to a warbler. - -Stranger still, when a bird is far off, his eyes are like telescopes. -That is, when a hawk is soaring about far above the earth, he can see a -mouse on the ground as well as if he had a telescope to look through. -And the gulls who sail about over the shore, and follow steamers on sea -voyages, can see small fish and tiny bits of bread thrown out by the -passengers, even when they are lost to us in the foam made by the -vessel. - -Mr. Frank Bolles had a pet barred owl, and used to take him out with -him. He says that the bird's sight was wonderful, better than his own -aided by a strong glass. Many times the bird would see and watch a hawk -so far off that Mr. Bolles with his glass could not see him until he -came nearer, and then he looked no bigger than a dot against the sky. - -There is a story told of some small birds migrating over the island of -Heligoland, suddenly coming down in a flock on to a man's garden, and -beginning at once to work among the leaves as if they were feeding. - -The owner of the garden knew they did not eat leaves, so he shot a few -and found them stuffed with small caterpillars. Then he looked at the -plants and found many more caterpillars, each in the curled-up end of a -leaf. The insects could not be seen, yet the birds, while flying over, -no doubt saw the curled leaves and knew they were there. - -Such eyes must be of great use in helping birds to find their food, and -to avoid their enemies. But think what giants we must look to them! It -is no wonder they are afraid of us. - -Perhaps even more useful to a bird than his eyes are his ears, though -they are so nicely covered up by the feathers that we cannot see them. -The tufts of feathers that stand up on some owls' heads, and are called -ears, are not ears at all, but merely decorations, like the crests of -some birds and the long tail feathers of others. - -But because they cannot be seen, we must not think birds have no ears; -they have very good ones indeed. They can hear much better than we can. - -Every one has seen a robin run over the grass and turn his head one side -to listen. It is supposed that he hears the earthworm move under the -sod, and if he is watched, he will often be seen to pull the worm from -that very spot. - -When a woodpecker taps on a tree trunk and turns his head to listen, it -is thought that he hears the grub stir under the bark, for when he -begins to cut the bark away, he is pretty sure to find and draw it out. - -Birds that are much hunted by men, like ducks and geese, get to be very -knowing, and show how wonderful is their hearing. They can tell the -difference between a noise made by an animal and that made by a man. A -deer or any animal may crash through the bushes, and they pay no -attention to it, but if a man makes the least sound they are off in an -instant. - -A bird's ears are behind the eyes, and a little below them. They are -covered by delicate feathers that hide them from sight. When the bird -raises these feathers--perhaps to hear better--they look like tiny ear -muffs. - -Owls have little flaps of skin with which they can shut up their ears -when they wish to be quiet. This must be very useful to birds who prefer -to sleep during the day, when nearly everybody else is awake and making -a noise. Many of us who live in cities would like to be able to close -our ears sometimes. - -Mr. Bolles tells a story about the sharp hearing of a heron. The bird -was on a tree dressing his plumage, and he was hidden in some bushes and -could not be seen. - -Mr. Bolles made all sorts of noises to start up the heron and make him -fly. First he imitated animal sounds. He quacked, and barked, and mewed, -and brayed, and the bird looked interested, but not at all alarmed. Then -he whistled and sang, and at last talked plainly, but the bird only -looked over his way, as if to see what new sort of beast was hidden -there. - -No noise that he could make startled the heron in the least, until a -twig snapped under his foot, when the bird was off like a shot. That -sound he well knew was made by his most feared enemy, man. - - - - -XXIV - -HIS FEET AND LEGS - - -A BIRD always stands on his toes, not on his whole foot, as we do. The -long slim part that we call the leg is really the foot, and the joint we -see nearly up to the bird's body is the bird's heel. But in this book we -will speak of it in the common way, calling the toes the foot, and the -part up to the joint the leg. - -People all over the world have the same kind of feet and the same number -of toes; but with birds it is not so. Most of them have four toes (Fig. -8), but some have only three, and a few have no more than two. - -[Illustration: FIG. 8. - -Foot of Blackbird.] - -In the use of the feet there is still more variety. There are, as Dr. -Coues divides them, three kinds of feet among birds:-- - -[Illustration: LESSER YELLOWLEGS] - -First, a foot that can be used like a hand to clasp a perch, a "perching -foot." - -Second, one that is good to use as a foot, but not at all like a hand, -called a "scratching foot." - -Third, one that is like neither hand nor foot, but a paddle, called a -"swimming foot." - -The birds who have the first kind, the "perching foot," have usually -three toes turned forward and one turned back. They can grasp a branch -or a twig as tightly as if with a hand, as all our common little birds -do. And the large birds of prey, such as hawks and owls (Fig. 9), hold -in them live mice and squirrels and the other little animals they eat. - -[Illustration: FIG. 9. Foot of Hawk.] - -Some birds with perching feet have the toes placed another way. -Woodpeckers have two turned forward and two turned back, so that they -can hold better to a tree trunk (Fig. 10). - -[Illustration: FIG. 10. Foot of Woodpecker.] - -A strange thing about the perching toes is the way they are made to hold -on, so that the birds can sleep on a perch, and not fall. Inside the -toes are tendons, something like cords, which act like elastic -rubber. When a bird bends his leg, the toes are drawn up and held so. -When he is sitting on a perch, he could not fall off if he wanted to. - -Birds who have the "scratching foot," the second kind, mostly go about -on the ground, or wade in the water. They do not usually sleep on -perches, but sleep standing, or crouch on the ground. In the arctic -regions, where there is a great deal of snow, some birds with scratching -feet, who have to go about in it, have in winter what has been called -"snowshoes," because it enables them to walk on the snow with ease. It -is a web-like growth on the side of each toe, which serves the same -purpose with birds that snowshoes do with men, keeps them from sinking -into the snow. - -Birds who have the "swimming foot," the third kind, have the toes made -into a paddle by webs stretched between them. They are the water -birds,--ducks, geese, gulls, and others. - -The toes of all birds have long, sharp claws, not at all like our -toe-nails. In the whip-poor-will and the nighthawk, one edge of the -middle claw has teeth like a comb. - -The long slim part above the toes, what we call the leg, is named in the -books the "tarsus." The tarsus is generally bare, with a leathery skin; -but in some hawks and owls it is covered with feathers. Birds who live -away up in the cold have feathers down on to the toes. - -On looking carefully at one of these bare legs, it will be seen that it -is not smooth like a lead pencil. It is marked in a sort of pattern. -Different species of birds show different patterns. Some look like the -shingles on a roof; others like little squares or plates; and some are -finer, like scales on a tiny fish. - -These marks help in arranging birds in the books. That is, all who have -the same pattern are said to be related. - -The legs of birds are not all of the same length for their size. Some -who never go about on the ground, like hummingbirds, swallows, and -swifts, have very short legs. Birds who walk and hop on the ground have -them longer, and birds who wade in the water have the longest of all. - - - - -XXV - -HIS WINGS AND TAIL - - -A BIRD'S wing does not look much like our arm and hand, yet the bones -show that they are the same. The bird has a shoulder, elbow, and wrist, -as we have. He even has fingers, though they are so covered up by -feathers that one would never know it. He has not so many fingers as we -have, and they are not movable like ours. - -A bird's wing is a wonderful flying-machine, which men have been trying -to imitate these many years. It is made of long stiff feathers, which -fold down smoothly over one another at his side when he is resting, but -can spread in an instant into a broad fan, to beat the air and carry him -away. - -One would not think that feathers could have so much power; but when the -wing is spread, the barbs of the feathers hook together with tiny hooks, -so small a microscope is needed to see them; and that, together with the -edges lapping over each other, makes them almost like one solid -surface. - -Wings are not alike in shape. The wing of a swallow is long and narrow, -while that of a hen or grouse is short and round. We can tell by the -shape of a wing how a bird flies. - -A long, narrow, pointed wing shows that the bird has an easy, skimming -flight,--either he flies great distances, or spends hours at a time on -wing (Fig. 11). - -[Illustration: FIG. 11. - -Wing of Swift.] - -The short round wing (Fig. 12) shows that a bird has a strong flight for -short distances. These wings are found mostly on rather heavy birds, -like grouse. - -[Illustration: FIG. 12. - -Wing of Sparrow.] - -The longest wings are seen on water birds, such as the petrel and the -frigate-bird. The shortest, also, are found among water birds, those who -swim more than they fly, as the auks. - -All the feathers of the wing are named, and it will be well to remember -that the long stiff quills are called _remiges_ or "rowers." These are -firmly rooted in the flesh, and are the hardest to pull out. They are -the most important to the safety of the bird. - -Birds have also another use for their wings. They are a strong weapon to -defend themselves, or to fight others. A large bird can give a severe -blow with his wing, and when pigeons fight, it is said they hold up one -wing to protect themselves while they strike at the enemy with the -other. - -Sometimes wings serve as musical instruments. Woodcocks make whistling -sounds with their wings as they fly, and mourning doves softly murmuring -ones. Ruffed grouse produce with theirs a rolling drum-like effect, and -others rattle theirs like castanets. - -[Illustration: FIG. 13. - -Tail of Ruffed Grouse.] - -If wings are not used, they slowly get to be smaller and weaker, each -generation having them more and more useless, till after a while they -are of no use whatever, and the birds cannot fly at all. This has -happened, it is supposed, to the ostrich family and to some birds living -in the sea. - -[Illustration: BROWN THRASHER] - -[Illustration: FIG. 14. - -Tail of Vireo.] - -The tail of a bird is formed of an equal number of feathers in pairs, -most often twelve. When spread they are the shape of a fan (Fig. 13), -and when closed they lie over each other with the middle pair on top. - -[Illustration: FIG. 15. - -Tail of Swallow-tailed Kite.] - -The tail feathers are not always of the same length, and that makes a -difference in the shape of the end. Sometimes they are even (like Fig. -14), when the tail is said to be "square." Sometimes the middle feathers -are a little longer than the outside ones, and then it is "rounded" -or "pointed." If the outside feathers are longest, the tail is "forked" -(Fig. 15). - -The feathers of the tail are called _rectrices_, or "rudders," because -they are supposed to be used to steer, or direct the bird's course in -flying. But the tail is used also as a brake to check the speed in -alighting. - -The tail is used more than any other organ to express the emotions. Some -birds, like the catbird and thrasher, keep it moving nearly all the -time, jerking it this way and that, and tossing it upward. - -[Illustration: FIG. 16. - -Tail of Sapsucker.] - -In woodpeckers and swifts the tail feathers are not soft at the end like -others, but the stems or shafts project beyond the feathery part, and -are stiff like the tail of a sapsucker (Fig. 16) or sharp like this of -the chimney swift (Fig. 17). These birds use the tail as a prop to hold -them against the tree trunk or chimney wall, and to help them in -climbing. - -[Illustration: FIG. 17. - -Swift Tail.] - -Tail feathers are not so strongly rooted as wing feathers, and are -easily pulled out. Sometimes, when a man or boy tries to catch a bird by -the tail, the bird will escape, leaving the tail in his hand. - - - - -XXVI - -HIS DRESS - - -A BIRD'S whole dress is made of feathers, but the feathers are not all -alike. There are, indeed, several kinds of feathers, and four of them -are found on every bird. There are flight feathers, clothing feathers, -downy feathers, thread feathers, and powder-down feathers. - -Feathers of all kinds are made in the same way. All have, first, a -quill, the horny part next to the body; second, a shaft, the white part -on which the barbs grow; third, the barbs, which grow out on each side -of the shaft, and together are called the vane; fourth, the barbules, or -little barbs, growing out of the barbs; and last, the barbicels, which -grow on the barbules, and on the wings have the tiny hooks which hold -them together. - -But though feathers are made on the same pattern, they look very -different. The wing and tail feathers are stiff and strong, and are -called flight feathers, but those on the breast and body are called -soft, and cling closely to keep the bird warm and dry. These are called -the clothing feathers, because they clothe the bird. - -Down feathers, which are almost always hidden under the clothing -feathers, are, like their name, downy, and answer to our under-clothes. - -Thread feathers grow among the clothing feathers, and are almost like -hairs. It is these that the cook singes off the fowls. - -Kingfishers who dive, and ducks who spend much time on the water, have -very thick down under the feathers--like suits of very warm -under-clothes--which keeps the water away from their bodies. Thus they -can dive, or sit on the water hours at a time, and not feel wet at all. - -Powder-down feathers grow on some herons and cockatoos. They are called -by that name because the tip ends are continually breaking off like -white dust. Nobody knows their use. - -Different from all these are the feathers called plumes, like the long, -soft ostrich plumes we all know; the dainty little ones that stand -straight up, and look as if the wind would blow them away; the long, -showy feathers that the peacock spreads with so much pride, or even the -pretty, drooping ones in the cock's tail. - -These feathers are of no use for flight or for warmth, they rather -hinder than help. They are for ornament, and there are many kinds among -birds, all exquisitely beautiful. Nature has given to birds a more -wonderful dress than to any other living creature. - -It is with his feathers that a bird expresses his feelings. In anger he -fluffs them out till he looks twice as big as usual; we have all seen a -hen bristle up when a dog comes near her brood. - -Nervousness or excitement is shown by jerking the wings and tail, and if -a bird wishes to escape notice, he can make his plumage a perfect -disguise. Mr. Bolles's pet owl would stretch himself up long and slim, -with feathers hugging his body, when he looked so much like a broken -branch of a tree that Mr. Bolles could hardly see him. And another owl -that I heard of, when he was on the ground, would flatten himself and -spread his plumage around, so that the eye could scarcely separate him -from the dead leaves about him. - -No one takes better care of his dress than a bird, and that is why it -looks well for a year. Every day, with most birds, it is washed and -carefully dried, each feather being passed through the bill, and the -whole thoroughly shaken out. At night one may often see robins and -catbirds before going to bed, dressing their plumage and shaking off the -day's dust. - -Besides washing and drying the feathers, birds need oil to keep them in -best condition. For this purpose they have a little "oil jug," a small -gland over the tail, out of which, with the bill, they can squeeze a -drop of oil. We often see ducks and geese oiling their feathers before a -rain. - -Water birds, who need a great deal of oil to keep out the wet, have the -oil jug very large. - -Birds seem to know perfectly well the beauty of their plumage. Not only -do they try to show it off, as the peacock when he spreads his tail, but -they seem to feel shame when their feathers are injured or soiled. One -white feather coming in where it does not belong will make a bird very -unhappy. He will work and tug at it to pull it out, and often make -himself actually ill over the trouble. I had a captive bird who died, I -think, from worry and work over a wing feather which persisted in coming -in white, and which he insisted on pulling out every time. - - - - -XXVII - -DIFFERENT COLORED SUITS - - -A BIRD does not always wear the same colored dress, as I said in the -chapter on moulting. A goldfinch, who through the summer wears a gay -yellow coat, comes out in the fall in plain olive and black; and the -scarlet tanager, who flourishes in the most brilliant red, changes to a -quiet green in winter. Besides these, some birds wear at one season a -spotted coat, and come out afterwards in one of plain colors. - -Most of them change by moulting, as I explained, the old feathers -dropping out and new ones of another color coming in; or, to speak -exactly, the new ones growing out and pushing the old ones off on their -tips. But some change color without moulting. All birds moult completely -in the autumn, many moult partially in the spring, and some, as I said, -change without moulting. - -This last change of color is made partly by fading, and partly by -breaking off the tips of the feathers, or what is called "abrasion." -This is a curious process. I told you something about it in chapter vii. -Certain feathers have edges different in color from the rest; as, for -example, a black feather with tips of yellow. While the feathers are new -and perfect, as they lie over each other like shingles on a roof, only -the edges show, and these being yellow, the bird appears to be dressed -in yellow. But the yellow tips are not so strong as the rest, and they -break or wear off, or are pulled off in the spring. What is strange, -they break exactly where the black begins. So as soon as the yellow is -off, the black shows, and behold, the yellow bird suddenly becomes a -black bird. - -That is the way some birds manage to put on their spring dress in the -fall. The solid color is the color of the spring, but it is hidden or -veiled by tips of another color for winter. - -The meadowlark changes in this way. In the winter his coat is brownish, -or buff. In the spring these tips are worn or broken off, and he comes -out in yellow and black. - -Another change, even more curious, is made by some birds, who all winter -wear white spots, or light scolloped edges to their feathers, and in -spring the spots are gone. - -In these, the white or light parts only break off, as sharply as if cut -with scissors. They leave the edges of the feathers notched in queer -ways, but as they lie over each other that does not show. - -[Illustration: BLACK AND WHITE WARBLERS (MALE AND FEMALE)] - -Birds in this way can change color without changing their feathers. -While moulting but once a year, they can show two suits, and by -partially moulting twice, can show three suits. - -Another thing about the color of feathers is interesting. Some colors, -such as black, and red, and brown, are caused by coloring matter in the -feather. But other colors are only an effect of the way the feather is -made, whether it has ridges on it, or certain minute specks under the -surface, which seem to act as prisms (says Dr. Newton), and reflect the -light in different colors. - -For instance, green is always due to some shade of yellow coloring -matter under a surface full of lengthwise ridges, and other colors are -made in similar ways. - -These curious facts have been found out by that tell-tale little -instrument the microscope, and no doubt it will reveal many more secrets -in time. - -Color is useful to birds, as well as beautiful. Its great use is to -conceal them from their enemies, and they show that they know this by -their conduct. - -When a bird is of the color of dead leaves, or the sand, he has only -to flatten himself and keep still, and he is hidden. Such a bird on the -nest will often let one come close, and even stroke her, while relying -on her color to be unseen. A sitting ruffed grouse will do so. But if -snow falls, the same bird is very wild, for she knows she can be seen in -the snow. - -I have seen a striped bird,--black and white warbler,--when frightened, -flatten himself on a branch, where he looked so much like the bark that -he could not be seen. - -Ground birds are mostly in mottled colors of the ground. The -whip-poor-will, whose habit it is to rest on a log all day, wears colors -that hide him as well as if he were under the log. - -The striking colors on a bird are often bidden when he is at rest, but -show plainly when he flies. When a flicker stands quietly on a fence he -is all in rather dull colors, but when he flies he shows a large -snow-white spot on his back, so that as far as one can see him he may be -known. - -A meadowlark on the ground looks not unlike a flicker, but when he flies -he shows that the outside feathers of his tail are white. This is as -striking a mark as the white spot on the flicker. - -Many birds have such markings, and it is thought by men who study birds -and look for a use in everything, that such marks serve the purpose of -"danger signals" or "recognition marks." That by these birds can know -each other in the dusk, or that the flash of color will catch the eye, -when the bird does not wish to give a call, but to slip away quietly to -avoid danger, and at the same time to give notice to other birds to do -the same. - - - - -HIS RELATIONS WITH US - - - - -XXVIII - -HOW HE WORKS FOR US - - -MANY times in this book I have spoken of the great value of the services -of birds, in helping us destroy insects and weeds that injure our crops. -But there is more to be said about it. - -From morning till night, almost the whole of his life, nearly every bird -is working for us. He does not know he is working for us, of course. He -is simply hunting for the food he likes, and what is good for young -birds to eat. - -But what he chooses to eat himself, and to feed the young, consists -mostly of creatures that destroy our fruit and vegetables, caterpillars -that eat the leaves off our trees, worms that get into our apples and -berries, beetles that spoil our roses and our potatoes, mice that eat -our crops, and all the worms and grubs that gardeners and farmers are -all the time fighting. - -As I have already said, some of the birds like cherries and green peas, -and other things we prefer to keep for ourselves. But we should never -forget that they have earned, by their work among the worms, all they -can take. - -[Illustration: CEDAR-BIRD] - -I say this, not merely because I love the birds, and want to have them -live and be happy, but because it is true. It has been proved true by -scientific men in the service of the United States government. - -These men have had thousands of birds killed to see what they were -eating, and have found out that nearly all the birds they have -examined--blackbirds, cedar-birds, blue jays, hawks, owls, even -crows--do us more good by the injurious creatures they destroy, than -harm by the fruits and vegetables they eat. To this there is, among the -small birds, but one exception, the English sparrow, and, of the large -ones, only the two hawks and one owl, mentioned on page 53. - -Chickadees like to eat the eggs of cankerworms; and for a single meal, -one of these tiny birds will eat two hundred and fifty eggs, and he will -take several meals a day. Now cankerworms destroy our apples. When they -get into an orchard in force, it looks, as Miss Merriam says, as if it -had been burned over. - -Robins, catbirds, and shrikes, and several others, like to eat cutworms, -which destroy grass and other plants. As many as three hundred of them -have been found in the stomach of one robin, of course for one meal. -Ants are very troublesome in many ways, and three thousand of them have -been taken from the stomach of one flicker. - -Rats and mice, ground squirrels and gophers, make great havoc in our -crops, and farmers spend much time and labor trying to get rid of them; -but these creatures are the favorite food of most hawks and owls. - -If the farmer would stop shooting the birds, and protect them instead, -they would do this work for him, and much better than he can. But -because (as I said in a former chapter) one or two hawks and owls have a -taste for chickens, he generally kills every hawk and owl he sees, and -for this folly has to spend half his time trying to kill the little -animals they would gladly have eaten. - -A great deal of refuse, dead sea creatures, and other matter, is thrown -up on the seashore, or floats on the water. On this feed the water -birds,--herons, gulls, terns, and others. If this were not disposed of, -it would make us sick. Indeed, on the shores where so many herons have -been killed, to get their plumes for ladies' hats, the result has been -sickness and death among the people, as Dr. Gaumer, of Yucatan, told Mr. -Chapman. - -Besides the work they do for us in destroying animal life, their -seed-eating is almost as useful. As I said, they eat the seeds of weeds -that farmers and gardeners are all the time laboring to keep down, so -that useful plants may have a chance to grow. - -The whole family of finches, sparrows, buntings, grosbeaks, and all -birds with the high, thick bill, though they eat largely of insects -through the summer, and feed their nestlings on them, when insects get -scarce and weed seeds are ripe, turn to the latter for food. They eat -the seeds of all kinds of troublesome weeds; and as each single seed -might produce a plant, we cannot guess how much they destroy. - -Professor Beal, who is at the head of this government inquiry into the -food of birds, and who knows what he is talking about, says that one -species of little bird--the tree sparrow--destroys every year in one of -the Western States, many tons of the seeds of weeds. - -There is a curious and interesting fact about this seed-eating. The -regular seed-eaters, the finches, prefer the seeds of certain weeds, -most of them harmful; these they break up, taking off the shells, and of -course destroying the germ, making it impossible for them to grow. - -But there are many birds who eat berries having in them seeds, such as -raspberries, blackberries, and all kinds of wild fruit. These birds do -not crack the seeds; and, as they are hard, they do not digest in the -stomach, but are dropped whole, and are ready to grow wherever they -fall. - -Thus, while seed-eating birds destroy the weeds which are hurtful, the -fruit-eaters plant the seeds of berries and fruit which we like. That is -why we find wild berry bushes all over the country. We have to thank the -birds for it. - -A great deal more could be said about the birds' work for us, not only -of the robins and those I have spoken of, but cedar-birds, who are shot -because they take part of our cherries, blackbirds, because they eat -some grain, orioles, because they occasionally take green peas, and -kingbirds, because they have the name of eating bees, though it has been -proved that they eat only drones, which have no sting and make no honey. - -Let me impress upon you two facts. First, the stories of the harm done -by birds are often mere guesswork, from careless observation. For -instance, a man seeing a bird going over his blossoming fruit-trees, at -once concludes he is destroying the fruit, probably shoots him, and then -writes to his favorite paper that a certain bird eats fruit buds. Other -papers copy it, and a war against that bird begins in every orchard. - -Whereas, the truth is, the bird was preserving the fruit by picking out -the insects that would have spoiled it. This is no fancy picture; this -very thing has happened more than once. - -And again, whatever is said about the harm this or that bird does, never -forget this second fact, which I repeat, and which may be relied upon as -perfectly trustworthy. The officers of the government of the United -States, who have carefully studied the matter and found out positively, -without guesswork, what birds eat, have declared emphatically that every -bird they have examined does more good by destroying pests, than harm to -our crops, excepting only the bird we have imported,--the English or -house sparrow. - - - - - -XXIX - -HOW TO ATTRACT HIM ABOUT OUR HOMES - - -BECAUSE birds are so useful to us, as well as because they are so -interesting and so beautiful, it is delightful to have them come about -our homes. And it is not at all difficult, for they are easily taught to -like us. - -In countries where people are gentle, and try to make birds happy, -instead of shooting them or throwing stones at them, they become very -tame. Mr. Hearn, who has written about Japan, says that the fearlessness -of wild creatures is one of the most charming things about the remote -parts of Japan, "where tourists with shotguns have not yet come." - -Travelers who visit Norway tell us that birds are never disturbed there, -and they come freely about the houses. When it is very cold they even -come into the houses for food and warmth, and no one thinks of -frightening them or trying to catch them. - -Even in our own country, Dr. Ridgway told me of a bird-lover in Florida -who would not let birds be annoyed on his place. As a result he had a -great many there, and they became very tame. Cardinal grosbeaks, who are -rather shy, were so tame they would take food from his hand. - -A person living in the country, wishing to draw the birds about his -place, should begin by protecting it. Cats should not be allowed to come -near, English sparrows should be kept down, and boys who shoot or throw -stones should be banished from the vicinity. - -Next, trees and shrubs that birds like, for nesting and for food, should -be set out. For nesting, a very attractive place for the smaller species -is a thick hedge of bushes, the thicker and closer the better. - -Nesting-boxes nailed up in trees please many, and evergreen trees will -draw some that would not come otherwise. For food, various berry-bearing -shrubs and trees should be provided, such as chokecherry, shadberry, -mulberry, and others. - -In a town or city, besides shrubs that birds like, a high fence, with a -top that cats cannot walk on, is desirable, and a readiness to go to -their assistance is soon appreciated. - -A friend told me a few days ago of a family of wood thrushes who nested -last summer in the yard of her house in the city of Orange, N. J. The -birds soon found out that some of the family would come to drive away -strange cats which came in. After they learned that, when a cat appeared -they would give a peculiar cry, unlike any other heard from them. On -hearing this, one of the family always hurried out and drove the enemy -away. - -If the birds could not get any response from a call at the kitchen door, -they would fly to the front of the house, perch on the piazza rail, and -call till some one came out. All through nesting-time they thus called -on their friends for protection, and the delight the family had over the -nest and the friendly birds amply repaid them for their trouble. - -The one great necessity, in both city and country, is water for drinking -and bathing. It should be in a shallow dish. The rough saucer of a -flower-pot is best, because the bird's feet do not slip on it, and the -edge is broad and round and easy to perch on. - -Next best is an earthen dish, with clean pebbles in the bottom, to -prevent slipping, which frightens them. Water should never be more than -two inches deep, but should always be clean, and fresh two or three -times a day. - -No food should be offered in summer, because we want them to get their -natural food of worms and seeds. - -In the winter it is different. They should have food regularly. But once -used to having their wants supplied, they will depend upon it, and -suffer and probably starve, if they are neglected or forgotten. So one -should be very sure he will not get tired of it, before he teaches them -to expect food. - -To feed them safely, a shelf must be placed out of the reach of cats and -bad boys. On the sill of a window is a good place, or the roof of a -piazza, or a little balcony. Breakfast should be served to them at the -same hour every day, and they will soon know when to come for it. - -For food, they will eat any table scraps of meat, and vegetables, and -bread, chopped fine, and most kinds of grain, broken up, or crushed, for -the smaller birds. - -But the thing they all like best of everything is raw suet, as it comes -from the butcher. A large piece may be wired or nailed in place, so that -it may be picked at and not displaced, or it may be chopped fine and -scattered on the shelf, like other food. All birds are fond of this. - -In winter they need water, and it should then, also, be fresh. - -A lady living in southern Ohio, who has for several years given a -breakfast to the birds every day in winter, told me that her daily -guests last season were hairy and downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, white -and red-breasted, one young kinglet, a pair of chickadees, tufted -titmice, blue jays, juncos, cardinal grosbeaks, Carolina wrens, and -sparrows. - -This delightful company came regularly for breakfast, and to pay her, -sang nearly through the season. - -In the latitude of New York there are about forty birds who spend the -winter, and of course there are more as one goes south. In the Southern -States, many of our northern birds may be studied in the winter. - - - - -XXX - -HOW TO STUDY HIM - - -AN attractive thing about bird study is the fact that there is still so -much to be found out. - -Men have been studying the dead bird for many years. All about the body -is well known. The way he is made, the arrangement of his bones and his -organs, are plainly set forth in the books, in words and pictures. - -The shape and colors of his plumage, how many feathers belong to his -wing and tail, his length, his extent, the shape of his beak and his -foot,--all these facts are to be found in every Ornithology. - -Some of his most easily noted habits, too, are familiar; where and when -he nests, where he spends his time, and where he goes in the winter, -what he eats, and when he changes his dress. - -But really to know the living bird, to make acquaintance with the -individual, to see his family life, his manners, his intelligence, his -powers,--this kind of study has hardly begun. - -This almost new and most attractive field is open to us to-day. It -offers a charming study, with the added interest of discoveries to be -made. Nor is it so hard as most persons think. - -In the beginning there are two things to learn: first, how to study from -life; and second, how to identify without killing. To study is simply to -observe closely and carefully, and to report accurately. - -Take a little lesson in observing: When you see a bird do not merely -gaze idly at him, but take note of everything about him. What he is -doing, how he is doing it, and all his points, his size and shape, his -colors and markings. - -If he is getting food, as he most often is, see whether he picks it from -the tree trunk or gathers it from grass tops; whether he hunts it among -leaves, bores the bark, drops to the ground, or sails out into the air -for it. - -Then try to discover what it is--insect or seed, beetle, grub, or -worm--and what he does with it,--swallow it at once, beat it to death, -or hold it in his mouth uneaten. - -Then notice his manners,--if he stands still, or jerks his tail or body; -if he flits about the branches, hovers before a flower, or hammers at -the door of an unlucky grub behind the bark. Next, does he walk or hop? -does he chatter or keep silent? fly straight, or go bounding in great -waves through the air? All these things you must learn to see, and to -note down the moment you do so, so that you will not be uncertain or -confused when you take your books to see who he is. - -Then you must take note of his size, and to do this--as it is hard to -judge of inches--it is well to have in mind a sort of index of size to -which you can compare him. Take the most common and best-known birds for -standards, the robin, the English sparrow, and one smaller,--the wren, -or the "chebec" (least flycatcher). When you see a bird, if he is as big -as a robin, enter in your note: "Size, robin." Should he be a little -smaller, yet still larger than your measure,--the English sparrow,--you -can note it, "Size, robin -," the minus sign meaning that it is less. If -he were larger, you would put the plus sign: "Size, robin +." - -Observe the shape, whether it is slim like an oriole, or chunky like a -chickadee; also any peculiarity of plumage, as a crest, specially long -or strangely formed tail feathers; the end of the tail, whether square, -rounded, pointed, or notched. - -Then notice the beak; its length compared to the head, its shape and -color. If it is high and thick, like a canary's or sparrow's, the bird -is a seed-eater; if long and straight, like a robin's, he is an -insect-eater; if sharp and flat, opening very wide like a swallow's, he -is a flycatcher. - -[Illustration: FIG. 18. - -Canadian Warbler.] - -Lastly, note the plumage, the general color, then special markings, such -as bars on wings or tail, a ring around the eye (Fig. 18), or a line -over or through the eye (Fig. 19), white or black throat (Fig. 20 or -19), speckled or striped breast (Fig. 18), or any conspicuous blotch. -Every point must be set down the moment you notice it. You cannot trust -your memory. - -[Illustration: FIG. 19. - -Black-throated Green Warbler.] - -With these full notes, return to your study and take your manual to find -out his name, or to identify. - -[Illustration: FIG. 20. - -White-throated Sparrow.] - -Many persons think that in order to know a bird, and especially to find -out his name, one must have him in the hand, count his wing and tail -feathers, and measure his length. Excepting for exact scientific -purposes, this is not at all necessary. Almost any bird in America may -be perfectly identified without touching him, indeed, while he is in the -enjoyment of his liberty in a tree. For birds have marked external -differences, which are carefully set down in the books. - -The modern manuals, too, are usually furnished with a color key, the use -of which is fully explained in them. With the help of this you will have -little trouble in naming your bird. - -Above all, be exact in your knowledge and do not jump at conclusions. If -you see a bird on a fruit-tree picking about the blossoms, do not decide -offhand that he is spoiling the fruit; look closely to see if he is not, -instead, clearing it of worms that would destroy it all. When you notice -a bird in a strawberry bed, do not instantly conclude that he is after -strawberries; he doesn't care half so much for berries as he does for -insects, and very often he is engaged in ridding the plants of pests, at -the moment that he is scared off or shot by a careless person, who does -not wait to see whether he is friend or foe. - -Although patience and clear eyes alone will open many delightful secrets -of bird life, a good opera glass will do still more. It will bring you -nearer to the bird without frightening him. You can see thus much -better, not only his markings, but what he is doing. In a word, you can -be more sure of your facts. - -In deciding upon the actions of a bird, never _guess_ at anything. If -you see a pair very busy about a shrub, you may be sure they have a nest -there, but do not so record it till you have actually seen the nest. -Even then you should not conclude at once that it belongs to them; I -have seen birds sit a few moments in nests which did not belong to -them--as if to try them. You may feel very sure what a bird means by an -action, but you should set down only what he _does_. Without this care, -your records will be worthless. - -Do not discourage yourself by trying to find the name of every tiny atom -in feathers that you see; indeed, little birds flitting about the -tree-tops--mostly warblers--will be hard for you to identify, and almost -impossible to watch. I advise you to confine your study at first to the -larger and less lively birds,--kingbirds, robins, thrushes, phoebes, -bluebirds, orioles, goldfinches, and others, all of which you will find -near to houses and easy to study. Do not expect too much at once, nor -give up in despair if you cannot identify the first bird you see. - -[Illustration: SCARLET TANAGER] - -You may be sure that every hour you honestly give to the study will make -it more interesting; every bird you learn to know will be like a new and -delightful companion. - -You will lose your desire to take life or even to steal eggs from them; -the country will have new charms for you; in fact, a person blessed with -a love of the study of birds or beasts or insects possesses a lifelong -and inexhaustible source of interest and happiness. - -In regard to a manual, there are now so many to be had, one hardly knows -how to select. I will mention only two or three, which have particular -points of value. - -A good book to begin with, for residents of New England, New York, and -the Eastern Middle States, is Professor Willcox's "Land Birds of New -England" (Lothrop Lee & Shepard, Boston. Price 60 cts., by mail). - -Although this little book treats of only ninety birds, they are the most -common, and its value is its simplicity, and the ease with which its -color key enables one to identify the birds it treats. It introduces a -beginner to the larger works in a most pleasing way. - -A good general work for Eastern North America, thoroughly trustworthy -and not too technical in its use of terms, treating all the birds of -the locality, is Chapman's "Handbook of the Birds of Eastern North -America" (Appleton, New York. Price $3.00). It has a color key and a -color chart, by which one may see what is meant by colors named. - -Especially attractive to ladies and amateurs, for its charming accounts -of bird life, is Mrs. Wright's "Birdcraft" (Macmillan, New York. Price, -$2.00). It treats but two hundred species, but that includes the birds -usually seen in the New England and Northern Middle States. It has a -color key. - -The whole United States is covered by Dr. Coues's "Key to North American -Birds," 2 volumes (The Page Company, Boston. Price $12.50). It is not -quite so easy for the beginner, but it is untechnical in style, and -fully illustrated. - -One book deserving mention because of its value as an aid to teachers is -Miss Merriam's "Birds of Village and Field" (Houghton Mifflin Co., -Boston. Price $2.00). It is exceptionally rich in facts and statistics -relating to the economic value of birds. It treats nearly two hundred of -the most common birds. - -A book intended for identification only is Professor Apgar's "Birds of -the United States" (American Book Company, New York. Price $2.00). It is -the result of his experience as teacher, and has several new features -very helpful to beginners, such as small cuts at the bottom of pages to -explain terms, thus showing exactly what is meant, for example, by "wing -bars" or "rounded tail." It also gives hints about the usual locality of -a bird, whether creeping over a tree trunk, on the wing, or elsewhere. -It takes particular note of size, having one section for birds about the -size of an English sparrow, and so on. The pronunciation of the Latin -names is carefully indicated. There are several chapters giving -descriptions of the external parts of a bird, and there is a glossary of -scientific terms. - -The following list of points to observe in watching birds has been used -to advantage by classes in bird study. A little familiarity with this -will help one to remember what to look for. - -A similar, but fuller and more elaborate, list has been prepared, and -bound up in tablets, to use in the field. It is for sale by Miss J. A. -Clark, 1322 Twelfth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. - - - - -POINTS TO OBSERVE - - 1. Locality--tree: bush: ground. - 2. Size--compared to robin: English sparrow. - 3. Form--long: short: slender: plump. - 4. Beak--high: stout: wide: hooked: long: lobes: drawn down. - 5. Tail--length: shape at end. - 6. Legs--long: short: scales. - 7. Toes--webbed: how turned: hind claw long. - 8. Color--bright: striking: dull: plain. - 9. Markings--on head: breast: wing: tail: back. - 10. Manners--walk: hop: quiet: active: noisy: silent. - 11. Habits--eating seeds: berries: insects: from ground: tree - trunk: leaves. - 12. Song--long: short: continuous: broken. - 13. Flight--direct: undulating: fluttering: labored. - 14. Nest--where placed: shape: materials: eggs. - 15. Young--plumage: behavior. - - - - -SECOND BOOK - - - - -THE SECOND BOOK OF BIRDS - - - - -I - -WHAT IS A BIRD FAMILY? - - -IN the "First Book of Birds" I told you about the common life of a bird; -what sort of a home he has, and how he is taken care of when little; -then how he lives when grown up; what he eats; where he sleeps; and -something about how he is made. - -In this book, I want to help you a step further on in your study of -birds. I shall tell you something about particular birds, about the -families they belong to, and the different ways in which they live. - -To begin with: What is a bird family? In life, a bird family is exactly -like a human family. It consists of father, mother, and children. But in -the books, a family means quite another thing. - -Men who study the Science of Birds, or Ornithology, have placed the -birds in groups which they call families, to make it easier to find out -about them, and write about them. This way of arranging them in books is -called classification--or forming them into classes. - -Birds are classified, not by the way they look, but by the way they are -made, or their structure, and this is found out by the study of -Scientific Ornithology. Birds may look a good deal alike, and act alike, -and yet be differently made. - -There is first the grand class AVES, which includes all creatures who -wear feathers. This class is divided into orders. - -Orders are made by putting together a large number of birds who are -alike in one thing. For instance, all birds who have feet made to clasp -a perch, and so are perchers, are put in an order together. - -But many birds have feet for perching who are very different in other -ways. So orders are divided into families, which I shall tell you about -in this book. - -In each family I shall tell you about one or more of the best known, or -the ones you are most likely to see, and that will help you to know the -rest of the family when you begin to study birds out of doors, and use -the manual to learn the names. - -I shall often speak of what has been found out about the food of birds, -and I want to tell you here, once for all, how it was done, so that you -may understand just what I mean when I speak of the work of the -Department of Agriculture. The Government of the United States has in -Washington a department with a head and many men under him, whose -business it is to take charge of everything concerning agriculture, that -is, farming, fruit-growing, etc. This is called the Department of -Agriculture. - -Farmers and fruit-growers made so much complaint of the damage done to -crops by birds, that this department determined to find out just what -birds do eat. The only way it could be done was by having the birds -killed and seeing what food was in their stomachs, for it is almost -impossible to tell by watching them. To know positively which birds do -harm by eating more grain or fruit than insects, and which do good by -eating more insects, would save the lives of many thousands. So the -killing of those they studied was useful to the whole race. - -When they wanted to find out what crows eat, they had crows killed all -over the country--hundreds of them--and the stomachs, with the food in, -sent to them in Washington. Then they went to work and examined every -one. They could tell by the shells of seeds and the hard parts of -insects, and bones and hair of mice, etc., just what had been eaten. And -the contents of every stomach was written down and preserved in a book. -Thus, you see, they could tell what crows were in the habit of feeding -upon. - -They did this with many other birds who are said to do harm,--hawks, -owls, blackbirds, kingbirds, and others. That is how we come to know -what birds eat, and can tell whether they do harm or good. There can be -no mistake in this way of knowing, and so what comes from this -department may be relied upon as true. - -I want this little book to help the bird-lovers in the South and West of -our big country, as well as in the East; and so, in each Family, I shall -try to tell about a bird who may be seen in each part. A good many of -our birds are found both East and West, with slight differences, but -some that are in one part are not in the other. - - - - -II - -THE THRUSH FAMILY - -(_Turdidæ_)[2] - - -THIS family is named after the thrushes, but our familiar robin belongs -to it, and also the sweet-voiced bluebird. The birds of this family are -all rather good sized, and excepting the bluebird show no bright colors. -Nearly all of them have spotted breasts when young, and many of them -keep the spots all their lives. Young robins and bluebirds have spots on -breasts and shoulders, but when they get their grown-up plumage there -are none to be seen. - -The thrush family get around by hopping, and do not walk, though some of -them run, as you have seen the robin do on the lawn. Most of them live -in the woods, and feed on the ground, and all of them eat insects. -Because their feeding grounds freeze up in winter, most of these birds -go to a warmer climate, or migrate. They are all good singers, and some -of them among the best in America. - -The best known of this family is the robin, AMERICAN ROBIN, to give him -his whole name. He is found all over the United States. In the summer he -lives in the Eastern and Middle States, in the winter he lives in the -Southern States, and he lives all the year round in California. - -The California robin is called the Western Robin, and is a little -lighter in color than his Eastern brother; but he is the same jolly -fellow under his feathers, and robin song is about the same from the -Atlantic to the Pacific. - -I'm sure you all know how he looks, with black head, slate-colored back -and wings, streaked throat, and dull red or chestnut breast. His mate is -not quite so dark in color. - -Robins start for their nesting-place, which is their real home, very -early, almost the first of the birds. They make a nest, not very high, -in a tree or about our houses, with a good deal of mud in it. Not all -nests are alike. Sometimes a bird will show a fancy for a pretty-looking -nest. I have seen one made of the white flowers of life-everlasting. The -stems were woven together for the framework, and the little clusters of -blossoms left outside for ornament. - -The young robin just out of the nest is a pretty fellow, with spots all -over his breast and shoulders. He spends most of his time calling for -food, for he is always hungry. He is rather clumsy in getting about, and -often falls to the ground. But if you pick him up and put him on a low -branch out of the reach of cats, he will fly as soon as your hand leaves -him, and generally come to the ground again. So it is of no use to try -to help him that way. The only thing you can do is to keep cats and bad -boys away from him, until he flies up into a tree. - -The robin gets his food on the ground, or just under the surface. He -eats many caterpillars and grubs that are harmful to us. One that he -specially likes is the cutworm, which has a bad way of biting off young -plants. In the East he eats many earthworms, which we see him pull out -of the ground on the lawn, but in the West, where there are not so many -earthworms, he picks up insects of various kinds. - -All through spring, when insects are hard at work destroying our fruit -and vegetables and young grains, the robin spends almost his whole time -catching them; first for his own eating, but many more when his little -ones get out of the shell, for young birds eat a great amount of food. -Then, when he has spent months in our service killing insects, so that -our fruit and vegetables can grow, do you not think he has earned part -of the cherries he has saved? - -Robins are very easily made tame, and, when well treated and not shut up -in a cage, they become fond of people and like to live in our houses. I -know of a robin who was picked up from the ground by a lady. He could -not fly, and she took him into a house and brought him up. He was never -wild or afraid of people, and he never wanted to be free. His mistress -would sometimes put him on her hat, without fastening him in any way, -and go out to walk with him there. He liked his ride, and never thought -of leaving her. She often took him with her into a piece of woods where -she went. He would play around on the ground and in the trees, but the -moment she started for home he flew down, ready to go. - -She thought perhaps he would like to be free, and she tried once or -twice to leave him in this pleasant grove, but he always flew to her and -refused to be left. He was so fond of his mistress that when she went -away for a day or two he was very unhappy, hid himself in a closet, and -would not eat till she came back. - -This robin, too, liked the food of the family, and did not care for -earthworms. In fact, he could hardly be coaxed to eat one of them, -though he liked some kinds of grubs which he found on the ground. But he -ate them in a different way from his wild brothers. He did not swallow -them whole, but beat them to a jelly before trying to eat. - -This pet had a sweet, low song of his own. He never sang like his wild -brothers until his second year, when he had been out and heard them -sing. - -A pair of robins that were blown from a nest in a high wind were reared -and kept in a large cage by Mrs. Grinnell in California. The first year -the singer did not sing, but in the second year a wild mockingbird came -to teach him. He would alight on the cage, which hung out of doors, and -sing softly a long time, till the robin began to do the same. When he -could sing, it was more like a mockingbird than like a robin. The mocker -was very fond of his pupil, and used to bring him berries and other wild -dainties. - -These robins made a nest of things the mistress gave them, and eggs -began to appear in it. But as soon as one was laid, one of the birds -would jump into the nest and kick and scratch till it was thrown out and -broken. They seemed to think the pretty blue eggs were playthings. When -the weather grew hot, Bobby, the singer, showed his sense by spending -most of his time lying in his bathing-dish, covered with water up to his -ears. He would lie there an hour at a time, too comfortable to get out -even to eat. - -[Illustration: HERMIT THRUSH] - -Birds who are not brought into the house often become tame when well -treated. One family in Michigan had a pair of robins who nested close to -the house for fourteen years. It was plain that the birds were the same -pair, for they became so friendly that they let any of the family pick -up a nestling, and showed no fear. But with other people they were as -wild as any robins. - -One day a man passing by picked up one of the young birds, who was -scrambling about on the ground. At once the parents began loud cries of -distress, and all the robins in the neighborhood came to help. They -scolded and cried, and flew at the thief who wanted to carry off the -baby. One of the family heard the row, and went out and claimed the -robin, and the man gave it up. The moment the little one was in the -hands of a person they knew, the cries ceased. Not only the parents but -the neighbors seemed to understand that the nestling was safe. - -The way birds act when brought up by us and not by their parents shows -that young birds are taught many things before they are grown up. When -living in a house, they are not afraid of cats or people, as wild -ones are. They do not usually sing the robin song, nor care for the -robin food, and they do not seem to know how to manage a nest. I could -tell you many things to prove this. - - -Another charming member of the Thrush Family is the HERMIT THRUSH. He is -a beautiful bird, smaller than the robin. He is reddish brown on the -back, with a white breast spotted with dark brown or black. He has -large, full, dark eyes, which look straight at you. - -The hermit thrush spends his winters in the Southern States, and his -summers in the Northern. But in the far West, where are no cold winters, -the hermit does not have to move back and forth. In that part of the -country the bird is the Western Hermit Thrush. - -This bird is one of our finest singers, and a very shy bird. His home is -in the woods, and from there we hear his loud, clear song, morning and -evening. Many people think his song is the finest bird-song we have. His -ordinary call as he goes about is a kind of "chuck." The Western hermit -differs hardly at all. He may be a little smaller, but he is the same -delightful singer and lovely character. - -The mother hermit makes her nest on the ground, and hides it so well -that it is hard to find,--though I'm afraid snakes, and squirrels, and -other woods creatures who like eggs to eat find it more often than we -do. - -Shy as the hermit is, he is an intelligent bird. A mother hermit a few -years ago strayed into the grounds of a gentleman in Massachusetts and -built a nest under a pine-tree. When she was found, she was at first -very much frightened. But the owner of the place was a bird-lover, and -gentle and quiet in his ways, and she got so used to him that she let -him photograph her many times. - -A gentleman, Mr. Owen, once captured a young hermit thrush so lately out -of the nest that he could not fly much. He kept him in the house several -weeks, and found out many interesting things about young thrushes. One -thing he discovered was that the bird has his own notions about food. He -ate raw meat and earthworms. But when worms were fed to him that came -from a dirty place, he threw them out of his mouth, wiped his beak, and -showed great disgust. The worms brought from clean garden earth he ate -greedily. - -The little captive had his own way of eating a worm. He began by -worrying it awhile, and then swallowed it tail first. - -He showed his instinct for sleeping high by being very restless at -night, till let out of his cage. Then he flew to the highest perch he -could find in the room, and roosted for the night. - -The bird showed himself friendly and not at all afraid of people. Mr. -Owen got so attached to him that when he let him go in the woods he felt -as if he had parted with a dear friend. - -In the picture you see two hermit thrushes. The upper one is singing, -and the lower one looking calmly at you, in the way of these beautiful -birds. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[2] See Appendix, 1. - - - - -III - -THE KINGLET AND GNATCATCHER FAMILY - -(_Sylviidæ_)[3] - - -THIS family is small in our country. There are only three members of it -that we are likely to see. But they are most dainty and lovely birds. -They are the two kinglets or little kings, not much bigger than -hummingbirds, and the blue-gray gnatcatcher, about as small. They are -all fond of living in the tops of tall trees, and they generally get -their food and make their pretty nests away out of our reach. So we have -to look sharp to see them. It is easier to hear them, for they are fine -singers. - - -The RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET is a plump little bird in olive-green feathers. -Below he is yellowish white, and he has two whitish wing bars. On top of -his head is a narrow stripe of bright ruby color. But we see him usually -from below, so that is not often noticed. He flits about the upper -branches, picking out the smallest insects and insect eggs, and eating -them. So he is very useful to us. - -[Illustration: RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET] - -Although this bird is found all over our country, he does not nest with -us, except sometimes in the mountains. He goes farther north, beyond the -United States. The nests that have been found in the mountains of -Colorado and Montana were partly hanging, and very large for such a tiny -bird. They were made of soft, fine bark strips, and green moss, and hung -to the end of a spruce or pine branch. - -But the ruby-crown passes his winters in the Southern States and Mexico, -and when he starts for his nesting-home, he begins to sing. As he goes -north, he stops a few days or a week in a place, and then is the time to -hear his sweet voice. When he sings, you would hardly know him. He -raises the red feathers on top of his head so that they stand up like a -crown, and change his looks very much. In the picture you can see a -little of the ruby stripe. - -Not much is known of the habits of these little birds, they are so hard -to study. They are found all over the United States, in the Southern -States and California in winter, and in the Northern States in spring -and fall, when migrating. - -The BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER is a slim little bird, with a rather long -tail. He is bluish gray, with some white and black on head, wings, and -tail, and he is grayish white below. - -He has a sweet song, but it is so low you have to be very near and very -quiet to hear it. He is such a talkative, restless fellow, however, that -you often see him when you might not hear the song. - -The gnatcatcher is one of the most lively of birds. He bustles about in -an eager way that shows everybody where to look for the nest. And when -there is no nest, he flits over the tree-tops, catching tiny flying -insects, and uttering a queer call that sounds something like the mew of -a cat. He does not need to be so quiet as birds who build on the ground -or near it, because few can get at the nest. It is too high for snakes -and boys, and on branches too light for squirrels or big birds. So he -can afford to be as chatty as he pleases. - -The nest of this bird is one of the prettiest that is made. It is a -little cup, upright on a branch, usually near the end so that it is -tossed by the wind. Miss Merriam found a pair of gnatcatchers in -California, and watched them through many troubles. Their way of -building was by felting. That is, they took fine, soft materials like -plant down, and packed it all closely together by poking with the beak -and prodding it with the feet. - -A gnatcatcher's nest is large for the size of the bird. It must be deep -for safety, so that eggs and nestlings will not be thrown out by the -wind. Three times, Miss Merriam thinks, the little family she watched -had to build their nest. Each time it took more than ten days of hard -work. - -This pretty little fellow has a long tail, and he keeps it in motion all -the time. He jerks it up or down, or twitches it to one side or the -other; or he flirts it open and shut like a fan, which shows the white -edges and looks very gay. - -Dogs and cats, as you know, show how they feel by the way they move the -tail. Birds do the same, some much more than others. If you watch the -way in which they move their tails, you can learn to tell how a bird -feels almost as well as if he could speak to you. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[3] See Appendix, 2. - - - - -IV - -THE NUTHATCH AND CHICKADEE FAMILY - -(_Paridæ_)[4] - - -THIS is another family of small birds. The nuthatches are lively, -restless little creatures. You generally see them scrambling over the -trunks of trees, head up or head down, as it happens. They are dressed -in sober colors, and spend their lives picking tiny insects out of the -crevices of the bark. - - -The WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH is the best known in the East. In California -the slender-billed takes his place, being about the same in dress and -manners. Both of them, East and West, go about calling "quank, quank." -The dress is slate-blue and white, with a white breast, a black cap, and -black on wings and tail. - -Nuthatches nest in holes, either deserted woodpecker nests or natural -holes in trees. If such a place is not to be found, the pair will -sometimes dig out a home in a decayed stump for themselves. - -It is wonderful to see how easily and quickly a nuthatch will run over -the trunk and large branches of a tree. Woodpeckers usually go upward, -and brace themselves with their stiff tails. If they want to go down, -they back down rather awkwardly. Creepers, who also go over tree trunks, -go up only, and they also use their stiff tails for a brace. But the -nuthatch goes head up, or down, or sideways, and never uses the short, -square tail in the business. He can do this because his claws are very -curving, almost like hooks, and they grasp tight hold of the little -rough places in the bark. - -It is a funny sight to see a mother nuthatch going about with four or -five hungry little ones after her, like chickens after a hen, all -calling their droll little "quanks." - -The nuthatch gets his name, it is said, from the habit of fixing a nut -into a crack and hammering or "hacking" it till it breaks. In summer, -when insects are to be had, this bird, like many others, eats nothing -else, and he eats thousands of them. But he can live on other food, so -he is not forced to migrate. - -To provide for winter, when insects will be gone and snow cover the -seeds, he lays up a store of food. He takes kernels of corn, if he can -get them, or sunflower seeds, or nuts of various kinds. This keeps him -very busy all the fall, and he has often been seen at the work. He will -carry a nut to a tree and find a crack in the bark just big enough to -hold it. He tries one after another till he finds one to fit. Then he -hammers it in till it is secure, and leaves it there. Then in winter the -same bird has been seen, when everything was covered with snow, to dig -the hidden nuts out of their hiding-places and eat them. - -Many birds who do not migrate, but live in the same place the year -round, provide for winter in the same way. So do squirrels and other -animals. It is pleasant to think that rough-barked trees, and knotholes, -and hollows, are filled with food for the hungry birds. And if they had -not that supply, they might starve, or be obliged to leave us. - - -The RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH is a little smaller than the white-breasted, -and has a reddish breast. His home is more toward the north, both East -and West. He nests in Maine and other Northern States. His call note is -different too. It sounds like the squawk of a toy trumpet. His habits -are much like those of his bigger relative. - -The nuthatch is fond of his mate, and takes good care of her in nesting -time. He feeds her and the young till they leave the nest. - -Mr. Fowler tells a story of an English nuthatch who is almost the same -as one of ours. Some bird-lovers were in the habit of putting nuts on a -window-sill for these birds to carry away. One day, to see what they -would do, somebody put one in a glass tumbler. The birds saw the nut and -tried to get it through the glass, pecking and hammering at it a long -time. Finally, one got tired or discouraged and flew up to a perch over -the tumbler. Then he happened to look down, and saw the nut inside the -glass. Instantly he came down. He alighted on the edge of the tumbler -and held on tightly, while he leaned far over inside, almost standing on -his head, till he picked up the nut and carried it off. - -These birds are easily made tame in winter by feeding them every day -when food is hard to get; and at a time when they are forced to live on -seeds and nuts, they greatly enjoy scraps of meat, and most of all, -suet. Many people put out food for the birds every day in winter, in -some safe place where cats cannot come. They have great pleasure in -watching their little guests. - -[Illustration: BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES] - -Chickadees, or Titmice, as they are named in the books, belong to -another branch of this Family. There are a good many titmice in the -world, seventy-five kinds or species, but we in America have only -thirteen. Best known in the Eastern and Middle States is the common -chickadee. In California, the mountain chickadee has habits about the -same, and the Southern States have the tufted titmouse. - -All these little fellows are pretty birds in gray, set off with black -and white, with lovely soft and fluffy plumage. - - -The common CHICKADEE and his brother of the West have black on top of -the head and on the throat, and white at the side of the head. They nest -in holes in a tree or stump. If they can find the old home of a -woodpecker, they are glad to get it, but if they cannot find one, they -are able to cut one out for themselves, though it is a hard, long job -for them. - -These birds have very large families, sometimes as many as eight or nine -little chickadees in one of those dark nurseries. How so many can live -there it is hard to see. They must be all in a heap. - -Everybody knows the common call of the chickadee,--"chick-a-dee-dee;" -but he has a song, too. It is slow, sad-sounding, and of two notes, -almost like the common cry of the phoebe. But you must not think they -have no more than these few notes. They have odd little songs, and they -make queer sounds that seem much like talking. Almost all birds have -many notes and calls and little chatty noises of different sorts, -besides their regular song and the common call note. To hear these, and -learn to know a bird whatever he says, is one of the delights of bird -study. I hope you will some day enjoy it. The Chippewa Indians named the -chickadee "kitch-kitch-ga-ne-shi." - -A chickadee is a friendly little fellow. Many times one has come down on -to a man's hand or knee. Mr. Torrey once found a pair making their nest, -and he climbed up on to a branch of the tree, close by where they were -working, so as to watch them. Many birds would have been frightened to -have a man so near, but not the brave little chickadees. They stared at -him a little, but went right on with their building. - -These birds, though so tiny, are among the most useful to us, because -they spy out and destroy the insect eggs hidden in crevices of bark, or -under leaves. Bigger birds might not care to pick up such small things, -or their beaks might be too clumsy to get at them. - -When you see a chickadee scrambling over a tree, hanging head down with -all sorts of antics, he is no doubt hunting out the eggs. These eggs, if -left, would hatch out into hungry insects, to eat the leaves or fruit, -or to injure and perhaps kill the tree. The nuthatch clears up the trunk -and large limbs, and the chickadee does the same for the small branches -and around the leaves. - -It has been found out that one pair of chickadees with their young will -destroy five hundred pests, such as caterpillars, flies, and grubs, -every day. No man could do so much, if he gave his whole time to it. -Besides, he could not go over the whole tree as a bird does, without -doing harm to it. A chickadee hops along the small branches and twigs, -looking under every leaf, sometimes hanging head down to see the under -side, and picks up every insect or egg. Among his dainties are the eggs -of the leaf-rolling caterpillar, the canker-worm, and the apple-tree -moth,--all very troublesome creatures. - - -The TUFTED TITMOUSE is more common in the South and West than his -cousin, the chickadee, and he is one of the prettiest of the family. He -is dressed in soft gray, with a fine, showy, pointed crest. His ways are -something like the chickadee's, but he is, perhaps, even bolder and -more pert, and he is easily tamed. All his notes are loud and clear, and -he is never for a moment still. - -In winter, this bird is found in little flocks of a dozen or more. These -are probably all of one family, the parents and their two broods of the -year. He is one of the birds who stores up food for a time when food is -scarce. In summer, he eats only insects. - -The tufted titmouse, like others of his race, has a great deal of -curiosity. I have heard of one who came into a house through an open -window. It was a female titmouse in search of a good place for a nest. -After she had been in all the rooms, and helped herself to whatever she -found that was good to eat, she seemed to decide that it was a land of -plenty and she would stay. - -The stranger settled upon a hanging basket as nice to build in. The -family did not disturb her, and she brought in her materials and made -her nest. She had even laid two or three eggs, when the people began to -take too much interest in her affairs, and the bird thought it best to -move to a safer place. - -Another of these birds in Ohio, looking about for something nice and -soft to line her nest, pitched upon a gentleman's hair. Unfortunately, -he had need of the hair himself; but the saucy little titmouse didn't -mind that. She alighted on his head, seized a beakful, and then bracing -herself on her stout little legs, she actually jerked out the lock, and -flew away with it. So well did she like it that she came back for more. -The gentleman was a bird-lover, and was pleased to give some of his hair -to such a brave little creature. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[4] See Appendix, 3. - - - - -V - -THE CREEPER FAMILY - -(_Certhiidæ_)[5] - - -THIS is a family of birds who creep; that is, they appear not to hop up -a tree trunk like a woodpecker, or walk up like a nuthatch, but they hug -close to the bark with claws and tail, and seem really to creep. - - -The one member of the family in this country is called the BROWN -CREEPER. He is a little fellow in streaks and stripes of brown, and he -looks so much like the tree trunks that one can hardly see him. He has a -slender, curved bill, just the thing to poke into cracks in the bark, -and pull out the insects and eggs hidden there. His tail feathers are -curious. They have sharp points on the ends, so that he can press them -against the bark, and help support himself. - -The creeper's way of getting up a trunk is to begin near the ground, and -go round and round the trunk till he reaches the lowest branch. Then he -flings himself off, and flies to the roots of another tree, and goes up -that in the same way. A brown creeper once came into a house, and found -it so comfortable, and food so plentiful, and people so kind, that he -stayed. He was very tame, and his great pleasure was to climb up a man's -leg or a woman's skirt, exactly as he climbs a tree trunk, going round -and round. - -[Illustration: BROWN CREEPER] - -Quiet and demure as he looks, this little bird sometimes plays rather -funny pranks. He has been seen to whirl around like a top, and again to -fly up and down close to a tree trunk, apparently just for fun. He has a -sweet little song, which we do not often hear, for his voice is not -strong. - -The brown creeper mother takes a droll place for a nest. It is behind -the loose bark of an old tree. She makes a snug little home under the -bark roof, and lines it with feathers, and there she brings up her three -or four little creepers. She is as well protected from sun and rain as -if she had an umbrella, and it is such an odd place that it was not for -a long time known where her cunning little nest was made. - -This bird nests in the Eastern States, in northern New York and New -England, and in California he nests in the mountains, but he goes -South in winter. When he wants to hide, he makes use of a clever trick, -which shows that he knows how much he looks like the trunk of a tree. He -simply flattens himself against the bark, and keeps perfectly still. -Then you can hardly see him, though you look right at him. You can see -in the picture how he looks. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[5] See Appendix, 4. - - - - -VI - -THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY - -(_Troglodytidæ_)[6] - -FIRST BRANCH - - -THIS is a family of singers, who dress in plain colors. There is not a -red or blue stripe, and not a yellow or purple feather, among them. - -The family has two branches, or subfamilies as the books call them. The -first branch, which gives the name to the family, is made of birds who -are really a sort of cave-dwellers,--the wrens. - -Wrens are lively little birds, excitable and afraid of nothing. They are -in plain browns, barred off with another shade of the same color. They -are so near the color of the ground, where they spend most of their -time, that they are not easily seen. They have a way of holding their -tails up, some of them much more than others, by which one may know a -wren wherever he sees it. - - -The most common one of the family is the HOUSE WREN. He is found all -over the Eastern States. In the Western States the same bird, except in -the shade of his coat, is called the Western House Wren. - -The house wren is fond of a snug place for a nest. If a wren box is to -be had, he will take that; but if not, he will seek some cozy nook, -which he will furnish, mostly with fine twigs, and then wait for his -mate to appear. - -Sometimes the bird takes queer places to live in. I once found a wren -family inside a hollow iron hitching-post in a city street. The birds -went in through the hole for the hitching-strap. I wondered how the -wrenlings would get out through the long, dark passage. Another nest was -made in an oriole's hanging cradle, after the young orioles had flown. -It was filled up with sticks to make it suitable for baby wrens. One -that I found last summer was in a hole in a gate-post. - -The place is usually chosen by the male, who stuffs it full of fine -twigs, and then sings and calls for his mate to come. He will sing hour -after hour his sweet little song, stopping every few minutes to bring -another stick to add to his store. - -The wren is a droll fellow about one thing,--he never knows when he has -enough furniture for his house. He will bring twigs and stuff them into -the box or hole, till he can't get another one in. Sometimes even till -his mate can't get in herself. A pair began to build in a shed room, and -apparently set out to fill the whole room with twigs. They brought in so -much stuff that the owner had to stop up the hole they used for a door -and make them go somewhere else. He was willing to share the room with -them, but he couldn't spare the whole. - -The house wren is a plucky little fellow, and as he likes the same kind -of places the English sparrow wants, they often quarrel over a box or a -nice snug hole. Small as he is, the wren often succeeds in keeping the -place he wants, and driving the sparrow away. - -English sparrows can be kept out of wren houses by making the opening -too small for the bigger bird. An auger hole one inch in diameter will -be large enough for wrens, but too small for sparrows. A sparrow has -sometimes been seen trying to get into one of these wren boxes, and very -droll he looks, when he sticks his head in, and struggles and kicks -violently to push himself in. - -I found a pair of house wrens in Colorado one summer. The singer spent -most of his time scrambling about a pile of brush, apparently trying to -make me think that was where he lived. But I was sure he had a mate and -a nest somewhere else, and I kept watch for them. - -One day I happened to see a little brown bird fly up under the eaves of -a summer cottage not much bigger than a tent. On looking closely, I -found that there were openings under the eaves. The birds had taken one -of these for a door, and built a nest inside, in the box frame over a -window. After that I looked at them through another window. Everything -went well till the wrenlings left the nest and began to fly around. Then -they seemed to lose their wits, or not to mind their parents. They flew -wildly about in the cottage, bumping against the glass, and seeming not -able to find the door to get out. - -I had not the key to open the big door, so I could not help them in -their trouble. And the old birds were so frantic when I looked in at the -window, while they were trying to get their family out, that I went away -and left them. In an hour or two I went back, and found everything -quiet, and the wren babies all out on the trees. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[6] See Appendix, 5. - - - - -VII - -THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY - -SECOND BRANCH - - -THE second branch of this family is very different from the first; it is -composed of mockingbirds, catbirds, and thrashers. These birds were once -placed with the thrushes, and by habits and manners they seem to belong -there. But, as I told you, families in the bird world are made by -structure,--by the way the bird is made. These birds have scales on the -leg, and some other things like the wrens, so now they belong to the -cave-dwelling family, though they never dwell in caves. They live in -shrubbery and low trees. They are larger than any wren, but they are -like those birds in being good singers and dressed in plain colors. -Wherever they are placed in the books, they are interesting and -delightful birds to know. - - -The most famous of this branch is the MOCKINGBIRD, found in the Southern -States and California. He is a beautiful and graceful fellow in gray, -with large white patches in his wings. - -The nest of the mockingbird is a rather rough affair, built in a low -tree or a bush. One that I saw was in a tree about as high as an -apple-tree. The bird gets his food on the ground, and has a curious -habit of lifting his wings as he is about to attack a beetle. - -The mockingbird is a celebrated singer. Many persons think him the -finest in America. He is especially famous for repeating the notes of -other birds; but he can imitate other sounds, such as a policeman's -rattle, a postman's whistle, and almost anything else. Sometimes a caged -one makes mischief by this accomplishment. He has no need to borrow, for -he has a fine song of his own. - -Besides being famous in this way, he is a very knowing bird, and a most -interesting one to study. The young mocker is a spirited fellow, who -can't endure to stay in the nest till his wings are strong enough to -bear him. He usually tries to fly too soon, and so comes to the ground. -Coming to the ground is a great misfortune to the bird, for he is easily -caught and put in a cage. - -Being fine singers, mockingbirds are often kept in cages. In the late -summer, the bird stores in New York have hundreds of them for sale, -birds so young that they still wear the speckled bibs of baby-days. Many -of them die, and so every year they are growing more rare. - -[Illustration: CATBIRD] - -A lady wrote me the story of a young mockingbird, whose mother saved it -from a cage. The little fellow was just out of the nest, and could not -fly far, and a young man thought he would catch him and take him to his -sister; but the mother bird wished to save him from such a fate. - -When the man went toward the youngster on the ground, the mother flew -down, seized him, lifted him up, and flew away with him. She carried him -a little way and then let go. He flew as far as he could, but soon came -to the ground again. Then the man started for him. Again the anxious -mother flew down and lifted him into the air, and again he flew a little -and fell to the ground. So it went on for some time, till the young man -began to feel ashamed of himself. Then he took up the cage and went -away, leaving the little one to his mother's care. - -The mockingbird is one of our most knowing birds, and when one is tamed -and free in a house, he is very amusing. He is as full of fun as a -catbird, and as funny to watch. A true story was told in one of the -papers, of a captive who had some queer tricks. One was hunting in a -workbox for a paper of needles, taking it down to the floor, and working -it open, then suddenly giving it a jerk that sent the needles in a -shower all over the floor. - -This bird was once shut up in a room alone, while the family were at -table. He did not like it, for he wanted to be with them; so he amused -himself unwinding all the spools of thread in the workbox. He took one -end of the thread and carried it all about the room, around everything -and over everything--vases on the shelf, pictures on the wall, -chair-legs, sofas, and lamps. Everything in the room was tied together, -so that no one could go in lest something should be thrown down. The -naughty bird was delighted with his mischief. He sat there singing at -the top of his voice. The only way the family could get into the room -was to get scissors and cut their way in. They found empty spools all -over the floor, and hundreds of yards of thread used. - - -The CATBIRD is dressed in plain slate-color. He is a near relative of -the mockingbird, and better known in the Eastern States. He is also a -fine singer, though he is not so famous. This is partly because he sings -usually from the middle of a thick bush and so is not seen, and partly -because he does not sing so loud. There is a great charm in the -catbird's song. - -The catbird is a charming fellow aside from his music. He is as knowing -as the mockingbird, and not much afraid of people. He will come near to -houses to nest, and if not frightened or disturbed, he will be very -familiar. - -Like many other birds, the catbird is kind to others in trouble. A pair -had a nest near that of a pair of robins. One day the robins -disappeared--killed, no doubt--and the young in the nest began to cry. -When one of the catbirds came with food for its own nestlings, the robin -babies would cry to be fed too. Pretty soon the catbirds began to feed -them. And at night, when bird babies need to be covered up by the warm -feather-bed of their mother's breast, one of the friendly catbirds -filled her place, and kept them warm all night. So it went on till both -families were grown up and could fly. - -One writer says: "All day long the catbird watches over the fruit-trees, -and kills the insects that would destroy them or the fruit. Of course he -takes his share, especially of cherries, but for every one he takes, he -eats thousands of insects. Where there are no small birds, there will be -no fruit." Thirty grasshoppers have been found in one small catbird's -stomach by the Department of Agriculture. - -A story showing how much the catbird knows and understands is of one in -Iowa who had a nest in some vines over a porch. A tornado tore the vines -so as to uncover the nest, and the lady of the house feared some one -would disturb it. So she began to draw the vines together around it to -hide it. While she was doing this, one of the old birds came and began -to shriek, and cry, and fly round her head, threatening to dash at her -eyes. The mate came too, and acted in the same way, supposing, no doubt, -that she was doing some harm to their nest. She shielded her head and -finished the work, and went into the house. - -The next morning she was sitting on the balcony the other side of the -house. All at once a catbird flew down and perched on the railing within -six feet of her, which no catbird had ever done before. She kept still, -and he began jerking his body and uttering sweet little calls and -twitters, turning his head this side and that, with eyes fixed on her. -He acted exactly as if he were talking to her, and after a while he -broke out with a song, low and very sweet. She sat still, and after the -song he began his twittering again, then sang once more. She had never -heard anything so beautiful, and she was sure that he was trying to -express his thanks to her, and his regrets at the way he had treated her -the day before. At least, that was the way it seemed to her. - -A catbird is as full of fun and pranks as a mockingbird. He may -sometimes be seen to do what looks like playing jokes on others. A lady -told me she saw a catbird drive a crow nearly wild by mocking his "caw." -He cawed as well as the crow himself, and the crow was furious, dashing -down at his small tormentor, and in every way showing anger at what no -doubt seemed a great insult. - - -The THRASHER, or BROWN THRUSH, is also of this family. He is reddish -brown on the back, and heavily spotted on the breast, and he has a long -tail which he jerks about a good deal. - -He is known all over the Eastern and Southern States, and his California -brother is almost exactly like him. He is a fine singer, and has been -called the French mockingbird. Sometimes it is hard to tell his song -from the mockingbird's. - -The thrasher's nest is usually made in a bush, the thickest and -thorniest that can be found, and the brave little parents will make a -great fight to keep their nestlings from harm. At one time, when a boy -went to carry off some young thrashers, the old birds called together -quite an army of birds to help defend them. There were at least fifty -birds of many kinds, all flying around his head, screaming at him and -trying to pick at his eyes. The boy was ashamed, and put back the little -ones, glad to get away with his eyes safe. - -A Western bird, the Arizona thrasher, builds a nest in the middle of a -cactus so full of sharp thorns like fine needles that it is a wonder how -the birds can get into it. They pull off the thorns to make a passage, -but the nestlings do sometimes get caught and die there. They must, -however, be safe from most enemies. One pair that Mr. Palmer tells about -built a regular hallway of sticks six or eight inches long. - -All the birds of this family have great individuality; that is, no two -are alike. The better you know birds, the more you will see that they do -not act, or sing, or even look exactly alike. That is one reason why -they are so interesting to study. - - - - -VIII - -THE DIPPER FAMILY - -(_Cinclidæ_)[7] - - -THERE is only one member of this family in the United States, and that -one lives in the Rocky Mountains and the mountains of California. It is -the AMERICAN DIPPER, or WATER OUZEL. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN DIPPER] - -The body of the ouzel is about as big as a robin's, but looks much -smaller, because his very short tail gives him a "chunky" look. His -wings are short and rounded, and his plumage is very soft and so thick -that he can go under water without getting wet. He is slate-color all -over, a little paler on the breast, and his mate is exactly like him, -but the young ouzel has all the under feathers tipped with white, and -usually a white throat. Both old and young have shining white eyelids -which show very plainly among their dark feathers. - -The dipper is a water lover. The nest is placed close to it, -generally near a waterfall, sometimes even behind a waterfall, where he -has to go through a curtain of falling water to reach it. It is on a -shelf of rock, and shaped like a little hut, with a hole on one side for -a door. It is made of soft green moss, which is kept alive and growing -by constant sprinkling. Sometimes the waterfall itself keeps it wet, but -the birds have been seen to sprinkle it themselves. They do it by diving -into the water, then going to the top of the nest and shaking themselves -violently. - -This bird is a curious fellow. His food is the small insects which live -under water, and he is as much at home there as other birds are in the -air. He can walk on the bottom with swift running water over his head, -and he can really fly under water, using his wings as he does in the -air. I have seen him do it. - -The water ouzel cares nothing for the cold. On cold mornings when all -other birds sit humped up with feathers puffed out over their feet to -keep warm, he is as jolly and lively as ever. He flies about in the -snow, dives under the ice, and comes out at an airhole, and sings as if -it were summer weather. - -Mr. John Muir, who knows so well the Western mountains and the creatures -who live there, has told us most of what we know about this bird. He -says the ouzel sings all winter, and never minds the weather; also that -he never goes far from the stream. If he flies away, he flies close over -the brook, and follows all its windings and never goes "across lots." - -When the young ouzel is out of the nest and wants to be fed, he stands -on a rock and "dips," that is, bends his knees and drops, then stands up -straight again. He looks very droll. - -Dr. Merriam tells a story which shows how fond the dipper is of water, -especially of a sprinkle, and explains why he always chooses to live by -a waterfall. The doctor was camping out on the bank of a stream where -one of these birds lived, and one morning he threw some water out of a -cup. Instantly the bird flew into the little shower as if he liked it. -To see if he really wanted to get into the water, the doctor threw out -some more. Again the bird flew into it, and as long as he would throw -out water, the ouzel would dash in for his sprinkle. - -Besides showing that the water ouzel likes water, this little story -shows another thing,--that birds are not naturally afraid of us. On -far-off islands where men have seldom been, birds do not run away from -people. They have not learned to fear them. They will come up to men, -perch on their shoulders, and ride with them on their boats. I have read -that in Norway, where everybody is kind to birds, they are not at all -afraid. They will come into a barn or a house when the weather is cold, -or they are hungry, and no man or boy thinks of frightening or hurting -them. - -Mr. C. Lloyd Morgan has reared many birds by hatching the eggs in an -incubator, so that they cannot be taught by their parents. He says that -the birds of the wildest parents hatched in that way are never afraid of -people who move quietly, or of a cat, or a quiet dog. Any sudden -movement startles a young bird, but they are as much afraid of a dead -leaf blown by the wind as they are of a hawk. It is the suddenness that -alarms them. Some of them stop instantly on a sudden noise, like a -sneeze or a cough. If one foot happens to be raised to step, they will -hold it so, and if the head is one side, it will stay so, exactly as if -they were all turned to stone. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[7] See Appendix, 6. - - - - -IX - -THE WAGTAIL FAMILY - -(_Motacillidæ_)[8] - - -IT does not seem very polite to call a family of birds wagtails, just -because they have the habit of jerking their tails as they go about. But -that is the name they go by in the books, and we have two of them in the -United States. We call them pipits or titlarks. - - -The best known is SPRAGUE'S PIPIT, called the Missouri skylark, or -sometimes the prairie skylark. This bird gets the name of skylark -because he sings while soaring about in the air far over our heads. He -could not sing on a tree if he wanted to, for he lives on the plains -between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, where are few or -no trees. - -[Illustration: SPRAGUE'S PIPIT] - -The pipits live on the ground, and walk and run, not hop. As they go, -they bob their heads, and jerk their tails. They are a little larger -than an English sparrow, and they go in flocks. They are never seen in -the woods, but in open pastures or plains, or beside a road. - -Sprague's Pipit is all in streaks of brown and gray, and lighter below. -He has a large foot, which shows that he lives on the ground, and a very -long claw on the hind toe. - -The nest of the pipit is made by hollowing out a little place in the -ground and lining it with fine grasses. Though on the ground, it is one -of the hardest to find, because it is lightly covered with the dry -grasses, and when the bird is sitting, she matches the grasses so well -that one can hardly see her, even when looking right at her. - -The birds eat insects and weed seeds, and go about in flocks. Even then -they are hard to see, because when they are startled they do not flutter -or fly, but crouch or squat at once, and stay perfectly still. - -This bird is noted, as I said, for his song. It is said to be as fine as -that of the English skylark of which we hear so much. Perhaps his way of -singing makes it still more interesting. He starts up on wing, flies a -little one way, then the other, all the time going higher and higher. So -he climbs on up, up, up, in a zigzag way, till he is fairly out of -sight, all the time giving a wonderfully sweet song. It is not very -loud, but of such a kind that it is heard when the bird is far out of -sight. When he can no longer be seen, one may still follow him with a -good field-glass. He will sing without stopping for fifteen or twenty -minutes. - -Then suddenly he stops, closes his wings, and comes head first towards -the ground. It seems as if he would dash his brains out against the -earth, but just before he touches, he opens his wings and alights like a -feather, almost where he started from. He should be as famous as the -English bird, and will be, no doubt, when he is better known. - -One of the things which make bird-study so interesting to us is that -there is so much to be found out about our birds. European birds have -been studied much longer, but we have still many beautiful ones whose -manners and ways of living are almost unknown. These things are left for -you young folk to find out when you are grown up. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[8] See Appendix, 7. - - - - -X - -THE WARBLER FAMILY - -(_Mniotiltidæ_)[9] - - -THE gayest, the liveliest, and almost the smallest of our birds are the -warblers. Some of them are not over five inches long from the tip of the -beak to the end of the tail. Almost all wear bright colors, and the pair -are never alike, while the youngsters are different from both. - -But few of them warble. Then why are they named so? Well, I haven't -found out; but we must call them warblers because that is their name in -the books. Most of them have funny little songs of a few notes, which -they jerk out every minute as they scramble about on the trees. - -We have seventy species of these little birds in the United States, and -every one is working as hard as he can from morning till night, for our -benefit. For every one eats insects, and enormous numbers of them. Some -scramble over trees and pick them out from bud and blossom and under -leaves, others go over the bark, and others fly out like flycatchers. - -Some of them work in the tops of tall trees, others work in the -orchards, some in bushes, and some on the ground. But wherever they -live, they are beautiful to look at, and bewitching to study. - -Though they are little, they have plenty of spirit. I know of one kept -in a room with several other birds, all bigger than himself. You might -think he would be treated as big boys would treat a little one. But no, -indeed! the tiny fellow made himself ruler of the whole party. He took -the biggest bathing-dish, the best seed-cup, and the most desirable -perch, and drove away any big bird who dared to claim either. - - -The YELLOW WARBLER, found all over the country, is often called the wild -canary, for, as you see him fly, he appears to be entirely yellow, but -when you get nearer, you will see that on his breast are fine stripes of -reddish brown. His mate is all in yellow-olive color. - -They are very sweet little creatures, and make one of the prettiest -nests in America. It is usually in an upright fork of a tree, or bush. -It is made of fine material, among the rest a good deal of a gray silky -stuff which gives it a beautiful look. - -This bird is one of the few who will not bring up a cowbird baby. When -the tiny mother finds a cowbird's egg in her nest, she builds another -story on top of the nest, leaving the egg to spoil. Sometimes a cowbird -finds the second nest, and then the warbler adds a third story. Nests -have been found three stories high, with a dried-up cowbird egg in each -of the two lower stories. - -A strange thing happened once to a pair of yellow warblers. When the -nest was done and the eggs laid, a storm threw it out of place, and -tipped it over to one side, so that the little mother did not dare trust -it for a cradle. So she built another nest in the same bush, and went to -sitting on that. - -One day a bird-lover chanced to see the two nests, one with the bird -sitting, the other tipped partly over and left with the eggs still in -it. To see what the birds would do, he put the fallen nest back in -place, and made it firm, and then went away. The little pair looked at -the nest, and had a great deal of chatter over it. It was their own nest -and their own eggs, but the mother could not sit in two places. - -Finally, the singer took his place on the restored nest. After that it -was watched, and the two birds sat on the two nests till all the young -were hatched, and then fed and reared them. When they were ready to fly, -the happy birds had a big family to take care of. - - * * * * * - -Besides these tiny fellows that we call warblers, there are four bigger -birds classed with the family, who do not look or act like warblers. -They are the golden-crowned thrush or oven-bird, the water-thrush, the -Louisiana water-thrush, and the yellow-breasted chat. - -[Illustration: YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT] - - -The OVEN-BIRD gets his name from the nest, which is shaped like an -old-fashioned oven. It is on the ground in the woods, often on the side -of a little slope. It has a roof over it covered with sticks and leaves -like the ground around it, so that it is hard to see. - -If you were to see this bird walking about on the ground, as he does, -you would think him a thrush. He is something the same color, and he has -a speckled breast like a thrush. His mate is dressed in the same way, -and they have a dull yellowish stripe over the crown. - -He is the fellow you hear in the woods, calling "Teacher! teacher! -teacher!" He is found all over the United States east of the Rocky -Mountains. - - -The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT is perhaps the drollest bird in North America. -He is a beautiful bird, nearly as large as an oriole, olive green above -and brilliant yellow below, and his mate is the same. He is found all -over the country south of the latitude of Massachusetts. In the West and -California, the chat is a little more gray in color, and has a longer -tail. He is called the long-tailed chat, but a chat is the same funny -fellow, wherever he is found. - -He reminds one of a clown, he plays so many antics, and makes such queer -sounds, hardly in the least like a song. He will whistle, bark like a -puppy, mew like a cat, or laugh like an old man, all in a loud, strange -voice. - -Besides this, the chat is a ventriloquist, that is, can make his voice -appear to come from some place far off, when he is near, and so fool us. -The chat has a way of flying up into the air with wings fluttering and -legs dangling as if they were not well fastened on, and looking as if he -would fall to pieces himself. He does not like to be seen, either. He -prefers to hide in a thick bush, and make all sorts of strange noises to -deceive one. - -The one thing a chat hates more than anything else is to have his nest -found. I have known a chat to desert a nest with three lovely eggs in -it, just because it was looked at, though neither nest nor eggs were -touched. - -I found that nest myself, and I wanted very much to see how the birds -live and bring up the little ones, so I was careful not to disturb -anything. I hid myself a long way off, where I could see the nest with a -field-glass, and where I thought the birds would not notice me. I sat -there perfectly still for hours, till the eggs had time to get cold, and -I saw another bird carry them off. No doubt they saw me, however, for -they never came back to the nest. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[9] See Appendix, 8. - - - - -XI - -THE VIREO FAMILY - -(_Vireonidæ_)[10] - - -THE vireos are a small family, fifty species, found only in America. -They are very quietly dressed in greenish olive hues, with hardly a -bright color among them. They were once called greenlets. - -They all live in trees and catch insects, going about over the twigs. -They sing as they go, like the warblers, combining work and play. Some -of them sing almost without stopping, and it gets to be rather tiresome -after a while. One or two of them even sing on the nest, which hardly -another bird does. - -The vireos make the prettiest nests. They are swinging baskets, hung -between the forks of a twig, and usually near the end, where they rock -in every breeze. They are not often very high. The birds are easily -tamed by one who is quiet, and careful not to frighten them. - -[Illustration: YELLOW-THROATED VIREO AND NEST] - -Mr. Torrey found a vireo on her nest, and by gentle ways got her to let -him stroke her. Next day he took some rose leaves with aphides on them, -and holding one of the insects on his finger, he offered it to the bird -on the nest. She took it, and then another and another, till finally she -began to be very eager for them, and he could hardly feed her fast -enough. Then he took a teaspoon full of water up to her, and she drank. - - -Another gentleman--Mr. Hoffmann--did still more. He coaxed a -YELLOW-THROATED VIREO till she took food out of his lips. Black ants and -cankerworms were the things he fed her. She preferred the ants, and -would scold him a little at first when he offered the worms, though she -took them at last. This bird was so tame she would let a man lift her -off her nest and put her on his shoulder while he looked at the eggs. -She would stay there till he put her back. - -The yellow-throat, besides making a pretty hanging basket, covers the -outside with lichens of different colors, green, dark and light, yellow, -and almost black. It is said that these pretty things are put on by the -male while his mate is sitting. - -A pair was once watched at their building. The female was lining and -shaping the inside, and her mate working silky-looking strips from -plants into the framework, and then covering the whole with lichens. He -was so happy, he sang as he worked. - - -The one of this family most widely spread over the country, from the -Atlantic to the Pacific, is the WARBLING VIREO. His song is the most -agreeable of the vireo songs, being truly a warble of six or eight -notes, of which one does not get tired. The dress of the Western -warbling vireo is a little paler, but the habits and manners are about -the same as those of his Eastern brother. - -Vireos were once common in the shade-trees of our city streets, and are -still in some places where English sparrows have not taken everything, -and boys are not allowed to throw stones or shoot. I know one city in -Massachusetts where trees are very lovely and musical with -yellow-throats. - -We can still have these and other birds in our yards--we who do not live -in the middle of a big city--by protecting them from cats and bad boys, -and furnishing good places to nest. Mr. Lloyd Morgan tells of a garden -near his own where there were fifty-three nests, besides swallows'. The -owner planted thick bushes, and some cone-bearing trees. He put -bird-boxes and old flower-pots and other things suitable to build in, in -convenient places in the trees. The birds appreciated all this and came -and stayed with him. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[10] See Appendix, 9. - - - - -XII - -THE SHRIKE FAMILY - -(_Laniidæ_)[11] - - -A SHRIKE is a pretty gray bird with white and black trimmings. He is -nearly as large as a robin, and has a bill slightly hooked on the end. -This is to help catch living prey, for he eats mice and other little -mammals, besides grasshoppers, crickets, and sometimes small birds. - -This family have a curious habit of sticking dead grasshoppers, or mice, -or other food, on a thorn, to keep till they are wanted. Because of this -habit they have been called butcher-birds. - - -The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, who is perhaps the most widely known, builds a -bulky nest in a tree, and is very attentive to his mate while she is -sitting. She looks exactly like him. - -He is a very quiet bird, and three or four or more of them may often be -seen in a little party together, flying and hopping about in a tree, or -on the ground, in the most amiable way. This shrike is a sweet singer, -too. The song is not loud, but very pleasing. - -[Illustration: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE] - -A great deal that is not true has been said about this bird. Some people -seem to think he is in the habit of tormenting and killing little birds -for fun, and he is called many hard names. But he does not deserve them. -His way of keeping his food has been spoken of as if it were a crime. He -lives generally on crickets, grasshoppers, meadow mice, and small -snakes, besides cut-worms, cankerworms, and many others. He is extremely -useful to farmers and cultivators on that account. - -Sometimes, when other food is scarce, he eats small birds, but they are -by no means his usual food. I have watched a family of shrikes several -times, and always looked very sharply to see if they touched birds. I -have seen them eat many sorts of insects and grubs, and meadow mice, but -never saw one disturb a bird. Other people who have watched them closely -have told that their experience was the same. And writers about birds -who study for themselves, and do not merely repeat what others have -said, generally agree that the bird kills his prey before he impales it. -More than that, the number of birds he kills is very small compared to -the hosts of troublesome insects and small animals he eats. - -The conclusion of the Agricultural Department as to the food of shrikes -all over the country is that it consists mainly of grasshoppers, and -that the good they do is much greater than the harm, and therefore they -should be protected. - -Mr. Keyser once saw a shrike catch a meadow mouse, and carry it up into -a tree. First he killed it, and then tried to wedge it into a crotch so -that he could eat it. But finally he found the sharp end of a broken -snag, on which he fastened it. - -There is no doubt that the shrike impales his prey so that he can pull -it to pieces to eat, for his feet are too small to hold it. I have seen -a shrike throw a dead meadow mouse over a fence wire that had sagged to -the ground, in order to get bits off to eat. - -A lady in New Hampshire who had a captive shrike tells in "Bird-Lore" -that he was unable to eat a piece of meat until he could find a place to -fasten it. He hopped around the room, looking for something, till she -guessed what he wanted. Then she brought a kitchen fork with two tines. -The moment he saw it he ran to her, hopped up on her hand, jerked his -meat over the tines, and at once began to eat. - -An interesting little action of one of these birds was seen by a -gentleman traveling in Florida last winter. Wishing to have one of the -birds to add to a collection, he shot one (I'm sorry to say). The bird -was not killed, but wounded so that he could not fly. As the man came -near to pick it up, the poor fellow gave a cry of distress, and -fluttered away on his broken wing with great difficulty. - -His call for help was heard. Another shrike at once flew down from a -tree, and went to his aid. He flew close around him and under him, in -some way holding him up as he was about to fall. He helped him so well -that the two began to rise in the air, and before the eyes of the -surprised hunter, at last got safely into the top of a tall tree, where -he left them. - -If you ever happen to find a shrike nesting, I hope you will watch the -birds for yourself, and see how they act, and not take the word of any -one about them. Then you will really know them. The picture shows a -shrike as I have often seen one, sitting on the top twig of the tree -that holds his nest, watching to see that no harm comes to it. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[11] See Appendix, 10. - - - - -XIII - -THE WAXWING FAMILY - -(_Ampelidæ_)[12] - - -THE waxwings are a family of beautiful birds, with elegant pointed -crests, and wonderfully silky plumage. Excepting one species they are in -soft grayish or reddish brown colors, with yellow tips to their tails -and black lines on the head that look like spectacles, and give them a -wise appearance. - - -Best known is the CEDAR WAXWING, or CEDAR-BIRD. He is a citizen at -large, you may say, for he is known from sea to sea, and from Canada to -Mexico. He nests all over the northern parts, and winters in the -southern parts. - -This bird gets his name of cedar-bird from the fact that he is fond of -cedar berries. He is often called cherry-bird also, because he likes -cherries. His name waxwing comes from the little tips like red -sealing-wax which are on some of his wing feathers. In Maine he is -called the bonnet-bird because of his crest, and in some places he is -called silk-tail from his silky plumage. You see he has plenty of names. - -Among the strange things about him is that he has almost no voice. The -loudest sound he is known to make is a sort of whistle, so low it is -like a whisper. - -The cedar-bird builds a very neat nest in a tree, and feeds his mate -while she is sitting, as well as helps her feed the little folk. The -young cedar-bird is a winsome youngster, gentle in his ways, and pretty -in his soft gray suit and spotted breast. - -One day last summer, a man walking down a quiet road was surprised by a -young bird alighting on his shoulder. He walked on home with it, and -when he took it off found it was a baby cedar-bird. No doubt he had -tried to fly too far and got tired. - -The family kept the bird a day or two, and then brought him to me. He -was not afraid of anybody, and was perfectly happy so long as some one -would keep him warm between two hands. - -It was hard to get him to eat, and there were plenty of his grown-up -relatives about, probably his own family among them. So I thought it -would be safe to put him out. I took him to the woods where I had seen a -little family of young cedar-birds, and placed him on a low tree. He -brightened up at once, and began to call, and flew to another tree. -Fearing that my being there might prevent his mother coming to him, I -left him. When I went out again I could not find him, so I hope he was -safe with his friends. - -I was more certain of it, because I know that these birds are kind to -all birds in distress. A lady was once watching a nest of robins when -the parents disappeared, no doubt killed. She was much troubled to know -how she should get at the high nest to feed the young ones who were -calling for their dinner, when she saw a cedar-bird go to them and feed -them. - -After that she kept close watch, and saw the cedar-bird feed them every -day, and take care of the nestlings till they could fly. He no doubt -taught them to take care of themselves, but this she could not see, for -they flew away. - -The ordinary food of this bird is insects that are found on trees, -especially among fruit. But they have taken to fly-catching also. A -party of them may often be seen busily at work catching flies. This is a -very good thing for them as well as for us. The birds or beasts who can -eat only one sort of food are called "single-food" animals, and they -are growing scarcer every day. They need a change of diet to flourish. -We should be sorry to have cedar-birds become scarce. - -Cedar-birds are fond of cherries,--as I said,--but they eat hundreds of -cankerworms to one cherry. So they earn all they have. Besides, if they -can get wild cherries, they prefer them. They have been proved to be -among our most useful birds. In one hundred and fifty-two stomachs that -were examined, only nine had cultivated cherries. - -Cedar-birds eat caterpillars and grubs, and are very fond of the -elm-leaf beetle. They have been known to clear the elm-trees of a whole -town, where the trees had been stripped for several years before they -came. Besides insects, they eat the berries of many wild bushes and -trees, such as wild cherry, dogwood, June-berry, elder, and others. They -always prefer wild to cultivated berries. - -One spring I saw a little flock of cedar-birds in an orchard full of -blossoming apple-trees. They spent nearly all their time going over the -trees, and working among the blossoms. One who was careless about it -might have thought they were destroying apple buds, for they did eat -many of the white petals of the flowers. But I wanted to be sure, so I -watched carefully with my glass. Then I stayed by that orchard till -October, and I never saw trees so loaded with apples as they were. Many -branches lay on the ground with their weight of fruit, and in the whole -orchard there was but one insect nest. That showed not only that the -cedar-birds had done no harm, but that probably they had destroyed -thousands of insects that would have done harm. - - -A bird classed with the waxwings is a California bird, the PHAINOPEPLA, -or SHINING CRESTED FLYCATCHER. He is glossy bluish black in color, with -large white spots in the wings, which show only when flying. His mate is -brownish gray. They are rather slim birds, nearly as big as a catbird. - -The phainopepla is a beautiful fellow, with an elegant pointed crest, -and plumage shining like satin. He sits up very straight on his perch, -but he is a rather shy bird, and so not much is known about his ways. He -is a real mountain lover, living on mountains, or in cañons, or the -borders of small streams of California, Arizona, and Texas. - -As you see by one of his names, he is a flycatcher. Sometimes thirty or -forty of them may be seen in a flock, all engaged in catching flies. -But like the cedar-bird, he is also fond of berries. When berries are -ripe on the pepper-trees, he comes nearer to houses to feast on the -beautiful red clusters. - -The song of this bird is said to be fine, and like many other birds, he -sometimes utters a sweet whisper song. - -The nest is placed on a branch, not very high up in a tree, and is -often, perhaps always, made of flower stems with the flowers on, with -fine strips of bark, grasses, and plant down. - -What is curious, and rare among birds, the male phainopepla insists on -making the nest himself. He generally allows his mate to come and look -on, and greets her with joyous song, but he will not let her touch it -till all is done. Sometimes he even drives her away. When all is ready -for sitting, he lets her take her share of the work, but even then he -appears to sit as much as she. Miss Merriam found a party of these birds -on some pepper-trees, and to her we owe most of what we know of their -habits. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[12] See Appendix, 11. - - - - -XIV - -THE SWALLOW FAMILY - -(_Hirundinidæ_)[13] - - -IT is very easy to know this family. They are small birds with long -pointed wings, always sailing around in the air as if they could never -tire. Their beaks are short, but very wide at the head, and the mouth -opens as far back as the eyes. They have small and weak feet, so when -they alight, it is usually on a small twig or telegraph wire, or on the -flat top of a fence or roof. - -Swallows wear no gay colors. Nearly all of them look black and white as -they sail about in the air. But when you see them closely, you see they -are glossy dark blue or green, sometimes with changeable colors, but all -dark, on the back. - - -The BARN SWALLOW has a dull reddish breast, and his back is rich blue, -almost black. He has a deeply forked tail, and a row of white spots on -the shorter tail feathers. When he spreads his tail, it is very -beautiful. - -He is called barn swallow because he prefers a barn for a nesting-place. -Up on the beams, close under the roof, the pair build their mud cradle. -It is interesting to see them at work. When they have chosen a place, -they go to some puddle in the road. They stand around it on their tiny -feet, holding their wings straight up like a butterfly's. Then they take -up some of the wet earth in their beaks, and work it around till it is -made into a little pill. With this pill they fly to the place they have -selected, and stick it on to the beam. Then they go back for more. So -they go on, till they have built up the walls of the nest, an inch -thick, and three or four inches high. Sometimes they put layers of fine -grass in, but often they use nothing but mud. Then they line it with -feathers which they pick up in the chicken yard. - -Some swallows build a platform beside the nest, where one of the pair -can rest at night; and when the little ones get big enough to fill up -the nest, both parents can sleep there. - -When the swallows are flying about low over the grass, looking as if -they were at play, they are really catching tiny insects as they go. And -when they have nestlings to feed, they collect a mouthful which they -make up into a sort of little ball. Then they fly to the nest and feed -it to one of the little ones. - -Thus they keep the air clear and free from insects, and they do not a -bit of harm, for they never touch our fruit or vegetables. - -Barn swallows are social, and always go in flocks. They sing, too,--a -sweet little song, but not very loud. It is charming to hear them in a -barn when five or six of them sing together. But one may often hear the -little song from a single bird flying over. - -They are friendly among themselves, and they like to alight on a roof -and chatter away a long time. In one place where I was staying, they -liked to gather on a piazza roof right under my window. They often woke -me in the morning with their sweet little voices. - -One morning the sound was so near, it seemed as if they must be in the -room, and I opened my eyes to see. There on the sill close to the screen -was one of the pretty fellows. He was looking in at the open window, and -evidently keeping watch of me. When I moved a little, he gave the alarm, -and the whole party flew away. - -The chatter of barn swallows always seems to me like talk, and men who -study bird ways agree that birds have some sort of language. The -swallows have many different notes. One is a general warning of danger, -but there is another note for a man, another for a cat, and a still -different one when they find something good to eat, which they call the -others to share. - -"The variety of bird speech," says a man who has studied birds a long -time, "is very great." And of all bird voices, swallows' are the most -like human speech. If you lie on the hay in the barn very quiet, and -listen to them when they come in and fly about, you will see that this -is true. It seems sometimes as if you could almost make out words. - - -Swallows more than any other birds like to make use of our buildings for -their own homes. Barn swallows take the beams inside the barns, EAVE -SWALLOWS settle under the eaves outside, and PURPLE MARTINS, the largest -of the family, choose bird-houses which we put up for them. - -It is said that purple martins will not stay anywhere that men have not -made houses for them. But I have seen them living in a place not put up -for them, though perhaps they thought it was. It was under a terra-cotta -covering to a cornice on a business block in the middle of a busy city. -The terra-cotta was shaped like a large pipe cut in half, the long way. -This half cylinder was laid on top of the brick cornice, and that made a -little roof, you see. The whole length of that cornice was thus made -into one long room, with a brick floor and terra-cotta roof, and an -entrance at the end. That room must have had a dozen martin nests, for a -flock was all the time sailing about in the air, above the roofs of the -houses. - -As these birds eat only flying insects, they cannot stay with us when it -is too cool for insects to fly abroad. So they leave us very early. When -the little ones are out of the nest and can fly well, swallows from all -the country around collect in great flocks, and go to some swamp, or -lonely place where people do not go much. There the young ones are -taught and exercised every day in flying. And some day we shall go out -and find them all gone, not a swallow to be seen. They have started for -their winter home, which is far south, in tropical countries, where -insects never fail; but it is a comfort to think that next summer we -shall have them back with us again. - -The swallows I have mentioned, barn swallow, eave swallow, and purple -martin, are found all over our country. - -Let me tell you a story that shows the purple martin has a good deal of -sense. One of these birds built in a box under a window, fixed so that -the owner could open it and take out eggs. He took out several, one at a -time, and at last he took out one of the birds. - -The mate of the stolen bird went off and in a few days came back with -another mate. The box was too good to give up, so both the birds went to -work to make it safe against the nest robber. They built up a wall of -mud before the too handy back door. The egg thief could not get in -without breaking down the wall, and he was ashamed to do that. So the -birds kept their pleasant home, and reared their family there. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[13] See Appendix, 12. - - - - -XV - -THE TANAGER FAMILY - -(_Tanagridæ_)[14] - - -THIS is a large family of between three and four hundred species, all -dressed in gay colors. But we have only three of them in our country. -Their home is in the warmer parts of the world. We have the scarlet -tanager in the East, the Louisiana tanager in the West, and the summer -tanager in the South. Tanagers are a little larger than sparrows, and -live in the trees. They feed on insects and fruit; sometimes, it is -said, on flowers. - - -The SCARLET TANAGER is the brilliant red bird with black wings and tail, -common all over the Eastern and Middle States. His mate is dressed in -modest olive green, and the nestlings are like her the first year. - -The tanager himself wears his gay dress only during the nesting season, -that is, spring and summer. Towards fall he turns from scarlet to green -like his mate, and he is a droll-looking object while he does it. He -seems to break out into green patches or streaks. One that I watched -began by showing a little green feather among the red on each side of -his breast. I have seen one with a green ring around the neck, and all -the rest of the plumage scarlet; and another with a green stripe down -the back. Some show no regularity about it, but are covered with green -patches all over, and look like bunches of colored rags. - -[Illustration: SCARLET TANAGER] - -It is no wonder that a bird hides in the woods, as many do, when -changing his coat, if he looks such an object. In spring he gets back -his brilliant coat, and comes to our Northern woods again, to nest. - -The nest of this bird is not very high in a tree. It is a rather shabby -affair, that looks as if it would fall to pieces, and the birds are -madly shy about being looked at. - -I once saw in the woods a tanager building her nest. I hoped to watch -her through nesting, and see how she brought up her little folk. Both of -the pair were there, but were too shy to come to the nest while my -friend and I were there. We kept very still, and even hid in some -bushes, hoping she would not see us. We were so quiet that she was -gradually getting over her fright, and coming nearer the nest, when -suddenly the big dog we had with us gave a loud sneeze. In an instant -both birds were off, as if shot out of a gun. And I think they never -came back, for the nest was not finished. - -The song of the tanager is much like the robin song, but having once -learned it, a sharp ear can easily tell them apart, for it is of a -different tone. It is rather hoarse, not so smooth as a robin's voice. -The common call is a hoarse and very distinct "chip, chur," given by -both of the pair. - -Several years ago I saw a scarlet tanager in a bird store. It was -winter, and I brought him home to keep till it was safe to set him free -in the spring. He was very timid, and did not like to have any one look -at him, especially when he went to eat. - -If I happened to look at him when he was at his food-dish, he would -instantly fly to his top perch, and look as if he would never eat again. -So I partitioned off one corner of his cage for a private dining-room, -by a strip of stiff paper woven between the wires. After that it was -very droll to see him retire behind the screen and eat, now and then -sticking up his head to glance over the top, and see if I were looking. - -I found it hard to please him with food. He liked living insects, but he -wanted to catch them for himself. So I got some sticky fly-paper, and -hung it up outside the kitchen door. When I had caught half a dozen -flies, I took it up to him. He was not in a cage, and the minute he saw -the flies he flew across the room and hovered before me like a big -hummingbird, while he daintily picked off every fly. He forgot that he -didn't like to have me see him eat. After that I was fly-catcher every -day till he learned to like mockingbird food. - -In the spring he began to sing--a sweet, low song, different from the -common tanager song. Then I took him out to the country, away from the -English sparrows, and set him free. - - -The SUMMER TANAGER nests in the Southern States from New Jersey to -Florida. He is all red, but otherwise looks like the scarlet tanager, -and his habits are about the same. - - -The LOUISIANA TANAGER nests in the Western States from the Plains to the -Pacific. He is brighter, with a variety of colors. He is mostly bright -yellow, with brilliant red head, and black wings and tail, and his -mate--like other female tanagers--is in olive green. He is a shy bird, -and lives in the woods, and his habits have been very little studied. - -I once saw a pair of these birds in Utah, getting their breakfast. At -least, the gay singer himself was at that business, though his -sharp-eyed mate was too busy watching me to see that I did not mean any -harm, to care for food. - -They were on a long fence, catching flies. One would fly out a little -way, his bill snapping as he seized the fly, and then return to the -fence a little farther off. Every time he came back he alighted farther -away, though he did not seem even to see me. His mate kept between him -and me, and never took her eyes from me. I feared she would go hungry, -so I came away and left them. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[14] See Appendix, 13. - - - - -XVI - -THE SPARROW AND FINCH FAMILY - -(_Fringillidæ_)[15] - - -THIS is the largest bird family, more than five hundred species, and -they are found nearly all over the world. It is divided into sparrows, -finches, grosbeaks, and crossbills. All of them are smaller than a -robin, and have short, high beaks, with the back corners turned down. -The beaks show that they are seed eaters, though all of them eat insects -too. - -An interesting thing about birds who eat seeds is the grinding machine -they have inside to break up the hard seeds. For of course, having no -teeth, they are obliged to swallow them nearly whole. What I have called -a machine is the gizzard, and you have seen it on the table from a -chicken. It is well fitted to grind up the food, and birds often swallow -small stones to help in the work. - -The first group of this family, the sparrows, are all small, about the -size of an English sparrow. They are dressed in dull, brownish colors, -more or less streaked, and they live and get their food very largely on -or near the ground. Their colors keep them from being easily seen on the -ground. - -All of this group sing, and some of them are noted songsters, as the -song sparrow, the white-throated sparrow, and the fox sparrow. The best -known is the little song sparrow, who is found almost everywhere, and is -dear to nearly every one. - - -The SONG SPARROW is streaked all over in shades of brown. The breast is -white, with the dark brown streaks coming together in an -irregular-shaped spot, or sometimes two spots, in front. - -The nest of the song sparrow is on the ground or very near it. Sometimes -it is in a tuft of grass, sometimes in a low bush a few inches up. One I -found at the roots of a little clump of golden-rod, before it bloomed, -of course. It was a slight affair, right among the stems, so that it -could not be taken up without tearing the plant. - -This bird is one of the first to come in the spring, and his song and -the robin's are the first we hear. He also stays very late in the fall, -and about New York some of them stay all winter. Their food being the -seeds of weeds, which are always to be found, they do not need to -migrate. - -The song sparrow has a sweet and cheery voice, and a variety of songs, -and he sings a great deal. I have heard one bird sing six different -songs, standing on a fence in plain sight all the time. Some of the -songs are charming, and all are pleasant to hear. One never tires of -song-sparrow music. - - -The second branch of this family--the Finches--have some brighter -colored members, the goldfinch in brilliant lemon-yellow, and the purple -finch in crimson and white. - -The GOLDFINCH, called also the thistle-bird, lettuce-bird, and wild -canary, is a charming fellow, dressed, as I said, in lemon color, with -black wings and tail and cap. His mate is in olive brown. He is the most -delightful of singers, with a sweet voice, and is a common bird all over -the country. He flies in great waves, uttering a cheery little warble as -he goes over each airy wave. - -The nest is one of the prettiest we have, in an upright crotch, and -furnished with a bed of thistledown an inch thick for the baby -goldfinches to rest upon. It is made late in the season, in July and -sometimes in August. - -One of the most lovely bird-studies I ever had was of a pair of these -birds nesting in a low plum-tree. While his mate was sitting, the gay -little fellow hung around, doing nothing but watching the tree that held -his family. Every little while the sitting bird would begin to call her -sweet-voiced "s-w-e-e-t," which sounds so much like a canary's call. On -hearing this he would answer her, and at once fly over to see if she was -all right, or wanted anything. When he thought it time to eat, he would -come and call her off. Both would then go to a patch of weeds, where -they cracked and ate the seeds till they had had enough, and then go -back to the nursery. - -These little birds eat mostly the seeds of weeds,--thistle, ragweed, and -beggar's-ticks,--as well as the larvæ of the wheat-midge and other -pests, and they feed great quantities to their young. - -Goldfinches do not leave us in winter. The male puts off his bright coat -and comes out in dull colors like his mate, except that he keeps his -black wings and tail. All of a neighborhood collect in small flocks and -stay about all winter, looking more like sparrows than goldfinches. - -The Western goldfinch which corresponds to this bird is called in -California the WILLOW GOLDFINCH, but in looks and in habits of life he -seems to be the same as the Eastern bird. He is a confiding little -creature, and by a person of quiet ways may be made very tame. - - -Among the finches will be found the CHEWINK, or TOWHEE BUNTING, a bird -nearly of the size of a catbird, who is sometimes called ground robin. -He is black and white, with reddish sides and red eyes, and his mate is -brown where he is black. He is usually found on the ground, where he -gets his food, and where the nest is placed. - -There are several species in California, and the Western variety of the -common chewink of the East is called the spurred towhee, with habits the -same, so far as known. - -The chewink has at the best an exquisite song, though there is a great -difference in singers, as there is in all bird families. The finest song -is like a peal of silver-toned bells. - -A bird-lover whom I know found one day a nestling chewink who could not -fly much, and seemed to be deserted, or lost, in a barren place on Long -Island. Fearing that some cat would get him, he brought the bird home -and put him in a cage. The little fellow was not at all frightened at -his new surroundings, and became very tame. - -The cage of the young bird was near that of an ortolan, a European bird -noted as a singer, and a common cage-bird. The baby chewink seemed to -take a great liking to the stranger, and tried to do everything he did. -Perhaps he felt the need of some education, since he had been deprived -of his parents. At any rate, he evidently adopted the ortolan as his -model. - -When the little one began to sing, he did not sing chewink but ortolan, -and he did it so well that one could hardly tell which bird was singing. -The gentleman wanted to see if the little fellow would recognize the -song of his own family. So he bought a full-grown chewink who was -singing, and put him close to his young relative. The new bird was full -of music, and sang a great deal. But the youngster paid no attention to -him, and kept up his ortolan notes. - -This story shows that a bird does not always, if ever, know his native -song by instinct, but has to learn it. It is supposed by those who have -studied bird ways that he learns it from the old bird before he leaves -the nest. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[15] See Appendix, 14. - - - - -XVII - -THE GROSBEAK BRANCH - -(_Fringillidæ_)--Continued - - -THE third division of this family is of grosbeaks. These are the largest -of the group, and nearly the size of a robin, with very big beaks. They -live in trees and wear some bright colors. They are also fine singers. - - -In the Eastern States, and west to Missouri, is found the ROSE-BREASTED -GROSBEAK. He is a beautiful bird, black and white, with a gorgeous -rose-colored patch on his white breast, and the same color on the inside -of his wings. You can see him in the picture. His mate is modest in -stripes of brown and buffy white. - -[Illustration: ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK] - -A lady whom I know in New England has had three of these birds living -tame in her house, hardly at all confined to a cage. Each one was picked -up when just out of the nest and so injured that it could not care for -itself. It was carefully fed and reared in the house, and thus saved -from death. - -One of the three was a female, who was as tame as a domestic cat, and -lived in the house four or five years. She was a fine singer, though -never a loud one. She kept the family cats in their place by pecking at -their toes when they came near, so they had respect for her. - -Another was a young singer who had his bill crossed, so that he could -not feed himself. He was nearly dead for want of food when he was found. -She fed him carefully and brought him up, though she had always to feed -him herself. That is a good deal to do, for birds want to be fed very -often. - -These birds who lived in a house, and were not taught by their parents, -never gave the common song of the species, but made up songs of their -own. They lived several years with their friend, who was very fond of -them. - -The rose-breasted grosbeak is one who puts on his gay colors only for -the nesting season. When that is over, and he moults, and gets his new -winter suit, it is mostly streaked brown like his mate's. The rosy patch -is very small, and mixed with brown, so the effect is dull. In the -spring he moults the body feathers, and comes out again with his -brilliant rose colors. - - -The bird who takes the place of the rosebreast in the West is the -BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. He is reddish brown and black, with the same -color and lemon yellow on the under parts, and yellow under the wings, -instead of rose like the Eastern bird. He is a loud, enthusiastic -singer. Miss Merriam says of him that his song to his mate is finer than -that of any other bird she has heard. - - -The CARDINAL GROSBEAK, cardinal redbird, Virginia nightingale, or -redbird, as he is called in different places, is of the third group of -this family. He is found all over the Southern States, and as far north -as Southern New England and New York. He is a brilliant red to the tip -of his beak, with a beautiful crest and black throat and face. His mate -is in soft dove colors, with red beak, and reddish tints on her quiet -robe. - -Both of the pair are singers. He is much the louder, but she has the -sweeter song. He is famous as a singer, and is therefore trapped and -caught in great numbers for cages. In Europe, where he is a favorite -cage-bird, he is thought by many to be equal to the famous nightingale -as a singer. - -In Ohio, a few years ago, a law was made that no cardinal should be -caged, and those in cages should be set free. In one small village were -more than forty freed. This shows how many are caged. - -While nesting, the cardinal is rather savage, ready to fight any one who -disturbs the nest. If a snake comes about, all the birds within hearing, -from cardinals to kinglets, will come to help defend the nest and punish -the enemy. They fly at him with loud cries, and even attack him if he -does not leave. - -The nest of these birds is not very high, in a tree or bush, and they -are very shy about it. A cardinal will desert her nest if it is touched, -especially if eggs are not yet laid. But they have reason to be afraid; -they cannot be blamed for that. - -I saw a nest built on a trellis beside a kitchen door, and the birds -were so used to the people that they were not afraid. One who lived in -that house was a boy fourteen years old. But he was so gentle with birds -that they did not fear him at all. They would feed the nestlings freely, -while he stood not three feet from them. So they can be made tame, if -people will be gentle and not disturb them. - -The cardinal grosbeak stays as far north as New Jersey and Ohio all -winter, and a little flock have lived in Central Park, New York, for -several years. That is most delightful for those who live near, for -they sing all winter, when few bird-notes are to be heard. They can stay -because they are seed eaters, and they find many weed seeds, and wild -berries like cedar berries, that stay on all winter. - -[Illustration: CARDINAL] - -A lady once had a cardinal in a cage with a pair of the tiny green -parrots called love-birds. These little birds, you know, are always -putting the bills together and caressing each other, as if kissing. The -cardinal seemed to think this very silly; at any rate, he did not like -it. After looking on awhile, he would lose patience and dash right down -between them. Of course this drove them apart. Then he seemed to feel -better, and went back to his perch. But when they began it again, down -he would come between them again. He did not disturb them at any other -time, but that sort of thing he plainly couldn't endure. - - - - -XVIII - -THE CROSSBILL BRANCH - -(_Fringillidæ_)--Continued - - -THE fourth branch of this family is of crossbills. Of these we have two. -They are smaller than grosbeaks, and, as their name shows, have the two -points of the bill crossed. It looks as if they could not feed -themselves. But a beak like this is just fitted to pick seeds out of -cones. And crossbills live mostly on cone-seeds. - -These queer beaks are used for another thing, too. They help the birds -climb around on the trees. They are almost as good as a hand. You have -seen a parrot use his beak in the same way. - - -The AMERICAN, or RED, CROSSBILL is the more common of our two. He -travels about all over the Northern States and California. But he's very -particular about a place to nest, and is suited only in the northern -parts, or in the mountains. - -The red crossbill seems to be a whimsical fellow; one never knows where -to find him. One year he will come with all his friends to a place, and -the next year there will not be one there. - -The male is dull red, more or less streaked all over with brown. His -mate is olive green, mottled and mixed with blackish. - -Crossbills go in flocks. They are usually seen among the evergreens, -where they find their food. They are much attached to one another. - -I had a chance one summer to get well acquainted with a flock of -American crossbills. I found them very odd in their manners. They had -the queerest songs and calls of any bird I know. These were not musical, -but sounded like such things as the squeaking of a wagon wheel or the -sawing of wood. - -The birds were very fond of calling and singing, and they kept up a -constant chattering, as they flew from spruce to spruce. They spent most -of their time on these trees, eating the seeds of the cones. - -The white-winged crossbill lives about as the red one does. But he has a -really fine song. It is full of trills, something like a canary's song. - -One of the odd things about these birds is their habit of nesting in -winter. A Maine hunter was once shooting moose in the middle of January, -when he came upon the nest of a crossbill, with the bird sitting. The -weather was cold, of course, and there was deep snow on the ground. The -nest was in the woods, and made of twigs, with long gray moss outside. -It looked so like a bunch of moss that it was hard to see. Other nests -have been found in winter also. - -Mr. Nehrling says that if one of these birds is caught, the rest of the -flock will not leave him. They stay around him, crying and showing their -distress in every way, and if one is put alone into a cage, he will -die. - - - - -XIX - -THE BLACKBIRD FAMILY - -(_Icteridæ_)[16] - - -THERE are more than one hundred species of the Blackbird Family in -America. So we will divide them into four branches: Marsh Blackbirds, -Meadow Starlings, Orioles, and Crow Blackbirds. - -[Illustration: RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD] - -Blackbirds are walkers. They dress mostly in black, and they are of -medium size. Some of them will generally be found on the ground in a -marsh or a meadow. They are social birds, that is, they go in flocks. -Fond as they are of society, however, there is one time when they are -willing to be a little apart from the blackbird world. That is when they -are nesting and rearing a young family. Two interesting birds of this -family are the red-winged blackbird and the cow-blackbird or cowbird. - - -The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD is found all over the country. He is not so -large as a robin, and is black all over, excepting one place on the -wings. On these are bright stripes of red and orange, which seem to be -on the shoulders when the wings are closed. They make the bird very gay, -when he spreads them out in flying. - -The red-wing's mate is a modest-looking bird in stripes of brown and -black. She is a plodding sort of a creature, too. She walks about on the -ground, looking for grubs or insects so busily that she hardly seems to -see anything else. - -The nest is usually in a marsh. At any rate, it must be near the water, -for red-wings are as fond of the water as any old sailor. It is hung -between reeds, or in the branches of a low bush. It is a comfortable, -bag-like affair, deep enough and big enough to hold the restless -blackbird babies. - -While the mother red-wing is sitting, her mate stays near her and sings -a great deal. His song is a loud, sweet "hwa-ker-ee," which may be heard -a long way off. When nestlings are out, he is one of the most busy and -fussy of birds. He helps in the feeding, and seems to be a good and -careful father. But when the young ones are grown up and able to feed -themselves, a curious thing happens. All the gay red-wings in a -neighborhood come together in a flock again. And all the young ones and -the mothers stay in another flock. - -The red-wing is a very nervous and uneasy fellow. While his mate is -sitting he is always on guard to see that no harm comes to her. In the -picture you can see he looks much concerned, as if he had discovered -something. Then he makes a great row if any one comes near. He will give -such cries of distress that one would think he was hurt, or that his -nestlings were being stolen away. If the enemy is a crow, come to feed -quietly on the meadow, he will fly at him, try to peck his head, and -annoy him till he goes away. If it is a person who alarms him, he will -circle about over his head with loud cries, and now and then swoop down -as if he meant to attack him. In fact, he shows so much distress that it -is not very pleasant to stay near him. - -The young red-wing is just as uneasy and fussy as his papa. As soon as -he is able to get out of the nest, he scrambles about in the bushes. He -never stays two minutes in one place, and every time his mother comes -with food she has to hunt him up before she can give it to him. - -The red-wing is fond of green corn, and is often shot by farmers, but he -is also a famous insect eater, and earns all the corn he gets. He eats -numbers of cut-worms, and other insects, and in some of the prairie -States he does great good by eating locusts and their eggs. Besides -these, he likes variety, and is fond of the seeds of weeds. Ragweed and -smartweed seeds are dainties to him as some nuts are to you, and he eats -a great many. So unless a large flock comes to one place to disturb the -crops, you may be sure they do more good than harm. So says the -Department I told you about. - -The young red-winged blackbird is a droll fellow, and has decided -notions of his own. Mr. Keyser tells a story of one he picked up. He was -put in with some other young birds,--meadowlarks and catbirds. They were -all babies together, and all used to being fed. So when the little -red-wing got something to eat, they would open their mouths and beg for -it, in the pretty bird-baby way. At first he fed them, though he wasn't -much more than a baby himself; but they liked it so well that they -coaxed everything away from him. He soon got tired of that, and at last -refused to feed them at all. - -This little bird liked to play jokes on the sober young meadowlarks. His -way was to seize one by the wing or tail and dance around the floor, -dragging his victim after him. The young larks scolded and held back, -and at last they learned to stop his pranks. They did it by throwing -themselves over on their backs, and holding up their claws ready to -fight. - -In spite of this naughty fun, the young blackbird was really fond of -them. The larks slept on the ground, and at night, when the little -fellows settled down on the floor, the red-wing would often leave his -perch and cuddle down by them. This must have been for company only, for -it was his way to sleep on a perch. - - -The COW-BLACKBIRD, or COWBIRD, is another one of this branch of the -Blackbird Family who is found all over the United States. He is shining -blue-black all over, except his head, which is brown. His mate is -entirely brown. He is not quite so large as a red-wing, and he too is a -walker. - -This bird is called cowbird because he is fond of flying about the -cows,--not to trouble them, but to eat the insects that torment -them,--which is very pleasant for the cows, I am sure. - -There is one queer way that cowbirds have, which no one is able to -explain. The cowbird mother does not build a nest for her little family. -Yet she wants them well cared for. So she goes slyly about and lays her -eggs in other birds' nests. She generally chooses the nest of a smaller -bird, though she often uses one belonging to a wood thrush. - -Most little birds--warblers and finches--accept the charge. They hatch -out the strange egg and bring up the young cowbird, who is bigger than -themselves. He is so big that he usually smothers the young ones that -belong in the nest. So he receives the whole attention of the little -mother bird. - -Sometimes other birds come to help one who has a young cowbird to feed, -and he grows big and strong. When he is full grown he joins a party of -other cowbirds, and they go off in a flock by themselves. - -Some small birds will not submit to this. When they find a cowbird's egg -in their nest, they go away and leave it there, and make a new nest. Or -they make a new story, as I told you the yellow warbler does. - -The cowbird has a queer little song. It is something like "cluck-see!" -and he seems to squeeze it out as if it were hard work to say it. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[16] See Appendix, 15. - - - - -XX - -THE MEADOW STARLINGS - -(_Icteridæ_)--Continued - - -THE meadow starlings are short-tailed birds who live on the ground. They -have long bills and mixed sort of plumage, of browns and yellows. - -[Illustration: MEADOWLARK] - -Our common one, called the MEADOWLARK or OLD-FIELD LARK, though he is -not really a lark, is a beautiful bird. He is larger than a robin, and -his mottled feathers are set off by a bright yellow breast, with a black -crescent under the throat. - -This bird lives in the meadows or pastures, and walks about on the -ground, where he gets his food. When he wants to sing, he flies up on to -a fence, or stands up very straight on a bit of turf, or a stone, and -sings away a long time. It is a sweet song, or rather several sweet -songs, for he does not always sing the same one. - -The mother lark looks like her mate. She makes her nest on the ground, -and a snug and cozy home it is. It is none of the open, cup-like -nests that anybody can see into. It has a roof, if you please, and -sometimes a covered way--like a hall--leading to it. The roof of the -nest is made by drawing the grass stems over it and weaving them -together. So it is very hard to find. And it is hidden in the long -meadow grass besides. - -You might think the little family would get hurt when the haymakers came -to cut the grass. So they would, if they happened to be there. But lark -babies are out of the egg before that time, and they run about as soon -as they can stand. Sometimes when a nest has been disturbed, and the -birds have had to make a second one, the little ones are not out when -the mowers come on. Then there are apt to be sad times in the family. -But I have known mowers who carefully cut around a nest, and did not -hurt the nestlings. That is a good thing to do, for the birds are so -useful and such fine singers that we want as many as we can have. - -The meadowlark is a shy bird, and so is more often heard than seen. His -song is charming, and he has besides a strange call, a sort of harsh -sputter, or chatter, sometimes as he flies over. No doubt he has many -more ways of expressing himself, but these are the ones we most often -hear. - - -The WESTERN MEADOWLARK looks like the Eastern, except that he is a -little paler and grayer in color. He has the same general habits, but he -is a much finer singer. The song is wilder and has more variety, and -sometimes it is very brilliant. It is different in every way from the -quiet, rather sad notes that make the Eastern bird so winning. - -The Western bird is not so timid as his Eastern brother. He often comes -into the towns and sings from the tops of houses. The finest singer I -ever heard sang every day from the peak of a low roof. His song to his -mate is most charming. It is so low and tender one can hardly hear it. - -I once saw a pair of the Western birds nest-making. The little builder -was busy filling her beak with dried grasses and such things. For these -she had to fly across the road where I sat. Her mate went with her every -time. He perched on the fence while she gathered her beakful, watching -that no harm came to her. When she went back, he flew across with her -and perched on a tree on that side. - -All the time he was singing the sweetest low warble, and all the time he -was keeping a sharp watch on me. In the West this bird eats beetles, -grasshoppers, and the disgusting big black crickets that do so much -damage. - - - - -XXI - -THE ORIOLE BRANCH - -(_Icteridæ_)--Continued - - -IT seems odd to put the gay orioles into the Blackbird Family, -especially as they don't live on the ground either; but that's where -they belong in the books. Orioles live in the trees, and are fine -singers. They have sharp-pointed bills, suitable for picking tiny -insects out of fruit blossoms. They have some of the family color, -black, but more orange color, or chestnut red, or yellow. They all make -beautiful nests. - -The Baltimore oriole is all over the East, the orchard oriole in the -South, and the Arizona hooded oriole in the West. - - -The BALTIMORE ORIOLE, who has several other names, such as fire-bird, -golden robin, and hang-nest, is a very showy bird, in bright orange and -black. He has a fine though short song. His mate is yellow, and brown -instead of black, and has a sweet song of her own. Both of them can -scold as well as any birds I know. - -The nest of this oriole is one of the prettiest we have. It is hung high -up in a tall tree, an elm or willow usually, and near the end of a -branch, where it swings in the wind. It is a deep bag made of plant -fibres, bits of string, and other things. The whole has a gray tint and -a silky look, which make it very attractive. - -While the mother bird is sitting, her mate stays near and sings a good -deal; but when feeding time comes, he works as hard as she in stuffing -the hungry little mouths. - -As soon as the nestlings are off, they go away in a little party. Then -one who looks sharp may often see an oriole papa going quietly about on -the ground, with two or three little ones after him, still calling to be -fed. He doesn't sing any in these busy days. But sometimes, after the -young have learned to feed themselves, he will sing again a little -before they all start for their warm winter home in Central America. - -It is an anxious time in the bird world when the young are leaving the -nest. Orioles are so nervous and make such an outcry over their troubles -that we often hear them. The most common accident is the falling of a -nestling to the ground. The old birds make so much fuss over it that one -would think the baby had fallen into the claws of the cat, at the very -least. - -They fly around as if they were crazy, shrieking and calling, for they -are very fond of their little folk. The youngsters are plucky little -fellows. One will hop along till he comes to a tree, and then try to -climb the trunk. If he happens to hit on a tree with rough bark, he can -do pretty well. He flutters a little way up, and then holds on by the -claws till rested. Then he flies a little farther, and so he goes till -he reaches a branch. - -If it is a smooth trunk he tries, his troubles are great. Sometimes one -will scramble up till he comes to a leaf that grows out from the trunk, -and hang on to that till he is able to go on. But often one is unable to -keep his hold, and falls back into the grass. I have several times -picked up a hot and frightened birdling and put him on a branch. - -A lady told me an interesting little story, showing how helpful birds -are to one another. A Baltimore oriole was picked up from the ground -with his wing broken so that he could not fly. The kind-hearted people -fixed him comfortably in an attic. They intended to feed him and care -for him till he got well and could fly. - -They left him there with a window open, so that his wild friends could -bring food if they wished. A little while afterward one of them went up -to see about the invalid. Behold, he was gone! - -They looked for him everywhere, for they knew he could not fly. Suddenly -they noticed a great deal of oriole chatter out in the yard. Then they -looked carefully over a tree near the window, and there they saw the -broken-winged bird in the midst of quite a flock of others. - -Of course the outside birds were called by the captive, and they must -have carried him out in some way. Birds have been seen to carry off one -who was wounded, in two ways. One way was by two birds each taking in -his beak a wing of the helpless bird and so flying away with him. This -has been seen, and more than once, by men who tell the truth. - -The second way birds have been seen to help another was by one getting -under the helpless one and so holding him up on the back. This also has -been seen by men whose word can be trusted. You remember I told you such -a story about the shrike. - -So many untrue stories are told about the birds that I am very careful -not to tell you anything that is not strictly true. - - -If you live in the South, you more often see the ORCHARD ORIOLE. He is -not quite so gay in his dress as the Baltimore. He has chestnut color -with his black. His mate is different. She is olive on the back, and -yellow below, and she has bright blue legs and feet, which look as if -they were covered with kid. - -The nest is a hanging one, of course, but it does not usually swing like -other oriole nests. It is a little supported at the bottom. It is very -beautiful, for it is made of one kind of fine grass. When it is first -made, its green color makes it hard to see among the leaves. And as it -dries, it turns a rich yellow, like bright clean straw. It is not so -high as the Baltimore's, and not hung to the end of a branch. It is -often in an apple-tree, for this bird likes to be near people. - -The song of the orchard oriole is different from the Baltimore's. It is -longer, and has more variety. His mate sings also. Her voice is sweeter -than his and not so loud. - - -If you live in California, the oriole you know will be the ARIZONA -HOODED ORIOLE. Sometimes he is called the palm-leaf oriole for a reason -you will soon see. He is a beautiful, slender bird, having bright orange -color with his black. He wears more black than some of the family. His -face and throat and tail and wings are of that color, though the wings -have two white bars. His mate is yellowish below and olive brown above. - -This bird makes the regular oriole family cradle. Sometimes it swings -free like the Baltimore's, but not always. It is made of slender, wiry -grass, which is green, so that it is hard to see. Sometimes a sort of -thread from the edge of palm leaves is used. - -This bird sometimes selects a droll place for her nest. She swings it -from the under side of a palm or banana leaf. You know a banana leaf is -long and wide, and makes a comfortable shade in a hot day; and it does -just as well for an umbrella when it rains. It is hard to see how a bird -can fasten a nest to a smooth leaf. But Mrs. Grinnell has seen it done -in her own yard, and she tells us how the little builder goes to work. - -First she takes a thread in her beak and pushes it through the leaf, -making a hole, of course. Then she flies around to the other side of the -broad leaf, and standing there a minute she pulls the thread through, -and pushes it back, making another hole. Thus she goes on, flying from -one side to the other till she has sewed her bag to the strong leaf. - -Except in the place they choose for their nest, these orioles are about -the same as their Eastern cousins, and oriole little folk are the same -the world over, I think. - - - - -XXII - -THE CROW-BLACKBIRD BRANCH - -(_Icteridæ_)--Continued - - -THE fourth branch of this family is of crow-blackbirds and grackles. -They have a right to the name of blackbird, for they are quite black. At -least they look so a little way off, but if one gets near and sees the -sunshine on them, he will see that they reflect blue or green or purple, -from their feathers. - -Then, too, like others of their family, they go in flocks, and they have -a dignified walk on the ground. Some birds who are so social that they -like to live in a crowd prefer to go a little apart to nest. But these -birds make their rude, clumsy nests all close together. - -Blackbirds are fond of corn; who can blame them for that? Thousands of -them have been shot because they eat it. But farmers who shoot them -forget, or perhaps they do not know, that corn is not the only thing -they eat. - -Insects as well as birds are fond of corn, and it isn't so easy to keep -them away. The birds eat great numbers of them, such as grasshoppers, -caterpillars, beetles, and cut-worms, besides mice. All these creatures -eat the farmers' crops. So when birds destroy them, they earn some of -the corn. They do more than clear the fields of troublesome insects, -they eat great quantities of the seeds of weeds that the farmer is -always fighting. - -Blackbirds are most often seen on the ground, walking around with great -dignity. They are looking for food in the grass, or in the field in -ploughing time. When they are closely watched, it is often found that -they are not in mischief. - -Mr. Warren, State Ornithologist of Pennsylvania, tells a story which -shows how easy it is to be mistaken. He was with a friend who had thirty -acres of corn growing, and was much vexed to see blackbirds walking -about among the young plants. They seemed very busy about something, and -he was sure they were pulling up his crop. So he got out his guns, and -Mr. Warren went with him to punish the birds. - -They shot thirty-one of them. Then they began to see what they had been -eating. In all the thirty-one, only seven had the least bit of corn, and -even they were mostly filled with insects. The rest were stuffed full of -insects which do much harm to young corn, mostly cut-worms. - -The farmer had killed thirty-one birds who were working for him as hard -as they could. No money could hire help that would do so much good as -they were doing. - - -In the Eastern States we have the CROW BLACKBIRD, or PURPLE GRACKLE, and -the BRONZED GRACKLE, whose habits are the same. - -The purple grackle is a handsome bird, larger than a robin, with very -light eyes. His plumage looks black in the shade, but when the sun is on -it, shows rich green and blue, and it shines like satin. The bronzed -grackle shows purple, and blue, and green, with metallic bronze on the -back. - -The purple grackle is said to eat corn, and also the eggs and young of -other birds. But what he eats has been found out by the Agricultural -Department, in the way I told you of. It is given out by them that he -does not do so much harm to nests as has been said, and among the crops -he does good enough to pay for all the corn he eats. - -It is very hard to see just what a bird is eating. It is not even safe -to believe all we think we see. - -The only time the purple grackle can do more harm than good is when he -comes with a big crowd of his friends, and settles down to spend the -winter. Then he should be driven away from crops. - -I want you to understand me about this. I do not say that these birds -never eat the eggs and young of others. What I do say is, that there is -plenty of evidence to show that they do it not half so much as people -say. I have watched birds for twenty years, as closely, I believe, as -any one ever watched them, and I never saw any of the bad deeds that are -laid to the blue jay, or the shrike, or the kingbird, or the purple -grackle. They may be guilty occasionally, but they are not the villains -they are often said to be. - -Besides, however bad we may call a few birds, we are ourselves worse. -Birds kill only to eat. Many of them are made to feed upon each other, -and cannot live in any other way. They kill quickly, and do not -generally--if they ever do--torture their prey. - -How is it with us? We kill for sport, or for useless show, and we kill -in a way that often wounds and leaves our victim to suffer tortures -before he dies. Do you think it is fair for us to say hard things about -the birds? - - -In the Rocky Mountains and west of them the common blackbird is BREWER'S -BLACKBIRD, sometimes called blue-headed grackle. He is not so shy as -his brother of the East. He is amiable and friendly with people, and as -familiar as the robin in New England. He is often seen in the streets of -towns. He will come into yards, and even take food from a doorstep. - -Brewer's blackbird is a restless, uneasy fellow, like most of his -family. He is always bustling about, and flying hither and thither with -rustling wings. - -In summer, these birds feed mostly upon insects, which they find on the -ground. They have an amusing way of being fair in their feeding. As they -walk about in little social parties looking for food, those who come -last in the string find the insects nearly all picked up before they get -a chance. So they take this clever way of getting their turn at the good -things. Every few minutes those in the rear rise and fly over the heads -of their friends and alight just before them. So they have the first -pick for a while. Then, in a few minutes, those left behind fly over -their heads, and take the lead for a time. So, without any quarreling, -each one has a fair chance with all the rest. Other birds have found out -this way of playing fair. I have seen great blue herons three feet tall -do the same thing. - -In winter, when insects are scarce, the blackbird turns to grain and the -seeds of weeds. But it has been found that he does more good by the -weeds he keeps down than harm by the grain he eats. - -Brewer's blackbird usually nests in trees, not very high. One time a -naturalist going about in Arizona, where are few or no trees, found a -curious thing,--a good many blackbird nests, a little settlement one -might call it, on the ground, and all strung along close to the edge of -a steep bank. At first he could not see why the birds had chosen to be -on the edge of a precipice. Then he remembered that horses and cattle -roamed over the country, and these animals are careful never to graze -close to an edge which might crumble and give them a fall. He concluded -that the birds had wit enough to know that. If their nests were out on -the plains, they would be likely to be stepped on, but near the edge, -they were safe from hoofs. - -The common call of Brewer's blackbird is a harsh "chack;" but in the -spring he turns musical, and serenades his mate with what we must call -songs, because songs are what he intends. They are droll enough to -listen to, and not very sweet. - -This bird is about the size of a robin, with violet-colored head in the -sunlight. His mate is slate-colored. - -Birds who live in a crowd learn to be fair in their treatment of one -another. An interesting story is told of the way a flock of blackbirds -go to bed at night. They come to the roosting-place in little parties -from all the country around. One would suppose the first one to get -there would choose his place to sleep, and let the last one take what -was left. - -But no! as they arrive, they alight in some big old tree outside the -roosting-place. When all are in, they fly up together, circle around for -a while, then all settle at the same time in the place where they are to -sleep. - - - - -XXIII - -THE CROW FAMILY - -(_Corvidæ_)[17] - - -THIS is a large family. Some of our most intelligent birds belong to it. -There are first the crows, much larger than a robin and dressed in -black. They have long, pointed wings, and tails square at the end. They -live in a crowd, and walk on the ground. - -Then there are the jays, about the size of a robin, all bright-colored -birds. They have short, rounded wings, and long tails which come down -almost to a point in the middle. - -And then the magpies, between the other two in size. They have tails -longer and more pointed than the jays, and are dressed in black with -showy white markings. - - -The common AMERICAN CROW is a bird that everybody knows. He lives all -over our country, and seems to like one part as well as another. There -is enough to be said about this bird to fill this whole book. So I shall -not try to tell all about him. - -The crow is thought by many people to be the most knowing bird in -America, and he is the one who has been most abused. He does some -mischief, it is true, but he does a great deal more good. So say the -officers of the Department who have looked into his food. They have -found that he does pull up some corn; but he stuffs himself and his -family with thousands, and even millions, of grubs, and insects, and -mice, and other small creatures, that would have done far more damage to -the crops than he. - -Farmers have often killed or driven away the crows, because they thought -they were hurting their crops. But sometimes they have found out their -mistake, and have been glad to get them back again. - -A story comes from the West which shows what I mean. One year the -farmers were alarmed to see a great many crows around their fields. They -had never seen so many there. Of course they thought they had come to -eat the corn, so they began to kill them. I won't tell you the ugly -story of the war against the birds. After it had gone on awhile, the -farmers began to notice that crows were not the only ones who had come. -A new grub that they had never seen before was on hand. There were -millions of them, and they were always hungry. Young corn plants seemed -to suit them, and when corn was gone, they began eating the grass. - -It never came into the farmers' heads that the birds had anything to do -with the grubs. So they kept up their war on the crows till few were -left. - -It's easier to drive away birds than insects, so the grubs went on -eating. There were no crows left to trouble, and yet the crops got -smaller every year. At last some one had sense enough to see that the -crows had come on purpose to eat the grubs, and that they had driven -away their best friends, the most useful helpers they could possibly -have. - -When they saw how stupid they had been, they began to coax the birds -back. They sent out and had crows caught and brought to their fields to -work for them. The birds took hold of the business, and made short work -of the corn-eating grub, and the farmers learned a good lesson. - -You may think it strange that the crows should know where the grubs -were, but birds are very sharp to find their food. It is well known that -when there gets to be an unusual number of insects in one place, more -birds will come to feed on them. Some time when you are in the country -when grass is cut, notice how many birds will come to eat the -grasshoppers and other creatures that are uncovered when the hay is -taken away. - -The crows take the same fair way of going to roost that the Brewer's -blackbirds do. - -I could tell you stories--true ones, too--all day about this bird, and -his services to the farmer. We all know how wise he is, and how hard it -is to trap him. - -I will give you one little story, to show his kindness to his fellows. -Then, when you have a chance to watch one, I hope you will take pains to -see for yourself what he does and what he eats. Do not believe all you -hear or read about him, for I'm sorry to say there are some persons who -like so well to tell a sensational story that they do not take any -trouble to find out if it is true. - -The story is this. Two crows were caught and kept in a large cage out of -doors. It happened to be a time when food for birds was rather scarce. -Some one noticed that the birds seemed to eat a good deal, and he set -himself to watch them. He found that the prisoners in the cage were -giving some of their food through the bars to their hungry friends -outside. Could men be more unselfish? - -There is no end to the funny pranks that are told of crows who have been -tamed and lived with people. One that I heard of liked to get out in the -yard when clothes from the wash were hung out. He would walk along on -the clothesline and pull out every clothespin, carrying each one to the -roof and laying it safely away. Of course this let the wet garments fall -in the dirt, and he was scolded well for his mischief. Then he would fly -up to the roof and throw every pin down to the ground, as if he said, -"Well, take your old clothespins!" - -Another tame crow was very fond of pulling over a work-basket, and -scattering the spools and thimbles and other things in it. One day he -got hold of a paper of needles. This he opened, and then went on to hide -them, which crows always like to do with everything. He took each needle -and pushed it into the bed, as if it were a cushion, and hammered each -one in out of sight. - - -I hope you know the BLUE JAY. He is a beautiful bird in different shades -of blue, set off with white and black, and with a fine crest. His mate -is the same. This is the jay we know in the East and South. - -[Illustration: BLUE JAY] - -He is a noisy bird, full of fun and antics. He makes himself heard -wherever he goes. This has given him the name of being quarrelsome. It -is often said that he is always fighting. But that is a mistake, made -because people do not look closely enough. He is boisterous and jolly, -but he rarely quarrels. - -There is one time in his life when he is as still as a mouse. Then he -comes to his tree so quietly that you cannot hear him. That is when -there is a nest to look after. - -The nest of a blue jay is usually not very high, in a tree. While his -mate is sitting, he takes the best care of her. He brings food to her, -and often sings to her. This song is very low; one can hardly hear it; -but it is one of the sweetest of bird songs. - -No bird is more loving to his little folk than the blue jay, and not one -is more frantic when anything happens to them. James Russell Lowell, the -poet, loved the birds, and has written delightful things about them. He -once found a family of young blue jays who seemed to be in trouble. He -had a ladder brought, and went up to the nest to see if he could help -them. He found that they had got caught in the nest lining, and could -not get away. They were full grown, and the old birds had worked hard -from morning till night to keep them fed. - -As soon as Mr. Lowell saw what was the matter, he took out his knife to -cut the strings that held them. At first when he came near, the old -birds were very much frightened. They flew around his head and cried, -and were going to fight him. But jays are wise birds, and in a moment -they saw that he did not mean to hurt them. So they perched close by -him, so near he could put his hand on them. Then they watched him while -he cut the little ones loose. All of them could fly, and they did, at -once. - -One of the nestlings had been so tightly held that one leg was withered -and dead, but the next day Mr. Lowell saw him hopping about the garden -path, on one leg, while his parents brought him food, and took great -care of him. - -The blue jay, like most birds, is kind to others. One man found a little -flock taking care of an old, blind jay. They fed him, and led him to -water to bathe. They warned him of danger, and in every way looked out -for his comfort as if he were a nestling. - -Besides being a singer, this bird is a mimic. He can imitate the songs -of other birds, as well as many other sounds. A lady once had a blue jay -who had fallen from the nest. She brought him up, and he was very tame. -She told me that he learned to sing like a mockingbird, and did it -almost as well. This bird was very fond of her. When she tried to give -him his freedom, he wouldn't have it. If she slipped away from him, he -would sit up in a tree and scream like a lost child. Then, when she came -into his sight, he would fly down to her shoulder and rub his head -against her cheek like a kitten, he was so happy to be back with her. - -The blue jay is a useful bird. Dr. Brewer says that one pair of jays -will feed their young in one season five hundred thousand caterpillars; -also that one pair of jays will destroy one million insect eggs in a -winter. - -Many hard things have been said about this bird,--for one thing, that he -eats eggs and young birds. You will notice, however, that many who -repeat these stories about him say, "I have not seen the bird do so, but -some one else has." Testimony like this is worth nothing. Such things -are copied from one book to another because it is much easier to take -what is set down in the books than to go out and see for one's self. -Often a story which has no truth in it is said over and over till people -believe it because they have heard it so often. - -Believe me, the blue jay is not half so bad as he is painted, and he has -many lovable traits to make up for what he does do. - -Mr. Keyser brought up a young blue jay from the nest. He put him for a -while into a cage with two young orioles. Like all young birds, all -three of the youngsters were hungry, and expected everybody to feed -them. So the young jay opened wide his mouth, and waited for something -good to drop into it. He was met by the two orioles with their mouths -wide open. There they stood, face to face, all asking to be fed. It was -a funny sight. - -Then the blue jay baby was put into another cage, where were two young -catbirds. To these he was very loving. He would sidle up to them and -caress them, stroking their backs and wings with his bill. He insisted -on sleeping between the two on the perch. He looked very droll with a -small bird on each side of him, all snuggled up together. - -After a while the blue jay had a whole cage to himself. Then the other -cages were moved to the front porch, and he was left alone on the back -porch. This did not please him at all; he was lonely. He called and -cried and fretted about till he was placed beside the others. Then he -gave a cry of joy, and really squealed with delight. - - -The West is richer than the East in jays. There are several in the -Rocky Mountains and California. STELLER'S JAY is said to represent the -Eastern bird I have been telling about. He is different in looks and -larger. He is darker blue, with some sooty brown, and he has a fine -crest. But he is the same noisy, jolly fellow as his cousin on the -Atlantic side of the country. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN MAGPIE] - - -If your home is in the West, beyond the Mississippi River, of course you -know the AMERICAN MAGPIE. He is a large, splendid fellow, who looks -especially fine when he is flying over your head. - -The magpie is all in black and white: white below and in shoulder -patches, and black on the breast and above. In the sunlight he shows -purple and blue and green shades over the black. He has a very long -tail, which is wide in the middle and runs down almost to a point at the -end. This is very showy, when he spreads it wide in flying. - -In California the magpie shows a curious variation. On one side of the -mountains the magpie has a yellow bill, but the magpie on the other side -has a black one, though in every other way they seem to be the same. - -The magpie is a social bird. Even in nesting time he likes plenty of -neighbors. A party of them will settle in a little grove and build -several nests in it. The nests of this bird are the queerest bird homes -you ever saw. They look like big covered baskets. They are half the size -of a bushel basket, and made of sticks outside. There is an opening on -each side for the bird to go in and out. Those I have seen were in the -tops of low trees. - -The beautiful tail of the magpie seems to be a great care to him. When -he flies,--as I said,--he spreads it wide and makes a great show with -it. When he is going about on a tree, he jerks and twitches it all the -time. No doubt every jerk means something, if we could only understand. -When on the ground, he holds the precious tail up carefully, so that it -shall not touch the earth. He is a very dignified bird when walking -about in this way, looking for the grubs, grasshoppers, crickets, and -other creatures on which he feeds. But sometimes he has no dignity at -all. He scolds, and screams, and acts like a bad child. He isn't -particular about his food. He will eat almost anything, even scraps from -a kitchen. - -Major Bendire tells a comical story of the cunning of some magpies in -getting food away from a dog. The dog carried his bone with some meat on -it to the lawn in front of the major's tent, and lay down to enjoy it, -dog-fashion. In a minute or two, a little party of six magpies came -around, probably hoping to be invited to dinner. The dog did not take -the hint, but went on gnawing. - -Then the birds seemed to consider, and after a few minutes they placed -themselves around the dog. One stood right in front of his nose about -two feet away. Another one took his place close to the dog's tail, while -two stood on each side. - -When all the birds were ready, the one by the tail gave it a sharp peck. -No dog could stand that insult. The victim forgot his bone, wheeled -around, and dashed after that bird. He did not catch him with the first -grab, and the wily bird fluttered away. He did not go fast enough to -show the dog he could not catch him, but he led him on and kept him -eager to get at him as long as he could. - -But what happened to the dog's dinner all this time? Of course you have -guessed that the instant the dog left, the five hungry magpies pounced -upon the bone. They didn't mind eating at the second table. They knew -their time was short, and they made good use of it. I'm afraid they -"gobbled." - -When the dog saw that he couldn't catch the magpie, he thought of his -dinner, and came back. The birds stepped one side, and he took his -place again. - -Of course the birds were not half satisfied, and besides, one of them -had not had even a taste. So they made ready to play the little trick -again. Now see their fair play with one another! The bird who had coaxed -the dog away had his turn at the head of the table, while another one -did the teasing. They repeated this several times, and each time a -different bird led the dog away. - -The major was a trained observer, and he could tell the birds apart. One -had a longer tail, another had a broken feather, and another was -smaller. So he could easily see that each time a different bird had the -best chance. He was sure they had planned the whole thing out. - -I once had a chance to study the ways of some magpies. The birds were -busy in their nests, and I was well hidden and quiet, so they did not -see me. I heard much soft, gentle talk from them, and at last a sweet -song. I was much surprised at this, and hoped to know a good deal more -about them, but the next time I called on them, they saw me. Such a row -as they made! They flew around my head, shouting and screaming at me, -till I was glad to get out of the grove. I could not blame the birds, -for magpies are much prized as cage-birds. They readily learn to talk, -and are intelligent and interesting pets, so that the nests are robbed -all the time. Of course they are ready to fight for their little ones. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[17] See Appendix, 16. - - - - -XXIV - -THE LARK FAMILY - -(_Alaudidæ_)[18] - - -THERE are a good many kinds of larks in the world, but only one comes to -us, the HORNED LARK, or shore lark. He differs a little in color in the -various places he is found over our broad country, but not enough to -call him another species. - -In places where there is a great deal of rain, birds take on a slightly -different shade from their brothers who live in dry places. So there are -several varieties of the horned lark. But dress isn't everything, and, -after all, he is the same bird in habits and manners wherever we find -him in the United States. He is streaked brown on the back, and white -below, with yellow throat and black and white markings. - - -The way you may always know a PRAIRIE HORNED LARK, of whom I will speak, -is by the pretty little tufts of feathers that stand up on his head -like horns, and the very long nail on his hind toe. - -[Illustration: DESERT HORNED LARK] - -Another way you may know this bird is that he lives on the ground, and -never perches in a tree. Sometimes he gets up on a fence to sing, but he -likes best to run along the road, or in a field, and he never--never -hops. The place to look for him is a field or pasture, or on a country -road. - -When insects are abroad, he eats the more dainty small ones, young -grasshoppers and locusts before they get big and tough, small beetles -and larvæ; and baby larks are fed on them. But he doesn't starve when -they are gone; he is fond of seeds of weeds and grasses. - -The nest of the horned lark is on the ground, and the little mother is -very clever in hiding it, and not showing people where it is. Many -birds, you know, will stay on the nest till one almost steps on them, -and then fly up with a great fuss, thus telling their secret. When the -wise little lark sees one coming, she quietly slips off her nest. Then -she crouches to the ground, and creeps away. When she thinks she is far -enough, she rises to her full height, and begins to eat, or to walk -around as if she had nothing on her mind, and there were no such thing -as a nest anywhere about. No matter how long one may stay there -hoping to find the nest, she will not go back, not even to see if it is -safe, so long as any one is near. If all birds were so wily, there would -be fewer nests robbed, and we should have more birds. - -The little home so carefully guarded is well made. The bird scratches -out a little hollow and lines it with grass or thistledown, that is, if -she can't get what she likes best. Her choice is for nice soft mullein -leaves, which she pulls to pieces. These, you know, are thick and -smooth, and must make a warm, dry bed for the little larks. - -The brave little mother nests so early that she is often caught in a -snowstorm. Nests have been found with the bird on them, when the snow -had to be brushed away to get at her, actually sitting under the snow. - -When the young larks can run about, and before they can fly, the father -takes them in charge. Then the mother sits again, and hatches out -another brood. - -The horned lark sings on the wing, as does the skylark of Europe that -we've heard so much about. It is supposed that he cannot equal that -famous bird, but so few have heard him, it is hardly safe to say so. I -once heard a horned lark sing. He ran across the road in front of the -carriage, flew to a fence, and gave an exquisite little song. If it had -come down to us while the singer was soaring about over our heads, I -think few bird songs could have excelled it. - -The feather tufts which are called horns stand up when the bird is -excited. Usually they lie back nearly flat on the head. - -In the picture you can see one of these birds in his usual attitude, -walking. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[18] See Appendix, 17. - - - - -XXV - -THE FLYCATCHING FAMILY - -(_Tyrannidæ_)[19] - - -LARKS may be scarce, but we have plenty of flycatchers, and they all -look very much alike. They are mostly in dull colors, and they have a -way of raising the head feathers which gives them a little crest. Then -they have rather thick necks, and they sit up very straight on the -perch. - -They catch living flies, as you see by the name, and they have their own -way of doing it. No flycatcher ever scrambles around like a fussy little -warbler, snatching a fly here and there. Far from it! It is a dignified -family, and none of them ever seems to be in a hurry. - -The true flycatcher way to get a dinner is to sit still and wait. The -very babies in the nest are patient little fellows. They never make half -the row over their dinner that young robins do. They could give lessons -in table manners to some young folks I have seen. And waiting seems to -be a good way, for nobody is better fed than a flycatcher. - -[Illustration: KINGBIRD] - -On his perch the waiting bird sits perfectly still, but keeps a sharp -lookout all around him. When a fly or other insect comes near that he -thinks he will like, he dashes out and catches it as it flies. Then he -goes back to his perch and waits for another. - -Some of the family have the habit of singing as they wait. The wood -pewee drawls out his sweet "pee-u-ee," the phoebe sings his sharp -"phoe-be" by the hour, and the least flycatcher snaps out his "chebec" -till we are tired of hearing him. - -Flycatchers are classed among birds who do not sing, but several of them -do sing,--not loud, like a robin, but low, quiet songs to the mate or -the nestlings. - - -One of the best known of the flycatchers all over the country is the -KINGBIRD. He is a little smaller than a robin, and all in brownish -black, with white breast. He has also white tips to his tail feathers, -which look very fine when he spreads it out wide in flying. - -Among the head feathers of the kingbird is a small spot of orange color. -This is called in the books a "concealed patch" because it is seldom -seen, it is so hidden by the dark feathers. - -This bird does much good by eating many insects. It is often said that -he eats bees. But a curious thing has been found out about this habit. -It seems he has a choice in bees. He is fond of the drones which make no -honey, and so are not useful in a hive. He will hunt drones all day, but -he is shy of a honey bee. Do you know why? The bird has not told us, but -we can guess that it is because the honey bee is armed with a sting, and -can make it very uncomfortable for any bird who catches her. - -There is another reason too why the bird may prefer the drone. The honey -bee usually flies low, where the flowers are, while the drone isn't -after flowers and flies higher in the air. The kingbird sits higher than -the honey bee flies, and the drones are the ones that come near him. - -Another insect that the kingbird is fond of is the robber fly, which -destroys hundreds of honey bees. That should make every bee-keeper his -friend. - -These things have been found out in the way I told you, by shooting the -birds to see what they had been eating. - -Mr. Bryant, who knows birds well, tells of a bee-keeper in California -who saw a great many kingbirds among his bees. Of course he thought they -were eating them, and he killed one hundred of them. On looking into -their stomachs to see if they had eaten honey bees, he found them filled -with drones. They had been working for him all the time, for every -bee-keeper likes to have drones killed. - -It has been said that the kingbird is annoying to other birds, and he is -called a tyrant. I wanted to know if this was true. I did not go to -books to find out, for many people--as I have told you--do not study for -themselves, but repeat what some one else has said. The way I took to -find out was to notice the ways of every kingbird I could see. For many -years I have watched them hours at a time, for weeks together. I spend -every summer among the birds, and almost everywhere I go I find -kingbirds. - -In this way I have found out that the kingbird is one of the most -peaceable of birds. He drives strangers away from the tree where his -nest is, and so does every other bird. The crow he seems to consider his -enemy, and often flies after him, but excepting that, I have never seen -a kingbird disturb any bird who was minding his own business. He is not -half so much of a tyrant as the robin or the hummingbird. - -The kingbird is quiet and devoted to his family. He seems never to tire -of catching insects. While young ones are in the nest, he may usually -be seen from morning till night, sitting very straight upon a low perch, -looking for flies of many kinds. - -Let me tell you a little story of a kingbird which I can assure you is -true, for a gentleman whose word may be relied upon saw it near enough -to be perfectly sure of the facts. - -A big bird, he did not notice what kind, was flying off with a nestling -robin in his claws. All at once a kingbird flew at him so fiercely that -he had to drop the young one to defend himself. The youngster could not -fly, and of course began to fall. When the kingbird saw that, he left -the thief and flew under the little bird. He held it up on his back, and -flew carefully to the ground, where it slipped off safely. - -When a kingbird has been tamed and kept in a house, he has been found to -be a very knowing fellow. One that I heard of saw that the people were -friendly, and he lost all fear of them. His greatest pleasure seemed to -be to keep warm. He would cuddle up to a lighted lamp, and dearly liked -to crawl under the bedclothes. This pet was quiet and dignified, never a -chatterbox. The only sounds he made were a few low notes like thanks, -when he was fed. - -The nest of the kingbird is usually placed in a low tree like the -apple-tree. It is made of anything that comes handy. I have seen one of -white wool where sheep were kept, and one of gray moss on the seashore -where it is found in plenty. - - -The Western kingbird differs in color from the Eastern. He is more gray, -with under parts bright yellow. He is said to be more social and more -noisy than the sober Eastern bird. But in other respects they are much -alike. - -This bird has been called quarrelsome, but persons who look closely at -birds have said that what careless observers have called quarrels are -really play. For the Western kingbird, the ARKANSAS KINGBIRD of the -books, is a rather jolly fellow, says Major Bendire. - -All flycatchers are useful and should be carefully protected, says the -same well-informed writer. - - -The WOOD PEWEE is another common flycatcher. He is not generally seen -about houses like the phoebe, who calls from the peak of the barn. He -may be found in the orchard or the edge of the woods. There he will -stand on a fence or low branch and sing or call by the hour, every few -minutes flying out to catch a passing insect. - -This bird is in dark colors, with whitish breast and two white -wing-bars. His common call is a plaintive, long-drawn-out "pee-u-ee" -and sometimes "pee-ay," but he can sing a droll little song. One lady -who watched a wood pewee build her nest heard her sing to herself as she -worked what sounded like "O-wee-wee-wee." - -The nest made by this little mother is very pretty. It is most often on -a dead limb where a branch starts out, making a broad foundation. For -this reason the bird is called in the South, the dead-limb bird. The -nests are not all alike. I have seen many closely covered with lichen, -and some made of gray moss so thin that the eggs could be seen through -it. Whatever it is made of, it is low and flat like a saucer, and so -much like the branch it is on that it is not easy to see. - -Like other bird mothers, the wood pewee is devoted to her nestlings. She -will shield them from the rain by sitting close on the nest and making -an umbrella of herself. And when the sun comes down very hot on them, -she has been seen to perch on the edge of the nest and spread her wings -to act as a shade for them. It is pretty to see this bird with her -little family when they have left the nest and are being taught to take -care of themselves. She makes many sweet little noises which sound like -talk, or a sort of whispering. - - -The WESTERN WOOD PEWEE looks like his Eastern brother, but he is a very -different bird. His dress is about the same, and he catches his flies in -pewee fashion, but his voice is not in the least like that we hear on -the Atlantic side of the country. - -The Eastern wood pewee has a low, sweet voice, of which one cannot get -tired. But the bird of the West has loud, harsh notes, so dismal in tone -that they are painful to listen to. His song is almost the only really -unpleasant bird song I know. - -The nest of this bird is a rather deep cup saddled on to a large limb. -When it is in a cottonwood grove, it is covered with the sticky white -cotton from the trees. It is very pretty when fresh, but it soon gets -soiled, and then it is not nice to look at or to handle. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[19] See Appendix, 18. - - - - -XXVI - -THE HUMMING FAMILY - -(_Trochilidæ_)[20] - - -THIS is an American family, and no country in the world can show a more -beautiful one. There are more than four hundred species, and some of -them hardly bigger than a bee. All of these birds have brilliant colors -that are called metallic. That is, they glitter like metal, and they -show different colors when they are turned different ways. - -All hummingbirds fly very swiftly. You know how they go,--not straight -like most birds, but darting one way and another so quickly they can -hardly be seen. As they fly, their wings move so fast they look almost -like little clouds, and we hear the low noise we call humming. - -Hummingbirds eat nothing but tiny insects, and the honey of flowers, -which they suck up through their long bill. They take their food without -alighting, for they can hold themselves still before a flower, with the -wonderful wings, as long as they choose. - -The bill of a hummingbird is much longer than his head. It is something -like a pair of tubes through which he can draw up the sweet juices he -likes. The tongue is long too, and it can be pushed out far beyond the -end of the bill. It looks like a stiff white thread. - -We have in the Eastern States but one species, the ruby-throat, but -there are several in California. - - -No bird is more charming than our common RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. He -is most often seen flitting about among the flowers. But now and then -one may catch him sitting demurely on a dead twig, dressing his tiny -feathers. - -This bird is all in green, with a brilliant ruby-colored throat, which -looks like a gem as he darts about. His mate is in green also, but her -throat is white. - -You would not think this pretty midget could be a fighter, but he is. -When a hummingbird finds a vine full of sweet blossoms, or a bed of -bright nasturtiums, or any good place to feed in, he claims the whole of -it for himself. He tries to drive away every other hummingbird who -comes near it. Sometimes two of them will carry on a quarrel over a -honeysuckle vine for days. - -The hummingbird is the most pugnacious bird in America. If he were as -big as a crow, he would be a terror to man and beast, for he is afraid -of nothing. This spirited mite of a bird will even attack an eagle, who -is big enough to eat him at a mouthful. He beats him too, for he comes -down on top of his head, where the big, clumsy fellow cannot get at him. -There he pecks and pulls out feathers till the eagle is glad to get out -of his clutches. - -A hummingbird's nest is one of the prettiest things in the world. It is -not much bigger than a walnut, and is made of soft plant down, usually -of a yellowish gray color. - -Perhaps you don't see how plant down can be made to keep in shape, -without twigs or grasses to hold it. If you could see the bird make it, -you would understand at once. She brings her stuff in small mouthfuls, -and works it into a solid mass by strong efforts with beak and feet. She -pokes and prods each tiny bunch as she brings it, till she makes it all -hold together. It is a sort of felt. - -Then the little worker covers the outside with bits of lichen picked off -the trees, and held on, it is said, by cobwebs. This makes the nest -look exactly like the branch it is on. So it is very hard to see. - -It takes a hummingbird several days of hard work to make a nest, because -she can bring only a little at a time. She does it alone too; her mate -has not been seen to help her at all. - -I think the male ruby-throat does not help in the nest-building because -the little mother will not let him. She knows just how the cradle is to -be made, and she doesn't want him to bother her. She likes to have her -nest to herself just as she likes to have her honeysuckle to herself. I -don't say positively that is the reason, you know; I only guess it is. - -After the nest is made, and two eggs about as big as small beans are -laid, the hummingbird begins to sit. When the nestlings come out of the -egg, they are about the size of honey bees, with bills no larger than -the head of a common pin. Twenty-one days they stay in the nest and are -fed by their hard-working little mother. - -When the twins get their feathers, and their bills are growing longer -and longer, they sit up across the top of the nest, side by side. Then -they are very pretty, and not at all afraid of people. They will let one -gently stroke their backs. They will even answer in a soft murmur one -who talks to them. - -Hummingbirds are never so afraid of people as other birds. They are -easily tamed. But they should never be caged, for they will not live -long in a house. They need food that we cannot give them. - -A man had a hummingbird whom he kept alive a long time by letting him go -free when he seemed to need change of food. He would fly off, but always -came back. After the bird got to be very tame, the man brought two young -hummingbirds and put them in the cage with him. He did not notice them -much till they began to droop. Then the man opened the door to let them -out. - -At once the elder bird took the little ones in charge, and coaxed them -to fly out with him. He led them to a place where he had found the tiny -spiders these birds like, and showed them how to get what they wanted. -They all ate their fill and then came back to the house, where they were -well contented to be. - -The way the mother hummingbird feeds her babies is curious. When she -comes with food, she alights on the edge of the nest, and pulls a little -one up so that she can get at it. Then she runs her long, slim bill down -its throat, and pokes the food in with little jerks. It looks as if it -would kill the youngster, but he seems to like it. Anyway, he grows -very fast, and--as I said--in three weeks he is beautifully feathered, -with a bill as long as his mother's, and ready to fly. - -A lady who had two young hummingbirds told me that they slept so soundly -they were like dead birds. One could take them up and carry them about, -and they would not wake. In cold weather she often wrapped one up in a -piece of flannel and laid him in a soft, warm place, and he never -stirred till morning. - -The way she got this pair of birds was interesting. She was walking in -the woods and broke a dead branch from a tree, to use for something. On -turning it over she saw a nest, and strange to say two little birds in -it. She had been holding it upside down, but they had held on so tightly -that they did not fall out. - -The lady did not know what to do. She did not want baby hummingbirds, -but she couldn't put the branch back, and she was afraid their mother -would not find them if she left them. So she took them home. She had no -trouble to feed them, and they lived with her six weeks, and died by -accident at last. - -It is thought that the male ruby-throat does not come to the nest at -all, but he must have some way of knowing how things are going on. At -Mrs. Wright's summer home a mother hummingbird was killed in a -hailstorm, while young were in the nest. At once the father, or at least -a male bird, came and fed and took care of the nestlings till they flew. - - -In California one of the most common of this family is ANNA'S -HUMMINGBIRD. He is green, with a throat and crown of changeable colors, -lilac and red. - -The nest of this bird is usually, like the ruby-throat's, of plant down -covered with lichens. But some have been found made of the blossoms of -the eucalyptus, or gum-tree. This bird is as easily tamed as the -ruby-throat, and seems to act a good deal like him. - -Mrs. Grinnell found a nest in her yard in California. The mother allowed -herself to be photographed in many positions. The young ones were never -afraid, and did not mind the camera in the least. Hummingbirds never -seem to have any fear of people. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[20] See Appendix, 19. - - - - -XXVII - -THE SWIFT FAMILY - -(_Micropodidæ_)[21] - - -SWIFTS are curious birds, with strange habits. The one we know by sight -in the East is the chimney swift. Most like him in the West is Vaux's -swift. His ways are like the common chimney swift's, and his looks -nearly the same. - - -The CHIMNEY SWIFT is often called the chimney swallow, but it is very -easy to tell one from a swallow. One way is, that when a swift is flying -about over our heads, he looks as if he had no tail. The tail is very -short, not half so long as the wing. He looks more like a bat than a -bird. - -Then the swift flies in a different way. A swallow soars a good deal, -that is, moves without beating the wings, a sort of gliding through the -air. But a swift beats the wings much more frequently. A swallow will -often alight on a telegraph-wire or a roof. A swift is said never to -alight except to sleep. - -This bird is so much at home on wing that he even gets the twigs to make -the nest while flying. These twigs are the smallest ones on the ends of -dead branches, and are easily snapped off. The bird flies at them, -snatches one in beak or feet, breaks it off, and goes right on, without -stopping. - -When he gets his twig, he carries it to a dark, sooty chimney. A queer -place for a home, surely. They used to choose a hollow tree or a cave to -live in, and that seems much nicer. But chimneys are now more plentiful -than hollow trees. And besides, they are nearer the bird's food. So -chimney homes are now the fashion in the swift family. - -To make a swift nest, the twigs are glued to the chimney in the shape of -a little bracket. The glue is the saliva of the bird, which is gummy, -and gets hard as it dries, and looks like isinglass. - -The mouth of a chimney swift is very odd. You have heard of "stretching -a mouth from ear to ear." That's just what the swift does every time he -opens his. It needs to be big, for he gathers up his food in it. While -he is flying around in the air, he is busy catching tiny flying -creatures, such as flies and beetles, and thus keeping the air clear for -us. - -The tail of this bird is another queer thing. It has no soft feathery -tips like most birds' tails. It ends in sharp spines, like needles. -These are most useful to brace him against the rough chimney where he -sleeps. These spines are really the stiff shafts or stems of the -feathers, sticking out beyond the plumey part. - -The chimney swift hangs himself up to sleep. He fastens his sharp claws -into the rough bricks, and props himself firmly with his spiny tail. -Even when the young swift is but two weeks old, he crawls out of the -nest and hangs himself up under it. He seems to like that for a change -from forever lying in a narrow bracket. - -Chimney swifts are social birds. They can't bear to be alone. They are -almost always seen flying about in small parties, and calling to each -other as they go, a strange, chattering cry. They are of a sooty color -suitable to their sooty home, and the pair are alike. Vaux's swift is a -little smaller and paler than the common chimney swift. - -The young swift is longer in his nursery than any bird of his size in -the United States. He is four weeks old before he ventures out of his -grimy home, though before that he will come up to the door to be fed. - -A late writer in a newspaper tells a little story showing the affection -of a chimney swift for her little one. The writer had watched all summer -a party of swifts who lived in one of his chimneys. A month or more -after he supposed that all had flown away to the South beyond our -southern boundary, where they spend the winter, he heard the twittering -of one in the chimney. He took out the fireboard and found there a young -bird. He was full grown and able to fly, but he was fastened by a -horsehair to the nest. This had been pulled off by his weight, and lay -on the hearth, holding him prisoner. - -The little fellow seemed to know he was to be helped, for he lay still -while the man looked to see what was the matter. His mother soon came -into the chimney with food. She took her place beside the man and -waited, while he cut the strong hair and set the nestling free. - -Then the old bird went to work to teach him to fly. It was an hour or -more before he learned to use his wings. As soon as he did, the two -started off on their lonely journey to the far South, to join their -friends who had been gone so long. How I wish we could know that they -reached them. - -Insects were about gone when this happened, and this swift mother would -have died if she had stayed, but she would not leave her little one to -starve. - -It is a beautiful thing to see a large flock of swifts go to bed. If -they all rushed in pell-mell, they might hurt one another. They begin by -flying around high above the chimney in great circles. As they go around -they sink lower, and the circles get smaller till it looks like an -immense whirling funnel. When the birds forming the lower part of the -funnel reach the top of the chimney, they plunge in. So in a short time -the whole flock is in and no one hurt. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[21] See Appendix, 20. - - - - -XXVIII - -THE GOATSUCKER FAMILY - -(_Caprimulgidæ_)[22] - - -THESE are queer-looking birds, having their front toes tied together by -a kind of webbing, and almost no hind toe at all. The mouth, too, is -almost as odd as the toes. It has a short beak, but is very wide, and it -opens from ear to ear like the swift's. The plumage is so soft that the -birds can fly without making the least sound. - -The two most common goatsuckers are the whip-poor-will and the -nighthawk. They are both as large as a robin, and stouter. They are -dressed in dull brown, and black and white, mottled all over. If you -just glanced at the two, you might think them alike. But they are not -marked alike, and all their ways are so different that there is no -trouble in telling them apart. - - -The WHIP-POOR-WILL has broad white tailmarks, with stripes on the back, -and a narrow white band across the breast. He comes out only in the -evening, and he flies low, without making a sound. He rests lengthwise -of a log or fence, not across it as most birds do. His feet are too -short to clasp a perch. - -On his log or fence the whip-poor-will sits and sings while he waits for -his supper. You all know his song, his lively "whip-poor-will" over and -over many times. It is a delightful evening sound, which I love to hear. -It is said that his notes have been counted, and he has been found to -repeat them several hundred times without stopping. - -When moths or other creatures which fly in the night come along, he -catches them in his big mouth. But he is not obliged always to wait. -Sometimes he flies near the ground like a shadow, looking for prey, and -he often hops awkwardly along the road, for the same purpose. He picks -up straggling insects, and in the West locusts. - -The whip-poor-will mother makes no nest. She finds a little hollow in -the ground, among leaves or near bushes in the woods, and that's good -enough for her nestlings. She lays two eggs, speckled and mottled so -that they look like the ground and leaves around them. She looks almost -the same herself. You might walk close to her and not see her. - -When young whip-poor-wills come out of the egg, they are dressed in -speckled gray down. They cuddle down quietly by their mother, and the -whole family is hard to see. When their eyes are shut, they look almost -exactly like the earth and leaves among which they lie. - -If a whip-poor-will nest is disturbed, the mother will pretend to be -badly hurt. She will tumble about on the ground and cry like the whine -of a young puppy, trying to coax away the one she fears. If she is too -much alarmed, she will clasp her young one between her feet and fly away -with it. - - -Instead of the common whip-poor-will of the Northern and Middle States, -the South has the CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, who is somewhat larger. The West -has the POOR-WILL, or the NUTTALL'S WHIP-POOR-WILL, who is rather -smaller and paler than either. The habits of all are about the same. -They are called solitary birds. That is, they are not found in parties -like swallows or crows. They do not sing or call when flying. - -These birds are hard to watch because they come out in the dark, and can -then see so much better than we can. So we know little about their -ways. - - -The NIGHTHAWK'S looks, and all his ways, are different. He wears the -same colors that the whip-poor-will does, but they are arranged in -another way. They are put in bars running across the back and tail, and -there is a great deal of white on his upper breast. On the wing is a -large white spot that looks like a hole across it, when you see him -flying away up in the air. You can always know him by this. - -[Illustration: NIGHTHAWK] - -Then he does not act like the whip-poor-will. He is a high flyer, -sailing about over our heads in the afternoon or evening. He is not -silent on the wing. Now and then he gives a strange sharp cry like -"peent." He is busy catching flies and mosquitoes as he goes. Sometimes -you will see him dive head first toward the earth as if he would dash -himself against it. At the same time he makes a loud sound, like blowing -into the bunghole of an empty barrel. But before he touches, he turns -and skims along just above the ground. - -The mother nighthawk, like the whip-poor-will, makes no nest. She -chooses a sunny spot in a pasture or on a hillside to put her eggs. -Sometimes in the cities, where flies and other things to eat are so -plentiful, she takes a flat house-roof for her nursery. Many pairs of -down-covered baby night hawks are brought up over our heads, and we -do not know it. - - * * * * * - -The family name of Goatsuckers was given to the birds from the foolish -notion that they took milk from the goats. By watching them, it has been -found that when they are so busy around the goats or cattle, they are -really catching the insects which torment them. So they are doing a -kindness to the beasts, instead of an injury. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[22] See Appendix, 21. - - - - -XXIX - -THE WOODPECKER FAMILY - -(_Picidæ_)[23] - - -YOU may generally know a woodpecker the moment you see him on a tree. He -will--if he follows woodpecker fashions--be clinging to the trunk, or a -big branch, propped up by his stiff tail, and not perched crosswise like -most other birds. - -There are a good many of this family in the world. We have twenty-four -species in North America. They differ from other birds in two or three -ways. First their toes are always in pairs, two turned forward and two -turned backward, except in one genus, which has but three toes. So they -can hold on better than anybody else. - -Then again the tails of woodpeckers are not like most birds' tails. They -are strong and stiff, so that they can be used as props to hold the bird -in the queer position he likes so well. - -Oddest of all are the woodpecker tongues. They are round, worm-shaped it -is called, and except in the genus of sapsuckers, very long. They can be -pushed out far beyond the end of the beak. That is so that they can -reach into a deep hole for the insects they eat. They have little barbs -or sharp points on the tip, to catch their prey, and they are sticky -besides. The tongue of the sapsucker has a brush at the end and is not -barbed. - -One of the most notable things about a woodpecker is his bill, which he -uses as a drill and also to drum with. - -Woodpeckers are made to take care of the large limbs and trunks of -trees, to get out from under the bark the grubs which would kill them. -They are perfectly fitted for the work. - -As you learn more about birds and beasts, you will see that every one is -exactly fitted for his work in life. A worm is as well fitted to be a -worm as a bird is to be a bird. How this came to be so has long been a -study of the wise men, and they have not found out all about it yet. - - -The largest of this family that is common is the GOLDEN-WINGED -WOODPECKER, or FLICKER. He is as large as a pigeon. In the Eastern -States is the golden-wing, in the West and California the red-shafted, -who differs merely in the dress. - -The gold-winged woodpecker has a brown back with black bars, and a light -breast with heavy black spots. His wings and tail are yellow on the -inside. He has a bright red collar on the back of his neck, a heavy -black crescent on his breast, and black cheek patches or bars running -down from the corners of his mouth. - -The RED-SHAFTED FLICKER has red cheek patches instead of black, and -omits the red collar altogether. His breast is a little grayer, and the -wing and tail linings are scarlet. Both flickers have large white spots -on the back, above the tail, which show very plainly when they fly. - -These two varieties of the flicker are found from the Atlantic to the -Pacific. Their ways of living are the same, and what is said of one will -do as well for the other. - -A flicker hangs himself up to sleep. He takes a good hold of a tree -trunk, or upright limb, with his grapnel-shaped toes, presses his stiff -tail against the bark, and hangs there all night. When he flies, he goes -in great waves, as if he were galloping through the air. - -The nest of this woodpecker is a snug little room in a tree trunk, or -sometimes a telegraph-pole. He usually selects a tree that is dead, or -partly so, but sometimes he takes a solid one. The little room is cut -out by the strong, sharp beaks of the pair. The door of this home is -just a round hole rather high up on the trunk. A passage is cut straight -in for a little way and then turns down, and there the room is made. It -has to be of pretty good size, for the bird is fond of a large family. -Five or six and occasionally more young flickers have been found in a -nest. - -Fashions change in the bird world as well as in the human. Woodpeckers -more than any others are changing their habits, and improving their -condition. They have found an easier way to get a home than to chisel it -out of wood. Nowadays woodpeckers often cut a hole through a board which -admits them into a garret, a church tower, or the walls of an unused -building, and make the nest there. Thus they save themselves much labor. -One even cut out a home in a haystack. - -These birds have changed too, it is said, in their notions about eating. -They do not think it necessary to dig out every mouthful from under tree -bark. The flicker feeds on the ground. He eats many insects, but mostly -ants. When insects are scarce, he eats many wild berries--dogwood, black -alder, poke-berries, and others--and the seeds of weeds. - -Young woodpeckers in the nest are fed mostly upon insects. When they get -big enough to climb up to the door of their snug home, they stick their -heads out and call for something to eat. Then one can hardly pass -through the woods without hearing them, for they have good loud voices. -And of course they are always hungry. - -The way they are fed is by regurgitation. That is, the old bird swallows -the food she gets, and when she wants to feed, she jerks it up again. -She thrusts her bill far down the little one's throat, as I told you the -hummingbird does. Then she gives three or four pokes as if she were -hammering it down. A young flicker does not seem to know how to swallow. -A lady once picked up a nestling who was hurt, and to get him to eat -anything she had to poke it down his throat herself. - -The gold-winged woodpecker is a lively bird, most interesting to know. -He makes so many strange noises that I can't tell you half of them, and -his ways are as queer as his notes. He does not sing much, but he is a -great drummer. When he finds a tin roof, or eaves gutter that pleases -him, he will drum on it till he drives the family nearly crazy. He seems -particularly to delight in waking them all up in the morning. - -He can sing, too. I have heard a flicker sing a droll little song, not -very loud, swinging his body from side to side as he did it. - -Another thing this bird can do is dance. Two flickers will stand -opposite one another and take funny little steps, forward and back, and -sideways. Then they will touch their bills together and go through -several graceful figures. This has been seen several times by persons -whose truthfulness can be relied upon. - - -The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER is another common one of the family, -especially in the Middle States. He is a little smaller than the -flicker. No one can mistake this bird, he is so plainly marked. His -whole head is bright red. The rest of him is black, or bluish black, -with a large mass of white on the body and wings. - -This woodpecker, too, has partly given up getting food from under the -bark. He takes a good deal on the wing, like a flycatcher. Sometimes he -goes to the ground for a large insect like a cricket or grasshopper, and -he is fond of nuts, especially the little three-cornered beech-nut. - -The red-head is beginning to store food for winter use, for most -woodpeckers do not migrate. When beech-nuts are ripe, he gets great -quantities of them, and packs them away in queer places, where he can -find them when he wants them. - -Some of his nuts the red-head puts in cavities in trees, others in -knot-holes or under bark that is loose. Many he fits into cracks in the -bark, and hammers in tight. He has been known to fill the cracks in a -gate-post, and in railroad ties, and even to poke his nuts between the -shingles on a roof. Any place where he can wedge a nut in he seems to -think is a good one. - -[Illustration: DOWNY WOODPECKER] - -A woodpecker can eat almost anything. Besides insects and nuts, he likes -wild berries of all kinds--dogwood, cedar, and others that he finds in -the woods. - -The nest of the red-headed woodpecker is usually cut out in the dead top -or limb of a tree. In prairie lands, where trees are scarce, he contents -himself with telegraph-poles and fence-posts. - -This bird is rather a dainty feeder. He does not swallow his food -wherever he finds it, as many birds do. He likes a regular dining-table. -So he takes it to some place on top of a fence-post or an old stump, -where he has found or made a little hollow. There he puts his nut or -acorn, picks it to pieces, and eats it in bits. - -The young red-head is a good deal like his father, only his head is -brown instead of red. A queer thing happened to a baby red-head in -Indiana one summer. He was found on the ground, hopping about in a -pitiful way, unable to fly. The parents and others of the woodpecker -tribe were flying about him, much troubled, and trying to help him. But -this young one had been hurt, or was not yet strong enough to get about. -He acted as if he were half paralyzed, and he was wholly helpless. Once -while the little bird was hobbling about and calling for something to -eat, and no one was there to feed him, a robin happened to notice him. -He took pity on the hungry baby, and brought him a nice worm, which he -took very gladly. - -But still more strange was the way the family cat acted toward the -little stranger. When she saw him on the ground, she started for him. No -doubt she meant to catch him, for she was a great bird hunter. When she -got almost up to the little fellow, she seemed suddenly to notice that -he was a baby, and helpless. At once her manner changed. She went up to -him, and actually played with him in the gentlest way, not hurting him -in the least. She did this several times before the bird got strong -enough to fly. This is a true story. - - -The CALIFORNIAN WOODPECKER takes the place of the red-head in -California. He is most interesting because of one habit which gives him -the common name of "carpenter woodpecker." This habit is of storing -sweet acorns for winter use. - -Other birds store acorns, but this bird has found out a new way. He -drills a hole in the bark of a tree for each acorn by itself. It is -generally a soft pine or cedar, and sometimes thousands of acorns are -put in one tree. Often a trunk will be filled from near the ground up -forty feet. The acorns are driven in point first, and so tightly that -they have to be cut out with a knife. When a tree is filled, it is -carefully guarded till they are needed. - -Many people think they lay up these acorns for the worms that sometimes -come into them. But Mr. John Muir, who lives right there, and knows them -as well as anybody in the world, says the birds eat the sound acorns -themselves. Sometimes, when food is scarce, Indians go to these trees -and steal the poor birds' store. They have to chop the acorns out with -hatchets. They often take a bushel from one tree. - -These birds are more social than most woodpeckers. Often a party of them -will be seen together. In his flight and his ways of eating this bird is -like the red-headed woodpecker. Like him also, he is fond of clinging to -a dead limb, and drumming, hours at a time. - -But in looks the Californian and the red-headed woodpeckers are very -different. The Western bird has only a cap of bright red. His back is -glossy blue-black, and he has the same color on the breast. His other -under parts are white, and he has a white patch on the wings, and -another just above the tail. - - * * * * * - -The smallest of our woodpeckers is the Downy Woodpecker, who is not much -bigger than an English sparrow. The picture shows two of these birds. In -"The First Book of Birds" there is a picture of a flicker at his -nest-hole. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[23] See Appendix, 22. - - - - -XXX - -THE KINGFISHER FAMILY - -(_Alcedinidæ_)[24] - - -MOST of the Kingfisher family belong to the tropics, but we have one who -is found all over the United States. This is the BELTED KINGFISHER. - -[Illustration: BELTED KINGFISHER] - -The belted kingfisher is large and rather chunky. He is dark blue above -and white below, with a bluish band across the breast. He has a fine -crest and a big head, and he sits up straight as a hawk. - -The tail of the kingfisher is short, and square at the end. His plumage -is thick and oily, so that it does not hold wet. This is very important -to him in the way he gets his food, for he is an expert fisherman. He -lives alone, or with his mate, near the water,--a lake, or pond, or -small stream. - -This bird's way of getting fish is to dive for them. You may have seen -him splash into the water out of sight, and in a moment come up with -a small fish in his beak. Then he goes back to his perch and beats the -fish to death, before he swallows it. He swallows it whole and head -first, because the fins might stick in his throat if he took it tail -first. After a while he throws up a little ball of the bones, scales, -and skin of the fish he has eaten. It is said that the kingfisher can -take a very large fish. One was shot who had swallowed a fish so long -that the tail stuck out of his mouth, and could not get down. - -The nest of the kingfisher is in the bank of a river or lake. The birds -first cut a passage or hallway. Sometimes this is only four feet long, -and straight. But when stones or roots are in the way, it will be much -longer and have many turns. At the end of this passage is the kingfisher -nursery. This is a round room nearly a foot across, with a roof rounded -up over it. It is a little higher than the passageway so that water will -not run into it. - -Sometimes it takes the birds two or three weeks to make one of these -nests, as we might expect when we think they have only beaks and feet to -work with. Usually it does not take so long. If the pair are not -disturbed, they will use the same nest year after year. Sometimes the -bed for the nestlings is of dry grass. One was found in which the bed -was entirely of the bones and scales of fish. - -Mr. Baily has told us about a family of kingfisher little folk whom he -studied and photographed. He dug down to the nest from above, and was -careful not to hurt them and to put them back safely. First Mr. Baily -took a picture of them when two days old. They were queer-looking -objects, with eyes not open, and not a feather to their backs. They were -not so young but that they had one notion in their little round heads. -That was to cuddle up close together. They were not used to much room in -their dark cradle. - -When Mr. Baily laid them out on the ground, they at once crawled up -together and made themselves into a sort of ball. They put their bare -wings and their bills over one another, and held on so that one could -not be moved without the others. After they had sat for their picture -they were carefully put back, and the nest was covered up again. - -When the nestlings were nine days old, the nest was opened again, and -another picture taken. The little ones had grown a good deal in these -few days. Their eyes were open, and they were fast getting their feather -coats on. But they were just as fond of being close together as before. - -After this the birds were left in their home till they were twenty-three -days old, and it seemed about time for them to come out. When the nest -was opened this time, it was found that the family had moved. The old -room was filled up with earth, and a new one made farther up. No doubt -the old birds thought the man too curious about their babies. The young -birds were ready to fly, and two of them did take to their wings when -they came to daylight. - - * * * * * - -There is a very old fable about the kingfisher, who was called the -halcyon. It is told in the first book that was ever written about birds -(so far as I know). The author was Aristotle, a Greek who lived three -hundred years before Christ. The story is, that the bird builds a nest -that floats on the sea, and for seven days before and seven days after -the shortest winter day, the sea stays calm, so that the nest may not be -hurt. During the first seven days she builds her nest, and in the second -seven she hatches out the young. These fourteen days were called halcyon -days. You may find more about this curious story in the encyclopædias. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[24] See Appendix, 23. - - - - -XXXI - -THE CUCKOO FAMILY - -(_Cuculidæ_)[25] - - -MOST of the cuckoo family live in a hotter climate than ours, but we -have a few of them. They are beautiful birds, with some peculiar ways. - -[Illustration: YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO] - -Cuckoos are rather slim in form, with very long tails, and bills a -little curved. Their toes are divided like woodpeckers' toes, two turned -forward and two back. In the Eastern States we have but two, the -yellow-billed and the black-billed. Best known in the East is the -YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, and in California the Western Yellow-billed, or -California, Cuckoo. - -This bird has several names. In some places he is called the rain crow, -and in other places the wood pigeon; but of course he is neither a crow -nor a pigeon. He is a graceful bird, with plumage like satin. He is a -soft brown above and white below, but he is so shy that he is not so -often seen as heard. His call or song is a loud, yet not harsh -"kuk-kuk-kuk" many times repeated. Sometimes it begins slow and grows -faster till the notes run into each other, and then grows slow again, -ending in a sort of "cow-cow-cow;" but it does not always do so. - -The cuckoo does not manage her nursery affairs as other birds do. Most -birds lay an egg a day, or every other day, so that they hatch about the -same time; but this bird doesn't mind if several days come between. Thus -it happens that one or more little cuckoos hatch out before the rest are -ready, and it is common to find little ones of several ages in the same -nest. There may be one nearly grown, another just beginning to get -feathers, and a third one not yet out of the egg. - -There is another droll thing that may be found in a cuckoo's nest. When -the feathers begin to grow out on young birds, they come wrapped in -little sheaths. In most cases these sheaths burst open and the feathers -show, when they are a little way out. But in this family it is -different. The sheath does not open, says Mr. Dugmore, till the feathers -have grown their full length. Till that happens, the youngster looks as -if he were stuck all over with white pins on his black body. - -You have heard, or read, that the cuckoo lays eggs in other birds' -nests, and leaves her young to be brought up by others. Do not forget -that the bird who does that is the European cuckoo--not ours. Our -cuckoos build nests, though very poor ones, sometimes hardly more than a -platform of sticks. - -This bird is useful to us, for he eats some of our most troublesome -insects,--such as tent caterpillars, which few birds like to eat because -they are so hairy, and other insects with spines that are poisonous, and -so generally avoided. - -The cuckoo is graceful in flight. He goes swiftly, without noise, and -seems to glide through the thickest foliage with ease. - -I once found a young bird tumbling about on the ground. He was trying to -fly, but was not able to go much more than a foot at a time. He was -giving strange calls, which were answered from the woods beside the road -by a low tapping sound. I thought of course the little one was a -woodpecker and his mother was doing the knocking. It was so dark I could -not see him well. After some trouble I caught him and was going to take -a good look at him to see who he was before I let him go. As I grasped -him he gave a shriek, and out from the thick trees popped a cuckoo. She -alighted on a low branch outside and gave such a cry of distress that I -knew at once it was her baby I held in my hand. - -I suppose the poor mother thought I wanted to carry the youngster off. I -couldn't bear to have a bird think that for a minute; so I opened my -hands and away he went, half flying, half scrambling up the road, while -the mother slipped back into the woods. In a moment she began again her -hollow-sounding calls, which I had thought were woodpecker tappings. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[25] See Appendix, 24. - - - - -XXXII - -THE OWL FAMILY - -(_Bubonidæ_)[26] - - -OWLS differ from all other birds in having eyes that look forward like -ours. They have also a broad face, which is made to look even wider by -the feathers which stand out around the eyes. - -Owls cannot turn their eyes in the sockets, so they have to turn the -whole head to see to one side. Many of them have tufts of feathers like -horns, which they can stand up or lay down as they choose. These are -called horned owls. An owl's legs are covered with feathers, sometimes -down to the toes. The whole plumage of this bird is soft and fluffy, so -that he can fly without making any noise. This is important to him, for -he lives mostly on mice, and he never could catch one if he made much -noise getting about. - -The owl's mate looks like him, and--what is unusual among birds--she is -larger than he. Because they come out in the evening, when we cannot -see them well, we know very little of their ways. They are more often -heard than seen. Their voices are generally mournful, but that is no -reason why they should be feared. - -All birds have control over some of their feathers, that is, they can -make them stand up or lie down as they choose. But owls have more than -any other bird. An owl can alter his shape or size so that he will look -like another bird. - -Mr. Bolles says that a large owl can change from a mass of bristling -feathers a yard wide, to a slim, sleek brown post only a few inches -wide. When he does this, one cannot see him, though he may be in plain -sight. His colors blend with a tree trunk, or stump, and he can stand -without stirring for an hour, and likes to do it. - -Mr. Bolles had owls in the house, and watched them closely. He has told -us some curious things about their ways. He says that when one steps -daintily across the floor, his feathers tuck themselves up as a lady -holds up her gown. - -This moving of the feathers sometimes looks very droll. When eating, the -feathers around the mouth, which might get soiled, draw back out of the -way. And when an owl wants to hide his food, he stands over it, and the -feathers droop down like a curtain to screen it from view. When Mrs. -Bolles wanted to sketch an owl, he kept changing his shape all the time, -though he did not seem to move at all. - -[Illustration] - -Another man who had a pet owl says that the bird would stand before him -and throw back his breast feathers each side, just as a man throws open -his coat. - -The owlets come out of the egg dressed in soft, fluffy down. In some of -the family it is gray, in others it is snowy white. They are carefully -fed and reared by their loving parents. - -A funny story is told by a man who wanted to see what was in an owl's -nest. He lifted the mother bird out, and to his surprise the whole -family came out with her. She held on to one little one, and each one -held on to the next, and so he had the whole owl family in a cluster, -like a bunch of grapes. - - -The SCREECH OWL is the best known of this family. He is found, under -slightly different forms, all over our country. In Florida he is smaller -and darker than in the Middle States. In California he is larger and -grayer, and in the Rocky Mountains somewhat lighter. But he acts in -about the same way, wherever he lives. - -In the East the screech owl is found in two colors. Some have reddish -feathers, others have gray. The wise men have not yet found any -reason for this difference. - -The screech owl is badly named, for his song is not a screech. It is a -sort of trembling sound, and in some places he is called the "shivering -owl," which is a much better name for him than screech owl. If one does -not know who makes it, it is rather a weird song in the dark; but if one -knows the pretty gray bird, it is sweet and pleasing. - -The bird comes out before it is quite pitch dark. He may often be seen -against the sky, standing on a branch, bowing and swaying back and -forth, while he utters strange notes of many kinds. He has plenty to say -for himself. But you must keep as still as a mouse if you want to see -him. If he can see to catch a mouse in the dark, you may be sure he can -see you. - -Generally the screech owl makes a nest in a hollow tree or a deserted -woodpecker nest, and comes out only at night. What he likes best to eat -is mice, and mice too come out at night. The way he eats is curious, as -I told you in "The First Book of Birds." - -A few years ago a screech owl went through a broken window into the -attic of a house in New Jersey, and lived there all winter. The family -were bird-lovers, so they let her stay. She liked it so well that the -next spring she made her nest there and hatched out three little owls. -The little ones were not at all afraid of people, and a son of the -family made many photographs of them. - -After the owlets were grown, the whole family disappeared, and lived out -of doors the rest of the summer. But when cold weather came, the old -birds came back and stayed all winter again. They have made their home -in that attic, and reared a brood every spring since. They are always -very social among themselves. They talk and sing, and make many sorts of -noises. - - -One of the queerest of the owl family is the little BURROWING OWL of the -West. The Florida Burrowing Owl, found in Florida, differs only a little -from the Western bird. The burrowing owl is a comical-looking fellow, -only about as large as a robin. He has very long legs for an owl, and is -dressed in grayish brown. - -This bird is said to have very polite manners. In some places he is -called the "how-do-you-do owl." He is always bowing, and turning from -side to side, and seems to be greeting you as you come near him. - -The burrowing owl likes a comfortable home underground, out of the way -of enemies. In the West, where he lives, prairie dogs are plentiful, -and they are always digging out passages and rooms, more than they can -use. So the owl has no trouble in finding empty quarters to live in. - -But in California, and places where are none of the digging dogs, the -little owl rooms with some of the ground squirrels that burrow there. He -must have an underground home in that land where trees are scarce, and -he has no fancy for digging. Even if he wanted to dig, his feet are not -fitted for it like the feet of the little beasts. - -The burrowing owl has no trouble in taking a house where he finds one to -suit him, for he's a savage little fellow. He can kill squirrels and -prairie dogs much bigger than himself, and even rattlesnakes, which take -lodgings in the prairie dog houses also. He feeds upon all these -creatures. He eats also crickets, scorpions, and many troublesome -insects. This makes him valuable to farmers, for nearly all these -creatures destroy his crops. - -Remember, too, that birds have great appetites; as I have told you, they -eat more than their own weight every day. In that way they dispose of -enormous numbers of pests. It almost seems as if a bird were a sort of -eating machine, made on purpose to work for us. We should never forget -this. - -This bird, like most others, makes many different sounds. His song is a -soft "coo-oo," something like that of a mourning dove. When a stranger -comes to his home and he is there, he gives a rattle which sounds like a -rattlesnake. This scares people, and perhaps animals, away, for no one -wants to meet a rattlesnake in a dark hole. I wonder if the bird learned -this trick living in the same house with the snake. - -The Department of Agriculture has proved owls to be among the most -useful of birds. Their food is almost entirely of hurtful creatures, and -they come out at night when other birds are asleep and are ready to hunt -the pests which do the same. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[26] See Appendix, 25. - - - - -XXXIII - -THE BARN OWL FAMILY - -(_Strigidæ_)[27] - - -THIS is a small family of which we have but one member in America, the -AMERICAN BARN OWL. He is found all over the country, as far north as -southern New England, but he is one of the shyest of birds. He comes out -only at night, and hides so well in the day that he is not often seen, -even where he is common. So very little is known of his ways. - -When he does happen to come out, and any one sees him, a great deal is -said about him. For he is a very odd-looking fellow indeed. He is all in -gray and white, clouded and speckled and barred, and his face is the -strangest of bird faces. It is three-cornered, and looks more like a -monkey's than a bird's. If he shows this face in the daylight, he is -generally caught or shot, and the newspapers make a great fuss about -him. Some one says he looks like a toothless little old woman, with a -hooked nose. - -Happily for the barn owl, he does not often come out. He loves quiet -more than anything. He seeks a hidden, safe place, not only for a nest, -but to spend his days in. He is almost the only bird who may be said to -live in a home. - -When house hunting, this bird will take a snug cavity in a tree, or an -empty building. He does not despise an old mining shaft, or a burrow in -the ground. He delights in a church steeple or a barn. Almost any place -that is quiet and out of sight of the world will suit him. - -All day the barn owl stays at home. But in the evening he comes out for -his dinner, and then there is havoc among the small animals. Rats, -ground squirrels, mice, bats, small snakes, grasshoppers, and almost -anything else that is eatable are welcome to him. He should be protected -because he is so useful. - -This bird is an amiable fellow too. He has been known to live pleasantly -in a church tower with pigeons, whom he could easily kill to eat if he -wished. He is a hearty eater himself, besides feeding a family of five -or six little fuzzy white owlets great quantities of food. - -One of these owls has lived for years in a tower of the Smithsonian -Institution in Washington. In the Zoölogical Collection of that city, -there was, not long ago, another of the family alive. Wishing to have -more of them in the Zoo, some one watched the nest of the tower bird. -When her little family of seven was about ready to fly, he took them -away, and gave them to their caged relative. She promptly adopted the -whole party, and reared them with the greatest care. No doubt she was -glad to have something to do. Life in a cage must be very tiresome for -wild birds and beasts. - -Mr. Reed of Philadelphia has told us how a pet barn owl threw up the -castings. These, you know, are the bones and skin of mice and other -creatures which are thrown up awhile after eating. He would bow his head -and shake it very hard. Then raise it and jerk out the little ball. - -This bird was very tame. The place where he liked best to sit was on the -arm or shoulder of his master. If the man wanted to do anything except -play with him, he had to get a stuffed bird to amuse the living one. It -was like a doll for a baby girl. When the owl was not perfectly -comfortable, he kept up a constant cry, so his master had to keep him -well entertained and fed. - -The note of the barn owl is a wild screech. One is sometimes heard -making this sound, but he is never heard flying, for, like other owls, -he is dressed in soft feathers that make no rustle. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[27] See Appendix, 26. - - - - -XXXIV - -THE HAWK AND EAGLE FAMILY - -(_Falconidæ_)[28] - - -THIS is a family of birds of prey. That is, birds who live entirely on -living animals, which they hunt and catch for themselves. Owls are also -birds of prey, but they do their hunting by night, while this family -work by day. - -[Illustration: SPARROW HAWK] - -Like all birds, hawks are well fitted for what they have to do. They -have long wings, so that they can fly swiftly and long at a time, to -follow up the prey. They have sharp, curved claws, made for grasping and -holding things. Their hooked beak is the best kind for cutting and -tearing meat. - -Most of these birds work for us the whole time, as do the owls. For they -eat the same destructive animals, and they eat an enormous number. Yet -we have a foolish prejudice against them, because two or three of them -sometimes take poultry and game birds. Even when these birds do take -our poultry and game birds, some good is done. For they naturally catch -the weak ones who are not able to get out of their way. And it is better -for the whole race of these birds that the weak ones should not live. It -leaves the rest stronger, and better able to make their way in the -world. - -This family is found all over the world. It includes birds of all sizes, -from one as small as a sparrow to one who spreads his wings ten feet. In -our country we have neither the smallest nor the largest. Of those you -are likely to see, the least is the American Sparrow Hawk, who is not -much larger than a robin, and the greatest is the Bald Eagle, who is -sometimes a yard from the tip of his beak to the end of his tail. - -Hawks have wonderful eyes like a telescope and microscope in one, as I -have told you in "The First Book of Birds." In eating without knife and -fork, they often swallow food whole and throw up castings like the owls. - -In catching their prey these birds use their feet instead of their -beaks. Even those who hunt grasshoppers and crickets seize them in their -claws. Their feet are quite as useful as hands. In them they carry -material for the nest as well as food for the little ones. The claws are -powerful weapons of war, too. A hawk who is ready to fight throws -himself on his back and presents his claws to the enemy. Few people -would like to be grappled by those terrible claws. - -Hawks and eagles have wonderful wing power. Some of them can stay far up -in the air an hour at a time. They go up in great circles with wings -held stiffly out and not beating, till out of sight. Men have not yet -been able to see quite how it is done. It is probably by using the wings -as sailors use their sails, and making the wind carry them. - - -The one of this family I shall tell you about is the FISH HAWK, or -AMERICAN OSPREY, because he is found all over the United States. He is -one of those which you will be most likely to see, and want to know -about. - -The osprey is a large bird, about two feet long. He is dressed in -chocolate brown, with white breast and white tips to many of his -feathers. His head feathers are long, and lie back on his neck, giving a -peculiar shape to the head, by which you may know him at once. These -feathers too are white, so that as he flies over he looks as if he were -bald. He has feet marvelously fitted to hold slippery fish. The talons -are sharp, and the toes long, and rough on the under side, so that -nothing can get away from them. - -The fish hawk is a social bird and fond of his home. Though he migrates, -he comes back to the old place, year after year. He likes the top of a -stout tree to build in. It needs to be stout, for he makes a very big -nest, and adds to it every season. It generally kills the tree, if it is -not dead when he begins. If there are no trees to be had, or if there -are too many birds for the trees at hand, some of them will nest on the -ground, for they like to keep near their friends. The nest is made of -sticks and all the rubbish the birds can collect. Such things are found -as an old broom, a boy's sail-boat, a rag doll, and others as absurd. - -The young fish hawk is a pretty little fellow in white down. He is three -or four weeks in the egg, and a long time in the nest, and is helpless a -good deal longer. He is fed on fish like his parents. For this bird -deserves his name; he is a fisherman, and always takes his food from the -water. Fortunately he usually selects the poorer kinds of fish, which -men do not care to eat, and so he is not called an enemy by the -fishermen. - -But the hard-working osprey has an enemy, who makes it his business to -rob him. The way the fish hawk gets his food is to dive for it. He -hovers over the water till he sees a fish near the surface that suits -him. Then he closes his wings and dives like a shot. He plunges in often -over his head, and seizes the fish in his claws or talons. Then he -rises, and shaking off the water flies toward his family, with their -dinner. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN OSPREY OR FISH HAWK] - -But then appears the robber, the bald eagle, I'm sorry to say, who -prefers stealing his food to hunting for himself. He rushes furiously at -the fish hawk, who is obliged to drop his load to defend himself. Then -the eagle seizes it, often before it reaches the ground, and flies off, -while the osprey goes back to his fishing. - -But the osprey is learning something, like the rest of the birds. On the -shore of New Jersey there is a place where men fish with great nets, and -bring in hundreds of fish every day. The birds have noted how much -better men are at their trade of fishing than they are. So they have -thought out an easier way to get food than to dive for it. Perhaps they -got the hint from the eagle. - -Wherever the fish hawks got the idea, it is now the common custom for -them to sit on the poles that hold the net and wait. When it is drawn up -filled with flopping fish, each bird dives down and secures one for -himself. And he takes time to choose, too. If there is one of a kind -he particularly likes, he goes for that one. - -Fish hawks, like other birds, are very fond of their little ones. A -gentleman who had been traveling in the West told me this little story. -He, with a party who were wandering over a wild part of the country, -accidentally set fire to a bit of woods on the shore of Lake Superior. -On one of the trees was a fish hawk's nest with young birds. As soon as -the smoke began to spread, the old birds grew uneasy, and circled about -their tree, going often to the nest. - -The men who had done the mischief, and who had then taken to their boat, -were noting the spread of the fire. They watched the birds to see what -they would do. When the fire at last reached their tree, the loving -parents turned with one accord, plunged down into the nest, and all -perished together. They could easily have saved themselves, but they -could not desert their nestlings. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[28] See Appendix, 27. - - - - -XXXV - -THE SCAVENGER FAMILY - -(_Cathartidæ_)[29] - - -THIS is one of the most useful of bird families. But it is not very -pleasant to meet, for the work it has to do makes it rather repulsive to -us. - -The vultures are scavengers. They dispose of vast quantities of carrion -and other offensive matter. In doing this they make it possible for -people to live in places where they could not live without the service -of these birds. - - -The common vulture in the United States is the TURKEY VULTURE, or TURKEY -BUZZARD. He is a large bird, with head and neck bare of feathers. In -shape and size he is a good deal like a turkey. He is a familiar bird -all over the country, except in New England and other northern parts, -and is usually seen soaring about in the air, looking for food. -Beautiful and graceful he looks away up against the sky. He sails -around as if he weighed nothing, with wing feathers spread at the tip -like fingers. But he is not so pretty when he comes to the ground, for -he is very clumsy and awkward in getting about. - -The turkey buzzard nests almost anywhere; he is not at all -particular--on the ground, in a hollow stump, or tree. The young are -comfortably dressed in white down, but they are not pretty. They are as -awkward as their parents, and have a way of hanging their heads as if -they were ashamed of themselves. That is not the reason, however; their -work is something we could not do without. It is because they are too -weak to hold themselves up. - -I once saw a funny sight. A party of eighteen or twenty great buzzards -had come to the ground to get their dinner. They were all very busily -engaged just the other side of a fence, so that I could not see them at -their feast. - -Suddenly a mockingbird that I was watching flew over and alighted on the -fence. He stood there a minute, looking sharply down at them, and -flirting his tail in a saucy way. All at once, to my great surprise, he -gave a loud cry and flung himself down right among the great birds. - -I was frightened. I thought one peck from one of their strong beaks -would kill the little fellow. But instead of that, the whole party of -buzzards flew up in a panic, as if they were afraid of him. Then the -mockingbird, who looked like a midget beside them, hopped back upon the -fence, and burst into a loud song of victory. He knew the turkey buzzard -better than I did. No one likes to get very near this bird, so very -little is known about his ways. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[29] See Appendix, 28. - - - - -APPENDIX - -CHARACTERS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FAMILIES -MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK - - - NOTE.--_These characters, though correct, are - untechnically given, and are such as may be observed - on the "bird in the bush" while the added hints on - habits, etc., will be found helpful in - identification._ - - -1. Turdidæ: THRUSHES. - -Medium size; bill shorter than head, straight or nearly so; bristles -(hair-like feathers) at corner of mouth; wings rather pointed, and -longer than tail; tail-feathers wider towards the end, the whole -somewhat fan-shaped. Young in first feathers speckled and streaked, very -different from the adults. Sexes nearly alike (except robin, varied -thrush, and bluebird). (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects, earthworms, and sometimes fruit. - -These birds are all singers and build rude nests. Found usually on the -lower part of trees in the woods (except robin and bluebird) or on the -ground, where they get most of their food. - - -2. Sylviidæ: KINGLETS and GNATCATCHERS. - -This family is divided into two subfamilies. - -KINGLETS: Very small; bill slender, much shorter than head, straight to -near tip, then slightly curved; bristles at corner of mouth; wings -longer than tail; tail slightly forked, feathers pointed; legs long; -claws much curved. Young without markings on head. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. - -Very small, active, musical birds, usually found flitting about in -trees. - -GNATCATCHERS: Very small and slim; bill slender and short, nearly as -long as head, notched at tip; bristles at corner of mouth; wings shorter -than tail and rounded; tail long and moderately graduated, feathers -rounded; legs rather long; toes small. (Ridgway.) - -Active, beautiful nest builders, found in the tops of trees. -Insectivorous. - - -3. Paridæ: NUTHATCHES, TITMICE, etc. - -This family is divided into three subfamilies. - -NUTHATCHES: Smaller than English sparrow; bill sharp, pointed, higher -than wide, about as long as head; bristles over nostrils; wings pointed; -tail very short, nearly even, feathers soft; legs stout. (Ridgway.) - -Parents nearly alike; food, insects. - -Found on the trunks and large limbs of trees. - -TITMICE: Usually smaller than English sparrow; bill stout, conical, -shorter than head; nasal feathers turned forward; tail longer than wing. -(Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Parents alike, and young the same. No noticeable change -of plumage with season. - -WREN-TITS and BUSH-TITS: Very small; bill short and conical; tail -rounded. Sexes alike. - - -4. Certhiidæ: CREEPERS. - -Smaller than English sparrow; bill slender and curved downward; wings -rather pointed, long as tail; tail graduated, stiff, with long, -sharp-pointed feathers; claws long and strongly curved. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes alike, and young the same. Found circling tree -trunks. - - -5. Troglodytidæ: WRENS and MOCKING THRUSHES. - -This family is divided into two subfamilies. - -WRENS: Smaller than English sparrow; bill slender, sometimes long and -arched; no bristles at corner of mouth; wings rounded; tail usually held -up. (Ridgway.) - -Parents and young alike. Food: insects. Singers. Found near the ground. - -MOCKING THRUSHES: Larger than English sparrow; bill slender, mostly -rather long; bristles at corner of mouth; wings rounded; tail longer -than wings; appear like thrushes; fine singers. (Ridgway.) - -Sexes nearly alike. Food, insects and fruit. Some of them found in bushy -borders of woods, some about gardens and houses, and others in various -places. - - -6. Cinclidæ: DIPPERS. - -Larger than English sparrow; bill slender, shorter than head; wings -short, stiff and rounded; tail shorter than wings, soft and square; -claws strongly curved; plumage soft and compact; body stout, thickset. -Sexes alike. (Coues.) - -Food: water insects and larvæ. Found in and about the brooks of the -Rocky Mountains and other mountains of the West. - - -7. Motacillidæ: WAGTAILS and PIPITS. - -Larger than English sparrow; bill slender, cone shaped, nearly as high -as wide, at base; short bristles at corner of mouth; wings rather long -and pointed; tail narrow and slightly forked; legs rather long; hind -claw very long, sharp and slightly curved. (Ridgway.) - -Sexes alike. Food: insects. Found on the ground, where they walk, and -wag their tails. - - -8. Mniotiltidæ: WARBLERS. - -It is almost impossible to characterize this family, there are so many -varieties. With few exceptions they are very small and beautifully -colored birds, sexes unlike, and changes of plumage with age and season. -Some are found in the tops of trees, some on bushes, and some on the -ground. Food: insects. (Coues.) - - -9. Vireonidæ: VIREOS. - -Generally smaller than an English sparrow, and more slender; bill -notched in both mandibles; tail rather short, nearly even, of narrow -feathers; front toes more or less united. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Constant singers. Sexes alike and young the same, without -spots or streaks. Some found in trees in the woods, and others about -towns where English sparrows are not too numerous. - - -10. Laniidæ: SHRIKES. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill powerful, tip hooked and notched; -wings short, rounded; tail long and much graduated. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects, small mammals, and sometimes birds. Sexes alike, and -young the same. Found on outside of low trees, fences, telegraph wires, -and peaks of roofs. - - -11. Ampelidæ: WAXWINGS, etc. - -Somewhat larger than an English sparrow; bill short, broad and rather -flat; head with pointed crest; wings long and pointed; tail short, -narrow, even; legs of moderate length. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects and fruit. Sexes usually alike. Found in trees in woods -and in shade and orchard trees. - - -12. Hirundinidæ: SWALLOWS. - -About the size of an English, sparrow; bill short, flat, and very broad -at the head; mouth opens back nearly to the eyes; wings long and scythe -shaped; tail forked; legs short; feet weak; plumage compact and usually -lustrous. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes usually alike, and young a little different. Found -in flocks, in the air, on roofs or fences or telegraph wires, sometimes -on trees. - - -13. Tanagridæ: TANAGERS. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill conical, notched, bristles; wings -longer than tail; tail of moderate length, somewhat notched; legs rather -short. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes unlike. Found on trees in the woods. - - -14. Fringillidæ: FINCHES. - -Mostly about the size of an English sparrow, some smaller, some larger; -bill short, high, and strong, turned down at the back corner; wings and -tail variable. (Ridgway.) - -Seed and insect eaters. Found everywhere--on trees, bushes, on ground, -in woods, fields, and about houses. - - -15. Icteridæ: BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, etc. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill straight or gently curved; mouth -turned down at corners; tail rather long and rounded; legs rather short. -Includes birds of very different habits. (Ridgway.) - -Food: seeds and insects. Sexes generally unlike. Found everywhere, on -trees, in marshes, in woods. Many gregarious, found in flocks, some -except in nesting season, and others all the year round. - - -16. Corvidæ: CROWS and JAYS. - -Larger than a robin. There are two subfamilies. - -CROWS: Bill longer than head; wings long and pointed; tail rather short -and even. - -JAYS: Bill shorter than head; wings short and rounded. (Ridgway.) - -Food: almost everything--seeds, fruit, sometimes eggs and young birds. -Found in woody places. - - -17. Alaudidæ: LARKS. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill short, conical, frontal feathers -extend along the side; wings pointed; claw on hind toe very long and -nearly straight. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes nearly alike. Found on ground in fields and roads. - - -18. Tyrannidæ: FLYCATCHERS. - -Mostly larger than an English sparrow; bill broad, flattened, curved -downward at end, and notched at tip; bristles along the gape; wings and -tail variable. (Ridgway.) - -Entirely insectivorous. Found in woods and fields and about houses. - - -19. Trochilidæ: HUMMINGBIRDS. - -Our smallest birds; bill slender, sharp, and straight, usually longer -than head; wings long and pointed; legs short; feet small and weak; -claws curved and sharp. (Ridgway.) - -Food: tiny insects and the honey of flowers. Sexes unlike. Found about -flowers. - - -20. Micropodidæ: SWIFTS. - -About the size of an English sparrow; bill very small, triangular, much -broader than high, without bristles; wings long and pointed; legs short; -feet weak; tail very short, ending in stiff spines; plumage compact. -(Ridgway.) - -Food: entirely insects. Sexes alike. Found in the air or inside chimneys -or hollow trees. - - -21. Caprimulgidæ: GOATSUCKERS. - -Larger than a robin; bill very short; gape enormously long and wide; -mouth open to behind the eyes; wings long; plumage soft. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes nearly alike. One species found in the edge of -woods, and another species about towns. - - -22. Picidæ: WOODPECKERS. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill usually straight, pointed or -chisel-shaped at tip; tongue extensile and except in one species barbed -at point; tail stiff and feathers pointed at tip for a prop; toes, -except in three-toed species, two forward and two backward for climbing. -(Ridgway.) - -Insectivorous. Sexes unlike. Found on trees (except one species) in -woods or orchards. - - -23. Alcedinidæ: KINGFISHERS. - -Usually larger than a robin; bill long and straight; tongue small; head -large, crested; wings short; legs small; outer and middle toe united -half their length. (Ridgway.) - -Food: fishes. Sexes slightly unlike. Found by water. - - -24. Cuculidæ: CUCKOOS. - -Larger than a robin; bill narrow and high, rather long and curved -downward; wings long; tail long, soft, and rounded; toes in pairs. -(Ridgway.) - -Insectivorous. Sexes alike. Found on trees. - - -25. Bubonidæ: OWLS. - -Mostly larger than a robin, a few smaller; bill hooked; eyes directed -forward and surrounded by radiating feathers; plumage soft and lax; -feathers beside forehead often stand up like ear tufts; legs usually -feathered; feet sometimes feathered. (Ridgway.) - -Sexes alike. Flesh eaters. Usually nocturnal. Most species found in -holes in trees or old buildings. - - -26. Strigidæ: BARN OWLS. - -Much larger than a robin; bill hooked; eyes very small; -triangular-shaped eye disk; tail emarginate; claws sharp and strong; -very downy plumage. (Ridgway). - -Food: mice and other small mammals. Sexes alike. Exclusively nocturnal. -Found in barns and deserted buildings. - - -27. Falconidæ: HAWKS AND EAGLES. - -(There are several subfamilies.) - -Mostly very large birds; bill strongly hooked; eyes directed sideways; -eyelids with lashes; toes never feathered. (Ridgway.) - -Carnivorous and insectivorous. Sexes usually alike, but female larger. - - -28. Cathartidæ: AMERICAN VULTURES. - -Large as a turkey, one species much larger; whole head and sometimes -neck bare of feathers; eyes prominent; tail rounded. (Ridgway.) - -Food: carrion. Found sailing about in the air. - - - - -INDEX - - -References to the FIRST BOOK are indicated by ~1~; those to the SECOND -BOOK by ~2~. - - Affections, ~1~, 78-82. - - Air-sacs, ~1~, 92, 94. - - Alaudidæ, ~2~, 131, 202. - - Alcedinidæ, ~2~, 170, 203. - - Ampelidæ, ~2~, 63, 200. - - Arrival in spring, ~1~, 3, 4. - - Attraction and Protection of Birds, ~1~, 131-135. - - Audubon, John James, ~1~, 60. - - Auks, ~1~, 110. - - - Barn Owl Family, ~2~, 185, 204. - - Beak, ~1~, 95-97. - - Blackbird, Brewer's, ~2~, 113. - - Blackbird, Crow, ~1~, 72; ~2~, 110. - - Blackbird, Red-winged, ~2~, 94; - portrait, ~2~, 94. - - Blackbird Family, ~2~, 94, 201. - - Blackbirds, ~1~, 3, 126, 129. - - Bluebird, arrival, ~1~, 3; - getting food for young, 17; - teaching young to fly, 37, 38; - feeding, 50; ~2~, 5; - portrait, ~1~, 38. - - Bobolink, nest of, ~1~, 9; - one of the first birds to stop singing in summer, 47; - the fall migration, 61, 62. - - Bob-white (quail), ~1~, 44, 59. - - Body, shape of, ~1~, 91. - - Bolles, Frank, his pet owl, ~1~, 101, 116; - his story of a heron, 103, 104. - - Bones, ~1~, 92, 94. - - Books about birds, ~1~, 142-144. - - Brooding, ~1~, 13-16. - - Bubonidæ, ~2~, 178, 204. - - Bunting, Towhee, _or_ Chewink, ~1~, 76, 77; ~2~, 84; - portrait, ~1~, 76. - - Bush-Tits, ~2~, 198. - - Butcher-birds, ~2~, 59. - - Buzzard, Turkey, ~1~, 50, 51; ~2~, 194. - - - Canary, ~1~, 20, 57, 81. - - Caprimulgidæ, ~2~, 155, 203. - - Cardinal, ~1~, 69, 132; ~2~, 88; - portrait, ~2~, 90. - - Catbird, food of, ~1~, 49, 126; - jerking the tail, 113; ~2~, 37, 125; - portrait, ~2~, 36. - - Cathartidæ, ~2~, 194, 204. - - Cave-dwelling Family, ~2~, 30, 199. - - Cedar-bird, feeding young, ~1~, 19; - story of affection for young, 78; - usefulness to man, 126, 129; ~2~, 63; - portrait, ~1~, 126. - - Certhiidæ, ~2~, 27, 198. - - Chat, Long-tailed, ~2~, 53. - - Chat, Yellow-breasted, ~2~, 52; - portrait, ~2~, 52. - - Chewink, ~1~, 76, 77; ~2~, 84; - portrait, ~1~, 76. - - Chickadee, defending eggs, ~1~, 11, 12; - getting food for young, 18; - as an eater of insects' eggs, 68, 126; - affection for young, 78; ~2~, 22; - portrait, ~2~, 22. - - Chickadee, Mountain, ~2~, 22. - - Chickadees, ~2~, 22. - - Chuck-will's-widow, ~2~, 157. - - Cinclidæ, ~2~, 42, 199. - - Color in feathers, ~1~, 120. - _See also_ Plumage. - - Cormorant, ~1~, 94. - - Corvidæ, ~2~, 117, 202. - - Cowbird, ~2~, 51, 98. - - Creeper, Brown, ~2~, 27; - portrait, ~2~, 28. - - Creeper Family, ~2~, 27, 198. - - Creepers, ~2~, 19. - - Crop, ~1~, 93. - - Crossbill, American _or_ Red, ~2~, 91. - - Crossbill, White-winged, ~2~, 92. - - Crossbills, ~1~, 97; ~2~, 91. - - Crow, American, punishing a young one, ~1~, 37; - sleeping in flocks, 59, 60; - story of an affectionate, 80; - usefulness to men, 126; ~2~, 40, 117. - - Crow Family, ~2~, 117, 202. - - Cuckoo, Black-billed, ~2~, 174. - - Cuckoo, California, ~2~, 174. - - Cuckoo, Yellow-billed, ~2~, 174; - portrait, ~2~, 174. - - Cuckoo Family, ~2~, 174, 203. - - Cuculidæ, ~2~, 174, 203. - - - Dipper, American, ~2~, 42; - portrait, ~2~, 42. - - Dipper Family, ~2~, 42, 199. - - Down, the first plumage, ~1~, 15, 21, 22, 115. - - Ducks, ~1~, 97, 115. - - - Eagle, Bald, ~2~, 189, 192. - - Ears, ~1~, 102-104. - - Eggs, beauty of, ~1~, 11; - the mother's care, 11, 12; - incubation and hatching of, 13-15. - - Eyes, ~1~, 100-102. - - - Falconidæ, ~2~, 188, 204. - - Feathers, first appearance on the young bird, ~1~, 22; - of the wing, 109-111; - of the tail, 112, 113; - the various kinds of, 114, 115; - expression of emotions by, 116; - the birds' care of, 116, 117. - _See also_ Plumage. - - Feet, ~1~, 92, 105-108. - - Finches, ~2~, 82, 201. - - Fish, birds and dead, ~1~, 86, 87. - - Flicker, method of feeding young, ~1~, 18; - food of, 85, 127; - color markings, 121; ~2~, 161; - portrait, ~1~, 86. - - Flicker, Red-shafted, ~2~, 161, 162. - - Flycatcher, Least, ~2~, 136. - - Flycatcher, Shining Crested, ~2~, 67. - - Flycatching Family, ~2~, 135, 202. - - Flying, ~1~, 93. - - Food, ~1~, 48-55; - in winter, 67-69, 134; - in its relation to the welfare of man, 125-130. - - Frigate-bird, ~1~, 110. - - Fringillidæ, ~2~, 80, 201. - - - Geese, ~1~, 98, 99. - - Gizzard, ~1~, 93. - - Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray, ~2~, 16. - - Gnatcatchers, ~2~, 198. - - Goatsucker Family, ~2~, 155, 203. - - Goldfinch, American, ~1~, 14; - story of canary and, 20; - change of color, 26; - food, 54; - flocking, 71; ~2~, 82; - portrait, ~1~, 26. - - Goldfinch, European, ~1~, 79. - - Goldfinch, Willow, ~2~, 84. - - Grackle, Bronzed, ~2~, 112. - - Grackle, Purple, ~2~, 112. - - Grackles, ~2~, 110. - - Grosbeak, Black-headed, ~2~, 88. - - Grosbeak, Cardinal, ~1~, 69, 132; ~2~, 88; - portrait, ~2~, 90. - - Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, ~2~, 86; - portrait, ~2~, 86. - - Grosbeaks, ~2~, 86. - - Grouse, ~1~, 58, 59, 110. - - Grouse, Ruffed, ~1~, 111. - - Gullet, ~1~, 93. - - Gulls, ~1~, 101. - - - Hawk, American Sparrow, ~2~, 189; - portrait, ~2~, 188. - - Hawk, Fish, ~2~, 190; - portrait, ~2~, 192. - - Hawk and Eagle Family, ~2~, 188, 204. - - Hawks, food of, ~1~, 52, 53, 126, 127; - asleep, 59; - beaks of, 97; - eyesight of, 101; - feet of, 106. - - Heligoland, ~1~, 101. - - Heron, Great Blue, ~2~, 114. - - Herons, food of, ~1~, 53, 127; - bills of, 97; - story of the hearing of a heron, 103, 104; - usefulness to man, 127. - - Hirundinidæ, ~2~, 69, 201. - - Humming Family, ~2~, 143, 202. - - Hummingbird, Anna's, ~2~, 149. - - Hummingbird, Ruby-throated, absence of male from nest, ~1~, 16; - method of feeding young, 18; ~2~, 144; - portrait, ~1~, 18. - - Hummingbirds, ~1~, 15, 98. - - - Icteridæ, ~2~, 94, 201. - - Identification, ~1~, 137-141. - - Indigo-bird, ~1~, 47; - portrait, ~1~, 46. - - Instinct, ~1~, 83. - - Intelligence, ~1~, 83-87. - - - Japan, ~1~, 131. - - Jay, Blue, learning to fly, ~1~, 31, 32; - storing food, 54; - story of a mischievous, 55, 56; - usefulness to man, 126; ~2~, 113, 121; - portrait, ~2~, 122. - - Jay, Steller's, ~2~, 126. - - Jays, ~2~, 117, 202. - - - Kindness of birds to one another, ~1~, 74-77. - - Kingbird, ~1~, 14, 129; ~2~, 113, 136; - portrait, ~2~, 136. - - Kingbird, Arkansas, ~2~, 140. - - Kingfisher, Belted, ~2~, 170; - portrait, ~2~, 170. - - Kingfisher Family, ~2~, 170, 203. - - Kingfishers, ~1~, 21, 115. - - Kinglet, Ruby-crowned, ~2~, 14; - portrait, ~2~, 14. - - Kinglet and Gnatcatcher Family, ~2~, 14, 197. - - - Language, ~1~, 43-47. - - Laniidæ, ~2~, 59, 200. - - Lark, Desert Horned, portrait, ~2~, 132. - - Lark, Horned, ~2~, 131. - - Lark, Old-Field. _See_ Meadowlark. - - Lark, Prairie Horned, ~2~, 131. - - Lark, Shore, ~2~, 131. - - Lark Family, ~2~, 131, 202. - - Legs, ~1~, 92, 105, 107, 108. - - - Magpie, American, ~2~, 126; - portrait, ~2~, 126. - - Magpie, Yellow-billed, ~2~, 126. - - Magpies, ~2~, 117. - - Martin, Purple, ~2~, 72. - - Meadowlark, ~1~, 45, 119, 121; ~2~, 97, 100; - portrait, ~2~, 100. - - Meadowlark, Western, ~2~, 102. - - Meadow Starlings, ~2~, 100. - - Micropodidæ, ~2~, 150, 202. - - Migration, ~1~, 61-68. - - Mniotiltidæ, ~2~, 49, 200. - - Mocking Thrushes, ~2~, 34, 199. - - Mockingbird, ~1~, 45; ~2~, 9, 34, 195. - - Motacillidæ, ~2~, 46, 199. - - Moulting, ~1~, 25, 26, 118. - - - Neck, ~1~, 92. - - Nests, situations of, ~1~, 9; - materials of, 9, 10; - building of, 10; - seldom used more than once, 10, 11. - - Nighthawk, ~1~, 107; ~2~, 158; - portrait, ~2~, 158. - - Norway, ~1~, 131. - - Nuthatch, European, ~2~, 21. - - Nuthatch, Red-breasted, ~2~, 20. - - Nuthatch, Slender-billed, ~2~, 18. - - Nuthatch, White-breasted, ~2~, 18; - portrait, ~1~, 96. - - Nuthatch and Chickadee Family, ~2~, 18, 198. - - Nuthatches, ~1~, 18, 96, 98. - - - Observation, ~1~, 137-141, 145. - - Oil, ~1~, 117. - - Oriole, Arizona Hooded, ~2~, 108. - - Oriole, Baltimore, nest of, ~1~, 9, 95; ~2~, 104; - portrait, ~1~, 10. - - Oriole, Orchard, ~2~, 107. - - Orioles, getting food for young, ~1~, 18; - teaching young to fly, 33, 34; - food of, 50; - affection for young, 78; - usefulness to man, 129; ~2~, 104. - - Osprey, American, ~2~, 190; - portrait, ~2~, 192. - - Ostrich, ~1~, 24. - - Ostrich, South American, ~1~, 24. - - Ouzel, Water, ~2~, 42; - portrait, ~2~, 42. - - Oven-bird, ~2~, 52. - - Owl, American Barn, ~2~, 185. - - Owl, Barred, ~1~, 101. - - Owl, Burrowing, ~2~, 182. - - Owl, Florida Burrowing, ~2~, 182. - - Owl, Screech, ~2~, 180; - portrait, ~2~, 180. - - Owl Family, ~2~, 178, 204. - - Owls, ~1~, 35; - food of, 52, 53, 127; - ears of, 103; - feet of, 106; - usefulness to man, 126, 127. - - - Paridæ, ~2~, 18, 198. - - Penguin, ~1~, 72. - - Petrel, ~1~, 110. - - Pewee, Western Wood, ~2~, 142. - - Pewee, Wood, ~1~, 47; ~2~, 136, 140. - - Phainopepla, ~2~, 67. - - Phoebe, ~1~, 35; ~2~, 136. - - Picidæ, ~2~, 160, 203. - - Pigeons, ~1~, 79, 80. - - Pipit, Sprague's, ~2~, 46; - portrait, ~2~, 46. - - Pipits, ~2~, 46, 199. - - Plumage, the nestling, ~1~, 22, 23; - coloration of, 23, 24, 27, 28; - moulting, 25, 26, 118; - change of color without moulting, 26, 27, 118-120; - protective coloration of, 120, 121; - recognition marks in, 121, 122. - - Poor-will, ~2~, 157. - - Protection and attraction of birds, ~1~, 131-135. - - - Quail (bob-white), ~1~, 44, 59. - - - Redbird, ~2~, 88. - - Redstart, American, ~1~, 14; - portrait, ~1~, 14. - - Regurgitation, ~1~, 18, 19. - - Rhea, ~1~, 24. - - Robin, American, arrival, ~1~, 3, 10, 15, 17, 18, 21; - plumage of young, 23, 34; - teaching young to bathe, 38, 39; - notes of, 44, 45; - food of, 49, 126, 127; - roosting in flocks, 60; - devotion to young, 78; - story of the intelligence of a, 84, 102; - usefulness to men, 126, 127, 129; ~2~, 5, 6, 38, 65, 167; - portrait, ~2~, 60. - - Robin, Western, ~2~, 6. - - - Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied, ~1~, 85. - - Sapsuckers, tail of, ~1~, 113; ~2~, 161. - - Scavenger Family, ~2~, 194, 204. - - Shrike, Loggerhead, ~2~, 59; - portrait, ~2~, 60. - - Shrike Family, ~2~, 59, 200. - - Shrikes, ~1~, 126. - - Skylark, Missouri, ~2~, 46. - - Skylark, Prairie, ~2~, 46. - - Sleeping, ~1~, 57-60. - - Song, ~1~, 14, 44-47. - - Sparrow, Chipping, ~1~, 54. - - Sparrow, English, learning canary's song, ~1~, 46; - young fed by a wren, 81, 82; - harmfulness of, 126, 130, 132; ~2~, 32. - - Sparrow, Song, arrival, ~1~, 3; - nest, 9; - individuality in songs, 45, 47; ~2~, 81. - - Sparrow, Tree, ~1~, 58, 128. - - Sparrow, White-throated, ~1~, 54. - - Sparrow and Finch Family, ~2~, 80, 201. - - Sparrows, ~1~, 84, 97; ~2~, 80. - - Starlings, Meadow, ~2~, 100. - - Stomach, ~1~, 93. - - Strigidæ, ~2~, 185, 204. - - Swallow, Bank, ~1~, 96. - - Swallow, Barn, ~1~, 71, 96; ~2~, 69; - portrait, _frontispiece_. - - Swallow, Cliff _or_ Eave, ~1~, 71; ~2~, 72, 73. - - Swallow Family, ~2~, 69, 201. - - Swallows, food of, ~1~, 17, 35, 50; - flocking, 62, 71; - story of young, 75; - story showing intelligence, 85; - wings of, 110. - - Swift, Chimney, sleeping, ~1~, 59, 60; - devotion to young, 78; - tail of, 113; ~2~, 150. - - Swift, Vaux's, ~2~, 150, 152. - - Swift Family, ~2~, 150, 202. - - Sylviidæ, ~2~, 14, 197. - - - Tail, ~1~, 112, 113. - - Tanager, Louisiana, ~2~, 78. - - Tanager, Scarlet, ~1~, 79; ~2~, 75; - portraits, ~1~, 142; ~2~, 76. - - Tanager, Summer, ~2~, 78. - - Tanager Family, ~2~, 75, 201. - - Tanagridæ, ~2~, 75, 201. - - Thrasher, Arizona, ~2~, 41. - - Thrasher, Brown, ~1~, 113; ~2~, 40; - portrait, 112. - - Thrush, Brown. _See_ Thrasher, Brown. - - Thrush, Golden-crowned, ~2~, 52. - - Thrush, Hermit, ~2~, 11; - portrait, ~2~, 10. - - Thrush, Western Hermit, ~2~, 11. - - Thrush, Wood, ~1~, 133. - - Thrush Family, ~2~, 5, 197. - - Thrushes, Mocking, ~2~, 34, 199. - - Titlarks, ~2~, 46. - - Titmice, ~2~, 22, 198. - - Titmouse, Tufted, ~2~, 24. - - Tongue, ~1~, 97, 98. - - Towhee, _or_ Chewink, ~1~, 76, 77; ~2~, 84; - portrait, ~1~, 76. - - Towhee, Spurred, ~2~, 84. - - Trochilidæ, ~2~, 143, 202. - - Troglodytidæ, ~2~, 30, 199. - - Turdidæ, ~2~, 5, 197. - - Tyrannidæ, ~2~, 135, 202. - - - Usefulness of birds to man, ~1~, 125-130. - - - Veery, ~1~, 47. - - Vireo, Red-eyed, ~1~, 47. - - Vireo, Warbling, ~2~, 57. - - Vireo, Western Warbling, ~2~, 57. - - Vireo, Yellow-throated, ~2~, 56, 57; - portrait, ~2~, 56. - - Vireo Family, ~2~, 55, 200. - - Vireonidæ, ~2~, 55, 200. - - Vulture, Turkey, _or_ Turkey Buzzard, ~1~, 50, 51; ~2~, 194. - - Vultures, American, ~2~, 194, 204. - - - Wagtail Family, ~2~, 46, 199. - - Warbler, Black and White, ~1~, 121; - portrait, ~1~, 120. - - Warbler, Yellow, ~1~, 50; ~2~, 50. - - Warbler Family, ~2~, 49, 200. - - Warblers, ~1~, 62, 97. - - Water, birds in, ~1~, 94; - for drinking and bathing, 133, 134. - - Water-Thrush, ~2~, 52. - - Water-Thrush, Louisiana, ~2~, 52. - - Waxwing, Cedar. _See_ Cedar-bird. - - Waxwing Family, ~2~, 63, 200. - - Whip-poor-will, ~1~, 107, 121; ~2~, 155. - - Whip-poor-will, Nuttall's, ~2~, 157. - - Wings, ~1~, 109-112. - - Winter, birds in, ~1~, 66-69. - - Woodcock, beak of, ~1~, 96; - whistling sound of wings, 111. - - Woodpecker, Californian, ~2~, 167. - - Woodpecker, Downy, ~1~, 50; ~2~, 169; - portrait, ~2~, 166. - - Woodpecker, Golden-winged. _See_ Flicker. - - Woodpecker, Red-headed, ~1~, 85; ~2~, 165. - - Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied, ~1~, 85. - - Woodpecker Family, ~2~, 160, 203. - - Woodpeckers, ~1~, 18, 21; - teaching young to feed itself, 35, 36; - food of, 50; - storing food, 54, 55; - sleeping, 59, 85, 86; - beaks of, 95; - tongues of, 98, 103; - feet of, 106; - tails of, 113; ~2~, 19. - - Wren, House, ~1~, 81, 82; ~2~, 31; - portrait, ~1~, 80. - - Wren, Western House, ~2~, 31. - - Wrens, ~2~, 30, 199. - - Wren-Tits, ~2~, 198. - - - Young birds, hatching of, ~1~, 13-15; - feeding of, 16-20; - first plumage of, 21-23; - learning to fly, 29-34, 37-39; - the mother's anxiety about, 30-32; - learning to feed themselves, 34-36, 39; - learning to sing, 36; - after leaving the nest, 70-73. - - - The Riverside Press - CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS - U . S . A - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - -Book 2: - -Page 173, "halycon" changed to "halcyon" (called halcyon days) - -Page 212, book number was added to Woodcock. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Children's Book of Birds, by -Olive Thorne Miller - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS *** - -***** This file should be named 41141-8.txt or 41141-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/1/4/41141/ - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: The Children's Book of Birds - -Author: Olive Thorne Miller - -Release Date: October 22, 2012 [EBook #41141] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41141 ***</div> <div class="figcenter" style="width: 378px;"> <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="378" height="600" alt="Cover: The Children's Book of Birds: red bird on leafed branch" /> @@ -472,7 +434,7 @@ OLIVE THORNE MILLER.<br /> Agassiz Fuertes, and these are signed with his name. The other colored plates and the twenty-eight plain half-tones are from photographs of mounted specimens, many of which are in the -collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, in Cambridge, +collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and are reproduced by permission.</p> <p>The First Book also contains twenty cuts in the text.</p></div> @@ -3081,7 +3043,7 @@ nothing is left above water but their beaks, to breathe. And they can stay so as long as they choose, keeping still in one spot, without moving.</p> -<p>A cormorant in a zoölogical garden, who +<p>A cormorant in a zoölogical garden, who wanted to catch some of the swallows skimming over the pond, sank his body till only his head was out, and held himself there perfectly @@ -4831,7 +4793,7 @@ in the other.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5_Boo <div class='chaptertitle'>THE THRUSH FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Turdidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Turdidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> family is named after the thrushes, but @@ -5105,7 +5067,7 @@ birds.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE KINGLET AND GNATCATCHER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Sylviidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Sylviidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> family is small in our country. There @@ -5230,7 +5192,7 @@ well as if he could speak to you.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE NUTHATCH AND CHICKADEE FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Paridæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Paridæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is another family of small birds. The @@ -5494,7 +5456,7 @@ give some of his hair to such a brave little creature.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE CREEPER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Certhiidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Certhiidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is a family of birds who creep; that is, @@ -5571,7 +5533,7 @@ You can see in the picture how he looks.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Troglodytidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a><br /> +<div class='center'>(<i>Troglodytidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a><br /> <br /> <span class="smcap">First Branch</span></div> @@ -5940,7 +5902,7 @@ to study.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42_Book_2 <div class='chaptertitle'>THE DIPPER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Cinclidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Cinclidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">There</span> is only one member of this family in @@ -6064,7 +6026,7 @@ turned to stone.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE WAGTAIL FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Motacillidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Motacillidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">It</span> does not seem very polite to call a family @@ -6159,7 +6121,7 @@ grown up.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE WARBLER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Mniotiltidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Mniotiltidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">The</span> gayest, the liveliest, and almost the smallest @@ -6339,7 +6301,7 @@ they never came back to the nest.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE VIREO FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Vireonidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Vireonidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">The</span> vireos are a small family, fifty species, @@ -6446,7 +6408,7 @@ him.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE SHRIKE FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Laniidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Laniidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">A shrike</span> is a pretty gray bird with white and @@ -6577,7 +6539,7 @@ harm comes to it.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE WAXWING FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Ampelidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Ampelidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">The</span> waxwings are a family of beautiful birds, @@ -6719,7 +6681,7 @@ elegant pointed crest, and plumage shining like satin. He sits up very straight on his perch, but he is a rather shy bird, and so not much is known about his ways. He is a real mountain lover, living -on mountains, or in cañons, or the borders of +on mountains, or in cañons, or the borders of small streams of California, Arizona, and Texas.</p> <p>As you see by one of his names, he is a flycatcher. @@ -6763,7 +6725,7 @@ what we know of their habits.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE SWALLOW FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Hirundinidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Hirundinidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">It</span> is very easy to know this family. They are @@ -6938,7 +6900,7 @@ pleasant home, and reared their family there.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE TANAGER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Tanagridæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Tanagridæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is a large family of between three and @@ -7087,7 +7049,7 @@ them.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE SPARROW AND FINCH FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Fringillidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Fringillidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is the largest bird family, more than five @@ -7193,7 +7155,7 @@ nursery.</p> <p>These little birds eat mostly the seeds of weeds,—thistle, ragweed, and beggar's-ticks,—as -well as the larvæ of the wheat-midge and +well as the larvæ of the wheat-midge and other pests, and they feed great quantities to their young.</p> @@ -7275,7 +7237,7 @@ bird before he leaves the nest.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE GROSBEAK BRANCH</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Fringillidæ</i>)—Continued</div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Fringillidæ</i>)—Continued</div> <p><span class="smcap">The</span> third division of this family is of grosbeaks. @@ -7431,7 +7393,7 @@ endure.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE CROSSBILL BRANCH</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Fringillidæ</i>)—Continued</div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Fringillidæ</i>)—Continued</div> <p><span class="smcap">The</span> fourth branch of this family is of crossbills. @@ -7510,7 +7472,7 @@ into a cage, he will die.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name <div class='chaptertitle'>THE BLACKBIRD FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Icteridæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Icteridæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">There</span> are more than one hundred species of @@ -7697,7 +7659,7 @@ squeeze it out as if it were hard work to say it.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE MEADOW STARLINGS</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Icteridæ</i>)—Continued</div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Icteridæ</i>)—Continued</div> <div class="figleft" style="width: 395px;"> <img src="images/i043.jpg" width="395" height="600" alt="meadowlark on branch" /> @@ -7799,7 +7761,7 @@ black crickets that do so much damage.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pag <div class='chaptertitle'>THE ORIOLE BRANCH</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Icteridæ</i>)—Continued</div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Icteridæ</i>)—Continued</div> <p><span class="smcap">It</span> seems odd to put the gay orioles into the @@ -7991,7 +7953,7 @@ world over, I think.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Pag <div class='chaptertitle'>THE CROW-BLACKBIRD BRANCH</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Icteridæ</i>)—Continued</div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Icteridæ</i>)—Continued</div> <p><span class="smcap">The</span> fourth branch of this family is of crow-blackbirds @@ -8196,7 +8158,7 @@ place where they are to sleep.</p><hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><a <div class='chaptertitle'>THE CROW FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Corvidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Corvidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is a large family. Some of our most @@ -8623,7 +8585,7 @@ for their little ones.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE LARK FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Alaudidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Alaudidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">There</span> are a good many kinds of larks in the @@ -8665,7 +8627,7 @@ road.</p> <p>When insects are abroad, he eats the more dainty small ones, young grasshoppers and locusts before they get big and tough, small -beetles and larvæ; and baby larks are fed on +beetles and larvæ; and baby larks are fed on them. But he doesn't starve when they are gone; he is fond of seeds of weeds and grasses.</p> @@ -8738,7 +8700,7 @@ in his usual attitude, walking.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE FLYCATCHING FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Tyrannidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Tyrannidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">Larks</span> may be scarce, but we have plenty of @@ -8989,7 +8951,7 @@ nice to look at or to handle.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE HUMMING FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Trochilidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Trochilidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is an American family, and no country in @@ -9207,7 +9169,7 @@ any fear of people.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE SWIFT FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Micropodidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Micropodidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">Swifts</span> are curious birds, with strange habits. @@ -9349,7 +9311,7 @@ the whole flock is in and no one hurt.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE GOATSUCKER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Caprimulgidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Caprimulgidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">These</span> are queer-looking birds, having their @@ -9492,7 +9454,7 @@ injury.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE WOODPECKER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Picidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Picidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">You</span> may generally know a woodpecker the @@ -9798,7 +9760,7 @@ there is a picture of a flicker at his nest-hole.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE KINGFISHER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Alcedinidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Alcedinidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">Most</span> of the Kingfisher family belong to the @@ -9916,7 +9878,7 @@ the first seven days she builds her nest, and in the second seven she hatches out the young. These fourteen days were called <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'halycon'">halcyon</ins> days. You may find more about this curious story in -the encyclopædias.</p> +the encyclopædias.</p> <div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> <div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> See <a href="#Appendix_23">Appendix, 23</a>.</p></div></div> @@ -9929,7 +9891,7 @@ the encyclopædias.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE CUCKOO FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Cuculidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Cuculidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">Most</span> of the cuckoo family live in a hotter @@ -10043,7 +10005,7 @@ had thought were woodpecker tappings.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE OWL FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Bubonidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Bubonidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">Owls</span> differ from all other birds in having eyes @@ -10257,7 +10219,7 @@ the same.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE BARN OWL FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Strigidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Strigidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is a small family of which we have but @@ -10311,7 +10273,7 @@ owlets great quantities of food.</p> <p>One of these owls has lived for years in a tower of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. -In the Zoölogical Collection of that city, +In the Zoölogical Collection of that city, there was, not long ago, another of the family<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187_Book_2" id="Page_187_Book_2">[187]</a></span> alive. Wishing to have more of them in the Zoo, some one watched the nest of the tower @@ -10356,7 +10318,7 @@ is dressed in soft feathers that make no rustle.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE HAWK AND EAGLE FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Falconidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Falconidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is a family of birds of prey. That is, @@ -10548,7 +10510,7 @@ their nestlings.</p> <div class='chaptertitle'>THE SCAVENGER FAMILY</div> -<div class='center'>(<i>Cathartidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></div> +<div class='center'>(<i>Cathartidæ</i>)<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></div> <p><span class="smcap">This</span> is one of the most useful of bird families. @@ -10630,7 +10592,7 @@ are such as may be observed on the "bird in the bush" while the added hints on habits, etc., will be found helpful in identification.</i></p></div> -<p><a id="Appendix_1"></a>1. Turdidæ: <span class="smcap">Thrushes</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_1"></a>1. Turdidæ: <span class="smcap">Thrushes</span>.</p> <p>Medium size; bill shorter than head, straight or nearly so; bristles (hair-like feathers) at corner of mouth; wings @@ -10647,7 +10609,7 @@ usually on the lower part of trees in the woods (except robin and bluebird) or on the ground, where they get most of their food.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_2"></a>2. Sylviidæ: <span class="smcap">Kinglets</span> and <span class="smcap">Gnatcatchers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_2"></a>2. Sylviidæ: <span class="smcap">Kinglets</span> and <span class="smcap">Gnatcatchers</span>.</p> <p>This family is divided into two subfamilies.</p> @@ -10671,7 +10633,7 @@ legs rather long; toes small. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Active, beautiful nest builders, found in the tops of trees. Insectivorous.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_3"></a>3. Paridæ: <span class="smcap">Nuthatches</span>, <span class="smcap">Titmice</span>, etc.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_3"></a>3. Paridæ: <span class="smcap">Nuthatches</span>, <span class="smcap">Titmice</span>, etc.</p> <p>This family is divided into three subfamilies.</p> @@ -10694,7 +10656,7 @@ No noticeable change of plumage with season.</p> <p><span class="smcap">Wren-Tits</span> and <span class="smcap">Bush-Tits</span>: Very small; bill short and conical; tail rounded. Sexes alike.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_4"></a>4. Certhiidæ: <span class="smcap">Creepers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_4"></a>4. Certhiidæ: <span class="smcap">Creepers</span>.</p> <p>Smaller than English sparrow; bill slender and curved downward; wings rather pointed, long as tail; tail graduated, @@ -10704,7 +10666,7 @@ and strongly curved. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Food: insects. Sexes alike, and young the same. Found circling tree trunks.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199_Book_2" id="Page_199_Book_2">[199]</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_5"></a>5. Troglodytidæ: <span class="smcap">Wrens</span> and <span class="smcap">Mocking Thrushes</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_5"></a>5. Troglodytidæ: <span class="smcap">Wrens</span> and <span class="smcap">Mocking Thrushes</span>.</p> <p>This family is divided into two subfamilies.</p> @@ -10724,7 +10686,7 @@ like thrushes; fine singers. (Ridgway.)</p> of them found in bushy borders of woods, some about gardens and houses, and others in various places.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_6"></a>6. Cinclidæ: <span class="smcap">Dippers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_6"></a>6. Cinclidæ: <span class="smcap">Dippers</span>.</p> <p>Larger than English sparrow; bill slender, shorter than head; wings short, stiff and rounded; tail shorter @@ -10732,11 +10694,11 @@ than wings, soft and square; claws strongly curved; plumage soft and compact; body stout, thickset. Sexes alike. (Coues.)</p> -<p>Food: water insects and larvæ. Found in and about +<p>Food: water insects and larvæ. Found in and about the brooks of the Rocky Mountains and other mountains of the West.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_7"></a>7. Motacillidæ: <span class="smcap">Wagtails</span> and <span class="smcap">Pipits</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_7"></a>7. Motacillidæ: <span class="smcap">Wagtails</span> and <span class="smcap">Pipits</span>.</p> <p>Larger than English sparrow; bill slender, cone shaped, nearly as high as wide, at base; short bristles at @@ -10747,7 +10709,7 @@ very long, sharp and slightly curved. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Sexes alike. Food: insects. Found on the ground, where they walk, and wag their tails.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200_Book_2" id="Page_200_Book_2">[200]</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_8"></a>8. Mniotiltidæ: <span class="smcap">Warblers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_8"></a>8. Mniotiltidæ: <span class="smcap">Warblers</span>.</p> <p>It is almost impossible to characterize this family, there are so many varieties. With few exceptions they are @@ -10756,7 +10718,7 @@ changes of plumage with age and season. Some are found in the tops of trees, some on bushes, and some on the ground. Food: insects. (Coues.)<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_9"></a>9. Vireonidæ: <span class="smcap">Vireos</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_9"></a>9. Vireonidæ: <span class="smcap">Vireos</span>.</p> <p>Generally smaller than an English sparrow, and more slender; bill notched in both mandibles; tail rather @@ -10768,7 +10730,7 @@ young the same, without spots or streaks. Some found in trees in the woods, and others about towns where English sparrows are not too numerous.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_10"></a>10. Laniidæ: <span class="smcap">Shrikes</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_10"></a>10. Laniidæ: <span class="smcap">Shrikes</span>.</p> <p>Larger than an English sparrow; bill powerful, tip hooked and notched; wings short, rounded; tail long and @@ -10778,7 +10740,7 @@ much graduated. (Ridgway.)</p> Sexes alike, and young the same. Found on outside of low trees, fences, telegraph wires, and peaks of roofs.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_11"></a>11. Ampelidæ: <span class="smcap">Waxwings</span>, etc.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_11"></a>11. Ampelidæ: <span class="smcap">Waxwings</span>, etc.</p> <p>Somewhat larger than an English sparrow; bill short, broad and rather flat; head with pointed crest; wings @@ -10788,7 +10750,7 @@ length. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Food: insects and fruit. Sexes usually alike. Found in trees in woods and in shade and orchard trees.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201_Book_2" id="Page_201_Book_2">[201]</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_12"></a>12. Hirundinidæ: <span class="smcap">Swallows</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_12"></a>12. Hirundinidæ: <span class="smcap">Swallows</span>.</p> <p>About the size of an English, sparrow; bill short, flat, and very broad at the head; mouth opens back nearly to @@ -10800,7 +10762,7 @@ lustrous. (Ridgway.)</p> little different. Found in flocks, in the air, on roofs or fences or telegraph wires, sometimes on trees.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_13"></a>13. Tanagridæ: <span class="smcap">Tanagers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_13"></a>13. Tanagridæ: <span class="smcap">Tanagers</span>.</p> <p>Larger than an English sparrow; bill conical, notched, bristles; wings longer than tail; tail of moderate length, @@ -10809,7 +10771,7 @@ somewhat notched; legs rather short. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Food: insects. Sexes unlike. Found on trees in the woods.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_14"></a>14. Fringillidæ: <span class="smcap">Finches</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_14"></a>14. Fringillidæ: <span class="smcap">Finches</span>.</p> <p>Mostly about the size of an English sparrow, some smaller, some larger; bill short, high, and strong, turned @@ -10819,7 +10781,7 @@ down at the back corner; wings and tail variable. <p>Seed and insect eaters. Found everywhere—on trees, bushes, on ground, in woods, fields, and about houses.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_15"></a>15. Icteridæ: <span class="smcap">Blackbirds</span>, <span class="smcap">Orioles</span>, etc.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_15"></a>15. Icteridæ: <span class="smcap">Blackbirds</span>, <span class="smcap">Orioles</span>, etc.</p> <p>Larger than an English sparrow; bill straight or gently curved; mouth turned down at corners; tail @@ -10831,7 +10793,7 @@ Found everywhere, on trees, in marshes, in woods. Many gregarious, found in flocks, some except in nesting season, and others all the year round.</p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202_Book_2" id="Page_202_Book_2">[202]</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_16"></a>16. Corvidæ: <span class="smcap">Crows</span> and <span class="smcap">Jays</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_16"></a>16. Corvidæ: <span class="smcap">Crows</span> and <span class="smcap">Jays</span>.</p> <p>Larger than a robin. There are two subfamilies.</p> @@ -10844,7 +10806,7 @@ rounded. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Food: almost everything—seeds, fruit, sometimes eggs and young birds. Found in woody places.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_17"></a>17. Alaudidæ: <span class="smcap">Larks</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_17"></a>17. Alaudidæ: <span class="smcap">Larks</span>.</p> <p>Larger than an English sparrow; bill short, conical, frontal feathers extend along the side; wings pointed; @@ -10853,7 +10815,7 @@ claw on hind toe very long and nearly straight. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Food: insects. Sexes nearly alike. Found on ground in fields and roads.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_18"></a>18. Tyrannidæ: <span class="smcap">Flycatchers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_18"></a>18. Tyrannidæ: <span class="smcap">Flycatchers</span>.</p> <p>Mostly larger than an English sparrow; bill broad, flattened, curved downward at end, and notched at tip; @@ -10862,7 +10824,7 @@ bristles along the gape; wings and tail variable. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Entirely insectivorous. Found in woods and fields and about houses.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_19"></a>19. Trochilidæ: <span class="smcap">Hummingbirds</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_19"></a>19. Trochilidæ: <span class="smcap">Hummingbirds</span>.</p> <p>Our smallest birds; bill slender, sharp, and straight, usually longer than head; wings long and pointed; legs @@ -10872,7 +10834,7 @@ short; feet small and weak; claws curved and sharp. <p>Food: tiny insects and the honey of flowers. Sexes unlike. Found about flowers.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_20"></a>20. Micropodidæ: <span class="smcap">Swifts</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_20"></a>20. Micropodidæ: <span class="smcap">Swifts</span>.</p> <p>About the size of an English sparrow; bill very small,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203_Book_2" id="Page_203_Book_2">[203]</a></span> triangular, much broader than high, without bristles; @@ -10882,7 +10844,7 @@ short, ending in stiff spines; plumage compact. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Food: entirely insects. Sexes alike. Found in the air or inside chimneys or hollow trees.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_21"></a>21. Caprimulgidæ: <span class="smcap">Goatsuckers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_21"></a>21. Caprimulgidæ: <span class="smcap">Goatsuckers</span>.</p> <p>Larger than a robin; bill very short; gape enormously long and wide; mouth open to behind the eyes; wings @@ -10892,7 +10854,7 @@ long; plumage soft. (Ridgway.)</p> found in the edge of woods, and another species about towns.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_22"></a>22. Picidæ: <span class="smcap">Woodpeckers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_22"></a>22. Picidæ: <span class="smcap">Woodpeckers</span>.</p> <p>Larger than an English sparrow; bill usually straight, pointed or chisel-shaped at tip; tongue extensile and @@ -10904,7 +10866,7 @@ species, two forward and two backward for climbing. <p>Insectivorous. Sexes unlike. Found on trees (except one species) in woods or orchards.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_23"></a>23. Alcedinidæ: <span class="smcap">Kingfishers</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_23"></a>23. Alcedinidæ: <span class="smcap">Kingfishers</span>.</p> <p>Usually larger than a robin; bill long and straight; tongue small; head large, crested; wings short; legs @@ -10913,7 +10875,7 @@ small; outer and middle toe united half their length. <p>Food: fishes. Sexes slightly unlike. Found by water.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_24"></a>24. Cuculidæ: <span class="smcap">Cuckoos</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_24"></a>24. Cuculidæ: <span class="smcap">Cuckoos</span>.</p> <p>Larger than a robin; bill narrow and high, rather long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204_Book_2" id="Page_204_Book_2">[204]</a></span> and curved downward; wings long; tail long, soft, and @@ -10921,7 +10883,7 @@ rounded; toes in pairs. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Insectivorous. Sexes alike. Found on trees.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_25"></a>25. Bubonidæ: <span class="smcap">Owls</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_25"></a>25. Bubonidæ: <span class="smcap">Owls</span>.</p> <p>Mostly larger than a robin, a few smaller; bill hooked; eyes directed forward and surrounded by radiating feathers; @@ -10932,7 +10894,7 @@ feet sometimes feathered. (Ridgway.)</p> <p>Sexes alike. Flesh eaters. Usually nocturnal. Most species found in holes in trees or old buildings.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_26"></a>26. Strigidæ: <span class="smcap">Barn Owls</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_26"></a>26. Strigidæ: <span class="smcap">Barn Owls</span>.</p> <p>Much larger than a robin; bill hooked; eyes very small; triangular-shaped eye disk; tail emarginate; claws @@ -10942,7 +10904,7 @@ sharp and strong; very downy plumage. (Ridgway).</p> Exclusively nocturnal. Found in barns and deserted buildings.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_27"></a>27. Falconidæ: <span class="smcap">Hawks and Eagles</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_27"></a>27. Falconidæ: <span class="smcap">Hawks and Eagles</span>.</p> <p>(There are several subfamilies.)</p> @@ -10953,7 +10915,7 @@ directed sideways; eyelids with lashes; toes never feathered. <p>Carnivorous and insectivorous. Sexes usually alike, but female larger.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p> -<p><a id="Appendix_28"></a>28. Cathartidæ: <span class="smcap">American Vultures</span>.</p> +<p><a id="Appendix_28"></a>28. Cathartidæ: <span class="smcap">American Vultures</span>.</p> <p>Large as a turkey, one species much larger; whole head and sometimes neck bare of feathers; eyes prominent; @@ -10979,11 +10941,11 @@ Affections, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>-<a href=" <br /> Air-sacs, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.<br /> <br /> -Alaudidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_131_Book_2">131</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> +Alaudidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_131_Book_2">131</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> <br /> -Alcedinidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_170_Book_2">170</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> +Alcedinidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_170_Book_2">170</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> <br /> -Ampelidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_63_Book_2">63</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> +Ampelidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_63_Book_2">63</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> <br /> Arrival in spring, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11032,7 +10994,7 @@ Books about birds, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>- <br /> Brooding, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>-<a href="#Page_16">16</a>.<br /> <br /> -Bubonidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_178_Book_2">178</a>, <a href="#Page_204_Book_2">204</a>.<br /> +Bubonidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_178_Book_2">178</a>, <a href="#Page_204_Book_2">204</a>.<br /> <br /> Bunting, Towhee, <i>or</i> Chewink, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>; <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_84_Book_2">84</a>;<br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">portrait, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</span><br /> @@ -11046,7 +11008,7 @@ Buzzard, Turkey, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a <br /> Canary, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>.<br /> <br /> -Caprimulgidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_155_Book_2">155</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> +Caprimulgidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_155_Book_2">155</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> <br /> Cardinal, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>; <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_88_Book_2">88</a>;<br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">portrait, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_90_Book_2">90</a>.</span><br /> @@ -11055,7 +11017,7 @@ Catbird, food of, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a <span style="margin-left: 1em;">jerking the tail, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>; <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_37_Book_2">37</a>, <a href="#Page_125_Book_2">125</a>;</span><br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">portrait, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_36_Book_2">36</a>.</span><br /> <br /> -Cathartidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_194_Book_2">194</a>, <a href="#Page_204_Book_2">204</a>.<br /> +Cathartidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_194_Book_2">194</a>, <a href="#Page_204_Book_2">204</a>.<br /> <br /> Cave-dwelling Family, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_30_Book_2">30</a>, <a href="#Page_199_Book_2">199</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11064,7 +11026,7 @@ Cave-dwelling Family, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_30_Book_2" <span style="margin-left: 1em;">usefulness to man, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>; <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_63_Book_2">63</a>;</span><br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">portrait, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.</span><br /> <br /> -Certhiidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_27_Book_2">27</a>, <a href="#Page_198_Book_2">198</a>.<br /> +Certhiidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_27_Book_2">27</a>, <a href="#Page_198_Book_2">198</a>.<br /> <br /> Chat, Long-tailed, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_53_Book_2">53</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11086,14 +11048,14 @@ Chickadees, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_22_Book_2">22</a>.<b <br /> Chuck-will's-widow, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_157_Book_2">157</a>.<br /> <br /> -Cinclidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_42_Book_2">42</a>, <a href="#Page_199_Book_2">199</a>.<br /> +Cinclidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_42_Book_2">42</a>, <a href="#Page_199_Book_2">199</a>.<br /> <br /> Color in feathers, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.<br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>See also</i> <a href="#Plumage">Plumage</a>.</span><br /> <br /> Cormorant, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.<br /> <br /> -Corvidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_117_Book_2">117</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> +Corvidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_117_Book_2">117</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> <br /> Cowbird, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_51_Book_2">51</a>, <a href="#Page_98_Book_2">98</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11128,7 +11090,7 @@ Cuckoo, Yellow-billed, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_174_Book_ <br /> Cuckoo Family, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_174_Book_2">174</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> <br /> -Cuculidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_174_Book_2">174</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> +Cuculidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_174_Book_2">174</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> Dipper, American, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_42_Book_2">42</a>;<br /> @@ -11152,7 +11114,7 @@ Eggs, beauty of, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>;<br Eyes, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>-<a href="#Page_102">102</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> -Falconidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_188_Book_2">188</a>, <a href="#Page_204_Book_2">204</a>.<br /> +Falconidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_188_Book_2">188</a>, <a href="#Page_204_Book_2">204</a>.<br /> <br /> Feathers, first appearance on the young bird, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;<br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">of the wing, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>-<a href="#Page_111">111</a>;</span><br /> @@ -11189,7 +11151,7 @@ Food, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;-<a href="#Page <br /> Frigate-bird, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.<br /> <br /> -Fringillidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_80_Book_2">80</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> +Fringillidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_80_Book_2">80</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> Geese, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.<br /> @@ -11261,7 +11223,7 @@ Herons, food of, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>, <a <span style="margin-left: 1em;">story of the hearing of a heron, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>;</span><br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">usefulness to man, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</span><br /> <br /> -Hirundinidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_69_Book_2">69</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> +Hirundinidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_69_Book_2">69</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> <br /> Humming Family, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_143_Book_2">143</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11274,7 +11236,7 @@ Hummingbird, Ruby-throated, absence of male from nest, <span class="smallnum">1< Hummingbirds, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> -Icteridæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_94_Book_2">94</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> +Icteridæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_94_Book_2">94</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> <br /> Identification, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>-<a href="#Page_141">141</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11321,7 +11283,7 @@ Kinglet and Gnatcatcher Family, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_ <br /> Language, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>-<a href="#Page_47">47</a>.<br /> <br /> -Laniidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_59_Book_2">59</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> +Laniidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_59_Book_2">59</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> <br /> Lark, Desert Horned, portrait, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_132_Book_2">132</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11354,17 +11316,17 @@ Meadowlark, Western, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_102_Book_2" <br /> Meadow Starlings, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_100_Book_2">100</a>.<br /> <br /> -Micropodidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_150_Book_2">150</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> +Micropodidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_150_Book_2">150</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> <br /> Migration, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>-<a href="#Page_68">68</a>.<br /> <br /> -Mniotiltidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_49_Book_2">49</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> +Mniotiltidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_49_Book_2">49</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> <br /> Mocking Thrushes, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_34_Book_2">34</a>, <a href="#Page_199_Book_2">199</a>.<br /> <br /> Mockingbird, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_9_Book_2">9</a>, <a href="#Page_34_Book_2">34</a>, <a href="#Page_195_Book_2">195</a>.<br /> <br /> -Motacillidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_46_Book_2">46</a>, <a href="#Page_199_Book_2">199</a>.<br /> +Motacillidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_46_Book_2">46</a>, <a href="#Page_199_Book_2">199</a>.<br /> <br /> Moulting, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11444,7 +11406,7 @@ Owls, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;<br /> <span style="margin-left: 1em;">usefulness to man, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</span><br /> <br /> <br /> -Paridæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_18_Book_2">18</a>, <a href="#Page_198_Book_2">198</a>.<br /> +Paridæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_18_Book_2">18</a>, <a href="#Page_198_Book_2">198</a>.<br /> <br /> Penguin, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11458,7 +11420,7 @@ Phainopepla, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_67_Book_2">67</a>.< <br /> Phœbe, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>; <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_136_Book_2">136</a>.<br /> <br /> -Picidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_160_Book_2">160</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> +Picidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_160_Book_2">160</a>, <a href="#Page_203_Book_2">203</a>.<br /> <br /> Pigeons, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11548,7 +11510,7 @@ Starlings, Meadow, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_100_Book_2">1 <br /> Stomach, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.<br /> <br /> -Strigidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_185_Book_2">185</a>, <a href="#Page_204_Book_2">204</a>.<br /> +Strigidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_185_Book_2">185</a>, <a href="#Page_204_Book_2">204</a>.<br /> <br /> Swallow, Bank, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11573,7 +11535,7 @@ Swift, Vaux's, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_150_Book_2">150</ <br /> Swift Family, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_150_Book_2">150</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> <br /> -Sylviidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_14_Book_2">14</a>, <a href="#Page_197_Book_2">197</a>.<br /> +Sylviidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_14_Book_2">14</a>, <a href="#Page_197_Book_2">197</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> Tail, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>.<br /> @@ -11587,7 +11549,7 @@ Tanager, Summer, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_78_Book_2">78</ <br /> Tanager Family, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_75_Book_2">75</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> <br /> -Tanagridæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_75_Book_2">75</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> +Tanagridæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_75_Book_2">75</a>, <a href="#Page_201_Book_2">201</a>.<br /> <br /> Thrasher, Arizona, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_41_Book_2">41</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11622,13 +11584,13 @@ Towhee, <i>or</i> Chewink, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_76">7 <br /> Towhee, Spurred, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_84_Book_2">84</a>.<br /> <br /> -Trochilidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_143_Book_2">143</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> +Trochilidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_143_Book_2">143</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> <br /> -Troglodytidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_30_Book_2">30</a>, <a href="#Page_199_Book_2">199</a>.<br /> +Troglodytidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_30_Book_2">30</a>, <a href="#Page_199_Book_2">199</a>.<br /> <br /> -Turdidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_5_Book_2">5</a>, <a href="#Page_197_Book_2">197</a>.<br /> +Turdidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_5_Book_2">5</a>, <a href="#Page_197_Book_2">197</a>.<br /> <br /> -Tyrannidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_135_Book_2">135</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> +Tyrannidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_135_Book_2">135</a>, <a href="#Page_202_Book_2">202</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> Usefulness of birds to man, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>-<a href="#Page_130">130</a>.<br /> @@ -11647,7 +11609,7 @@ Vireo, Yellow-throated, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_56_Book_ <br /> Vireo Family, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_55_Book_2">55</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> <br /> -Vireonidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_55_Book_2">55</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> +Vireonidæ, <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_55_Book_2">55</a>, <a href="#Page_200_Book_2">200</a>.<br /> <br /> Vulture, Turkey, <i>or</i> Turkey Buzzard, <span class="smallnum">1</span>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>; <span class="smallnum">2</span>, <a href="#Page_194_Book_2">194</a>.<br /> <br /> @@ -11750,382 +11712,6 @@ U . S . A<br /> <p>Page 212, book number was added to Woodcock.</p> </div> - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Children's Book of Birds, by -Olive Thorne Miller - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS *** - -***** This file should be named 41141-h.htm or 41141-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/1/4/41141/ - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: The Children's Book of Birds - -Author: Olive Thorne Miller - -Release Date: October 22, 2012 [EBook #41141] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - -THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS - -[Illustration: BARN SWALLOW] - - - - - -THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS - -BY - -OLIVE THORNE MILLER - -WITH SIXTEEN COLORED PLATES AND MANY OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS - -[Illustration] - - BOSTON AND NEW YORK - HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY - The Riverside Press Cambridge - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1899 AND 1901, BY H. M. MILLER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - - - - -PREFACE - - -THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS combines under a single cover the First and -Second Books of Birds, originally published in 1899 and 1901 -respectively and still popular with children in and out of school and -with other beginners in the study of birds. - -The book is intended to interest young people in the ways and habits of -birds and to stimulate them to further study. It has grown out of my -experience in talking to schools. From the youngest kindergarten scholar -to boys and girls of sixteen and eighteen, I have never failed to find -young people intensely interested so long as I would tell them about bow -the birds live. - -Some of the results of these talks that have come to my knowledge have -been astonishing and far-reaching, such as that of one boy of seven or -eight, who persuaded the village boys around his summer home to give up -taking eggs and killing birds, and watch them instead, and who was -dubbed "Professor" by his eager followers. The effect has always been to -make children love and respect the living bird. - -It has therefore seemed to me that what is needed at first is not the -science of ornithology,--however diluted,--but some account of the life -and habits, to arouse sympathy and interest in the living bird, neither -as a target nor as a producer of eggs, but as a fellow-creature whose -acquaintance it would be pleasant to make. - -Naturally I have drawn on my own observations for much of the matter -contained in this book, but these have been supplemented by consultation -of recognized authorities in the various fields of ornithology. - -In each bird family treated of in the Second Book I have given accounts -of species to be found in the South and West as well as in the Eastern -States, and I have selected the most common or typical species of each -family. In cases where it was possible, I have chosen species -represented in the different sections of the country, not only because -the family traits are better shown, but because it is more encouraging -to a beginner to become acquainted with birds he can see almost -anywhere. When familiar with these, he will be able to identify and -study the rarer species. - - OLIVE THORNE MILLER. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - FIRST BOOK - - I. WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW 1 - II. WHEN THEY COME IN THE SPRING 3 - - - THE NESTLING - - III. THE BIRD'S HOME 9 - IV. THE BABY BIRD 13 - V. HOW HE IS FED 17 - VI. HIS FIRST SUIT 21 - VII. HOW HE CHANGES HIS CLOTHES 25 - VIII. HIS FIRST FLIGHT 29 - IX. HIS EDUCATION 33 - X. SOME OF HIS LESSONS 37 - - - THE BIRD GROWN UP - - XI. THE BIRD'S LANGUAGE 43 - XII. WHAT HE EATS 48 - XIII. MORE ABOUT HIS FOOD 52 - XIV. WHERE HE SLEEPS 57 - XV. HIS TRAVELS 61 - XVI. HIS WINTER HOME 66 - XVII. HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS 70 - XVIII. HIS KINDNESS TO OTHERS 74 - XIX. HIS AFFECTIONS 78 - XX. HIS INTELLIGENCE 83 - - - HOW HE IS MADE - - XXI. HIS BODY 91 - XXII. HIS BEAK AND TONGUE 95 - XXIII. HIS EYES AND EARS 100 - XXIV. HIS FEET AND LEGS 105 - XXV. HIS WINGS AND TAIL 109 - XXVI. HIS DRESS 114 - XXVII. DIFFERENT COLORED SUITS 118 - - - HIS RELATIONS WITH US - - XXVIII. HOW HE WORKS FOR US 125 - XXIX. HOW TO ATTRACT HIM ABOUT OUR HOMES 131 - XXX. HOW TO STUDY HIM 136 - - -SECOND BOOK - - I. WHAT IS A BIRD FAMILY? 1 - II. THE THRUSH FAMILY 5 - American Robin 6 - Hermit Thrush 11 - III. THE KINGLET AND GNATCATCHER FAMILY 14 - Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14 - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 16 - IV. THE NUTHATCH AND CHICKADEE FAMILY 18 - White-breasted Nuthatch 18 - Red-breasted Nuthatch 20 - Chickadee 22 - Tufted Titmouse 24 - V. THE CREEPER FAMILY 27 - Brown Creeper 27 - VI. THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY (First Branch) 30 - House Wren 31 - VII. THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY (Second Branch) 34 - Mockingbird 34 - Catbird 37 - Thrasher 40 - VIII. THE DIPPER FAMILY 42 - American Dipper 42 - IX. THE WAGTAIL FAMILY 46 - Sprague's Pipit 46 - X. THE WARBLER FAMILY 49 - Yellow Warbler 50 - Oven-bird 52 - Yellow-breasted Chat 53 - XI. THE VIREO FAMILY 55 - Yellow-throated Vireo 56 - Warbling Vireo 57 - XII. THE SHRIKE FAMILY 59 - Loggerhead Shrike 59 - XIII. THE WAXWING FAMILY 63 - Cedar-bird 63 - Phainopepla 67 - XIV. THE SWALLOW FAMILY 69 - Barn Swallow 69 - Cliff Swallow, or Eave Swallow 72 - Purple Martin 72 - XV. THE TANAGER FAMILY 75 - Scarlet Tanager 75 - Summer Tanager 78 - Louisiana Tanager 78 - XVI. THE SPARROW AND FINCH FAMILY 80 - SPARROWS - Song Sparrow 81 - FINCHES - Goldfinch 82 - Towhee, or Chewink 84 - XVII. THE GROSBEAK BRANCH 86 - Rose-breasted Grosbeak 86 - Black-headed Grosbeak 88 - Cardinal Grosbeak, or Cardinal 88 - XVIII. THE CROSSBILL BRANCH 91 - American Crossbill 91 - White-winged Crossbill 92 - XIX. THE BLACKBIRD FAMILY 94 - MARSH BLACKBIRDS - Red-winged Blackbird 94 - Cowbird 98 - XX. THE MEADOW STARLINGS 100 - Meadowlark 100 - Western Meadowlark 102 - XXI. THE ORIOLE BRANCH 104 - Baltimore Oriole 104 - Orchard Oriole 107 - Arizona Hooded Oriole 108 - XXII. THE CROW-BLACKBIRD BRANCH 110 - Purple Grackle 112 - Bronzed Grackle 112 - Brewer's Blackbird 113 - XXIII. THE CROW FAMILY 117 - American Crow 117 - Blue Jay 121 - Steller's Jay 126 - American Magpie 126 - XXIV. THE LARK FAMILY 131 - Horned Lark 131 - Prairie Horned Lark 131 - XXV. THE FLYCATCHING FAMILY 135 - Kingbird 136 - Arkansas Kingbird 140 - Wood Pewee 140 - Western Wood Pewee 142 - XXVI. THE HUMMING FAMILY 143 - Ruby-throated Hummingbird 144 - Anna's Hummingbird 149 - XXVII. THE SWIFT FAMILY 150 - Chimney Swift 150 - XXVIII. THE GOATSUCKER FAMILY 155 - Whip-poor-will 155 - Chuck-will's-widow 157 - Poor-will 157 - Nighthawk 158 - XXIX. THE WOODPECKER FAMILY 160 - Northern Flicker 161 - Red-shafted Flicker 162 - Red-headed Woodpecker 165 - Californian Woodpecker 167 - XXX. THE KINGFISHER FAMILY 170 - Belted Kingfisher 170 - XXXI. THE CUCKOO FAMILY 174 - Yellow-billed Cuckoo 174 - XXXII. THE OWL FAMILY 178 - Screech Owl 180 - Burrowing Owl 182 - XXXIII. THE BARN OWL FAMILY 185 - American Barn Owl 185 - XXXIV. THE HAWK AND EAGLE FAMILY 188 - American Sparrow Hawk 189 - American Osprey, or Fish Hawk 190 - Bald Eagle 192 - XXXV. THE SCAVENGER FAMILY 194 - Turkey Vulture 194 - APPENDIX - Characters of the North American Representatives of the - Families mentioned in this Book 197 - INDEX 205 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - BARN SWALLOW (colored) _Frontispiece_ - - -FIRST BOOK - - BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND NEST (colored) 10 - REDSTARTS (FEMALE ON NEST) (colored) 14 - RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD--MALE, FEMALE, AND - NEST WITH YOUNG 18 - YOUNG WOOD THRUSH 22 - AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (colored) 26 - BLUEBIRD (colored) 38 - INDIGO-BIRD 46 - AMERICAN ROBIN (colored) 60 - CHEWINK 76 - HOUSE WREN 80 - FLICKER 86 - WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH 96 - LESSER YELLOWLEGS 106 - BROWN THRASHER 112 - BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER 120 - CEDAR-BIRD (colored) 126 - SCARLET TANAGER--MALE AND FEMALE 142 - - -SECOND BOOK - - HERMIT THRUSH 10 - RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET 14 - CHICKADEE 22 - BROWN CREEPER (colored) 28 - CATBIRD 36 - AMERICAN DIPPER 42 - SPRAGUE'S PIPIT 46 - YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (colored) 52 - YELLOW-THROATED VIREO AND NEST 56 - LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 60 - SCARLET TANAGER (colored) 76 - ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (colored) 86 - CARDINAL 90 - RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD 94 - MEADOWLARK (colored) 100 - BLUE JAY 122 - AMERICAN MAGPIE (colored) 126 - DESERT HORNED LARK 132 - KINGBIRD (colored) 136 - NIGHTHAWK 158 - DOWNY WOODPECKER 166 - BELTED KINGFISHER (colored) 170 - YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO 174 - SCREECH OWL 180 - SPARROW HAWK 188 - AMERICAN OSPREY, OR FISH HAWK (colored) 192 - - Eight of the sixteen colored plates are from drawings - by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, and these are signed with - his name. The other colored plates and the - twenty-eight plain half-tones are from photographs of - mounted specimens, many of which are in the collection - of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, in Cambridge, - Massachusetts, and are reproduced by permission. - - The First Book also contains twenty cuts in the text. - - - - -FIRST BOOK - - - - -THE FIRST BOOK OF BIRDS - - - - -I - -WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW - - -BIRDS seem to be the happiest creatures on earth, yet they have none of -what we call the comforts of life. - -They have no houses to live in, no beds to sleep on, no breakfast and -dinner provided for them. - -This book is to tell something about them; where they live and what they -eat, where they sleep, how they get their beautiful dress, and many -other things. But no one can tell all about their lives and habits, for -no one knows all their ways. - -Men who study dead birds can tell how they are made, how their bones are -put together, and how many feathers there are in the wings and tail. Of -course it is well to know these things. But to see how birds live is -much more interesting than to look at dead ones. - -It is pleasant to see how mother birds build their nests, and how they -take care of their nestlings. It is charming to see the young ones when -they begin to fly, and to know how they are taught to find their food, -and to keep out of danger, and to sing, and everything young birds need -to know. - -Then when they are grown up, it is interesting to find out where they go -in winter, and why they do not stay with us all the year round. - -One who goes into the field to watch and study their ways will be -surprised to find how much like people they act. And after studying -living birds, he will never want to kill them. It will seem to him -almost like murder. - - - - -II - -WHEN THEY COME IN THE SPRING - - -IN the long, cold winter of the New England and Middle States, not many -birds are usually seen. In the cities there is always the English -sparrow, and in the country, now and then a chickadee, or a woodpecker, -or a small flock of goldfinches. - -But very early in the spring, long before grass is green, even while -snow is on the ground, the birds begin to come. - -Some morning a robin will appear, standing up very straight on a fence -or tree, showing his bright red breast and black cap, flirting his tail, -and looking as if he were glad to be back in his old home. - -Then perhaps the same day will come the hoarse chack of a blackbird, and -two or three will fly over and alight in a big bare tree, looking, it -may be, for a good place to build a bird city. - -Soon will be heard the sweet little song of the song sparrow or the -bluebird, and then we shall know that summer is coming, for these are -the first birds of spring. - -Day after day, as the snow melts away and the sunshine grows hotter, -more birds will come. One day a catbird or two, another day an oriole in -black and gold, and another day a pert little wren. So it will go on, -till by the time June comes in, all our birds will be back with us, very -busy, hopping around in our bushes and trees, making their nests all -about, and singing the whole day long. - -Almost the first thing every bird thinks of, when he comes to us, is -making the nest. For summer is the only time in his life that a bird has -a home. - -He does not need a house to live in. He cares nothing for a roof to -cover him, because when the sun is hot, he has the broad green leaves on -the trees to shade him. And when it rains his neat feather coat is like -a waterproof that lets the drops run off, leaving him warm and dry under -it. - -He does not need a dining-room, because he eats wherever he finds his -food, and he wants no kitchen, because he prefers his food raw. - -He has no use for a bedroom, because he can sleep on any twig; the whole -world is his bedroom. - -He cares nothing for closets and bureaus, because he has only one suit -of clothes at a time, and he washes and dries that without taking it -off. - -He wants no fire to keep him warm, for when it is too cold he spreads -his wings and flies to a warmer place. A bird has really no need of a -house,--excepting when he is a baby, before his eyes are open, or his -feathers have come, or his wings have grown. While he is blind, naked, -and hungry, he must have a warm, snug cradle. - -So when the bird fathers and mothers come in the spring the first thing -they do is to find good places and build nice cradles, for they are very -fond of their little ones. They spend the spring and summer in working -for them, keeping them warm, feeding them till they are grown up, and -then teaching them to fly and to take care of themselves, so that when -summer is gone they will be ready to go with the other birds to their -winter home. - - - - -THE NESTLING - - - - -III - -THE BIRD'S HOME - - -EACH bird mother has her own way of making the nest, but there is one -thing almost all of them try to do, and that is to hide it. - -They cannot put their little homes out in plain sight, as we do our -houses, because so many creatures want to rob them. Squirrels and snakes -and rats, and some big birds, and cats and many others, like to eat eggs -and young birds. - -So most birds try, first of all, to find good hiding-places. Some tiny -warblers go to the tops of the tallest trees, and hide the nest among -the leaves. Orioles hang the swinging cradle at the end of a branch, -where cats and snakes and naughty boys cannot come. Song sparrows tuck -the little home in a tuft of weeds, on the ground, and bobolinks hide it -in the deep grass. - -After a safe place is found, they have to get something to build of. -They hunt all about and gather small twigs, or grass stems, or fine -rootlets, and pull narrow strips of bark off the grapevines and the -birch-trees, or they pick up strings and horsehairs, and many other -things. Robins and swallows use mud. - -[Illustration: BALTIMORE ORIOLE AND NEST] - -As they go on building, the mother bird gets inside and turns around and -around to make it fit her form, and be smooth and comfortable for her to -sit in. - -When a nest is made, it must be lined. Then some birds go to the chicken -yard, and pick up feathers, and others find horsehairs. Some of them -pull off the soft down that grows on plants, or get bits of wool from -the sheep pasture, or old leaves from the woods, and make it soft and -warm inside. - -Some bird homes are only platforms, where it seems as if the eggs must -roll off, and others are deep burrows, or holes in the ground, where no -one can get in. Some are dainty baskets hung between two twigs, and -others are tiny cups of felt with lichens outside. - -Each species of bird builds in its own way. There are as many different -ways to make nests as there are kinds of birds to make them. - -Then after all the trouble birds have taken to build a nest, they seldom -use it a second time. If a pair have two broods in a season, they almost -always build a new one for each family. - -A few birds, such as eagles, owls, and sometimes orioles, and others, -repair the home and use it again, and woodpeckers sometimes nest in the -old holes. But generally, after the young birds have flown, we may be -sure the nest will not be wanted again. - -When the nest is finished, the eggs are laid in it, one by one. We all -know how pretty birds' eggs are. Some are snowy white, some are delicate -pink, and some blue. Many have tiny dots and specks on them, and a few -are covered with queer-looking streaks and lines. But pretty as they -are, I think no one would be so cruel as to take them away from the poor -little mother, if he remembered that her young ones are inside them, and -that she loves them as his own mother loves him. - -I have heard people say that birds do not care for their eggs. Let me -tell you what a little chickadee mother did when a man tried to steal -the eggs out of her nest. - -The nest was in a hole in an old stump, and the man could not get his -hand in, so he had to take them out one at a time with a little scoop. - -At first the mother flew at him and tried to drive him away. Then -chickadees and other birds who lived near came to help her. All flew -about his face with cries, so that he had to use one hand to keep them -away from his eyes. But still he went on taking out the eggs. - -At last the little mother was so wild with grief that she dashed into -the hole and sat there in the doorway, right before his face. He could -not get another egg without hurting her, and he was ashamed to do that. - -This was as brave in the tiny creature as it would be for a human mother -to throw herself before a fierce, hungry tiger. Do you think she did not -care for her eggs? - - - - -IV - -THE BABY BIRD - - -A BABY bird, as you know, always comes out of an egg. And beautiful as -these eggs are, they are most interesting when you think that each one -holds a tiny bird. - -Eggs are not all alike, of course. One the size of a bean is large -enough to hold a hummingbird baby, till it is old enough to come out. -But the young ostrich needs a shell nearly as big as your head. So there -are all sizes of eggs to fit the different sizes of birds. - -If you should break a fresh egg you would not see a bird, for it would -not be formed at that time. After the egg is laid in its soft bed, it -has to be kept warm for many days, and that is why the mother bird sits -on her nest so quietly. She is keeping the eggs warm, so that the little -ones will form and grow, till they are as big as the shells can hold. - -While the mother is sitting her mate does all he can to help, though -each species has its own way. The blue jay brings food to his mate, so -that she need not leave the nest at all, and many others do so. But the -kingbird father simply watches the nest to protect it while the mother -goes for food. A redstart gets into the nest himself, to keep the eggs -warm while his mate is gone, and a goldfinch coaxes his mate to go off -with him for a lunch, leaving nest and eggs to take care of themselves. - -[Illustration: REDSTARTS (FEMALE ON NEST)] - -Another thing the father birds do is to sing. This is the time when we -hear so much bird song. The singers have little to do but to wait, and -so they please themselves, and their mates, and us too, by singing a -great deal. - -When the little birds begin to be cramped, and find their cradle too -tight, they peck at the shell with a sort of tooth that grows on the end -of the beak, and is called the "egg tooth." This soon breaks the shell, -and they come out. Then the mother or father carefully picks up the -pieces of shell, carries them off, and throws them away, leaving only -the little ones in the nest. Perhaps you have found these broken shells -on the ground sometimes, and could not guess how they came there. When -the birdlings break out of their prison they do not all look the same. -Ducks and geese and chickens and quails, and other birds who live on -the ground, as well as hawks and owls, are dressed in pretty suits of -down. They have their eyes open, and the ground birds are ready to run -about at once. - -A man who studied birds, once saw a young duck get its first suit of -down. He picked up the egg just as the little bird inside was trying to -get out. In a few minutes the shell fell apart, and out stepped the -duckling on his hand. It seemed to be covered with coarse black hairs, -which in a moment began to burst open, one by one, and out of each came -a soft fluff of down. So in a few minutes, while the man stood there and -held him, the little duck was all covered with his pretty dress. - -But most birds hatched in nests in trees and bushes, like robins and -bluebirds, are very different. When they come out of their shells they -are naked, have their eyes shut, and look as if they were nearly all -mouth. A young hummingbird looks about as big as a honey bee, and a -robin baby not much bigger than the eggshell he came out of. - -They lie flat down in the nest, seeming to be asleep most of the time. -All they want is to be warm and to be fed. - -To keep them warm, the mother sits on them a great part of the time, and -for the first few days of their lives, the father often brings most of -the food. Sometimes he gives it to the mother, and she feeds the little -ones. But sometimes she gets off the nest, and flies away to rest, and -get something to eat for herself, while he feeds the nestlings. - -There is one bird father who--it is thought--never comes to the nest, -either to watch the eggs or to help feed the nestlings. That is our -hummingbird, the ruby throat. - -We do not know the reason for this, and it is not fair to say hard -things about him until we do. It may be that he thinks his shining ruby -would show the hiding-place of the nest, or it may be that the little -mother is not willing to have any help. I think this last is the real -reason, for she has a great deal of spirit, and always drives away -others from her feeding-places. - -Young birds grow very fast, and soon feathers begin to come out all over -them. They are not very pretty at this time. - - - - -V - -HOW HE IS FED - - -SOON after the young bird comes out of the egg, he begins to be hungry. -All day long, whenever the father or mother comes near, he opens his -great mouth as wide as he can, to have it filled, and the moment he gets -his voice he cries for food. - -Then the old birds have to work hard. Three or four hungry nestlings can -keep both father and mother busy from morning till night, hunting for -caterpillars and beetles and grubs and other things to feed them. It -seems as if the little fellows never could get enough to eat. Each -swallow baby wants seven or eight hundred small flies every day, and a -baby robin needs more earthworms in a day than you can hold in your hand -at once. - -At this time you will see robins hunting over the lawn, and carrying -great beakfuls of worms up to the nest. Bluebirds you will find looking -in the grass, and sparrows hopping about on the ground, all seeking -soft worms and grubs and insects for the nestlings; and they are so busy -they do not get much time for singing. - -[Illustration: RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD] - -At this time the orioles go all over the orchard trees looking for tiny -worms, and little warblers seek them under every leaf. - -Woodpeckers find the insects hidden behind the bark of trees, by cutting -holes through it. Chickadees and nuthatches pick the tiniest insect eggs -out of the crevices, and flickers hunt everywhere for ants. - -As soon as one of the old birds has his mouth full, he flies to the nest -to feed the young. - -But not all birds feed in the same way. A robin just drops a big -earthworm, or a part of one, into the gaping baby mouth. Many other -birds do so also. Sometimes, when an insect is too big or too hard, they -beat it till it is soft, or break it up, before giving it to a little -one. - -But hummingbird mothers and flicker mothers have a different way. When -they collect the food they swallow it, as if they wanted it for -themselves. Then they go to the nest, and jerk it up again in mouthfuls, -and feed the nestlings. This is called feeding by "regurgitation," or -"throwing up." - -The way they give the food is very curious. They push their long beaks -into the nestling's throat, and poke the food far down; so the young -one does not even have the trouble of swallowing. - -This looks as if it must hurt, but the nestling seems to like it, and is -always ready for more. The pigeon mother lets the young one poke his -beak down her throat, and get the food for himself. - -If the food is hard, like corn, birds who feed in this way let it stay -in the crop till it is soft and better fitted for tender throats, before -they give it out. - -It is comical to see a nest full of little birds when the father or -mother comes with food. All stretch up and open their big mouths as wide -as they can, and if they are old enough, they cry as if they were -starving. - -Some birds bring food enough for all in the nest, every time they come. -A cedar-bird, feeding wild cherries, brought five of them every time, -one for each of the five nestlings. One cherry was held in his mouth, -but the other four were down his throat, and had to be jerked up one by -one. - -Other birds bring only one mouthful at a time, and when there are five -or six in the nest, they have to make as many journeys before all are -fed. - -Some persons who have studied birds think that each nestling is fed in -its turn; but they look so much alike, and are so close together, that -it is hard to tell, and I am not sure that it is so. - -I will tell you a story I have heard about feeding little birds. A child -picked up a young goldfinch who had fallen out of the nest. He took him -home and put him into the canary's cage, which was hanging on the front -porch. - -Soon the family heard a great noise among the birds, and went out to see -what was the matter. The baby goldfinch had hopped on to a perch in the -cage, and seemed to be afraid to come down, though the old birds had -brought food for him, and were calling him to take it. - -The canary looked on a while, and then all at once he flew to the wires -and took the food from the birds outside; then he went back to the perch -beside the little one and gave it to him. This he did many times. - -The next day another young goldfinch was picked up and put in the cage, -and the canary took food from the parents and fed both. - -After a few days the old birds came with a third little one, and as all -were now old enough to fly, the cage door was opened, and they all flew -away. - - - - -VI - -HIS FIRST SUIT - - -SOME birds that live on the ground--as I told you--have dresses of down -to begin with. These little fellows have no warm nest to stay in, but -run around almost as soon as they come out of the egg. Young ducks and -geese wear this baby suit for weeks, before they begin to put on their -feather coats. - -Young birds that spend most of their time in the water, like grebes, and -others that live in a cold country, have the down very thick and fine, -like heavy underclothes, to keep them dry and warm. - -Birds whose home is underground, like the kingfisher, or in the trunk of -a tree, like the woodpecker, have hardly any down at all. They need no -baby clothes in their warm cradles. - -Robins and most other song birds have only a little down on them, and -very soon the feathers begin to grow. - -When the tiny quills push themselves up, they look like little white -pins sticking out all over. Each bit of down grows out of a little -raised place on the skin that looks like a pimple, and the feather comes -out of the same. - -[Illustration: YOUNG WOOD THRUSH] - -As the feather grows, the bit of down clings to it till it is broken -off. Sometimes it holds on till the feather is well out. We can often -see down sticking to a young bird's feathers. - -The little feathers grow very fast, and before he is ready to fly a -young bird is well covered. Birds hatched with their eyes open, and -already dressed, who have to run and fly very soon, get their wing -feathers early; but birds who live many days in the nest, like robins -and bluebirds, do not get theirs till they are nearly grown. - -The tail feathers are the last to come to full length, and you will -notice that most birds just out of the nest have very dumpy tails. - -A bird's first suit of feathers is called his nestling plumage. In some -families it is just like the dress of the grown-up birds, but in others -it is not at all like that. It is usually worn only a few weeks, for the -young one outgrows it, and needs a new and bigger one before winter. - -When a bird is fully dressed, his body is entirely covered, and it looks -as if the feathers grew close to each other all over him. But it is not -so. The feathers grow in patterns, called "feather tracts," with -spaces of bare skin between them. These bare places do not show, because -the feathers lap over each other and cover them. - -The pattern of the feather tracts is not the same in all birds. A few -birds of the Ostrich family have feathers all over the body. - -There is another curious thing about the nestling plumage. You would -expect a young bird to look like his father or mother; and some of them -do. Many nestlings are dressed exactly like their mothers; and not until -they are a year old do the young males get a coat like their father's. -Some of them, indeed, do not have their grown-up suits for two or three -years. - -Then, again, many young birds have dresses different from both parents. -Young robins have speckled breasts, and spots on the shoulders, which -the old birds have not. - -When the father and mother are dressed alike, as the song sparrows are, -the young birds generally differ from both of them. When the father and -mother are different, like orioles or bluebirds, the young are usually -like the mother the first season. In some cases the father, mother, and -young are almost exactly alike. - -Birds who live on the ground need dresses of dull colors, or they would -not be very safe. The ostrich mother, who makes her nest in plain sight -on the sand, is dressed in grayish brown. When she sits on the eggs, she -lays her long neck flat on the ground before her; then she looks like -one of the ant-hills that are common on the plains of Africa, where she -lives. - -The South American ostrich, or rhea, fluffs out her feathers and looks -like a heap of dry grass. The male ostrich is dressed in showy black and -white, and he stays away all day, but takes care of the nest at night, -when his striking colors cannot be seen. - - - - -VII - -HOW HE CHANGES HIS CLOTHES - - -IT takes a bird weeks to put on a new suit of clothes. He has nothing -but his feathers to protect him from cold and wet, and as feathers -cannot grow out in a minute, he would be left naked, and suffer, if he -lost them all at once. So he changes his dress one or two feathers at a -time. - -Some day a feather will drop from each wing. If you could look, you -would see that new ones had started out in the same place, and pushed -the old ones off. When the new ones are pretty well grown another pair -will fall out. - -If all dropped out at once, besides suffering with cold he would not be -able to fly, and he could not get his living, and anybody could catch -him. But losing only one from each side at a time, he always has enough -to fly with. - -It is the same way with his tail feathers. He loses them in pairs, one -from each side at the same time. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN GOLDFINCH] - -The soft feathers that cover his body drop out one by one. Thus all the -time he is putting on a new suit he still wears part of the old one. In -this way he is never left without clothes for a moment. - -Most birds put on their new suits just after the young ones are grown -up, and before they all start for the South to spend the winter,--that -is, with many of our common birds, in August. At that time they are -rather shy, and stop singing. If you did not see one now and then, you -might think they were all gone. - -Sometimes the new fall suit is not at all like the old one. There is the -goldfinch, all summer in bright yellow. When he comes out in his new -suit in August, it is dull-colored, much like the one his mate wears all -the year, and in winter, when goldfinches fly around in little flocks, -they look nearly all alike. - -In the spring, the male goldfinch comes out again in yellow. He has two -suits a year,--a bright yellow one in the spring, and a dull olive-green -for the winter. But his new spring dress is not a full suit. The yellow -of the body is all fresh, but the black wings are the same the year -round. - -Some birds have two, different colored dresses in a year; one they get -without changing a feather. Suppose they have feathers of black, with -gray on the outside edges. All winter the gray shows and the birds seem -to have gray coats. But in spring the gray edges wear or fall off, and -the black shows, and then they look as if they had come out in new black -suits. It is as if you should take off a gray overcoat and show a black -coat under it. - -There is another interesting thing about birds' dress. Some of them look -like their mates, the father and mother birds so nearly alike that it is -hard, sometimes impossible, to tell them apart. But when that is the -case, you will notice that the color is not very gay. If the father -wears a bright-colored suit, the mother does not look like him. - -For this reason the little mother is not too easily seen when she is on -her nest. If the goldfinch mother were as bright as her mate, everybody -who came near would see her on the nest, and some animal might take her, -and leave the young birds to starve to death. That is probably why -mother birds dress in such dull colors. - -When birds live on the ground, or very near it, in most cases both of -the pair wear the dull colors, so they will not easily be seen. Wrens -and sparrows and many others are so. But birds who make their nests in -holes, or under ground, are often as bright as their mates, because -they cannot be seen while sitting, and do not need to wear dull colors. - -A curious thing about a bird's color is that the same species, or kind -of bird, is darker in one place than another. Where there is much -dampness or wet weather, the colors are darker. For instance, a -bob-white who lives in Florida, or one who lives in Oregon, will be much -darker than his cousin living in New England. - - - - -VIII - -HIS FIRST FLIGHT - - -WHEN young birds are in the nest they are not very pretty. But when they -are nearly feathered, and sit up on the edge, exercising their wings, -and getting ready to fly, they are lovely to look at. Their feathers are -more fluffy and fresh than those of the old birds. - -At that time they have not learned to be afraid of us, and if we do not -frighten them by roughness, loud talking, or quick movements, we can -often get near enough to see them well. They will sit up and look at us -without fear. - -Then some day, all at once, a young bird will begin to flap his wings, -and off he will go, fluttering very hard, beating his wings, and trying -to reach the next tree. - -Sometimes he will reach it, and perch on a twig, and sit quite still a -long time, tired with his first flight. Then the parents will come and -feed him, and after a while he will fly again. This time he will go -farther. - -So he will go on, till in a few days he can fly very well, and follow -his parents about, and begin to learn where to get food. - -Sometimes when a young bird leaves the nest he does not reach the tree -he starts for, but falls to the ground. Then there is trouble among the -birds. He is in danger of being picked up by a cat or a boy, or of -getting tangled in the grass or weeds. - -The poor parents are half wild with fear. They coax him to try again, -and they follow him about in the grass, in great distress. I have many -times picked up a little bird, and set him on a branch of a tree, or -stood guard over him, driving away cats and keeping off people, till he -reached a place where he would be safe. - -When young birds are out, but cannot yet fly very well, there is much -anxiety about them. Then, if any one comes around to disturb them, what -can the poor little mother do? Sometimes she makes her young ones hide. -Some of the birds who live on the ground will give a certain cry, when -in a second every little one will crouch on the ground, or creep under a -leaf, and be perfectly still. And their dark colors look so like the -earth one can hardly see them. - -Then the mother tries to make one look at her by queer antics. She -pretends to be hurt, and tumbles about as if she could not fly. If it -is a man or an animal who has frightened her, he will usually think he -can easily catch her; so he will forget about the young ones, and follow -her as she goes fluttering over the ground. She will go on playing that -she is hurt, and moving away, till she leads him far from her brood. -Then she will start up and fly away, and he cannot find his way back to -where the little ones are still crouching. - -Sometimes when a mother is frightened, she will snatch up her young one -between her feet, and fly away with it. Sometimes a mother will fight, -actually fly into the face of the one she fears. Often, too, other birds -come to her aid; birds of many kinds,--catbirds, robins, thrashers, and -others,--all come to help her drive away the enemy, for birds are almost -always ready to help each other. - -I once found a young blue jay who had come to the ground while trying -his first flight. I thought I would pick him up and put him on a branch. -But the old birds did not know what I meant to do, and perhaps they were -afraid I would carry him off. - -They flew at me with loud cries to drive me away, and I thought it best -to go, for I did not want to make them any more unhappy than they were -already. - -I did not go far, because I wanted to see that no one caught the little -one. He hopped about in the grass a long time, while his parents flew -around him in great distress. Many times he tried to fly, but he could -not rise more than two feet from the ground. - -At last he seemed to make up his mind to climb a tree, for when he came -to one with a rough bark he began to go up. He would fly up a few -inches, then hold on with his claws to rest. And so, half flying and -half climbing, he went on till he reached the lowest limb. On that he -perched and was quiet, glad to rest after his hard work. The old birds -were happy, too, and brought food to him, and so I left them. - - - - -IX - -HIS EDUCATION - - -THE young bird has to be educated, or trained for his life, just as we -do, though not exactly in the same way. - -He does not have to know arithmetic and history; and what he needs of -geography is only the road to the South, where he spends his winters. - -I suppose the first thing he learns is to fly. You have heard, perhaps, -that the old birds drive their young out of the nest. But do not believe -any such thing, for it is not true. I have seen many little birds leave -the nest, and almost every one flew when the parents were away after -food. - -The parents sometimes try to coax a nestling who is afraid to try his -wings, like an oriole I knew of. All the young orioles had flown except -this one, and he seemed to be too timid to try. He stood on the edge of -the nest, and called and cried, but did not use his wings. - -The father came to see him now and then, and at last he made him fly in -this way. He caught a fine, large moth, and brought it to the nest in -his beak. The young bird was very hungry, and when he saw the food, he -opened his mouth and fluttered his wings, so eager to get it he could -hardly wait. - -But the parent did not feed him. He let him see the moth, and then, with -a loud call, he flew to the next tree. When the little oriole saw the -food going away, he forgot he was afraid, and with a cry of horror he -sprang after it; and so, before he knew it, he had flown. - -After the young bird can fly, he needs to be taught to get his own -living, or to find his own food, and also where to sleep. Then he must -learn what to be afraid of, and how to protect himself from his enemies. - -He needs to know the different calls and cries of his family, and what -they all mean. He has to learn to fly in a flock with other birds, and -he must learn to sing. No doubt there are many more lessons for him that -we do not know about. - -If you watch little birds just out of the nest, you may see them being -taught the most useful and important lesson, how to find their food. - -The robin mother takes her little one to the ground, and shows him -where the worms live and how to get them. The owl mother finds a mouse -creeping about in the grass, and teaches the owlets how to pounce upon -it, by doing it herself before them. - -The old swallow takes her youngsters into the air, and shows them how to -catch little flies on the wing; while mother phoebe teaches hers to sit -still and watch till a fly comes near, and then fly out and catch it. - -If you watch long enough, after a while you may see the old bird, who is -training a young one, fly away. She may leave the young one alone on a -tree or the ground, and be gone a long time. - -Before many minutes the little one will get hungry, and begin to call -for food. But by and by, if nobody comes to feed him, he will think to -look around for something to eat. Thus he will get his lesson in helping -himself. - -Once I saw a woodpecker father bring his little one to a fence, close by -some raspberry bushes that were full of berries. He fed him two or three -berries, to teach him what they were and where they grew, and then -quietly slipped away. - -When the young bird began to feel hungry he cried out; but nobody came. -Then he looked over at the raspberries, and reached out and tried to -get hold of one. After trying three or four times, and nearly pitching -off his perch, he did reach one. Then how proud he was! - -The father stayed away an hour or more, and before he came back that -young woodpecker had learned to help himself very well; though the -minute his father came, he began to flutter his wings and beg to be fed, -as if he were half starved. - -A lady, who fed the wild birds on her window sill for many years, and -watched their ways, says she often saw the old birds teaching their -little ones. They showed them where the food was to be found, and, she -says, regularly taught them the art of eating. - -Then she saw them taught to be afraid of people, not to come too near -her. And once she saw an old bird showing a young one how to gather -twigs for nest-building. The young one looked on a while, and then tried -hard to do it himself, but could not get off a single twig. - -Best of all, the same lady heard an old robin giving a music lesson. The -teacher would sing a few notes and then stop, while the pupil tried to -copy them. He had a weak, babyish sort of voice, and did not succeed -very well at first. - -I have heard several birds at their music lessons. - - - - -X - -SOME OF HIS LESSONS - - -IT is very easy to catch the birds teaching their little ones to -exercise their wings and to fly together. You will see the young birds -sitting quietly on fences or trees, when all at once the parents begin -to fly around, with strange loud calls. In a minute every youngster will -fly out and join them. Around and around they all go, hard as they can, -till their little wings are tired, and then they come down and alight -again. - -Once I saw a young bird who did not go when his parents called. All the -others flew around many times, and I suppose that young one thought he -would not be noticed. - -But mothers' eyes are sharp, and his mother saw him. So when she came -back, she flew right at her naughty son, and knocked him off his perch. -The next time she called, he flew with the rest. This was a crow mother. - -I have seen a bluebird just out of the nest, taught to follow his -father in this way. He stood on a small tree, crying for something to -eat, when his father came in sight with a beakful of food. He did not -feed him, but flew past him, so close that he almost touched him, and -alighted on the next tree, a little beyond him. - -[Illustration: BLUEBIRD] - -The little bluebird saw the food, and at once flew after it, perched -beside his father, and was fed. Then the old bird left him, and in a few -minutes he felt hungry, and began to call again. - -I kept close watch, and soon the father came and did the same thing -over. He flew past the young one with an insect in plain sight in his -beak, and perched on another tree still farther along in the way he -wanted the little one to go. - -The hungry baby followed, and was fed as before. In this way he was led -to a big tree the other side of the yard, where the rest of the family -were, and where they all spent the night. - -An old robin wanted to teach her young one to bathe. She brought him to -a dish of water kept for their use by some people who were fond of -birds. The little one stood on the edge and watched his mother go in, -and splash and scatter the water. He fluttered his wings, and was -eager to try it for himself, but seemed afraid to plunge in. - -At last the mother flew away and left him standing there, and in a -moment came back with a worm in her mouth. The young robin was hungry, -as young birds always are, and when he saw the worm, he began to flutter -his wings, and cry for it. - -But the mother jumped into the middle of the water dish, and stood -there, holding the worm in his sight. The youngster wanted the worm so -much that he seemed to forget his fear of the water, and hopped right in -beside her. She fed him, and then began to splash about, and he liked it -so well that he stayed and took a good bath. - -Birds, as these stories show, teach their little ones by coaxing, and -not by driving them. - -An Englishman, Mr. Lloyd Morgan, once had some ducks and chickens -hatched away from their mother, to see how much their parents had to -teach them. - -He found that these little orphans had to be taught to pick up their -food, and to know what is good to eat. He had to show the young ducks -how to dive, and teach all of them that water is good to drink. - -To see if chickens had to be taught the hen language, he put them out -by their mother when they were a few days old. - -The hen was going about with her brood, all brothers and sisters of Mr. -Morgan's chicks, and she was quite ready to adopt the new ones. She -clucked and called to them with all her might, but they did not come. -They acted as if they did not hear her. When the others ran and crept -under her wings to be brooded, the strangers looked on, but did not -think of going too. - -They did not understand the calls or the ways of their own mother. They -had not been taught. - -A careful watcher will see the birds teach these things, and many others -as interesting. But no one will see anything unless he is quiet, and -does not frighten them. - - - - -THE BIRD GROWN UP - - - - -XI - -THE BIRD'S LANGUAGE - - -WHEN the bird is grown up, there are many other interesting things to -know about him,--one is, whether he can talk. - -It is plain to those who have studied the ways of birds, that they are -able to tell things to each other, and many writers have said plainly -that birds have a language. - -If you notice birds in cages, you will find that when two or more of a -kind are in the same room, you will hear little chirps and twitters and -other notes, not at all like their song. But if one is alone in a room, -he hardly makes a sound except when singing. - -Then see a robin out of doors. He is less afraid of us than most birds, -and easiest to watch. If something comes up on him suddenly, he gives a -sharp note of surprise. If a cat appears, he has another cry which every -one can understand, a word of warning to all. If everything is quiet and -his mate is near, he will greet her with some low, sweet notes. - -When a partridge mother sees danger, she gives one call, which all her -brood know, and at once run and hide. When the hen speaks to her chicks, -they know well whether it means to come to her, or to run away. - -Of course birds do not use our words. When it is said that the quail -says "Bob White," it is meant that his call sounds like those words. To -some the notes sound like "more wet." One may call it almost anything, -like "all right" or "too hot." - -You will read in books about birds, that a certain warbler says "Witches -here," or that the white-throated sparrow says "Old Sam Peabody," and -other birds say still different things. The writer means that the words -remind one of the bird's notes, and so it is useful to know them, -because it helps you to know the bird when you hear him. - -I have many times seen birds act as if they were talking to each other. -You can often see the city sparrows do so. - -There is nothing in a bird's ways that we like so well as his singing. -And in all the many species of birds in the world, no two sing exactly -alike, so far as I can find out. You may always know a bird by his song. -A robin does not sing like a thrush or a catbird. And what is more, not -one of the sounds he utters is like those made by any other bird. If you -know him well, whatever noise he makes, you will know at once that it is -a robin. - -But there is something still more curious about it. No robin sings -exactly like another robin. When you come to know one bird well, you can -tell his song from any other bird's. Of course, all robins sing enough -alike for one to know that it is a robin song, but if you listen -closely, you will see that it is really different from all others. - -Persons who have kept birds in cages have noticed the same thing. - -There is still another point to know. One bird does not always sing the -same song. I have heard a song sparrow sing five or six different songs, -standing all the time in plain sight on a fence. In the same way I have -known a meadowlark to make six changes in his few notes. - -Besides their own natural songs, many birds like to copy the notes of -others. Our mockingbird is very fond of learning new things, and he does -not always choose songs either. - -He will imitate the noise of filing a saw, or the pop of a cork, as -readily as the sweetest song. I have heard one sing the canary's song -better than the canary himself. - -[Illustration: INDIGO-BIRD] - -Other birds can do the same. A common English sparrow picked up in the -streets of a big city, hurt, and not able to fly, was put into a room -with a canary. - -No doubt the wild bird found his life in a cage rather dull, after -having been used to the streets, and he soon began to amuse himself -trying to do as the canary did, to sing. In a few weeks he learned the -whole song, and he could sing it even better than his roommate, for his -voice was full and rich, and not so shrill as the canary's. - -Most people think that birds sing all summer. They think so because they -have not taken notice. We who are very fond of bird song know it is not -so. - -Singing begins when the birds first come in the spring. It goes on while -the nest is being built, and the mother bird is sitting. The father has -little to do at that time, and so he sings. And besides, he seems to be -so happy that he cannot help it. - -But when little ones begin to call for food, he has to be very busy, and -does not have so much time for music. Some birds stop singing as soon as -they go to feeding. - -But not all do so. Many go on singing till they begin to change their -clothes, or to moult, as it is called. This happens in August or -September, and when it begins, a bird seems to lose his voice. - -One of the first to stop singing is the bobolink. He is rarely heard -after June is past. The veery is another whose singing days are over -early. You may hear his call in the woods, if you know it, but not a -song will you hear after the middle of July. - -By the time August comes in, almost every bird is silent, except for his -calls or "talk." The birds to be heard then are the red-eyed vireo, who -seems never to tire, and now and then the indigo-bird, or the wood -pewee, and best of all, the dear little song sparrow, who keeps up his -cheery songs till the very last. - -Then you will know that all the birds are busy putting on their new -suits for their long journey. - - - - -XII - -WHAT HE EATS - - -WHAT the bird eats and where he gets his food are useful things for us -to know. It has only lately been found out that birds are the most -valuable of helpers to us. - -What we cannot eat ourselves, they are happy to live on, and things that -make us a great deal of trouble are their daily food. - -Some of the things they are fond of are little animals, like mice and -ground squirrels, that eat our crops. Others are insects which spoil our -fruit and eat up our vegetables, cankerworms and cutworms, and a hundred -more. - -Besides these, many birds eat the seeds of certain weeds that farmers -have to fight all the time. - -One reason this helps us so greatly is that birds eat much more for -their size than we do. A boy of six or eight years could not possibly -eat a whole sheep in one day, but a young bird can easily eat more than -his own weight every day. - -They want more than three meals too. They need to eat very often. One -catbird will take thirty grasshoppers for his breakfast, and in a few -hours he will want thirty more. So he destroys a great many in a day. - -Birds begin eating long before we are out of bed, and keep it up till -night comes again, or as long as they can see. - -You must not think the birds are greedy, as a person would be if he ate -every few minutes all day. They are made to do so. It is their business -to destroy insects, small animals, and weeds that trouble us so much, -and the more they eat the better for us. - -Let us see where they go for food. Each bird has his own place to work. - -The catbird watches the fruit-trees, and all day long eats insects that -are spoiling our fruit or killing the trees. When the cherries are ripe, -we should not forget that he has saved the fruit from insects, and has -well earned a share for himself. - -If you spent days and weeks picking off insects, would you not think you -had earned part of the fruit? "For every cherry he eats" (says a man who -has watched him), "he has eaten at least one thousand insects." - -The robin eats great numbers of cankerworms, which destroy our apples, -and cutworms, which kill the corn. - -The bluebird sits on the fence keeping sharp watch, and every few -minutes flies down and picks up a grasshopper or a cricket, or some such -grass-eating insect. - -Woodpeckers hunt over the trunks and limbs of trees. They tap on the -bark and listen, and if they hear a grub stir inside, they cut a hole in -the bark and drag it out. The downy is fond of insects that infest our -apple-trees, and he makes many holes in the trunks. But it does not hurt -the trees. It is good for them, for it takes away the creatures that -were eating them. - -Orioles go over the fruit-trees, and pick out tiny insects under the -leaves, and when they find great nests on the branches, they tear them -open and kill the caterpillars that made them. - -Little warblers, such as the pretty summer yellow-bird, help to keep our -trees clear, doing most of their work in the tops, where we can hardly -see them. - -Swallows fly about in the air, catching mosquitoes and tiny flies that -trouble us. - -Very useful to us are the birds who feed upon dead animals, such as the -turkey buzzards, who may be seen any day in our Southern States, -soaring about high in the air, looking for their food. - -What they eat is so very unpleasant to us that we are apt to despise the -birds. But we should cherish and feel grateful to them instead. For they -are doing us the greatest kindness. In many of the hot countries people -could not live, if these most useful birds were killed. - -Some persons think buzzards find their food by seeing it, and others are -just as sure that they smell it. Perhaps they use both senses. - - - - -XIII - -MORE ABOUT HIS FOOD - - -SOME of the big birds work all the time for us. When you see a hawk -sitting very still on a dead limb, what do you suppose he is doing? - -A good deal of the time he is looking on the ground for a mouse, or a -ground squirrel, or a rat, or some creature that he likes to eat. - -When he sees one of them move in the grass, he flies down and pounces -upon it. Thus he helps the farmer greatly, for all of these little -animals destroy crops. - -When it grows dark, hawks stop work and go to sleep. Then the owls, who -can see better in the dusk, come out of the holes where they have been -half sleeping all day. They hunt the same little creatures, most of all -rats and mice, which like best to run about in the night. - -Perhaps you have heard that hawks and owls carry off chickens. Many -people who keep chickens shoot every hawk and owl they see. But if they -knew more about them they would not do so. Only two of the common hawks -and one owl[1] disturb chickens. All the others kill thousands of the -little animals that give the farmers so much trouble. - -Owls have a curious way of eating mice. They swallow them whole, and -after a while they throw up a queer-looking little ball made of the -bones and fur of the mouse. - -You may some time have seen a long-legged heron walking about on the -seashore or in the salt marsh. Now and then he would thrust his long, -sharp bill into something, and lift up his head and swallow. Or you have -noticed a little sandpiper running along on the beach or the bank of a -river. - -The heron was probably eating frogs or fish, and the sandpiper some of -the small sea creatures thrown up by the waves. If these were not taken -away they would be very bad for us, and perhaps make us sick. - -Not less useful to us than these birds are the whole family of finches. -The goldfinch in bright yellow coat, the purple finch in red, and the -sparrows in plain brown. All of these are fond of seeds as well as -insects, and most of all they like the seeds of some weeds that are hard -to get rid of. - -The goldfinch is called the thistle-bird, because he likes best the -seeds of thistles, though he eats the beggar's-ticks too. - -The chipping sparrow, the little red-headed bird who comes about our -doors, eats the seeds of fox-tail and crab grasses, that spoil our -lawns. - -The white-throated sparrow, a large and very pretty bird, eats the seeds -of smartweed and ragweed. Other finches like bittersweet, sorrel, and -amaranth, all of which we are glad to have them eat. - -The seed-eating birds can find their food in winter, even when snow -covers the ground, because the dead weeds hold on to their seeds, and -the snow is not often deep enough to cover them. - -Some birds gather their food in the fall, and hide it away where they -can find it in winter. Blue jays collect acorns and beech-nuts, and -store them in a hole in a tree, or some other safe place, to eat when -food is scarce. A woodpecker who lives in the West picks holes in the -bark of a tree, and puts an acorn into each one. - -The oddest store I know of was made by a woodpecker. He found a long -crack in a post, and stuffed it full of live grasshoppers. He did not -like dead grasshoppers. He wedged them into the crack so tightly that -they could not get out, and I do not know that they wanted to. When -grasshoppers were scarce in the fields, he came day after day to his -queer storehouse, till he had eaten every one. - -One of the woodpecker family who lives in Mexico stores nuts and acorns -in the stems of plants. These stems are hollow and made in joints like -bamboo. The bird cuts a hole at the upper end of a joint, and stuffs it -full. When he wants his nuts, he cuts a hole at the lower end of the -joint and pulls them out. - -I once had a tame blue jay, who was fond of saving what he could not -eat, and putting it safely away. The place he seemed to think most -secure was somewhere about me, and he would come slyly around me as I -sat at work, and try to hide his treasure about my clothes. - -When it was a dried currant or bit of bread, I did not care; but when he -came on to my shoulder, and tried to tuck a dead meal worm into my hair -or between my lips, or a piece of raw beef under a ruffle or in my ear, -I had to decline to be used as a storehouse, much to his grief. - -He liked to put away other things as well as food. Matches he seemed to -think were made for him to hide. His chosen place for them was between -the breadths of matting on the floor. - -Once he found a parlor match, hunted up a good opening, and put it in. -Then he went on, as he always did, to hammer it down so tightly that it -would stay. One of the blows of his hard beak struck the lighting end of -the match, and it went off with a sharp crack. The noise and the flame -which burst out made the bird jump three feet, and scared him nearly out -of his senses. - -After that I took care to keep the matches out of the way of a bird so -fond of hiding things. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[1] Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, and great horned or hoot owl. - - - - -XIV - -WHERE HE SLEEPS - - -MOST birds sleep on their feet. - -You know how a canary goes to sleep, all puffed out like a ball, with -his head buried in the feathers of his shoulder. He may stick his bill -over behind the top of the wing, but he never "puts his head under his -wing," as you have heard. - -Sometimes he stands straight up on one leg, with the other drawn up out -of sight in his feathers, but more often he sits down on the perch, -still resting on his feet. Most wild birds of the perching kind sleep in -the same way. - -It is only lately that we have begun to find out where birds sleep, -because it is dark when they go to bed, and they get up before it is -light enough for us to see them. - -The only way to catch them in bed is to go out in the evening, and start -them up after they have gone to sleep. And this is not very kind to the -poor little birds. Some men who are trying to learn about the habits of -birds have tried this way, and so have found out some of their -sleeping-places. - -One thing they have learned is that the nest is not often used for a -bed, except for the mother, while she is sitting and keeping her little -ones warm. - -Robins and orioles, and others, creep into the thick branches of an -evergreen tree, close up to the trunk. Some crawl under the edge of a -haystack, others into thick vines or thorny bushes. All these are meant -for hiding-places, so that beasts which prowl about at night, and like -to eat birds, will not find them. - -Tree sparrows like to sleep in holes in the ground like little caves. -The men who found these cosy little bedrooms think they are places dug -out by field mice, and other small animals, for their own use. And when -they are left, the birds are glad to take them. - -When the weather is cold, some birds sleep under the snow. You may think -that would not be very warm, and it is not so warm as a bed in the house -with plenty of blankets. But it is much warmer than a perch in a tree, -with nothing but leaves to keep off the wind. - -While the snow is falling, some birds find it as good as blankets for -their use. Grouse, who live on the ground, dive into a snow-bank, and -snuggle down quietly, while the snow falls and covers them all over, and -keeps the cold wind off. Air comes through the snow, so they do not -smother. - -Some birds creep into a pile of brush that is covered with snow, and -find under the twigs little places like tents, where the snow has been -kept out by the twigs, and they sleep there, away from the wind and -storm outside. - -Water birds find the best sleeping-places on the water, where they float -all night like tiny boats. Some of them leave one foot hanging down and -paddling a little, while they sleep, to keep from being washed to the -shore. - -Bob-white and his family sleep in a close circle on the ground, all with -their heads turned outward, so that they can see or hear an enemy, -whichever way he comes. - -Hawks and eagles are said to sleep standing, never sitting on the feet -like a canary. Some ducks and geese do even more: they sleep standing on -one foot. Woodpeckers and chimney swifts hang themselves up by their -claws, using their stiff tail for a brace, as if it were a third leg. - -Some birds, like the crows, sleep in great flocks. They agree upon a -piece of woods, and all the crows for miles around come there every -night. Sometimes thousands sleep in this one bedroom, called a crow -roost. Robins do the same, after the young are big enough to fly so far. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN ROBIN] - -Audubon, who has told us so much about birds, once found a hollow tree -which was the sleeping-room of chimney swifts. The noise they made going -out in the morning was like the roar of a great mill-wheel. - -He wanted to see the birds asleep. So in the daytime, when they were -away, he had a piece cut out at the foot of the tree, big enough to let -him in, and then put back, so the birds would not notice anything -unusual. - -At night, after the swifts were abed, he took a dark lantern and went -in. He turned the light upon them little by little, so as not to startle -them. Then he saw the whole inside of the tree full of birds. They were -hanging by their claws, side by side, as thick as they could hang. He -thought there were as many as twelve thousand in that one bedroom. - - - - -XV - -HIS TRAVELS - - -MOST of our birds take two long journeys every year, one in the fall to -the south, and the other in the spring back to the north. These journeys -are called "migrations." - -The birds do not go all at once, but in many cases those of a kind who -live near each other collect in a flock and travel together. Each -species or kind has its own time to go. - -It might be thought that it is because of the cold that so many birds -move to a warmer climate. But it is not so; they are very well dressed -to endure cold. Their feather suits are so warm that some of our -smallest and weakest birds are able to stay with us, like the chickadee -and the golden-crowned kinglet. It is simply because they cannot get -food in winter, that they have to go. - -The fall travel begins soon after the first of July. The bobolink is one -of the first to leave us, though he does not start at once on his long -journey. By that time his little folk are full grown, and can take care -of themselves, and he is getting on his winter suit, or moulting. - -Then some morning all the bobolinks in the country are turned out of -their homes in the meadows, by men and horses and mowing-machines, for -at that time the long grass is ready to cut. - -Then he begins to think about the wild rice which is getting just right -to eat. Besides, he likes to take his long journey to South America in -an easy way, stopping here and there as he goes. So some morning we miss -his cheerful call, and if we go to the meadow we shall not be able to -see a single bobolink. - -There, too, are the swallows, who eat only small flying insects. As the -weather grows cooler, these tiny flies are no longer to be found. So the -swallows begin to flock, as it is called. For a few days they will be -seen on fences and telegraph wires, chattering and making a great noise, -and then some morning they will all be gone. - -They spend some time in marshes, and other lonely places, before they at -last set out for the south. - -As the days grow shorter and cooler, the warblers go. These are the -bright-colored little fellows, who live mostly in the tops of trees. -Then the orioles and the thrushes and the cuckoos leave us, and most -birds who live on insects. - -By the time that November comes in, few of them will be left. Birds who -can live on seeds and winter berries, such as cedar-berries and -partridge-berries, and others, often stay with us,--bluebirds, finches, -and sometimes robins. - -Many birds take their journey by night. Think of it! Tiny creatures, -that all summer go to bed at dark, start off some night, when it seems -as if they ought to be asleep, and fly all night in the dark. - -When it grows light, they stop in some place where they can feed and -rest. And the next night, or two or three nights later, they go on -again. So they do till they reach their winter home, hundreds or -thousands of miles away. - -These night flyers are the timid birds, and those who live in the woods, -and do not like to be seen,--thrushes, wrens, vireos, and others. Birds -with strong wings, who are used to flying hours every day, and bolder -birds, who do not mind being seen, take their journey by daylight. - -Most of them stop now and then, a day or two at a time, to feed and -rest. They fly very high, and faster than our railroad trains can go. - -In the spring the birds take their second long journey, back to their -last year's home. - -How they know their way on these journeys, men have been for many years -trying to find out. They have found that birds travel on regular roads, -or routes, that follow the rivers and the shore of the ocean. They can -see much better than we can, and even in the night they can see water. - -One such road, or highway, is over the harbor of New York. When the -statue of Liberty was set up on an island in the harbor a few years ago, -it was put in the birds' path. - -Usually they fly too high to mind it; but when there is a rain or fog -they come much lower, and, sad to say, many of them fly against it and -are killed. - -We often see strange birds in our city streets and parks, while they are -passing through on their migrations, for they sometimes spend several -days with us. - -A sparrow, who was hurt and unable to fly, was picked up one fall and -kept in a house all winter. He was not caged, and he chose for his -headquarters and sleeping-place a vase that stood on a shelf. - -He went with the family to the table, and made himself very much at home -there. He picked out what he wanted to eat and drink, and scolded well -if he did not have it. - -The thing he liked best was butter, and when he was ready to wipe his -bill after eating, as birds do, he found the coat-sleeve of the master -soft and nice for the purpose. This pleased the bird better than it did -the owner of the sleeve, but he tried in vain to keep the saucy fellow -off. If he forgot for an instant to watch the bird, he would dash up, -wipe off the butter, and fly away out of the reach of everybody. - -In the spring the sparrow left the family, and lived out of doors. But, -with the first cold weather of fall, he came back, went to his old vase, -and settled himself for the winter again. This he did for several -years. - - - - -XVI - -HIS WINTER HOME - - -NEARLY every bird has two homes, one for winter and one for summer. - -We can see why birds leave us and go to a warmer and better place for -the winter; but why they do not stay in that country where there is -always plenty of food, but choose to come back in the spring to their -old home, we do not know. - -It may be because they want more room to build nests, and bring up their -little ones. Or it may be that they want to come back because they love -their old home. - -Whatever may be the reason, it is well for us that they do so, for if we -had no more birds in the summer than we have in the winter, we should -suffer very much from insects. We could not raise fruit, or vegetables, -or grain, for insects would eat it all. That is one reason we are so -glad that birds come back to us in the spring. - -Though so many birds leave us in the fall, they do not all go. A few -come to us who have nested farther north, and some who have been with us -all summer stay over winter too. These last are called "permanent -residents," that is, they stay all the year round. - -In the Middle States of the East--New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, -and Ohio--there are twenty or twenty-five who stay all the year. There -are several hawks and owls and woodpeckers, the crow, bob-white, the -blue jay, and the meadowlark, and, of the little ones, the goldfinch, in -his sober winter coat, his cousin the purple finch, the song sparrow, -the nuthatch, and the chickadee. - -Besides these "permanent residents," there are ten or twelve who come -from the north. The funny little saw-whet owl is one, and the snowflake, -who loves to frolic in the snow, is another. - -Many of our summer birds stay in the Southern States all winter. Those -who can eat seeds and winter berries--for instance, robins and -bluebirds, catbirds and sparrows--need not go very far south; and some -of them even stay in the State of New York. - -Most of our birds who do not eat berries, but must have insects, go -farther, some to Florida or the West Indies, others to Central America, -and a few even into South America,--except the woodpecker, who gets his -insects under the bark of trees. - -The summer birds of the Western States nearly all go to Mexico for the -winter. - -The little birds who stay with us are only those who can eat seeds, as I -said, or the eggs and insects to be found in the crevices of the bark on -trees. These birds do a great deal of good, for each one destroys -thousands of insects before they have come out of the egg. One small -chickadee will eat several hundred insect eggs in a day. - -These little fellows can almost always find their food, for the snow -seldom covers the trunks of the trees; but now and then in the winter we -have an ice storm; then the trunks and branches are buried under ice, so -that the birds suffer, and perhaps will starve to death. - -In such a time it will be kind of you who live in the country to put out -food for them. You can give them any table scraps of meat or vegetables, -or bread, chopped fine for their tiny mouths, with corn or grain for -bigger birds. - -What they all like best to eat is suet,--which the butcher will give -you,--chopped fine, or, better still, nailed or tied to a branch or a -fence, so that they can pick off morsels for themselves. This will make -them all very happy; but you must see that the English sparrow does not -drive them away, or eat it all himself. - -Some persons who live in the country or small towns spread a table every -day through the winter for the birds. Many come for food, and they have -great pleasure in watching them and studying their ways. - -One lady I know who is an invalid, and her greatest happiness in the -long cold months, when she cannot go out, is to set her breakfast-table, -and watch the guests who come to it. - -She lives in the southern part of Ohio, and she has all winter cardinal -grosbeaks, or redbirds as she calls them, blue jays, tufted titmice, and -others. The cardinals are fine singers, and they sing to her every month -in the year. - - - - -XVII - -HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS - - -MANY people think that as soon as the young birds of a nest are full -grown, and know how to take care of themselves, the family separate, and -have no more to do with each other. Some have even said that the old -birds push the little ones out of the nest to get rid of them. - -All this is a great mistake, and any one who has watched them carefully -will say so. - -In many cases, when the brood is grown and all have left the nest, the -whole family keep together. One who has eyes sharp to see will find -everywhere little groups of parents with their young. If the old birds -rear more than one brood in a summer, the young ones of the first nest -keep together. - -I have often seen little parties of young bluebirds or sparrows going -about after food on the grass, or on the newly cut hay. Now and then one -of the parents would come around as if to see that all was well, and -then leave them alone again. When the second brood is ready to go out, -the whole family often unite in a small flock. In some cases, where they -could be watched, they have been known to stay so all winter. All -through July and August, in the New England and Middle States, one may -see these pretty little family groups. - -Some birds who live and nest by themselves, each pair in its own tree, -or bush, or field, come together in larger parties after the young are -grown, in a social way. A few do this only at night, in what are called -roosts, which I spoke of in a former chapter. - -Other birds, when nestlings are out, unite in flocks, and stay so all -the time, or through the winter. Our pretty little goldfinch does this. - -Most of the birds we see about our homes like to have a tree or bush to -themselves for their nest. But there are many birds that live close -together all the time. Some, you may say, in small villages,--swallows, -for instance. We generally see several swallows flying about together. -They make their nests near each other. The barn swallow chooses the -beams inside the barn, and there are often three or four or more nests -in the same barn. - -The eave swallows put their mud cottages in a row, under the eaves -outside the barn. One would think they needed to have numbers on their -doors, to know which was their own. - -There, too, are the common crow blackbirds. They come in the spring in -crowds, and when it is time to make nests, they find some grove or clump -of trees that suits them, and all of them build their nests close -together. Often there are two or three on one tree, like a bird city. -There they live and rear their little ones, and it is said they never -quarrel. - -Then there are the birds who get their food from the sea, such as -penguins. These birds live in big cities, of many thousand nests. They -go to an island where no people live, and build on the ground, or on -rocks, or anywhere. - -Sometimes they are so near together one can hardly walk without stepping -on them. How each mother can tell her own, it is hard to see. They live -very happily together, and if a mother is killed, so that her little -ones are left orphans, one of the neighbors will adopt them all, and -feed and bring them up with her own. - -Some of these birds do not even take the trouble to make a nest. They -put the eggs anywhere on the sand or earth. - -Some one, Mr. Brehm, I think, tells a pretty story about a certain kind -of duck who rears two broods every season. After the ducklings of the -first brood have learned to take care of themselves, they go about -together, getting their food and sailing on the water in a little party, -while their parents are hatching the second brood. But when the younger -ones are big enough, they are led to the water, and at once their elder -brothers and sisters join them. They all swim around together, the -youngest in the middle of the group, where they are protected and fed by -the elder brood as well as by the parents, a lovely and united little -family. - - - - -XVIII - -HIS KINDNESS TO OTHERS - - -BIRDS are helpful to each other when in trouble. If a robin is in -distress, other robins will come to see what is the matter, and to help -if they can. And not only robins, but catbirds, and orioles, and -chickadees, and others, will come, too. - -Sometimes when a person tries to rob a nest, all the birds near will -come in a crowd, to drive away the thief. They will cry and scream at -him, and sometimes fly at his face, and try to peck his eyes. - -Birds are so little they cannot fight a man, but if they can peck at his -face, they can hurt him, and if they really get at his eyes, they can -put them out. We cannot blame the birds for trying to protect themselves -and their young, and it is well for boys to be careful how they disturb -a nest. - -One proof that birds really do help each other is the fact that when a -man wants to know what birds live in a place, he can bring them all -around him by making a sound like a young bird in distress. All who hear -it will come to see what is the matter. - -Let me tell you a story of some young swallows. They were able to fly a -little, and were sitting together on a roof, when a lady who was -watching them noticed that one of them seemed to be weak, and not able -to stand up. - -When the parents came with food, the others stood up and opened their -mouths, and so were fed, but this little one hardly ever got a morsel. - -If birds had no love for each other, as many people think, these strong -little ones would not have cared if their brother did starve; but what -did the lady see? She says that two of the strong young swallows came -close up to their weak brother, one on each side. They put their beaks -under his breast and lifted him up on to his legs, and then crowded so -close against him that their little bodies propped him up, and held him -there; so that he had his chance of being fed as well as they. - -Many times birds have been seen who were blind or old, or who had a wing -or a leg broken, or were in some way hurt so that they could not take -care of themselves, and who were being waited upon by other birds, fed, -and led to the water to drink and bathe. - -[Illustration: CHEWINK, OR TOWHEE] - -Birds have been found caught in the lining of a nest, so that they were -held there and could not go for food. They had been there for weeks, and -would have starved to death if they had not been fed. Yet they were so -well taken care of by other birds that they were strong and able to fly. - -In one case, where the nest was in a tree trunk, the hole in the trunk -had grown up, so that when big enough to fly, they could not get out, -and they had been there for months. Yet when a man cut open the trunk -and let them out, they were well and lively, proving that they had been -fed by friends outside all that time. - -I could tell you many true stories of the kind care of birds for each -other, and for baby birds who had lost their parents, or been stolen -away from them. - -A gentleman in Massachusetts told me that when he was a boy he saw a -small flock of chewinks who came about a house where food was put out -for birds. They came every day, and he soon saw that one was bigger than -the rest, and that he never tried to pick up anything for himself, but -all the others fed him. - -One day he was cruel enough to throw a stone at the bird who was so well -taken care of, and when he took up his victim, he found that the -upper and lower parts of his bill were crossed, so that he could not -pick up anything from the ground, where chewinks find their food. He had -been born thus deformed, and if he had not been fed every day by his -friends he must have starved to death. Yet so well had he been cared for -that he was better grown than any of the others. - - - - -XIX - -HIS AFFECTIONS - - -I AM sure I need not say that father and mother birds love their little -ones. - -So much does the mother love her nestlings that she is often willing to -die for them. Orioles and chickadees will let themselves be caught in -the hand of one who has taken their young, rather than desert them. - -Some birds live in our chimneys, generally in a flue that is not in use, -and are called chimney swifts. If a chimney takes fire the mother swift -tries hard to get her little ones out, but if they cannot fly, she has -been seen to fly into the fire herself, and die with them. - -Robins have been found frozen to death on their nest. They could easily -have saved themselves, but they would not leave their young ones to -perish. A ground bird has been known to sit on her nest during a -freezing storm, till she died, rather than go and leave her little ones -to suffer. - -Once when a young cedar-bird was caught and carried off, the father -followed it for miles, crying and showing so much distress that the man -who had stolen it was sorry for him, and let the little one go. - -Every one who has watched them knows that birds love their mates. A man -once shot a sea bird, when her mate came about him, crying and showing -his grief as well as if he could speak. - -I could easily fill a book with stories to prove that birds are loving -to their mates and young, and all of them true. - -It does not seem strange that birds are fond of their own, but they love -others also. And not only other birds, but even animals like cats, dogs, -and horses sometimes. - -I once had an English goldfinch in the house. He was a little fellow, -not so big as a canary, and he was very fond of another bird in the -room. This was a scarlet tanager, who was much larger than himself. - -The small bird showed his love for his red friend, just as people show -love, by staying close to him, singing to him, and driving away any bird -who came too near. - -A lady once told me this story showing the love of a pigeon for a cat. -The cat was fond of lying on the broad window sill. When the pigeon saw -her there, he would fly down, and alight beside her. Then he would press -up close to her, and rub against her fur, as if glad to see her, and the -cat seemed to enjoy it as much as the bird. - -[Illustration: HOUSE WREN] - -Often a bird who is tamed loves his human friends. A man had a crow who -was very fond of him. He had reared the bird from the nest and never -shut him up, but let him fly about wherever he chose. - -One day he was out in a sudden rain, and his feathers got wet, so that -he could not fly well. Then a boy caught him, and carried him seven -miles away. He clipped one wing, so that the crow could not fly, and -kept him shut in the house all winter. In the spring, the first time he -could get out, the bird started for his old home. - -He could not fly, but he walked the seven miles, through mud and wet, -and came home so tired that he was almost dead. When his master saw him -coming he went to meet him, took him up and petted him, and talked to -him. - -The poor fellow was so happy it seemed as if he could not live. But he -was taken care of, and got well, and lived many years. But never after -that would he leave the place, though when his new feathers came in he -could fly as well as ever. - -Canary birds often love their mistresses. I have heard of one who was so -grieved by a harsh word, that in a few minutes he fell off his perch -dead. - -These true stories show us how tender and loving these little creatures -are, and how careful we should be to treat them gently and kindly. - -An interesting and true story is told by a clergyman in Ohio. It is a -habit of wrens to find a good nesting-place, and then look for a mate to -occupy it. One spring a wren chose a nice bird-box on his place, and -held it ready for the expected bride. But she did not come, and a pair -of English sparrows took a fancy to the same house. - -Sparrows expect to get what they want, and are always ready to fight for -it, so they gave battle to the wren. But wrens also will fight for their -own, and this wren held his house against the enemy for two weeks. Still -the mate did not appear, and finally the lonely bird lost heart, and let -the sparrows set up house-keeping in his box, though he did not go away. - -When the young sparrows were hatched, and feeding began, the wren -suddenly became friendly. He hunted up small green worms, probably such -as are good for wrenlings, and offered them to the young sparrows. - -Nestlings are never known to refuse anything to eat, and wren food -seemed to suit the sparrows, for they soon outgrew the nursery. - -All summer this queer thing went on. The sparrows reared three or four -broods, and the wren did his full share of the work,--and not only of -feeding the young, but of repairing and rebuilding the nest for each -fresh brood. - - - - -XX - -HIS INTELLIGENCE - - -BEFORE people knew very much about the ways of birds, it was thought -that they did not have to be taught anything, but that they knew -everything they needed to know, as soon as they were born. That is, they -were said to act from instinct alone, and not at all from reason, as we -do. - -Another notion that people had was that birds of a kind were just alike; -that they looked exactly like each other, all acted in the same way, and -all sang the same song. - -But since we have begun to study birds more closely, we find these -things are not true. We find that birds learn things by being taught, as -we do. Also, they find out how to do things themselves, and they are not -all alike, as so many machines. - -More than this, we see that they do not look nor act exactly like each -other. For when we know one robin or one oriole well, we can tell him -from any other robin or oriole. And, as I said before, no two of a kind -sing precisely the same song. - -A bird shows his intelligence in many ways. One is by the way he acts -when he cannot do as he is used to doing. A robin I know of wished to -build a nest, but could not find mud to put into it, for it was a very -dry time, and there were no streams near. Now a robin's nest must have -mud, and the bird seemed puzzled for a while. But at last she thought of -a way to get it. - -She went to a bathing-dish that the people of the house kept filled with -water for the birds, jumped into it, and got her legs very wet. Then she -flew to the road, and tramped around in the dust and dirt. - -In a short time her legs had a good coating of mud, which she carefully -picked off with her bill, and took to the nest she was building. - -This she did a great many times, and the lady who told me of it watched -her till she had as much mud as she needed. - -A bird often shows sense by the way she repairs a nest that has been -thrown out of place. Sometimes she will add a new stay, tying the nest -to a stronger limb. One sparrow, whose nest broke loose, put so many -stays to the branch above that they made a little roof like a tent over -it. - -Another way a bird shows reason is in seeing the advantage of a new -place. A pair of swallows lived far out in the West, hundreds of miles -from any house. They had no doubt always nested in a cave, or a hole in -a tree. But one day they found a house put up. It was a mere shed, to be -used as a blacksmith shop, by a party of men who were looking over the -country. - -At once the birds saw how nice it would be to have a roof over their -heads. And although there was a big fire, and the noise of men at work, -they built the nest over the anvil, and reared the family in safety. - -Woodpeckers have shown that they can learn. Some of them have found an -easier way to get food than to dig through the bark of trees for it. - -The flicker, or golden-winged woodpecker, has learned that ants and -other insects are good to eat, and now he does not think of digging into -bark any more. - -The red-headed woodpecker has learned to catch flies like a common -flycatcher. The yellow-bellied, or sapsucker, cuts holes in the trees, -and eats the insects that come to feed on the sweet sap that drips from -them. - -[Illustration: FLICKER] - -Woodpeckers have also learned to cut a hole through a board and nest -inside a building, instead of drilling a deep hole in the trunk of a -tree for a nest. - -Birds show intelligence when they draw us away from their young ones, by -acting as if they were hurt and not able to fly. I have already spoken -about that. - -Sometimes when a bird is caught he will lie quiet and pretend to be -dead. But all the time he is looking out for a chance to fly away. - -A man who watched birds very closely once saw an interesting instance of -their intelligence. They were two of the birds who get their food on the -seashore by turning over stones and eating the creatures hidden under -them. They had found a big dead fish thrown up on the beach and half -buried in sand. Under such a fish they were sure they should find food, -so they went to work to turn it over. The fish was three and a half feet -long, and the birds were about as big as our sandpipers. So it was a -hard thing to do. - -First they pushed against it with their beaks and breast, but it did not -move. Then they went around the other side and scratched away a good -deal of sand from under the fish, and went back and tried again to turn -it over. Still it was too heavy to stir. - -Again they ran around the other side, scraped away more sand, and tried -it once more. They kept up this work for half an hour, but did not -succeed in stirring the great fish. - -At this time the man, who had hidden himself to watch them, saw another -bird coming. The two little workers greeted him with joyful cries, to -which he replied in the same tones. Then all three set to work on the -heavy fish. They dug more sand out from the lower side, and then pushed -against the upper side with all their strength. They lifted it a few -inches, but it fell back. - -At last, after resting a few minutes, without moving from their places, -they worked it in this way. They rested their breasts on the sand, put -their beaks under, and lifted. When the fish was raised several inches, -they held it with their beaks and pushed their breasts against it, when -over it went, down the little pitch they had made. - -They could not stop, and they went with it, but at once came back and -found enough to pay them for their hard work. - -One who really watches birds to see what they are doing will see many -actions that show intelligence and reason. - - - - -HOW HE IS MADE - - - - -XXI - -HIS BODY - - -DID you ever think how well the bird is made to suit his life? Look at -him. - -To fit him to move through the air in flying, his shape is the same that -men make their boats to move through water. It is sharp in front to cut -his way as he goes through, for even the air needs to be cut. - -It is narrower toward the back, and as he flies, the feet are drawn up -or trail behind, and even the feathers lie backward. All this is so he -can go swiftly through the air, and nothing, not even a feather, will -hold him back. - -To keep his body upright, so that he will not be top-heavy and tip over -as he flies, his weight is mostly below the wings. - -If we should try to go through the air as fast as a bird goes, we should -find it very hard to breathe. But the bird is made for it. When you come -to study his anatomy, you will see what a wonderful little creature he -is. - -He can sing while he is working very hard to fly upward. If you will try -to sing while running up a hill, you will see how hard it is to do that. - -A bird's head is joined to his neck at one place, something like a -hinge. Other animals, like dogs and cats, have two hinges, or places of -joining. That is why a bird is able to turn his head around so far that -he can look down his own back. No other creature can do so. - -Because of this, he is able to dress every feather on his body, and to -sleep with his head laid back on his shoulder. - -Nearly all birds have some of their bones hollow, and air-sacs, or -pockets, under the skin. These sacs they can fill with air and make -themselves light, so that those who live in the water cannot sink, but -float like a cork. - -Men who study the way birds are made do not yet know all the uses of the -hollow bones and air-sacs. That is one of the things left for you young -folk to find out. - -Birds who get their food in marshes, or the edge of the water, have long -legs for wading. They have also long necks, so they can pick up food -from the ground. - -Birds who swim have webs between the toes, that turn their feet into -paddles. - -Birds have very large gullets. In many cases the gullet leads into a -place called the crop, where food is kept before it goes into the -stomach. Sometimes the food is made soft in the crop, and then fed to -the young ones, as I told you. - -Birds have no teeth, yet they eat hard seeds, like acorns and grains of -corn. To break these up, and get them ready for the stomach, they have a -gizzard, which is a sort of grinding-mill. And to help in the work of -grinding they swallow small stones. - -One of the wonderful things about birds is the height at which they can -live, and not only live, but fly. A man cannot go higher than twenty-two -or twenty-three thousand feet, while moving about or exercising, because -the air is so rare he cannot breathe. The highest a man was ever known -to go and live, it is said, was less than thirty thousand feet, and that -was in a balloon, where he did not move. - -But birds go a good deal higher than this, and can fly--which is violent -exercise--at that height. It is thought by some that the thinness of the -air may be the cause of the great speed with which birds fly in that -region. But there is still much to be found out about this. - -Besides the marvels of flight, birds have other powers almost as -strange. Many of them can fly under water with perfect ease, and, more -than that, they can, when they wish, sink slowly till nothing is left -above water but their beaks, to breathe. And they can stay so as long as -they choose, keeping still in one spot, without moving. - -A cormorant in a zoological garden, who wanted to catch some of the -swallows skimming over the pond, sank his body till only his head was -out, and held himself there perfectly still. - -Birds who are hunted, as geese, have been known to save their lives in -that way, by sinking their body under water, leaving in sight only the -tip of the bill, which is so small it is not readily seen. - -To do such things, birds must be able to make their bodies heavy when -they choose, as well as light, which we know they are able to do by -filling their air-sacs with air. - -There are many things still to be found out about the powers of birds. - - - - -XXII - -HIS BEAK AND TONGUE - - -HOW does a bird get along without a hand? He has to prepare food; to -keep his feathers in order; to build the nest; to feed and take care of -the young; and sometimes to fight other birds. How can all this be done -without a hand? - -[Illustration: FIG. 1. - -Bill of Oriole.] - -The beak is the only thing most birds have in place of a hand, and it is -wonderful to see how many things they can do with it. - -Orioles use it as a needle, in making the nest. With it they weave -strips of soft bark or strings, back and forth, in and out, to make the -firm pocket they hang on the elm-tree (see Fig. 1). - -[Illustration: FIG. 2. - -Bill of Woodpecker.] - -A woodpecker's beak is a chisel or pick, to cut a deep hole in a tree -trunk for a nest (Fig. 2). With a nuthatch it is a hammer, to crack the -nut he has wedged into a crevice in the bark so tightly it cannot slip. - -[Illustration: WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH] - -Some birds use the beak to dig in the ground, as the bank swallows, -while the barn swallows make it a trowel, to carry and plaster mud (Fig. -3). All of them use it as a hand to feed themselves, and a brush and -comb to dress their feathers. - -[Illustration: FIG. 3. Bill of Swallow.] - -Birds need to use the beak a good deal, because in most cases it grows -like our finger-nails. If they did not keep it worn off, it would grow -so long as to trouble them. Sometimes when a bird lives in a cage and -does not use his bill, it grows so long that he can hardly pick up his -food. - -The woodcock's long beak is sensitive, so that he can feel the worms, -deep in the mud where they live. Many waders and swimmers have beaks -soft like leather. - -[Illustration: FIG. 4. Bill of Hawk.] - -You can tell by the shape of the beak how a bird lives, and what he -eats. The strong, hooked beak of a hawk shows that he catches live -animals to eat (Fig. 4). The long, narrow, sharp bill of a heron shows -that he spears his prey, often under water. - -The sharp-pointed bill of a warbler is to pick tiny insects and eggs out -of blossoms, and from under leaves. The sharp-edged bill of a sparrow -(Fig. 5) is to break open the hard shells of seeds. - -[Illustration: FIG. 5. Bill of Sparrow.] - -The curious beak of a crossbill (Fig. 6) is to pick seeds out of pine -cones. - -[Illustration: FIG. 6. Bill of Crossbill.] - -A duck's wide beak, with a strainer at the edge, is to let water out -while keeping food in. A spoon-shaped bill is to scoop up food, and a -thin, flat one is to poke into narrow cracks. - -Both parts of the beak, which take the place of our jaws, are called -mandibles, upper and lower. Both of them can be moved, while we can move -only our lower jaw. - -Birds' tongues are as curious as their beaks. To all birds they take the -place of a finger, as the beak takes the place of a hand, and they -differ as much as the beaks from each other. - -Insect eggs are very small, and often packed snugly into cracks and -corners, and the birds who eat them have a brush on the tip of the -tongue, which brushes an egg out of its hiding-place very easily. - -The nuthatch picks his small grubs out of crevices in bark with the -four-tined fork at the end of his tongue. - -A hummingbird's tongue can be used as a tube, to draw up the honey of -flowers, or perhaps as a pair of tweezers, to pick out the tiny spiders -that live there. - -A woodpecker has barbs on his tongue, to spear insects hidden under the -bark, as shown by Mr. Lucas (Fig. 7). It is said to be sticky also, to -hold small ones, like ants. - -The tongues of birds are of many shapes, but each one is fitted to its -owner's way of getting a living. - -[Illustration: FIG. 7. Tip of Tongue of Downy Woodpecker.] - -Because the tongue is often horny, and they eat strange things, it is -sometimes thought that birds have little sense of taste. But we cannot -be sure of this, and we know they all have notions about their food. - -Dr. Ward tells a story of some geese, which shows that they do not lack -that sense. While sailing upon a river he noticed on the bank some -geese, feeding on the rinds of watermelon, which they picked out of the -garbage dumped there. - -The rind, when taken out of the mass, was none too clean, being covered -with mud and other dirt. When a goose found a piece to suit him, he took -it up, carried it to the edge, and dropped it into the shallow water. -Then he stood and watched it till the running stream washed it clean, -when he stepped into the water and quickly ate off the part he wanted. - - - - -XXIII - -HIS EYES AND EARS - - -BIRDS' eyes are very different from ours. To begin with, they are round. -Then they are placed one on each side of the head, so that they can look -two ways at once. Owls are the only birds who have eyes turned forward -like ours. - -Birds' eyes also are of many colors. Besides our common black, brown, -blue, and gray, birds have light and dark green, bright red, pale and -deep yellow and orange, even white. - -They have, like us, two eyelids. But while we use the upper one to close -our eyes, most birds use the lower one. They have also a third eyelid, -inside the others, a thin, white sort of skin, that moves across the eye -from side to side, and is called the "nictitating membrane." - -There are other ways in which birds' eyes differ from ours. The men who -try to know exactly how birds are made have found out that birds' eyes -make everything look much larger than it is, in other words, they are -like magnifying glasses, or microscopes, so that a tiny insect egg, that -we can hardly see, looks very big to a warbler. - -Stranger still, when a bird is far off, his eyes are like telescopes. -That is, when a hawk is soaring about far above the earth, he can see a -mouse on the ground as well as if he had a telescope to look through. -And the gulls who sail about over the shore, and follow steamers on sea -voyages, can see small fish and tiny bits of bread thrown out by the -passengers, even when they are lost to us in the foam made by the -vessel. - -Mr. Frank Bolles had a pet barred owl, and used to take him out with -him. He says that the bird's sight was wonderful, better than his own -aided by a strong glass. Many times the bird would see and watch a hawk -so far off that Mr. Bolles with his glass could not see him until he -came nearer, and then he looked no bigger than a dot against the sky. - -There is a story told of some small birds migrating over the island of -Heligoland, suddenly coming down in a flock on to a man's garden, and -beginning at once to work among the leaves as if they were feeding. - -The owner of the garden knew they did not eat leaves, so he shot a few -and found them stuffed with small caterpillars. Then he looked at the -plants and found many more caterpillars, each in the curled-up end of a -leaf. The insects could not be seen, yet the birds, while flying over, -no doubt saw the curled leaves and knew they were there. - -Such eyes must be of great use in helping birds to find their food, and -to avoid their enemies. But think what giants we must look to them! It -is no wonder they are afraid of us. - -Perhaps even more useful to a bird than his eyes are his ears, though -they are so nicely covered up by the feathers that we cannot see them. -The tufts of feathers that stand up on some owls' heads, and are called -ears, are not ears at all, but merely decorations, like the crests of -some birds and the long tail feathers of others. - -But because they cannot be seen, we must not think birds have no ears; -they have very good ones indeed. They can hear much better than we can. - -Every one has seen a robin run over the grass and turn his head one side -to listen. It is supposed that he hears the earthworm move under the -sod, and if he is watched, he will often be seen to pull the worm from -that very spot. - -When a woodpecker taps on a tree trunk and turns his head to listen, it -is thought that he hears the grub stir under the bark, for when he -begins to cut the bark away, he is pretty sure to find and draw it out. - -Birds that are much hunted by men, like ducks and geese, get to be very -knowing, and show how wonderful is their hearing. They can tell the -difference between a noise made by an animal and that made by a man. A -deer or any animal may crash through the bushes, and they pay no -attention to it, but if a man makes the least sound they are off in an -instant. - -A bird's ears are behind the eyes, and a little below them. They are -covered by delicate feathers that hide them from sight. When the bird -raises these feathers--perhaps to hear better--they look like tiny ear -muffs. - -Owls have little flaps of skin with which they can shut up their ears -when they wish to be quiet. This must be very useful to birds who prefer -to sleep during the day, when nearly everybody else is awake and making -a noise. Many of us who live in cities would like to be able to close -our ears sometimes. - -Mr. Bolles tells a story about the sharp hearing of a heron. The bird -was on a tree dressing his plumage, and he was hidden in some bushes and -could not be seen. - -Mr. Bolles made all sorts of noises to start up the heron and make him -fly. First he imitated animal sounds. He quacked, and barked, and mewed, -and brayed, and the bird looked interested, but not at all alarmed. Then -he whistled and sang, and at last talked plainly, but the bird only -looked over his way, as if to see what new sort of beast was hidden -there. - -No noise that he could make startled the heron in the least, until a -twig snapped under his foot, when the bird was off like a shot. That -sound he well knew was made by his most feared enemy, man. - - - - -XXIV - -HIS FEET AND LEGS - - -A BIRD always stands on his toes, not on his whole foot, as we do. The -long slim part that we call the leg is really the foot, and the joint we -see nearly up to the bird's body is the bird's heel. But in this book we -will speak of it in the common way, calling the toes the foot, and the -part up to the joint the leg. - -People all over the world have the same kind of feet and the same number -of toes; but with birds it is not so. Most of them have four toes (Fig. -8), but some have only three, and a few have no more than two. - -[Illustration: FIG. 8. - -Foot of Blackbird.] - -In the use of the feet there is still more variety. There are, as Dr. -Coues divides them, three kinds of feet among birds:-- - -[Illustration: LESSER YELLOWLEGS] - -First, a foot that can be used like a hand to clasp a perch, a "perching -foot." - -Second, one that is good to use as a foot, but not at all like a hand, -called a "scratching foot." - -Third, one that is like neither hand nor foot, but a paddle, called a -"swimming foot." - -The birds who have the first kind, the "perching foot," have usually -three toes turned forward and one turned back. They can grasp a branch -or a twig as tightly as if with a hand, as all our common little birds -do. And the large birds of prey, such as hawks and owls (Fig. 9), hold -in them live mice and squirrels and the other little animals they eat. - -[Illustration: FIG. 9. Foot of Hawk.] - -Some birds with perching feet have the toes placed another way. -Woodpeckers have two turned forward and two turned back, so that they -can hold better to a tree trunk (Fig. 10). - -[Illustration: FIG. 10. Foot of Woodpecker.] - -A strange thing about the perching toes is the way they are made to hold -on, so that the birds can sleep on a perch, and not fall. Inside the -toes are tendons, something like cords, which act like elastic -rubber. When a bird bends his leg, the toes are drawn up and held so. -When he is sitting on a perch, he could not fall off if he wanted to. - -Birds who have the "scratching foot," the second kind, mostly go about -on the ground, or wade in the water. They do not usually sleep on -perches, but sleep standing, or crouch on the ground. In the arctic -regions, where there is a great deal of snow, some birds with scratching -feet, who have to go about in it, have in winter what has been called -"snowshoes," because it enables them to walk on the snow with ease. It -is a web-like growth on the side of each toe, which serves the same -purpose with birds that snowshoes do with men, keeps them from sinking -into the snow. - -Birds who have the "swimming foot," the third kind, have the toes made -into a paddle by webs stretched between them. They are the water -birds,--ducks, geese, gulls, and others. - -The toes of all birds have long, sharp claws, not at all like our -toe-nails. In the whip-poor-will and the nighthawk, one edge of the -middle claw has teeth like a comb. - -The long slim part above the toes, what we call the leg, is named in the -books the "tarsus." The tarsus is generally bare, with a leathery skin; -but in some hawks and owls it is covered with feathers. Birds who live -away up in the cold have feathers down on to the toes. - -On looking carefully at one of these bare legs, it will be seen that it -is not smooth like a lead pencil. It is marked in a sort of pattern. -Different species of birds show different patterns. Some look like the -shingles on a roof; others like little squares or plates; and some are -finer, like scales on a tiny fish. - -These marks help in arranging birds in the books. That is, all who have -the same pattern are said to be related. - -The legs of birds are not all of the same length for their size. Some -who never go about on the ground, like hummingbirds, swallows, and -swifts, have very short legs. Birds who walk and hop on the ground have -them longer, and birds who wade in the water have the longest of all. - - - - -XXV - -HIS WINGS AND TAIL - - -A BIRD'S wing does not look much like our arm and hand, yet the bones -show that they are the same. The bird has a shoulder, elbow, and wrist, -as we have. He even has fingers, though they are so covered up by -feathers that one would never know it. He has not so many fingers as we -have, and they are not movable like ours. - -A bird's wing is a wonderful flying-machine, which men have been trying -to imitate these many years. It is made of long stiff feathers, which -fold down smoothly over one another at his side when he is resting, but -can spread in an instant into a broad fan, to beat the air and carry him -away. - -One would not think that feathers could have so much power; but when the -wing is spread, the barbs of the feathers hook together with tiny hooks, -so small a microscope is needed to see them; and that, together with the -edges lapping over each other, makes them almost like one solid -surface. - -Wings are not alike in shape. The wing of a swallow is long and narrow, -while that of a hen or grouse is short and round. We can tell by the -shape of a wing how a bird flies. - -A long, narrow, pointed wing shows that the bird has an easy, skimming -flight,--either he flies great distances, or spends hours at a time on -wing (Fig. 11). - -[Illustration: FIG. 11. - -Wing of Swift.] - -The short round wing (Fig. 12) shows that a bird has a strong flight for -short distances. These wings are found mostly on rather heavy birds, -like grouse. - -[Illustration: FIG. 12. - -Wing of Sparrow.] - -The longest wings are seen on water birds, such as the petrel and the -frigate-bird. The shortest, also, are found among water birds, those who -swim more than they fly, as the auks. - -All the feathers of the wing are named, and it will be well to remember -that the long stiff quills are called _remiges_ or "rowers." These are -firmly rooted in the flesh, and are the hardest to pull out. They are -the most important to the safety of the bird. - -Birds have also another use for their wings. They are a strong weapon to -defend themselves, or to fight others. A large bird can give a severe -blow with his wing, and when pigeons fight, it is said they hold up one -wing to protect themselves while they strike at the enemy with the -other. - -Sometimes wings serve as musical instruments. Woodcocks make whistling -sounds with their wings as they fly, and mourning doves softly murmuring -ones. Ruffed grouse produce with theirs a rolling drum-like effect, and -others rattle theirs like castanets. - -[Illustration: FIG. 13. - -Tail of Ruffed Grouse.] - -If wings are not used, they slowly get to be smaller and weaker, each -generation having them more and more useless, till after a while they -are of no use whatever, and the birds cannot fly at all. This has -happened, it is supposed, to the ostrich family and to some birds living -in the sea. - -[Illustration: BROWN THRASHER] - -[Illustration: FIG. 14. - -Tail of Vireo.] - -The tail of a bird is formed of an equal number of feathers in pairs, -most often twelve. When spread they are the shape of a fan (Fig. 13), -and when closed they lie over each other with the middle pair on top. - -[Illustration: FIG. 15. - -Tail of Swallow-tailed Kite.] - -The tail feathers are not always of the same length, and that makes a -difference in the shape of the end. Sometimes they are even (like Fig. -14), when the tail is said to be "square." Sometimes the middle feathers -are a little longer than the outside ones, and then it is "rounded" -or "pointed." If the outside feathers are longest, the tail is "forked" -(Fig. 15). - -The feathers of the tail are called _rectrices_, or "rudders," because -they are supposed to be used to steer, or direct the bird's course in -flying. But the tail is used also as a brake to check the speed in -alighting. - -The tail is used more than any other organ to express the emotions. Some -birds, like the catbird and thrasher, keep it moving nearly all the -time, jerking it this way and that, and tossing it upward. - -[Illustration: FIG. 16. - -Tail of Sapsucker.] - -In woodpeckers and swifts the tail feathers are not soft at the end like -others, but the stems or shafts project beyond the feathery part, and -are stiff like the tail of a sapsucker (Fig. 16) or sharp like this of -the chimney swift (Fig. 17). These birds use the tail as a prop to hold -them against the tree trunk or chimney wall, and to help them in -climbing. - -[Illustration: FIG. 17. - -Swift Tail.] - -Tail feathers are not so strongly rooted as wing feathers, and are -easily pulled out. Sometimes, when a man or boy tries to catch a bird by -the tail, the bird will escape, leaving the tail in his hand. - - - - -XXVI - -HIS DRESS - - -A BIRD'S whole dress is made of feathers, but the feathers are not all -alike. There are, indeed, several kinds of feathers, and four of them -are found on every bird. There are flight feathers, clothing feathers, -downy feathers, thread feathers, and powder-down feathers. - -Feathers of all kinds are made in the same way. All have, first, a -quill, the horny part next to the body; second, a shaft, the white part -on which the barbs grow; third, the barbs, which grow out on each side -of the shaft, and together are called the vane; fourth, the barbules, or -little barbs, growing out of the barbs; and last, the barbicels, which -grow on the barbules, and on the wings have the tiny hooks which hold -them together. - -But though feathers are made on the same pattern, they look very -different. The wing and tail feathers are stiff and strong, and are -called flight feathers, but those on the breast and body are called -soft, and cling closely to keep the bird warm and dry. These are called -the clothing feathers, because they clothe the bird. - -Down feathers, which are almost always hidden under the clothing -feathers, are, like their name, downy, and answer to our under-clothes. - -Thread feathers grow among the clothing feathers, and are almost like -hairs. It is these that the cook singes off the fowls. - -Kingfishers who dive, and ducks who spend much time on the water, have -very thick down under the feathers--like suits of very warm -under-clothes--which keeps the water away from their bodies. Thus they -can dive, or sit on the water hours at a time, and not feel wet at all. - -Powder-down feathers grow on some herons and cockatoos. They are called -by that name because the tip ends are continually breaking off like -white dust. Nobody knows their use. - -Different from all these are the feathers called plumes, like the long, -soft ostrich plumes we all know; the dainty little ones that stand -straight up, and look as if the wind would blow them away; the long, -showy feathers that the peacock spreads with so much pride, or even the -pretty, drooping ones in the cock's tail. - -These feathers are of no use for flight or for warmth, they rather -hinder than help. They are for ornament, and there are many kinds among -birds, all exquisitely beautiful. Nature has given to birds a more -wonderful dress than to any other living creature. - -It is with his feathers that a bird expresses his feelings. In anger he -fluffs them out till he looks twice as big as usual; we have all seen a -hen bristle up when a dog comes near her brood. - -Nervousness or excitement is shown by jerking the wings and tail, and if -a bird wishes to escape notice, he can make his plumage a perfect -disguise. Mr. Bolles's pet owl would stretch himself up long and slim, -with feathers hugging his body, when he looked so much like a broken -branch of a tree that Mr. Bolles could hardly see him. And another owl -that I heard of, when he was on the ground, would flatten himself and -spread his plumage around, so that the eye could scarcely separate him -from the dead leaves about him. - -No one takes better care of his dress than a bird, and that is why it -looks well for a year. Every day, with most birds, it is washed and -carefully dried, each feather being passed through the bill, and the -whole thoroughly shaken out. At night one may often see robins and -catbirds before going to bed, dressing their plumage and shaking off the -day's dust. - -Besides washing and drying the feathers, birds need oil to keep them in -best condition. For this purpose they have a little "oil jug," a small -gland over the tail, out of which, with the bill, they can squeeze a -drop of oil. We often see ducks and geese oiling their feathers before a -rain. - -Water birds, who need a great deal of oil to keep out the wet, have the -oil jug very large. - -Birds seem to know perfectly well the beauty of their plumage. Not only -do they try to show it off, as the peacock when he spreads his tail, but -they seem to feel shame when their feathers are injured or soiled. One -white feather coming in where it does not belong will make a bird very -unhappy. He will work and tug at it to pull it out, and often make -himself actually ill over the trouble. I had a captive bird who died, I -think, from worry and work over a wing feather which persisted in coming -in white, and which he insisted on pulling out every time. - - - - -XXVII - -DIFFERENT COLORED SUITS - - -A BIRD does not always wear the same colored dress, as I said in the -chapter on moulting. A goldfinch, who through the summer wears a gay -yellow coat, comes out in the fall in plain olive and black; and the -scarlet tanager, who flourishes in the most brilliant red, changes to a -quiet green in winter. Besides these, some birds wear at one season a -spotted coat, and come out afterwards in one of plain colors. - -Most of them change by moulting, as I explained, the old feathers -dropping out and new ones of another color coming in; or, to speak -exactly, the new ones growing out and pushing the old ones off on their -tips. But some change color without moulting. All birds moult completely -in the autumn, many moult partially in the spring, and some, as I said, -change without moulting. - -This last change of color is made partly by fading, and partly by -breaking off the tips of the feathers, or what is called "abrasion." -This is a curious process. I told you something about it in chapter vii. -Certain feathers have edges different in color from the rest; as, for -example, a black feather with tips of yellow. While the feathers are new -and perfect, as they lie over each other like shingles on a roof, only -the edges show, and these being yellow, the bird appears to be dressed -in yellow. But the yellow tips are not so strong as the rest, and they -break or wear off, or are pulled off in the spring. What is strange, -they break exactly where the black begins. So as soon as the yellow is -off, the black shows, and behold, the yellow bird suddenly becomes a -black bird. - -That is the way some birds manage to put on their spring dress in the -fall. The solid color is the color of the spring, but it is hidden or -veiled by tips of another color for winter. - -The meadowlark changes in this way. In the winter his coat is brownish, -or buff. In the spring these tips are worn or broken off, and he comes -out in yellow and black. - -Another change, even more curious, is made by some birds, who all winter -wear white spots, or light scolloped edges to their feathers, and in -spring the spots are gone. - -In these, the white or light parts only break off, as sharply as if cut -with scissors. They leave the edges of the feathers notched in queer -ways, but as they lie over each other that does not show. - -[Illustration: BLACK AND WHITE WARBLERS (MALE AND FEMALE)] - -Birds in this way can change color without changing their feathers. -While moulting but once a year, they can show two suits, and by -partially moulting twice, can show three suits. - -Another thing about the color of feathers is interesting. Some colors, -such as black, and red, and brown, are caused by coloring matter in the -feather. But other colors are only an effect of the way the feather is -made, whether it has ridges on it, or certain minute specks under the -surface, which seem to act as prisms (says Dr. Newton), and reflect the -light in different colors. - -For instance, green is always due to some shade of yellow coloring -matter under a surface full of lengthwise ridges, and other colors are -made in similar ways. - -These curious facts have been found out by that tell-tale little -instrument the microscope, and no doubt it will reveal many more secrets -in time. - -Color is useful to birds, as well as beautiful. Its great use is to -conceal them from their enemies, and they show that they know this by -their conduct. - -When a bird is of the color of dead leaves, or the sand, he has only -to flatten himself and keep still, and he is hidden. Such a bird on the -nest will often let one come close, and even stroke her, while relying -on her color to be unseen. A sitting ruffed grouse will do so. But if -snow falls, the same bird is very wild, for she knows she can be seen in -the snow. - -I have seen a striped bird,--black and white warbler,--when frightened, -flatten himself on a branch, where he looked so much like the bark that -he could not be seen. - -Ground birds are mostly in mottled colors of the ground. The -whip-poor-will, whose habit it is to rest on a log all day, wears colors -that hide him as well as if he were under the log. - -The striking colors on a bird are often bidden when he is at rest, but -show plainly when he flies. When a flicker stands quietly on a fence he -is all in rather dull colors, but when he flies he shows a large -snow-white spot on his back, so that as far as one can see him he may be -known. - -A meadowlark on the ground looks not unlike a flicker, but when he flies -he shows that the outside feathers of his tail are white. This is as -striking a mark as the white spot on the flicker. - -Many birds have such markings, and it is thought by men who study birds -and look for a use in everything, that such marks serve the purpose of -"danger signals" or "recognition marks." That by these birds can know -each other in the dusk, or that the flash of color will catch the eye, -when the bird does not wish to give a call, but to slip away quietly to -avoid danger, and at the same time to give notice to other birds to do -the same. - - - - -HIS RELATIONS WITH US - - - - -XXVIII - -HOW HE WORKS FOR US - - -MANY times in this book I have spoken of the great value of the services -of birds, in helping us destroy insects and weeds that injure our crops. -But there is more to be said about it. - -From morning till night, almost the whole of his life, nearly every bird -is working for us. He does not know he is working for us, of course. He -is simply hunting for the food he likes, and what is good for young -birds to eat. - -But what he chooses to eat himself, and to feed the young, consists -mostly of creatures that destroy our fruit and vegetables, caterpillars -that eat the leaves off our trees, worms that get into our apples and -berries, beetles that spoil our roses and our potatoes, mice that eat -our crops, and all the worms and grubs that gardeners and farmers are -all the time fighting. - -As I have already said, some of the birds like cherries and green peas, -and other things we prefer to keep for ourselves. But we should never -forget that they have earned, by their work among the worms, all they -can take. - -[Illustration: CEDAR-BIRD] - -I say this, not merely because I love the birds, and want to have them -live and be happy, but because it is true. It has been proved true by -scientific men in the service of the United States government. - -These men have had thousands of birds killed to see what they were -eating, and have found out that nearly all the birds they have -examined--blackbirds, cedar-birds, blue jays, hawks, owls, even -crows--do us more good by the injurious creatures they destroy, than -harm by the fruits and vegetables they eat. To this there is, among the -small birds, but one exception, the English sparrow, and, of the large -ones, only the two hawks and one owl, mentioned on page 53. - -Chickadees like to eat the eggs of cankerworms; and for a single meal, -one of these tiny birds will eat two hundred and fifty eggs, and he will -take several meals a day. Now cankerworms destroy our apples. When they -get into an orchard in force, it looks, as Miss Merriam says, as if it -had been burned over. - -Robins, catbirds, and shrikes, and several others, like to eat cutworms, -which destroy grass and other plants. As many as three hundred of them -have been found in the stomach of one robin, of course for one meal. -Ants are very troublesome in many ways, and three thousand of them have -been taken from the stomach of one flicker. - -Rats and mice, ground squirrels and gophers, make great havoc in our -crops, and farmers spend much time and labor trying to get rid of them; -but these creatures are the favorite food of most hawks and owls. - -If the farmer would stop shooting the birds, and protect them instead, -they would do this work for him, and much better than he can. But -because (as I said in a former chapter) one or two hawks and owls have a -taste for chickens, he generally kills every hawk and owl he sees, and -for this folly has to spend half his time trying to kill the little -animals they would gladly have eaten. - -A great deal of refuse, dead sea creatures, and other matter, is thrown -up on the seashore, or floats on the water. On this feed the water -birds,--herons, gulls, terns, and others. If this were not disposed of, -it would make us sick. Indeed, on the shores where so many herons have -been killed, to get their plumes for ladies' hats, the result has been -sickness and death among the people, as Dr. Gaumer, of Yucatan, told Mr. -Chapman. - -Besides the work they do for us in destroying animal life, their -seed-eating is almost as useful. As I said, they eat the seeds of weeds -that farmers and gardeners are all the time laboring to keep down, so -that useful plants may have a chance to grow. - -The whole family of finches, sparrows, buntings, grosbeaks, and all -birds with the high, thick bill, though they eat largely of insects -through the summer, and feed their nestlings on them, when insects get -scarce and weed seeds are ripe, turn to the latter for food. They eat -the seeds of all kinds of troublesome weeds; and as each single seed -might produce a plant, we cannot guess how much they destroy. - -Professor Beal, who is at the head of this government inquiry into the -food of birds, and who knows what he is talking about, says that one -species of little bird--the tree sparrow--destroys every year in one of -the Western States, many tons of the seeds of weeds. - -There is a curious and interesting fact about this seed-eating. The -regular seed-eaters, the finches, prefer the seeds of certain weeds, -most of them harmful; these they break up, taking off the shells, and of -course destroying the germ, making it impossible for them to grow. - -But there are many birds who eat berries having in them seeds, such as -raspberries, blackberries, and all kinds of wild fruit. These birds do -not crack the seeds; and, as they are hard, they do not digest in the -stomach, but are dropped whole, and are ready to grow wherever they -fall. - -Thus, while seed-eating birds destroy the weeds which are hurtful, the -fruit-eaters plant the seeds of berries and fruit which we like. That is -why we find wild berry bushes all over the country. We have to thank the -birds for it. - -A great deal more could be said about the birds' work for us, not only -of the robins and those I have spoken of, but cedar-birds, who are shot -because they take part of our cherries, blackbirds, because they eat -some grain, orioles, because they occasionally take green peas, and -kingbirds, because they have the name of eating bees, though it has been -proved that they eat only drones, which have no sting and make no honey. - -Let me impress upon you two facts. First, the stories of the harm done -by birds are often mere guesswork, from careless observation. For -instance, a man seeing a bird going over his blossoming fruit-trees, at -once concludes he is destroying the fruit, probably shoots him, and then -writes to his favorite paper that a certain bird eats fruit buds. Other -papers copy it, and a war against that bird begins in every orchard. - -Whereas, the truth is, the bird was preserving the fruit by picking out -the insects that would have spoiled it. This is no fancy picture; this -very thing has happened more than once. - -And again, whatever is said about the harm this or that bird does, never -forget this second fact, which I repeat, and which may be relied upon as -perfectly trustworthy. The officers of the government of the United -States, who have carefully studied the matter and found out positively, -without guesswork, what birds eat, have declared emphatically that every -bird they have examined does more good by destroying pests, than harm to -our crops, excepting only the bird we have imported,--the English or -house sparrow. - - - - - -XXIX - -HOW TO ATTRACT HIM ABOUT OUR HOMES - - -BECAUSE birds are so useful to us, as well as because they are so -interesting and so beautiful, it is delightful to have them come about -our homes. And it is not at all difficult, for they are easily taught to -like us. - -In countries where people are gentle, and try to make birds happy, -instead of shooting them or throwing stones at them, they become very -tame. Mr. Hearn, who has written about Japan, says that the fearlessness -of wild creatures is one of the most charming things about the remote -parts of Japan, "where tourists with shotguns have not yet come." - -Travelers who visit Norway tell us that birds are never disturbed there, -and they come freely about the houses. When it is very cold they even -come into the houses for food and warmth, and no one thinks of -frightening them or trying to catch them. - -Even in our own country, Dr. Ridgway told me of a bird-lover in Florida -who would not let birds be annoyed on his place. As a result he had a -great many there, and they became very tame. Cardinal grosbeaks, who are -rather shy, were so tame they would take food from his hand. - -A person living in the country, wishing to draw the birds about his -place, should begin by protecting it. Cats should not be allowed to come -near, English sparrows should be kept down, and boys who shoot or throw -stones should be banished from the vicinity. - -Next, trees and shrubs that birds like, for nesting and for food, should -be set out. For nesting, a very attractive place for the smaller species -is a thick hedge of bushes, the thicker and closer the better. - -Nesting-boxes nailed up in trees please many, and evergreen trees will -draw some that would not come otherwise. For food, various berry-bearing -shrubs and trees should be provided, such as chokecherry, shadberry, -mulberry, and others. - -In a town or city, besides shrubs that birds like, a high fence, with a -top that cats cannot walk on, is desirable, and a readiness to go to -their assistance is soon appreciated. - -A friend told me a few days ago of a family of wood thrushes who nested -last summer in the yard of her house in the city of Orange, N. J. The -birds soon found out that some of the family would come to drive away -strange cats which came in. After they learned that, when a cat appeared -they would give a peculiar cry, unlike any other heard from them. On -hearing this, one of the family always hurried out and drove the enemy -away. - -If the birds could not get any response from a call at the kitchen door, -they would fly to the front of the house, perch on the piazza rail, and -call till some one came out. All through nesting-time they thus called -on their friends for protection, and the delight the family had over the -nest and the friendly birds amply repaid them for their trouble. - -The one great necessity, in both city and country, is water for drinking -and bathing. It should be in a shallow dish. The rough saucer of a -flower-pot is best, because the bird's feet do not slip on it, and the -edge is broad and round and easy to perch on. - -Next best is an earthen dish, with clean pebbles in the bottom, to -prevent slipping, which frightens them. Water should never be more than -two inches deep, but should always be clean, and fresh two or three -times a day. - -No food should be offered in summer, because we want them to get their -natural food of worms and seeds. - -In the winter it is different. They should have food regularly. But once -used to having their wants supplied, they will depend upon it, and -suffer and probably starve, if they are neglected or forgotten. So one -should be very sure he will not get tired of it, before he teaches them -to expect food. - -To feed them safely, a shelf must be placed out of the reach of cats and -bad boys. On the sill of a window is a good place, or the roof of a -piazza, or a little balcony. Breakfast should be served to them at the -same hour every day, and they will soon know when to come for it. - -For food, they will eat any table scraps of meat, and vegetables, and -bread, chopped fine, and most kinds of grain, broken up, or crushed, for -the smaller birds. - -But the thing they all like best of everything is raw suet, as it comes -from the butcher. A large piece may be wired or nailed in place, so that -it may be picked at and not displaced, or it may be chopped fine and -scattered on the shelf, like other food. All birds are fond of this. - -In winter they need water, and it should then, also, be fresh. - -A lady living in southern Ohio, who has for several years given a -breakfast to the birds every day in winter, told me that her daily -guests last season were hairy and downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, white -and red-breasted, one young kinglet, a pair of chickadees, tufted -titmice, blue jays, juncos, cardinal grosbeaks, Carolina wrens, and -sparrows. - -This delightful company came regularly for breakfast, and to pay her, -sang nearly through the season. - -In the latitude of New York there are about forty birds who spend the -winter, and of course there are more as one goes south. In the Southern -States, many of our northern birds may be studied in the winter. - - - - -XXX - -HOW TO STUDY HIM - - -AN attractive thing about bird study is the fact that there is still so -much to be found out. - -Men have been studying the dead bird for many years. All about the body -is well known. The way he is made, the arrangement of his bones and his -organs, are plainly set forth in the books, in words and pictures. - -The shape and colors of his plumage, how many feathers belong to his -wing and tail, his length, his extent, the shape of his beak and his -foot,--all these facts are to be found in every Ornithology. - -Some of his most easily noted habits, too, are familiar; where and when -he nests, where he spends his time, and where he goes in the winter, -what he eats, and when he changes his dress. - -But really to know the living bird, to make acquaintance with the -individual, to see his family life, his manners, his intelligence, his -powers,--this kind of study has hardly begun. - -This almost new and most attractive field is open to us to-day. It -offers a charming study, with the added interest of discoveries to be -made. Nor is it so hard as most persons think. - -In the beginning there are two things to learn: first, how to study from -life; and second, how to identify without killing. To study is simply to -observe closely and carefully, and to report accurately. - -Take a little lesson in observing: When you see a bird do not merely -gaze idly at him, but take note of everything about him. What he is -doing, how he is doing it, and all his points, his size and shape, his -colors and markings. - -If he is getting food, as he most often is, see whether he picks it from -the tree trunk or gathers it from grass tops; whether he hunts it among -leaves, bores the bark, drops to the ground, or sails out into the air -for it. - -Then try to discover what it is--insect or seed, beetle, grub, or -worm--and what he does with it,--swallow it at once, beat it to death, -or hold it in his mouth uneaten. - -Then notice his manners,--if he stands still, or jerks his tail or body; -if he flits about the branches, hovers before a flower, or hammers at -the door of an unlucky grub behind the bark. Next, does he walk or hop? -does he chatter or keep silent? fly straight, or go bounding in great -waves through the air? All these things you must learn to see, and to -note down the moment you do so, so that you will not be uncertain or -confused when you take your books to see who he is. - -Then you must take note of his size, and to do this--as it is hard to -judge of inches--it is well to have in mind a sort of index of size to -which you can compare him. Take the most common and best-known birds for -standards, the robin, the English sparrow, and one smaller,--the wren, -or the "chebec" (least flycatcher). When you see a bird, if he is as big -as a robin, enter in your note: "Size, robin." Should he be a little -smaller, yet still larger than your measure,--the English sparrow,--you -can note it, "Size, robin -," the minus sign meaning that it is less. If -he were larger, you would put the plus sign: "Size, robin +." - -Observe the shape, whether it is slim like an oriole, or chunky like a -chickadee; also any peculiarity of plumage, as a crest, specially long -or strangely formed tail feathers; the end of the tail, whether square, -rounded, pointed, or notched. - -Then notice the beak; its length compared to the head, its shape and -color. If it is high and thick, like a canary's or sparrow's, the bird -is a seed-eater; if long and straight, like a robin's, he is an -insect-eater; if sharp and flat, opening very wide like a swallow's, he -is a flycatcher. - -[Illustration: FIG. 18. - -Canadian Warbler.] - -Lastly, note the plumage, the general color, then special markings, such -as bars on wings or tail, a ring around the eye (Fig. 18), or a line -over or through the eye (Fig. 19), white or black throat (Fig. 20 or -19), speckled or striped breast (Fig. 18), or any conspicuous blotch. -Every point must be set down the moment you notice it. You cannot trust -your memory. - -[Illustration: FIG. 19. - -Black-throated Green Warbler.] - -With these full notes, return to your study and take your manual to find -out his name, or to identify. - -[Illustration: FIG. 20. - -White-throated Sparrow.] - -Many persons think that in order to know a bird, and especially to find -out his name, one must have him in the hand, count his wing and tail -feathers, and measure his length. Excepting for exact scientific -purposes, this is not at all necessary. Almost any bird in America may -be perfectly identified without touching him, indeed, while he is in the -enjoyment of his liberty in a tree. For birds have marked external -differences, which are carefully set down in the books. - -The modern manuals, too, are usually furnished with a color key, the use -of which is fully explained in them. With the help of this you will have -little trouble in naming your bird. - -Above all, be exact in your knowledge and do not jump at conclusions. If -you see a bird on a fruit-tree picking about the blossoms, do not decide -offhand that he is spoiling the fruit; look closely to see if he is not, -instead, clearing it of worms that would destroy it all. When you notice -a bird in a strawberry bed, do not instantly conclude that he is after -strawberries; he doesn't care half so much for berries as he does for -insects, and very often he is engaged in ridding the plants of pests, at -the moment that he is scared off or shot by a careless person, who does -not wait to see whether he is friend or foe. - -Although patience and clear eyes alone will open many delightful secrets -of bird life, a good opera glass will do still more. It will bring you -nearer to the bird without frightening him. You can see thus much -better, not only his markings, but what he is doing. In a word, you can -be more sure of your facts. - -In deciding upon the actions of a bird, never _guess_ at anything. If -you see a pair very busy about a shrub, you may be sure they have a nest -there, but do not so record it till you have actually seen the nest. -Even then you should not conclude at once that it belongs to them; I -have seen birds sit a few moments in nests which did not belong to -them--as if to try them. You may feel very sure what a bird means by an -action, but you should set down only what he _does_. Without this care, -your records will be worthless. - -Do not discourage yourself by trying to find the name of every tiny atom -in feathers that you see; indeed, little birds flitting about the -tree-tops--mostly warblers--will be hard for you to identify, and almost -impossible to watch. I advise you to confine your study at first to the -larger and less lively birds,--kingbirds, robins, thrushes, phoebes, -bluebirds, orioles, goldfinches, and others, all of which you will find -near to houses and easy to study. Do not expect too much at once, nor -give up in despair if you cannot identify the first bird you see. - -[Illustration: SCARLET TANAGER] - -You may be sure that every hour you honestly give to the study will make -it more interesting; every bird you learn to know will be like a new and -delightful companion. - -You will lose your desire to take life or even to steal eggs from them; -the country will have new charms for you; in fact, a person blessed with -a love of the study of birds or beasts or insects possesses a lifelong -and inexhaustible source of interest and happiness. - -In regard to a manual, there are now so many to be had, one hardly knows -how to select. I will mention only two or three, which have particular -points of value. - -A good book to begin with, for residents of New England, New York, and -the Eastern Middle States, is Professor Willcox's "Land Birds of New -England" (Lothrop Lee & Shepard, Boston. Price 60 cts., by mail). - -Although this little book treats of only ninety birds, they are the most -common, and its value is its simplicity, and the ease with which its -color key enables one to identify the birds it treats. It introduces a -beginner to the larger works in a most pleasing way. - -A good general work for Eastern North America, thoroughly trustworthy -and not too technical in its use of terms, treating all the birds of -the locality, is Chapman's "Handbook of the Birds of Eastern North -America" (Appleton, New York. Price $3.00). It has a color key and a -color chart, by which one may see what is meant by colors named. - -Especially attractive to ladies and amateurs, for its charming accounts -of bird life, is Mrs. Wright's "Birdcraft" (Macmillan, New York. Price, -$2.00). It treats but two hundred species, but that includes the birds -usually seen in the New England and Northern Middle States. It has a -color key. - -The whole United States is covered by Dr. Coues's "Key to North American -Birds," 2 volumes (The Page Company, Boston. Price $12.50). It is not -quite so easy for the beginner, but it is untechnical in style, and -fully illustrated. - -One book deserving mention because of its value as an aid to teachers is -Miss Merriam's "Birds of Village and Field" (Houghton Mifflin Co., -Boston. Price $2.00). It is exceptionally rich in facts and statistics -relating to the economic value of birds. It treats nearly two hundred of -the most common birds. - -A book intended for identification only is Professor Apgar's "Birds of -the United States" (American Book Company, New York. Price $2.00). It is -the result of his experience as teacher, and has several new features -very helpful to beginners, such as small cuts at the bottom of pages to -explain terms, thus showing exactly what is meant, for example, by "wing -bars" or "rounded tail." It also gives hints about the usual locality of -a bird, whether creeping over a tree trunk, on the wing, or elsewhere. -It takes particular note of size, having one section for birds about the -size of an English sparrow, and so on. The pronunciation of the Latin -names is carefully indicated. There are several chapters giving -descriptions of the external parts of a bird, and there is a glossary of -scientific terms. - -The following list of points to observe in watching birds has been used -to advantage by classes in bird study. A little familiarity with this -will help one to remember what to look for. - -A similar, but fuller and more elaborate, list has been prepared, and -bound up in tablets, to use in the field. It is for sale by Miss J. A. -Clark, 1322 Twelfth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. - - - - -POINTS TO OBSERVE - - 1. Locality--tree: bush: ground. - 2. Size--compared to robin: English sparrow. - 3. Form--long: short: slender: plump. - 4. Beak--high: stout: wide: hooked: long: lobes: drawn down. - 5. Tail--length: shape at end. - 6. Legs--long: short: scales. - 7. Toes--webbed: how turned: hind claw long. - 8. Color--bright: striking: dull: plain. - 9. Markings--on head: breast: wing: tail: back. - 10. Manners--walk: hop: quiet: active: noisy: silent. - 11. Habits--eating seeds: berries: insects: from ground: tree - trunk: leaves. - 12. Song--long: short: continuous: broken. - 13. Flight--direct: undulating: fluttering: labored. - 14. Nest--where placed: shape: materials: eggs. - 15. Young--plumage: behavior. - - - - -SECOND BOOK - - - - -THE SECOND BOOK OF BIRDS - - - - -I - -WHAT IS A BIRD FAMILY? - - -IN the "First Book of Birds" I told you about the common life of a bird; -what sort of a home he has, and how he is taken care of when little; -then how he lives when grown up; what he eats; where he sleeps; and -something about how he is made. - -In this book, I want to help you a step further on in your study of -birds. I shall tell you something about particular birds, about the -families they belong to, and the different ways in which they live. - -To begin with: What is a bird family? In life, a bird family is exactly -like a human family. It consists of father, mother, and children. But in -the books, a family means quite another thing. - -Men who study the Science of Birds, or Ornithology, have placed the -birds in groups which they call families, to make it easier to find out -about them, and write about them. This way of arranging them in books is -called classification--or forming them into classes. - -Birds are classified, not by the way they look, but by the way they are -made, or their structure, and this is found out by the study of -Scientific Ornithology. Birds may look a good deal alike, and act alike, -and yet be differently made. - -There is first the grand class AVES, which includes all creatures who -wear feathers. This class is divided into orders. - -Orders are made by putting together a large number of birds who are -alike in one thing. For instance, all birds who have feet made to clasp -a perch, and so are perchers, are put in an order together. - -But many birds have feet for perching who are very different in other -ways. So orders are divided into families, which I shall tell you about -in this book. - -In each family I shall tell you about one or more of the best known, or -the ones you are most likely to see, and that will help you to know the -rest of the family when you begin to study birds out of doors, and use -the manual to learn the names. - -I shall often speak of what has been found out about the food of birds, -and I want to tell you here, once for all, how it was done, so that you -may understand just what I mean when I speak of the work of the -Department of Agriculture. The Government of the United States has in -Washington a department with a head and many men under him, whose -business it is to take charge of everything concerning agriculture, that -is, farming, fruit-growing, etc. This is called the Department of -Agriculture. - -Farmers and fruit-growers made so much complaint of the damage done to -crops by birds, that this department determined to find out just what -birds do eat. The only way it could be done was by having the birds -killed and seeing what food was in their stomachs, for it is almost -impossible to tell by watching them. To know positively which birds do -harm by eating more grain or fruit than insects, and which do good by -eating more insects, would save the lives of many thousands. So the -killing of those they studied was useful to the whole race. - -When they wanted to find out what crows eat, they had crows killed all -over the country--hundreds of them--and the stomachs, with the food in, -sent to them in Washington. Then they went to work and examined every -one. They could tell by the shells of seeds and the hard parts of -insects, and bones and hair of mice, etc., just what had been eaten. And -the contents of every stomach was written down and preserved in a book. -Thus, you see, they could tell what crows were in the habit of feeding -upon. - -They did this with many other birds who are said to do harm,--hawks, -owls, blackbirds, kingbirds, and others. That is how we come to know -what birds eat, and can tell whether they do harm or good. There can be -no mistake in this way of knowing, and so what comes from this -department may be relied upon as true. - -I want this little book to help the bird-lovers in the South and West of -our big country, as well as in the East; and so, in each Family, I shall -try to tell about a bird who may be seen in each part. A good many of -our birds are found both East and West, with slight differences, but -some that are in one part are not in the other. - - - - -II - -THE THRUSH FAMILY - -(_Turdidae_)[2] - - -THIS family is named after the thrushes, but our familiar robin belongs -to it, and also the sweet-voiced bluebird. The birds of this family are -all rather good sized, and excepting the bluebird show no bright colors. -Nearly all of them have spotted breasts when young, and many of them -keep the spots all their lives. Young robins and bluebirds have spots on -breasts and shoulders, but when they get their grown-up plumage there -are none to be seen. - -The thrush family get around by hopping, and do not walk, though some of -them run, as you have seen the robin do on the lawn. Most of them live -in the woods, and feed on the ground, and all of them eat insects. -Because their feeding grounds freeze up in winter, most of these birds -go to a warmer climate, or migrate. They are all good singers, and some -of them among the best in America. - -The best known of this family is the robin, AMERICAN ROBIN, to give him -his whole name. He is found all over the United States. In the summer he -lives in the Eastern and Middle States, in the winter he lives in the -Southern States, and he lives all the year round in California. - -The California robin is called the Western Robin, and is a little -lighter in color than his Eastern brother; but he is the same jolly -fellow under his feathers, and robin song is about the same from the -Atlantic to the Pacific. - -I'm sure you all know how he looks, with black head, slate-colored back -and wings, streaked throat, and dull red or chestnut breast. His mate is -not quite so dark in color. - -Robins start for their nesting-place, which is their real home, very -early, almost the first of the birds. They make a nest, not very high, -in a tree or about our houses, with a good deal of mud in it. Not all -nests are alike. Sometimes a bird will show a fancy for a pretty-looking -nest. I have seen one made of the white flowers of life-everlasting. The -stems were woven together for the framework, and the little clusters of -blossoms left outside for ornament. - -The young robin just out of the nest is a pretty fellow, with spots all -over his breast and shoulders. He spends most of his time calling for -food, for he is always hungry. He is rather clumsy in getting about, and -often falls to the ground. But if you pick him up and put him on a low -branch out of the reach of cats, he will fly as soon as your hand leaves -him, and generally come to the ground again. So it is of no use to try -to help him that way. The only thing you can do is to keep cats and bad -boys away from him, until he flies up into a tree. - -The robin gets his food on the ground, or just under the surface. He -eats many caterpillars and grubs that are harmful to us. One that he -specially likes is the cutworm, which has a bad way of biting off young -plants. In the East he eats many earthworms, which we see him pull out -of the ground on the lawn, but in the West, where there are not so many -earthworms, he picks up insects of various kinds. - -All through spring, when insects are hard at work destroying our fruit -and vegetables and young grains, the robin spends almost his whole time -catching them; first for his own eating, but many more when his little -ones get out of the shell, for young birds eat a great amount of food. -Then, when he has spent months in our service killing insects, so that -our fruit and vegetables can grow, do you not think he has earned part -of the cherries he has saved? - -Robins are very easily made tame, and, when well treated and not shut up -in a cage, they become fond of people and like to live in our houses. I -know of a robin who was picked up from the ground by a lady. He could -not fly, and she took him into a house and brought him up. He was never -wild or afraid of people, and he never wanted to be free. His mistress -would sometimes put him on her hat, without fastening him in any way, -and go out to walk with him there. He liked his ride, and never thought -of leaving her. She often took him with her into a piece of woods where -she went. He would play around on the ground and in the trees, but the -moment she started for home he flew down, ready to go. - -She thought perhaps he would like to be free, and she tried once or -twice to leave him in this pleasant grove, but he always flew to her and -refused to be left. He was so fond of his mistress that when she went -away for a day or two he was very unhappy, hid himself in a closet, and -would not eat till she came back. - -This robin, too, liked the food of the family, and did not care for -earthworms. In fact, he could hardly be coaxed to eat one of them, -though he liked some kinds of grubs which he found on the ground. But he -ate them in a different way from his wild brothers. He did not swallow -them whole, but beat them to a jelly before trying to eat. - -This pet had a sweet, low song of his own. He never sang like his wild -brothers until his second year, when he had been out and heard them -sing. - -A pair of robins that were blown from a nest in a high wind were reared -and kept in a large cage by Mrs. Grinnell in California. The first year -the singer did not sing, but in the second year a wild mockingbird came -to teach him. He would alight on the cage, which hung out of doors, and -sing softly a long time, till the robin began to do the same. When he -could sing, it was more like a mockingbird than like a robin. The mocker -was very fond of his pupil, and used to bring him berries and other wild -dainties. - -These robins made a nest of things the mistress gave them, and eggs -began to appear in it. But as soon as one was laid, one of the birds -would jump into the nest and kick and scratch till it was thrown out and -broken. They seemed to think the pretty blue eggs were playthings. When -the weather grew hot, Bobby, the singer, showed his sense by spending -most of his time lying in his bathing-dish, covered with water up to his -ears. He would lie there an hour at a time, too comfortable to get out -even to eat. - -[Illustration: HERMIT THRUSH] - -Birds who are not brought into the house often become tame when well -treated. One family in Michigan had a pair of robins who nested close to -the house for fourteen years. It was plain that the birds were the same -pair, for they became so friendly that they let any of the family pick -up a nestling, and showed no fear. But with other people they were as -wild as any robins. - -One day a man passing by picked up one of the young birds, who was -scrambling about on the ground. At once the parents began loud cries of -distress, and all the robins in the neighborhood came to help. They -scolded and cried, and flew at the thief who wanted to carry off the -baby. One of the family heard the row, and went out and claimed the -robin, and the man gave it up. The moment the little one was in the -hands of a person they knew, the cries ceased. Not only the parents but -the neighbors seemed to understand that the nestling was safe. - -The way birds act when brought up by us and not by their parents shows -that young birds are taught many things before they are grown up. When -living in a house, they are not afraid of cats or people, as wild -ones are. They do not usually sing the robin song, nor care for the -robin food, and they do not seem to know how to manage a nest. I could -tell you many things to prove this. - - -Another charming member of the Thrush Family is the HERMIT THRUSH. He is -a beautiful bird, smaller than the robin. He is reddish brown on the -back, with a white breast spotted with dark brown or black. He has -large, full, dark eyes, which look straight at you. - -The hermit thrush spends his winters in the Southern States, and his -summers in the Northern. But in the far West, where are no cold winters, -the hermit does not have to move back and forth. In that part of the -country the bird is the Western Hermit Thrush. - -This bird is one of our finest singers, and a very shy bird. His home is -in the woods, and from there we hear his loud, clear song, morning and -evening. Many people think his song is the finest bird-song we have. His -ordinary call as he goes about is a kind of "chuck." The Western hermit -differs hardly at all. He may be a little smaller, but he is the same -delightful singer and lovely character. - -The mother hermit makes her nest on the ground, and hides it so well -that it is hard to find,--though I'm afraid snakes, and squirrels, and -other woods creatures who like eggs to eat find it more often than we -do. - -Shy as the hermit is, he is an intelligent bird. A mother hermit a few -years ago strayed into the grounds of a gentleman in Massachusetts and -built a nest under a pine-tree. When she was found, she was at first -very much frightened. But the owner of the place was a bird-lover, and -gentle and quiet in his ways, and she got so used to him that she let -him photograph her many times. - -A gentleman, Mr. Owen, once captured a young hermit thrush so lately out -of the nest that he could not fly much. He kept him in the house several -weeks, and found out many interesting things about young thrushes. One -thing he discovered was that the bird has his own notions about food. He -ate raw meat and earthworms. But when worms were fed to him that came -from a dirty place, he threw them out of his mouth, wiped his beak, and -showed great disgust. The worms brought from clean garden earth he ate -greedily. - -The little captive had his own way of eating a worm. He began by -worrying it awhile, and then swallowed it tail first. - -He showed his instinct for sleeping high by being very restless at -night, till let out of his cage. Then he flew to the highest perch he -could find in the room, and roosted for the night. - -The bird showed himself friendly and not at all afraid of people. Mr. -Owen got so attached to him that when he let him go in the woods he felt -as if he had parted with a dear friend. - -In the picture you see two hermit thrushes. The upper one is singing, -and the lower one looking calmly at you, in the way of these beautiful -birds. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[2] See Appendix, 1. - - - - -III - -THE KINGLET AND GNATCATCHER FAMILY - -(_Sylviidae_)[3] - - -THIS family is small in our country. There are only three members of it -that we are likely to see. But they are most dainty and lovely birds. -They are the two kinglets or little kings, not much bigger than -hummingbirds, and the blue-gray gnatcatcher, about as small. They are -all fond of living in the tops of tall trees, and they generally get -their food and make their pretty nests away out of our reach. So we have -to look sharp to see them. It is easier to hear them, for they are fine -singers. - - -The RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET is a plump little bird in olive-green feathers. -Below he is yellowish white, and he has two whitish wing bars. On top of -his head is a narrow stripe of bright ruby color. But we see him usually -from below, so that is not often noticed. He flits about the upper -branches, picking out the smallest insects and insect eggs, and eating -them. So he is very useful to us. - -[Illustration: RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET] - -Although this bird is found all over our country, he does not nest with -us, except sometimes in the mountains. He goes farther north, beyond the -United States. The nests that have been found in the mountains of -Colorado and Montana were partly hanging, and very large for such a tiny -bird. They were made of soft, fine bark strips, and green moss, and hung -to the end of a spruce or pine branch. - -But the ruby-crown passes his winters in the Southern States and Mexico, -and when he starts for his nesting-home, he begins to sing. As he goes -north, he stops a few days or a week in a place, and then is the time to -hear his sweet voice. When he sings, you would hardly know him. He -raises the red feathers on top of his head so that they stand up like a -crown, and change his looks very much. In the picture you can see a -little of the ruby stripe. - -Not much is known of the habits of these little birds, they are so hard -to study. They are found all over the United States, in the Southern -States and California in winter, and in the Northern States in spring -and fall, when migrating. - -The BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER is a slim little bird, with a rather long -tail. He is bluish gray, with some white and black on head, wings, and -tail, and he is grayish white below. - -He has a sweet song, but it is so low you have to be very near and very -quiet to hear it. He is such a talkative, restless fellow, however, that -you often see him when you might not hear the song. - -The gnatcatcher is one of the most lively of birds. He bustles about in -an eager way that shows everybody where to look for the nest. And when -there is no nest, he flits over the tree-tops, catching tiny flying -insects, and uttering a queer call that sounds something like the mew of -a cat. He does not need to be so quiet as birds who build on the ground -or near it, because few can get at the nest. It is too high for snakes -and boys, and on branches too light for squirrels or big birds. So he -can afford to be as chatty as he pleases. - -The nest of this bird is one of the prettiest that is made. It is a -little cup, upright on a branch, usually near the end so that it is -tossed by the wind. Miss Merriam found a pair of gnatcatchers in -California, and watched them through many troubles. Their way of -building was by felting. That is, they took fine, soft materials like -plant down, and packed it all closely together by poking with the beak -and prodding it with the feet. - -A gnatcatcher's nest is large for the size of the bird. It must be deep -for safety, so that eggs and nestlings will not be thrown out by the -wind. Three times, Miss Merriam thinks, the little family she watched -had to build their nest. Each time it took more than ten days of hard -work. - -This pretty little fellow has a long tail, and he keeps it in motion all -the time. He jerks it up or down, or twitches it to one side or the -other; or he flirts it open and shut like a fan, which shows the white -edges and looks very gay. - -Dogs and cats, as you know, show how they feel by the way they move the -tail. Birds do the same, some much more than others. If you watch the -way in which they move their tails, you can learn to tell how a bird -feels almost as well as if he could speak to you. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[3] See Appendix, 2. - - - - -IV - -THE NUTHATCH AND CHICKADEE FAMILY - -(_Paridae_)[4] - - -THIS is another family of small birds. The nuthatches are lively, -restless little creatures. You generally see them scrambling over the -trunks of trees, head up or head down, as it happens. They are dressed -in sober colors, and spend their lives picking tiny insects out of the -crevices of the bark. - - -The WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH is the best known in the East. In California -the slender-billed takes his place, being about the same in dress and -manners. Both of them, East and West, go about calling "quank, quank." -The dress is slate-blue and white, with a white breast, a black cap, and -black on wings and tail. - -Nuthatches nest in holes, either deserted woodpecker nests or natural -holes in trees. If such a place is not to be found, the pair will -sometimes dig out a home in a decayed stump for themselves. - -It is wonderful to see how easily and quickly a nuthatch will run over -the trunk and large branches of a tree. Woodpeckers usually go upward, -and brace themselves with their stiff tails. If they want to go down, -they back down rather awkwardly. Creepers, who also go over tree trunks, -go up only, and they also use their stiff tails for a brace. But the -nuthatch goes head up, or down, or sideways, and never uses the short, -square tail in the business. He can do this because his claws are very -curving, almost like hooks, and they grasp tight hold of the little -rough places in the bark. - -It is a funny sight to see a mother nuthatch going about with four or -five hungry little ones after her, like chickens after a hen, all -calling their droll little "quanks." - -The nuthatch gets his name, it is said, from the habit of fixing a nut -into a crack and hammering or "hacking" it till it breaks. In summer, -when insects are to be had, this bird, like many others, eats nothing -else, and he eats thousands of them. But he can live on other food, so -he is not forced to migrate. - -To provide for winter, when insects will be gone and snow cover the -seeds, he lays up a store of food. He takes kernels of corn, if he can -get them, or sunflower seeds, or nuts of various kinds. This keeps him -very busy all the fall, and he has often been seen at the work. He will -carry a nut to a tree and find a crack in the bark just big enough to -hold it. He tries one after another till he finds one to fit. Then he -hammers it in till it is secure, and leaves it there. Then in winter the -same bird has been seen, when everything was covered with snow, to dig -the hidden nuts out of their hiding-places and eat them. - -Many birds who do not migrate, but live in the same place the year -round, provide for winter in the same way. So do squirrels and other -animals. It is pleasant to think that rough-barked trees, and knotholes, -and hollows, are filled with food for the hungry birds. And if they had -not that supply, they might starve, or be obliged to leave us. - - -The RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH is a little smaller than the white-breasted, -and has a reddish breast. His home is more toward the north, both East -and West. He nests in Maine and other Northern States. His call note is -different too. It sounds like the squawk of a toy trumpet. His habits -are much like those of his bigger relative. - -The nuthatch is fond of his mate, and takes good care of her in nesting -time. He feeds her and the young till they leave the nest. - -Mr. Fowler tells a story of an English nuthatch who is almost the same -as one of ours. Some bird-lovers were in the habit of putting nuts on a -window-sill for these birds to carry away. One day, to see what they -would do, somebody put one in a glass tumbler. The birds saw the nut and -tried to get it through the glass, pecking and hammering at it a long -time. Finally, one got tired or discouraged and flew up to a perch over -the tumbler. Then he happened to look down, and saw the nut inside the -glass. Instantly he came down. He alighted on the edge of the tumbler -and held on tightly, while he leaned far over inside, almost standing on -his head, till he picked up the nut and carried it off. - -These birds are easily made tame in winter by feeding them every day -when food is hard to get; and at a time when they are forced to live on -seeds and nuts, they greatly enjoy scraps of meat, and most of all, -suet. Many people put out food for the birds every day in winter, in -some safe place where cats cannot come. They have great pleasure in -watching their little guests. - -[Illustration: BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES] - -Chickadees, or Titmice, as they are named in the books, belong to -another branch of this Family. There are a good many titmice in the -world, seventy-five kinds or species, but we in America have only -thirteen. Best known in the Eastern and Middle States is the common -chickadee. In California, the mountain chickadee has habits about the -same, and the Southern States have the tufted titmouse. - -All these little fellows are pretty birds in gray, set off with black -and white, with lovely soft and fluffy plumage. - - -The common CHICKADEE and his brother of the West have black on top of -the head and on the throat, and white at the side of the head. They nest -in holes in a tree or stump. If they can find the old home of a -woodpecker, they are glad to get it, but if they cannot find one, they -are able to cut one out for themselves, though it is a hard, long job -for them. - -These birds have very large families, sometimes as many as eight or nine -little chickadees in one of those dark nurseries. How so many can live -there it is hard to see. They must be all in a heap. - -Everybody knows the common call of the chickadee,--"chick-a-dee-dee;" -but he has a song, too. It is slow, sad-sounding, and of two notes, -almost like the common cry of the phoebe. But you must not think they -have no more than these few notes. They have odd little songs, and they -make queer sounds that seem much like talking. Almost all birds have -many notes and calls and little chatty noises of different sorts, -besides their regular song and the common call note. To hear these, and -learn to know a bird whatever he says, is one of the delights of bird -study. I hope you will some day enjoy it. The Chippewa Indians named the -chickadee "kitch-kitch-ga-ne-shi." - -A chickadee is a friendly little fellow. Many times one has come down on -to a man's hand or knee. Mr. Torrey once found a pair making their nest, -and he climbed up on to a branch of the tree, close by where they were -working, so as to watch them. Many birds would have been frightened to -have a man so near, but not the brave little chickadees. They stared at -him a little, but went right on with their building. - -These birds, though so tiny, are among the most useful to us, because -they spy out and destroy the insect eggs hidden in crevices of bark, or -under leaves. Bigger birds might not care to pick up such small things, -or their beaks might be too clumsy to get at them. - -When you see a chickadee scrambling over a tree, hanging head down with -all sorts of antics, he is no doubt hunting out the eggs. These eggs, if -left, would hatch out into hungry insects, to eat the leaves or fruit, -or to injure and perhaps kill the tree. The nuthatch clears up the trunk -and large limbs, and the chickadee does the same for the small branches -and around the leaves. - -It has been found out that one pair of chickadees with their young will -destroy five hundred pests, such as caterpillars, flies, and grubs, -every day. No man could do so much, if he gave his whole time to it. -Besides, he could not go over the whole tree as a bird does, without -doing harm to it. A chickadee hops along the small branches and twigs, -looking under every leaf, sometimes hanging head down to see the under -side, and picks up every insect or egg. Among his dainties are the eggs -of the leaf-rolling caterpillar, the canker-worm, and the apple-tree -moth,--all very troublesome creatures. - - -The TUFTED TITMOUSE is more common in the South and West than his -cousin, the chickadee, and he is one of the prettiest of the family. He -is dressed in soft gray, with a fine, showy, pointed crest. His ways are -something like the chickadee's, but he is, perhaps, even bolder and -more pert, and he is easily tamed. All his notes are loud and clear, and -he is never for a moment still. - -In winter, this bird is found in little flocks of a dozen or more. These -are probably all of one family, the parents and their two broods of the -year. He is one of the birds who stores up food for a time when food is -scarce. In summer, he eats only insects. - -The tufted titmouse, like others of his race, has a great deal of -curiosity. I have heard of one who came into a house through an open -window. It was a female titmouse in search of a good place for a nest. -After she had been in all the rooms, and helped herself to whatever she -found that was good to eat, she seemed to decide that it was a land of -plenty and she would stay. - -The stranger settled upon a hanging basket as nice to build in. The -family did not disturb her, and she brought in her materials and made -her nest. She had even laid two or three eggs, when the people began to -take too much interest in her affairs, and the bird thought it best to -move to a safer place. - -Another of these birds in Ohio, looking about for something nice and -soft to line her nest, pitched upon a gentleman's hair. Unfortunately, -he had need of the hair himself; but the saucy little titmouse didn't -mind that. She alighted on his head, seized a beakful, and then bracing -herself on her stout little legs, she actually jerked out the lock, and -flew away with it. So well did she like it that she came back for more. -The gentleman was a bird-lover, and was pleased to give some of his hair -to such a brave little creature. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[4] See Appendix, 3. - - - - -V - -THE CREEPER FAMILY - -(_Certhiidae_)[5] - - -THIS is a family of birds who creep; that is, they appear not to hop up -a tree trunk like a woodpecker, or walk up like a nuthatch, but they hug -close to the bark with claws and tail, and seem really to creep. - - -The one member of the family in this country is called the BROWN -CREEPER. He is a little fellow in streaks and stripes of brown, and he -looks so much like the tree trunks that one can hardly see him. He has a -slender, curved bill, just the thing to poke into cracks in the bark, -and pull out the insects and eggs hidden there. His tail feathers are -curious. They have sharp points on the ends, so that he can press them -against the bark, and help support himself. - -The creeper's way of getting up a trunk is to begin near the ground, and -go round and round the trunk till he reaches the lowest branch. Then he -flings himself off, and flies to the roots of another tree, and goes up -that in the same way. A brown creeper once came into a house, and found -it so comfortable, and food so plentiful, and people so kind, that he -stayed. He was very tame, and his great pleasure was to climb up a man's -leg or a woman's skirt, exactly as he climbs a tree trunk, going round -and round. - -[Illustration: BROWN CREEPER] - -Quiet and demure as he looks, this little bird sometimes plays rather -funny pranks. He has been seen to whirl around like a top, and again to -fly up and down close to a tree trunk, apparently just for fun. He has a -sweet little song, which we do not often hear, for his voice is not -strong. - -The brown creeper mother takes a droll place for a nest. It is behind -the loose bark of an old tree. She makes a snug little home under the -bark roof, and lines it with feathers, and there she brings up her three -or four little creepers. She is as well protected from sun and rain as -if she had an umbrella, and it is such an odd place that it was not for -a long time known where her cunning little nest was made. - -This bird nests in the Eastern States, in northern New York and New -England, and in California he nests in the mountains, but he goes -South in winter. When he wants to hide, he makes use of a clever trick, -which shows that he knows how much he looks like the trunk of a tree. He -simply flattens himself against the bark, and keeps perfectly still. -Then you can hardly see him, though you look right at him. You can see -in the picture how he looks. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[5] See Appendix, 4. - - - - -VI - -THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY - -(_Troglodytidae_)[6] - -FIRST BRANCH - - -THIS is a family of singers, who dress in plain colors. There is not a -red or blue stripe, and not a yellow or purple feather, among them. - -The family has two branches, or subfamilies as the books call them. The -first branch, which gives the name to the family, is made of birds who -are really a sort of cave-dwellers,--the wrens. - -Wrens are lively little birds, excitable and afraid of nothing. They are -in plain browns, barred off with another shade of the same color. They -are so near the color of the ground, where they spend most of their -time, that they are not easily seen. They have a way of holding their -tails up, some of them much more than others, by which one may know a -wren wherever he sees it. - - -The most common one of the family is the HOUSE WREN. He is found all -over the Eastern States. In the Western States the same bird, except in -the shade of his coat, is called the Western House Wren. - -The house wren is fond of a snug place for a nest. If a wren box is to -be had, he will take that; but if not, he will seek some cozy nook, -which he will furnish, mostly with fine twigs, and then wait for his -mate to appear. - -Sometimes the bird takes queer places to live in. I once found a wren -family inside a hollow iron hitching-post in a city street. The birds -went in through the hole for the hitching-strap. I wondered how the -wrenlings would get out through the long, dark passage. Another nest was -made in an oriole's hanging cradle, after the young orioles had flown. -It was filled up with sticks to make it suitable for baby wrens. One -that I found last summer was in a hole in a gate-post. - -The place is usually chosen by the male, who stuffs it full of fine -twigs, and then sings and calls for his mate to come. He will sing hour -after hour his sweet little song, stopping every few minutes to bring -another stick to add to his store. - -The wren is a droll fellow about one thing,--he never knows when he has -enough furniture for his house. He will bring twigs and stuff them into -the box or hole, till he can't get another one in. Sometimes even till -his mate can't get in herself. A pair began to build in a shed room, and -apparently set out to fill the whole room with twigs. They brought in so -much stuff that the owner had to stop up the hole they used for a door -and make them go somewhere else. He was willing to share the room with -them, but he couldn't spare the whole. - -The house wren is a plucky little fellow, and as he likes the same kind -of places the English sparrow wants, they often quarrel over a box or a -nice snug hole. Small as he is, the wren often succeeds in keeping the -place he wants, and driving the sparrow away. - -English sparrows can be kept out of wren houses by making the opening -too small for the bigger bird. An auger hole one inch in diameter will -be large enough for wrens, but too small for sparrows. A sparrow has -sometimes been seen trying to get into one of these wren boxes, and very -droll he looks, when he sticks his head in, and struggles and kicks -violently to push himself in. - -I found a pair of house wrens in Colorado one summer. The singer spent -most of his time scrambling about a pile of brush, apparently trying to -make me think that was where he lived. But I was sure he had a mate and -a nest somewhere else, and I kept watch for them. - -One day I happened to see a little brown bird fly up under the eaves of -a summer cottage not much bigger than a tent. On looking closely, I -found that there were openings under the eaves. The birds had taken one -of these for a door, and built a nest inside, in the box frame over a -window. After that I looked at them through another window. Everything -went well till the wrenlings left the nest and began to fly around. Then -they seemed to lose their wits, or not to mind their parents. They flew -wildly about in the cottage, bumping against the glass, and seeming not -able to find the door to get out. - -I had not the key to open the big door, so I could not help them in -their trouble. And the old birds were so frantic when I looked in at the -window, while they were trying to get their family out, that I went away -and left them. In an hour or two I went back, and found everything -quiet, and the wren babies all out on the trees. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[6] See Appendix, 5. - - - - -VII - -THE CAVE-DWELLING FAMILY - -SECOND BRANCH - - -THE second branch of this family is very different from the first; it is -composed of mockingbirds, catbirds, and thrashers. These birds were once -placed with the thrushes, and by habits and manners they seem to belong -there. But, as I told you, families in the bird world are made by -structure,--by the way the bird is made. These birds have scales on the -leg, and some other things like the wrens, so now they belong to the -cave-dwelling family, though they never dwell in caves. They live in -shrubbery and low trees. They are larger than any wren, but they are -like those birds in being good singers and dressed in plain colors. -Wherever they are placed in the books, they are interesting and -delightful birds to know. - - -The most famous of this branch is the MOCKINGBIRD, found in the Southern -States and California. He is a beautiful and graceful fellow in gray, -with large white patches in his wings. - -The nest of the mockingbird is a rather rough affair, built in a low -tree or a bush. One that I saw was in a tree about as high as an -apple-tree. The bird gets his food on the ground, and has a curious -habit of lifting his wings as he is about to attack a beetle. - -The mockingbird is a celebrated singer. Many persons think him the -finest in America. He is especially famous for repeating the notes of -other birds; but he can imitate other sounds, such as a policeman's -rattle, a postman's whistle, and almost anything else. Sometimes a caged -one makes mischief by this accomplishment. He has no need to borrow, for -he has a fine song of his own. - -Besides being famous in this way, he is a very knowing bird, and a most -interesting one to study. The young mocker is a spirited fellow, who -can't endure to stay in the nest till his wings are strong enough to -bear him. He usually tries to fly too soon, and so comes to the ground. -Coming to the ground is a great misfortune to the bird, for he is easily -caught and put in a cage. - -Being fine singers, mockingbirds are often kept in cages. In the late -summer, the bird stores in New York have hundreds of them for sale, -birds so young that they still wear the speckled bibs of baby-days. Many -of them die, and so every year they are growing more rare. - -[Illustration: CATBIRD] - -A lady wrote me the story of a young mockingbird, whose mother saved it -from a cage. The little fellow was just out of the nest, and could not -fly far, and a young man thought he would catch him and take him to his -sister; but the mother bird wished to save him from such a fate. - -When the man went toward the youngster on the ground, the mother flew -down, seized him, lifted him up, and flew away with him. She carried him -a little way and then let go. He flew as far as he could, but soon came -to the ground again. Then the man started for him. Again the anxious -mother flew down and lifted him into the air, and again he flew a little -and fell to the ground. So it went on for some time, till the young man -began to feel ashamed of himself. Then he took up the cage and went -away, leaving the little one to his mother's care. - -The mockingbird is one of our most knowing birds, and when one is tamed -and free in a house, he is very amusing. He is as full of fun as a -catbird, and as funny to watch. A true story was told in one of the -papers, of a captive who had some queer tricks. One was hunting in a -workbox for a paper of needles, taking it down to the floor, and working -it open, then suddenly giving it a jerk that sent the needles in a -shower all over the floor. - -This bird was once shut up in a room alone, while the family were at -table. He did not like it, for he wanted to be with them; so he amused -himself unwinding all the spools of thread in the workbox. He took one -end of the thread and carried it all about the room, around everything -and over everything--vases on the shelf, pictures on the wall, -chair-legs, sofas, and lamps. Everything in the room was tied together, -so that no one could go in lest something should be thrown down. The -naughty bird was delighted with his mischief. He sat there singing at -the top of his voice. The only way the family could get into the room -was to get scissors and cut their way in. They found empty spools all -over the floor, and hundreds of yards of thread used. - - -The CATBIRD is dressed in plain slate-color. He is a near relative of -the mockingbird, and better known in the Eastern States. He is also a -fine singer, though he is not so famous. This is partly because he sings -usually from the middle of a thick bush and so is not seen, and partly -because he does not sing so loud. There is a great charm in the -catbird's song. - -The catbird is a charming fellow aside from his music. He is as knowing -as the mockingbird, and not much afraid of people. He will come near to -houses to nest, and if not frightened or disturbed, he will be very -familiar. - -Like many other birds, the catbird is kind to others in trouble. A pair -had a nest near that of a pair of robins. One day the robins -disappeared--killed, no doubt--and the young in the nest began to cry. -When one of the catbirds came with food for its own nestlings, the robin -babies would cry to be fed too. Pretty soon the catbirds began to feed -them. And at night, when bird babies need to be covered up by the warm -feather-bed of their mother's breast, one of the friendly catbirds -filled her place, and kept them warm all night. So it went on till both -families were grown up and could fly. - -One writer says: "All day long the catbird watches over the fruit-trees, -and kills the insects that would destroy them or the fruit. Of course he -takes his share, especially of cherries, but for every one he takes, he -eats thousands of insects. Where there are no small birds, there will be -no fruit." Thirty grasshoppers have been found in one small catbird's -stomach by the Department of Agriculture. - -A story showing how much the catbird knows and understands is of one in -Iowa who had a nest in some vines over a porch. A tornado tore the vines -so as to uncover the nest, and the lady of the house feared some one -would disturb it. So she began to draw the vines together around it to -hide it. While she was doing this, one of the old birds came and began -to shriek, and cry, and fly round her head, threatening to dash at her -eyes. The mate came too, and acted in the same way, supposing, no doubt, -that she was doing some harm to their nest. She shielded her head and -finished the work, and went into the house. - -The next morning she was sitting on the balcony the other side of the -house. All at once a catbird flew down and perched on the railing within -six feet of her, which no catbird had ever done before. She kept still, -and he began jerking his body and uttering sweet little calls and -twitters, turning his head this side and that, with eyes fixed on her. -He acted exactly as if he were talking to her, and after a while he -broke out with a song, low and very sweet. She sat still, and after the -song he began his twittering again, then sang once more. She had never -heard anything so beautiful, and she was sure that he was trying to -express his thanks to her, and his regrets at the way he had treated her -the day before. At least, that was the way it seemed to her. - -A catbird is as full of fun and pranks as a mockingbird. He may -sometimes be seen to do what looks like playing jokes on others. A lady -told me she saw a catbird drive a crow nearly wild by mocking his "caw." -He cawed as well as the crow himself, and the crow was furious, dashing -down at his small tormentor, and in every way showing anger at what no -doubt seemed a great insult. - - -The THRASHER, or BROWN THRUSH, is also of this family. He is reddish -brown on the back, and heavily spotted on the breast, and he has a long -tail which he jerks about a good deal. - -He is known all over the Eastern and Southern States, and his California -brother is almost exactly like him. He is a fine singer, and has been -called the French mockingbird. Sometimes it is hard to tell his song -from the mockingbird's. - -The thrasher's nest is usually made in a bush, the thickest and -thorniest that can be found, and the brave little parents will make a -great fight to keep their nestlings from harm. At one time, when a boy -went to carry off some young thrashers, the old birds called together -quite an army of birds to help defend them. There were at least fifty -birds of many kinds, all flying around his head, screaming at him and -trying to pick at his eyes. The boy was ashamed, and put back the little -ones, glad to get away with his eyes safe. - -A Western bird, the Arizona thrasher, builds a nest in the middle of a -cactus so full of sharp thorns like fine needles that it is a wonder how -the birds can get into it. They pull off the thorns to make a passage, -but the nestlings do sometimes get caught and die there. They must, -however, be safe from most enemies. One pair that Mr. Palmer tells about -built a regular hallway of sticks six or eight inches long. - -All the birds of this family have great individuality; that is, no two -are alike. The better you know birds, the more you will see that they do -not act, or sing, or even look exactly alike. That is one reason why -they are so interesting to study. - - - - -VIII - -THE DIPPER FAMILY - -(_Cinclidae_)[7] - - -THERE is only one member of this family in the United States, and that -one lives in the Rocky Mountains and the mountains of California. It is -the AMERICAN DIPPER, or WATER OUZEL. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN DIPPER] - -The body of the ouzel is about as big as a robin's, but looks much -smaller, because his very short tail gives him a "chunky" look. His -wings are short and rounded, and his plumage is very soft and so thick -that he can go under water without getting wet. He is slate-color all -over, a little paler on the breast, and his mate is exactly like him, -but the young ouzel has all the under feathers tipped with white, and -usually a white throat. Both old and young have shining white eyelids -which show very plainly among their dark feathers. - -The dipper is a water lover. The nest is placed close to it, -generally near a waterfall, sometimes even behind a waterfall, where he -has to go through a curtain of falling water to reach it. It is on a -shelf of rock, and shaped like a little hut, with a hole on one side for -a door. It is made of soft green moss, which is kept alive and growing -by constant sprinkling. Sometimes the waterfall itself keeps it wet, but -the birds have been seen to sprinkle it themselves. They do it by diving -into the water, then going to the top of the nest and shaking themselves -violently. - -This bird is a curious fellow. His food is the small insects which live -under water, and he is as much at home there as other birds are in the -air. He can walk on the bottom with swift running water over his head, -and he can really fly under water, using his wings as he does in the -air. I have seen him do it. - -The water ouzel cares nothing for the cold. On cold mornings when all -other birds sit humped up with feathers puffed out over their feet to -keep warm, he is as jolly and lively as ever. He flies about in the -snow, dives under the ice, and comes out at an airhole, and sings as if -it were summer weather. - -Mr. John Muir, who knows so well the Western mountains and the creatures -who live there, has told us most of what we know about this bird. He -says the ouzel sings all winter, and never minds the weather; also that -he never goes far from the stream. If he flies away, he flies close over -the brook, and follows all its windings and never goes "across lots." - -When the young ouzel is out of the nest and wants to be fed, he stands -on a rock and "dips," that is, bends his knees and drops, then stands up -straight again. He looks very droll. - -Dr. Merriam tells a story which shows how fond the dipper is of water, -especially of a sprinkle, and explains why he always chooses to live by -a waterfall. The doctor was camping out on the bank of a stream where -one of these birds lived, and one morning he threw some water out of a -cup. Instantly the bird flew into the little shower as if he liked it. -To see if he really wanted to get into the water, the doctor threw out -some more. Again the bird flew into it, and as long as he would throw -out water, the ouzel would dash in for his sprinkle. - -Besides showing that the water ouzel likes water, this little story -shows another thing,--that birds are not naturally afraid of us. On -far-off islands where men have seldom been, birds do not run away from -people. They have not learned to fear them. They will come up to men, -perch on their shoulders, and ride with them on their boats. I have read -that in Norway, where everybody is kind to birds, they are not at all -afraid. They will come into a barn or a house when the weather is cold, -or they are hungry, and no man or boy thinks of frightening or hurting -them. - -Mr. C. Lloyd Morgan has reared many birds by hatching the eggs in an -incubator, so that they cannot be taught by their parents. He says that -the birds of the wildest parents hatched in that way are never afraid of -people who move quietly, or of a cat, or a quiet dog. Any sudden -movement startles a young bird, but they are as much afraid of a dead -leaf blown by the wind as they are of a hawk. It is the suddenness that -alarms them. Some of them stop instantly on a sudden noise, like a -sneeze or a cough. If one foot happens to be raised to step, they will -hold it so, and if the head is one side, it will stay so, exactly as if -they were all turned to stone. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[7] See Appendix, 6. - - - - -IX - -THE WAGTAIL FAMILY - -(_Motacillidae_)[8] - - -IT does not seem very polite to call a family of birds wagtails, just -because they have the habit of jerking their tails as they go about. But -that is the name they go by in the books, and we have two of them in the -United States. We call them pipits or titlarks. - - -The best known is SPRAGUE'S PIPIT, called the Missouri skylark, or -sometimes the prairie skylark. This bird gets the name of skylark -because he sings while soaring about in the air far over our heads. He -could not sing on a tree if he wanted to, for he lives on the plains -between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, where are few or -no trees. - -[Illustration: SPRAGUE'S PIPIT] - -The pipits live on the ground, and walk and run, not hop. As they go, -they bob their heads, and jerk their tails. They are a little larger -than an English sparrow, and they go in flocks. They are never seen in -the woods, but in open pastures or plains, or beside a road. - -Sprague's Pipit is all in streaks of brown and gray, and lighter below. -He has a large foot, which shows that he lives on the ground, and a very -long claw on the hind toe. - -The nest of the pipit is made by hollowing out a little place in the -ground and lining it with fine grasses. Though on the ground, it is one -of the hardest to find, because it is lightly covered with the dry -grasses, and when the bird is sitting, she matches the grasses so well -that one can hardly see her, even when looking right at her. - -The birds eat insects and weed seeds, and go about in flocks. Even then -they are hard to see, because when they are startled they do not flutter -or fly, but crouch or squat at once, and stay perfectly still. - -This bird is noted, as I said, for his song. It is said to be as fine as -that of the English skylark of which we hear so much. Perhaps his way of -singing makes it still more interesting. He starts up on wing, flies a -little one way, then the other, all the time going higher and higher. So -he climbs on up, up, up, in a zigzag way, till he is fairly out of -sight, all the time giving a wonderfully sweet song. It is not very -loud, but of such a kind that it is heard when the bird is far out of -sight. When he can no longer be seen, one may still follow him with a -good field-glass. He will sing without stopping for fifteen or twenty -minutes. - -Then suddenly he stops, closes his wings, and comes head first towards -the ground. It seems as if he would dash his brains out against the -earth, but just before he touches, he opens his wings and alights like a -feather, almost where he started from. He should be as famous as the -English bird, and will be, no doubt, when he is better known. - -One of the things which make bird-study so interesting to us is that -there is so much to be found out about our birds. European birds have -been studied much longer, but we have still many beautiful ones whose -manners and ways of living are almost unknown. These things are left for -you young folk to find out when you are grown up. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[8] See Appendix, 7. - - - - -X - -THE WARBLER FAMILY - -(_Mniotiltidae_)[9] - - -THE gayest, the liveliest, and almost the smallest of our birds are the -warblers. Some of them are not over five inches long from the tip of the -beak to the end of the tail. Almost all wear bright colors, and the pair -are never alike, while the youngsters are different from both. - -But few of them warble. Then why are they named so? Well, I haven't -found out; but we must call them warblers because that is their name in -the books. Most of them have funny little songs of a few notes, which -they jerk out every minute as they scramble about on the trees. - -We have seventy species of these little birds in the United States, and -every one is working as hard as he can from morning till night, for our -benefit. For every one eats insects, and enormous numbers of them. Some -scramble over trees and pick them out from bud and blossom and under -leaves, others go over the bark, and others fly out like flycatchers. - -Some of them work in the tops of tall trees, others work in the -orchards, some in bushes, and some on the ground. But wherever they -live, they are beautiful to look at, and bewitching to study. - -Though they are little, they have plenty of spirit. I know of one kept -in a room with several other birds, all bigger than himself. You might -think he would be treated as big boys would treat a little one. But no, -indeed! the tiny fellow made himself ruler of the whole party. He took -the biggest bathing-dish, the best seed-cup, and the most desirable -perch, and drove away any big bird who dared to claim either. - - -The YELLOW WARBLER, found all over the country, is often called the wild -canary, for, as you see him fly, he appears to be entirely yellow, but -when you get nearer, you will see that on his breast are fine stripes of -reddish brown. His mate is all in yellow-olive color. - -They are very sweet little creatures, and make one of the prettiest -nests in America. It is usually in an upright fork of a tree, or bush. -It is made of fine material, among the rest a good deal of a gray silky -stuff which gives it a beautiful look. - -This bird is one of the few who will not bring up a cowbird baby. When -the tiny mother finds a cowbird's egg in her nest, she builds another -story on top of the nest, leaving the egg to spoil. Sometimes a cowbird -finds the second nest, and then the warbler adds a third story. Nests -have been found three stories high, with a dried-up cowbird egg in each -of the two lower stories. - -A strange thing happened once to a pair of yellow warblers. When the -nest was done and the eggs laid, a storm threw it out of place, and -tipped it over to one side, so that the little mother did not dare trust -it for a cradle. So she built another nest in the same bush, and went to -sitting on that. - -One day a bird-lover chanced to see the two nests, one with the bird -sitting, the other tipped partly over and left with the eggs still in -it. To see what the birds would do, he put the fallen nest back in -place, and made it firm, and then went away. The little pair looked at -the nest, and had a great deal of chatter over it. It was their own nest -and their own eggs, but the mother could not sit in two places. - -Finally, the singer took his place on the restored nest. After that it -was watched, and the two birds sat on the two nests till all the young -were hatched, and then fed and reared them. When they were ready to fly, -the happy birds had a big family to take care of. - - * * * * * - -Besides these tiny fellows that we call warblers, there are four bigger -birds classed with the family, who do not look or act like warblers. -They are the golden-crowned thrush or oven-bird, the water-thrush, the -Louisiana water-thrush, and the yellow-breasted chat. - -[Illustration: YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT] - - -The OVEN-BIRD gets his name from the nest, which is shaped like an -old-fashioned oven. It is on the ground in the woods, often on the side -of a little slope. It has a roof over it covered with sticks and leaves -like the ground around it, so that it is hard to see. - -If you were to see this bird walking about on the ground, as he does, -you would think him a thrush. He is something the same color, and he has -a speckled breast like a thrush. His mate is dressed in the same way, -and they have a dull yellowish stripe over the crown. - -He is the fellow you hear in the woods, calling "Teacher! teacher! -teacher!" He is found all over the United States east of the Rocky -Mountains. - - -The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT is perhaps the drollest bird in North America. -He is a beautiful bird, nearly as large as an oriole, olive green above -and brilliant yellow below, and his mate is the same. He is found all -over the country south of the latitude of Massachusetts. In the West and -California, the chat is a little more gray in color, and has a longer -tail. He is called the long-tailed chat, but a chat is the same funny -fellow, wherever he is found. - -He reminds one of a clown, he plays so many antics, and makes such queer -sounds, hardly in the least like a song. He will whistle, bark like a -puppy, mew like a cat, or laugh like an old man, all in a loud, strange -voice. - -Besides this, the chat is a ventriloquist, that is, can make his voice -appear to come from some place far off, when he is near, and so fool us. -The chat has a way of flying up into the air with wings fluttering and -legs dangling as if they were not well fastened on, and looking as if he -would fall to pieces himself. He does not like to be seen, either. He -prefers to hide in a thick bush, and make all sorts of strange noises to -deceive one. - -The one thing a chat hates more than anything else is to have his nest -found. I have known a chat to desert a nest with three lovely eggs in -it, just because it was looked at, though neither nest nor eggs were -touched. - -I found that nest myself, and I wanted very much to see how the birds -live and bring up the little ones, so I was careful not to disturb -anything. I hid myself a long way off, where I could see the nest with a -field-glass, and where I thought the birds would not notice me. I sat -there perfectly still for hours, till the eggs had time to get cold, and -I saw another bird carry them off. No doubt they saw me, however, for -they never came back to the nest. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[9] See Appendix, 8. - - - - -XI - -THE VIREO FAMILY - -(_Vireonidae_)[10] - - -THE vireos are a small family, fifty species, found only in America. -They are very quietly dressed in greenish olive hues, with hardly a -bright color among them. They were once called greenlets. - -They all live in trees and catch insects, going about over the twigs. -They sing as they go, like the warblers, combining work and play. Some -of them sing almost without stopping, and it gets to be rather tiresome -after a while. One or two of them even sing on the nest, which hardly -another bird does. - -The vireos make the prettiest nests. They are swinging baskets, hung -between the forks of a twig, and usually near the end, where they rock -in every breeze. They are not often very high. The birds are easily -tamed by one who is quiet, and careful not to frighten them. - -[Illustration: YELLOW-THROATED VIREO AND NEST] - -Mr. Torrey found a vireo on her nest, and by gentle ways got her to let -him stroke her. Next day he took some rose leaves with aphides on them, -and holding one of the insects on his finger, he offered it to the bird -on the nest. She took it, and then another and another, till finally she -began to be very eager for them, and he could hardly feed her fast -enough. Then he took a teaspoon full of water up to her, and she drank. - - -Another gentleman--Mr. Hoffmann--did still more. He coaxed a -YELLOW-THROATED VIREO till she took food out of his lips. Black ants and -cankerworms were the things he fed her. She preferred the ants, and -would scold him a little at first when he offered the worms, though she -took them at last. This bird was so tame she would let a man lift her -off her nest and put her on his shoulder while he looked at the eggs. -She would stay there till he put her back. - -The yellow-throat, besides making a pretty hanging basket, covers the -outside with lichens of different colors, green, dark and light, yellow, -and almost black. It is said that these pretty things are put on by the -male while his mate is sitting. - -A pair was once watched at their building. The female was lining and -shaping the inside, and her mate working silky-looking strips from -plants into the framework, and then covering the whole with lichens. He -was so happy, he sang as he worked. - - -The one of this family most widely spread over the country, from the -Atlantic to the Pacific, is the WARBLING VIREO. His song is the most -agreeable of the vireo songs, being truly a warble of six or eight -notes, of which one does not get tired. The dress of the Western -warbling vireo is a little paler, but the habits and manners are about -the same as those of his Eastern brother. - -Vireos were once common in the shade-trees of our city streets, and are -still in some places where English sparrows have not taken everything, -and boys are not allowed to throw stones or shoot. I know one city in -Massachusetts where trees are very lovely and musical with -yellow-throats. - -We can still have these and other birds in our yards--we who do not live -in the middle of a big city--by protecting them from cats and bad boys, -and furnishing good places to nest. Mr. Lloyd Morgan tells of a garden -near his own where there were fifty-three nests, besides swallows'. The -owner planted thick bushes, and some cone-bearing trees. He put -bird-boxes and old flower-pots and other things suitable to build in, in -convenient places in the trees. The birds appreciated all this and came -and stayed with him. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[10] See Appendix, 9. - - - - -XII - -THE SHRIKE FAMILY - -(_Laniidae_)[11] - - -A SHRIKE is a pretty gray bird with white and black trimmings. He is -nearly as large as a robin, and has a bill slightly hooked on the end. -This is to help catch living prey, for he eats mice and other little -mammals, besides grasshoppers, crickets, and sometimes small birds. - -This family have a curious habit of sticking dead grasshoppers, or mice, -or other food, on a thorn, to keep till they are wanted. Because of this -habit they have been called butcher-birds. - - -The LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, who is perhaps the most widely known, builds a -bulky nest in a tree, and is very attentive to his mate while she is -sitting. She looks exactly like him. - -He is a very quiet bird, and three or four or more of them may often be -seen in a little party together, flying and hopping about in a tree, or -on the ground, in the most amiable way. This shrike is a sweet singer, -too. The song is not loud, but very pleasing. - -[Illustration: LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE] - -A great deal that is not true has been said about this bird. Some people -seem to think he is in the habit of tormenting and killing little birds -for fun, and he is called many hard names. But he does not deserve them. -His way of keeping his food has been spoken of as if it were a crime. He -lives generally on crickets, grasshoppers, meadow mice, and small -snakes, besides cut-worms, cankerworms, and many others. He is extremely -useful to farmers and cultivators on that account. - -Sometimes, when other food is scarce, he eats small birds, but they are -by no means his usual food. I have watched a family of shrikes several -times, and always looked very sharply to see if they touched birds. I -have seen them eat many sorts of insects and grubs, and meadow mice, but -never saw one disturb a bird. Other people who have watched them closely -have told that their experience was the same. And writers about birds -who study for themselves, and do not merely repeat what others have -said, generally agree that the bird kills his prey before he impales it. -More than that, the number of birds he kills is very small compared to -the hosts of troublesome insects and small animals he eats. - -The conclusion of the Agricultural Department as to the food of shrikes -all over the country is that it consists mainly of grasshoppers, and -that the good they do is much greater than the harm, and therefore they -should be protected. - -Mr. Keyser once saw a shrike catch a meadow mouse, and carry it up into -a tree. First he killed it, and then tried to wedge it into a crotch so -that he could eat it. But finally he found the sharp end of a broken -snag, on which he fastened it. - -There is no doubt that the shrike impales his prey so that he can pull -it to pieces to eat, for his feet are too small to hold it. I have seen -a shrike throw a dead meadow mouse over a fence wire that had sagged to -the ground, in order to get bits off to eat. - -A lady in New Hampshire who had a captive shrike tells in "Bird-Lore" -that he was unable to eat a piece of meat until he could find a place to -fasten it. He hopped around the room, looking for something, till she -guessed what he wanted. Then she brought a kitchen fork with two tines. -The moment he saw it he ran to her, hopped up on her hand, jerked his -meat over the tines, and at once began to eat. - -An interesting little action of one of these birds was seen by a -gentleman traveling in Florida last winter. Wishing to have one of the -birds to add to a collection, he shot one (I'm sorry to say). The bird -was not killed, but wounded so that he could not fly. As the man came -near to pick it up, the poor fellow gave a cry of distress, and -fluttered away on his broken wing with great difficulty. - -His call for help was heard. Another shrike at once flew down from a -tree, and went to his aid. He flew close around him and under him, in -some way holding him up as he was about to fall. He helped him so well -that the two began to rise in the air, and before the eyes of the -surprised hunter, at last got safely into the top of a tall tree, where -he left them. - -If you ever happen to find a shrike nesting, I hope you will watch the -birds for yourself, and see how they act, and not take the word of any -one about them. Then you will really know them. The picture shows a -shrike as I have often seen one, sitting on the top twig of the tree -that holds his nest, watching to see that no harm comes to it. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[11] See Appendix, 10. - - - - -XIII - -THE WAXWING FAMILY - -(_Ampelidae_)[12] - - -THE waxwings are a family of beautiful birds, with elegant pointed -crests, and wonderfully silky plumage. Excepting one species they are in -soft grayish or reddish brown colors, with yellow tips to their tails -and black lines on the head that look like spectacles, and give them a -wise appearance. - - -Best known is the CEDAR WAXWING, or CEDAR-BIRD. He is a citizen at -large, you may say, for he is known from sea to sea, and from Canada to -Mexico. He nests all over the northern parts, and winters in the -southern parts. - -This bird gets his name of cedar-bird from the fact that he is fond of -cedar berries. He is often called cherry-bird also, because he likes -cherries. His name waxwing comes from the little tips like red -sealing-wax which are on some of his wing feathers. In Maine he is -called the bonnet-bird because of his crest, and in some places he is -called silk-tail from his silky plumage. You see he has plenty of names. - -Among the strange things about him is that he has almost no voice. The -loudest sound he is known to make is a sort of whistle, so low it is -like a whisper. - -The cedar-bird builds a very neat nest in a tree, and feeds his mate -while she is sitting, as well as helps her feed the little folk. The -young cedar-bird is a winsome youngster, gentle in his ways, and pretty -in his soft gray suit and spotted breast. - -One day last summer, a man walking down a quiet road was surprised by a -young bird alighting on his shoulder. He walked on home with it, and -when he took it off found it was a baby cedar-bird. No doubt he had -tried to fly too far and got tired. - -The family kept the bird a day or two, and then brought him to me. He -was not afraid of anybody, and was perfectly happy so long as some one -would keep him warm between two hands. - -It was hard to get him to eat, and there were plenty of his grown-up -relatives about, probably his own family among them. So I thought it -would be safe to put him out. I took him to the woods where I had seen a -little family of young cedar-birds, and placed him on a low tree. He -brightened up at once, and began to call, and flew to another tree. -Fearing that my being there might prevent his mother coming to him, I -left him. When I went out again I could not find him, so I hope he was -safe with his friends. - -I was more certain of it, because I know that these birds are kind to -all birds in distress. A lady was once watching a nest of robins when -the parents disappeared, no doubt killed. She was much troubled to know -how she should get at the high nest to feed the young ones who were -calling for their dinner, when she saw a cedar-bird go to them and feed -them. - -After that she kept close watch, and saw the cedar-bird feed them every -day, and take care of the nestlings till they could fly. He no doubt -taught them to take care of themselves, but this she could not see, for -they flew away. - -The ordinary food of this bird is insects that are found on trees, -especially among fruit. But they have taken to fly-catching also. A -party of them may often be seen busily at work catching flies. This is a -very good thing for them as well as for us. The birds or beasts who can -eat only one sort of food are called "single-food" animals, and they -are growing scarcer every day. They need a change of diet to flourish. -We should be sorry to have cedar-birds become scarce. - -Cedar-birds are fond of cherries,--as I said,--but they eat hundreds of -cankerworms to one cherry. So they earn all they have. Besides, if they -can get wild cherries, they prefer them. They have been proved to be -among our most useful birds. In one hundred and fifty-two stomachs that -were examined, only nine had cultivated cherries. - -Cedar-birds eat caterpillars and grubs, and are very fond of the -elm-leaf beetle. They have been known to clear the elm-trees of a whole -town, where the trees had been stripped for several years before they -came. Besides insects, they eat the berries of many wild bushes and -trees, such as wild cherry, dogwood, June-berry, elder, and others. They -always prefer wild to cultivated berries. - -One spring I saw a little flock of cedar-birds in an orchard full of -blossoming apple-trees. They spent nearly all their time going over the -trees, and working among the blossoms. One who was careless about it -might have thought they were destroying apple buds, for they did eat -many of the white petals of the flowers. But I wanted to be sure, so I -watched carefully with my glass. Then I stayed by that orchard till -October, and I never saw trees so loaded with apples as they were. Many -branches lay on the ground with their weight of fruit, and in the whole -orchard there was but one insect nest. That showed not only that the -cedar-birds had done no harm, but that probably they had destroyed -thousands of insects that would have done harm. - - -A bird classed with the waxwings is a California bird, the PHAINOPEPLA, -or SHINING CRESTED FLYCATCHER. He is glossy bluish black in color, with -large white spots in the wings, which show only when flying. His mate is -brownish gray. They are rather slim birds, nearly as big as a catbird. - -The phainopepla is a beautiful fellow, with an elegant pointed crest, -and plumage shining like satin. He sits up very straight on his perch, -but he is a rather shy bird, and so not much is known about his ways. He -is a real mountain lover, living on mountains, or in canyons, or the -borders of small streams of California, Arizona, and Texas. - -As you see by one of his names, he is a flycatcher. Sometimes thirty or -forty of them may be seen in a flock, all engaged in catching flies. -But like the cedar-bird, he is also fond of berries. When berries are -ripe on the pepper-trees, he comes nearer to houses to feast on the -beautiful red clusters. - -The song of this bird is said to be fine, and like many other birds, he -sometimes utters a sweet whisper song. - -The nest is placed on a branch, not very high up in a tree, and is -often, perhaps always, made of flower stems with the flowers on, with -fine strips of bark, grasses, and plant down. - -What is curious, and rare among birds, the male phainopepla insists on -making the nest himself. He generally allows his mate to come and look -on, and greets her with joyous song, but he will not let her touch it -till all is done. Sometimes he even drives her away. When all is ready -for sitting, he lets her take her share of the work, but even then he -appears to sit as much as she. Miss Merriam found a party of these birds -on some pepper-trees, and to her we owe most of what we know of their -habits. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[12] See Appendix, 11. - - - - -XIV - -THE SWALLOW FAMILY - -(_Hirundinidae_)[13] - - -IT is very easy to know this family. They are small birds with long -pointed wings, always sailing around in the air as if they could never -tire. Their beaks are short, but very wide at the head, and the mouth -opens as far back as the eyes. They have small and weak feet, so when -they alight, it is usually on a small twig or telegraph wire, or on the -flat top of a fence or roof. - -Swallows wear no gay colors. Nearly all of them look black and white as -they sail about in the air. But when you see them closely, you see they -are glossy dark blue or green, sometimes with changeable colors, but all -dark, on the back. - - -The BARN SWALLOW has a dull reddish breast, and his back is rich blue, -almost black. He has a deeply forked tail, and a row of white spots on -the shorter tail feathers. When he spreads his tail, it is very -beautiful. - -He is called barn swallow because he prefers a barn for a nesting-place. -Up on the beams, close under the roof, the pair build their mud cradle. -It is interesting to see them at work. When they have chosen a place, -they go to some puddle in the road. They stand around it on their tiny -feet, holding their wings straight up like a butterfly's. Then they take -up some of the wet earth in their beaks, and work it around till it is -made into a little pill. With this pill they fly to the place they have -selected, and stick it on to the beam. Then they go back for more. So -they go on, till they have built up the walls of the nest, an inch -thick, and three or four inches high. Sometimes they put layers of fine -grass in, but often they use nothing but mud. Then they line it with -feathers which they pick up in the chicken yard. - -Some swallows build a platform beside the nest, where one of the pair -can rest at night; and when the little ones get big enough to fill up -the nest, both parents can sleep there. - -When the swallows are flying about low over the grass, looking as if -they were at play, they are really catching tiny insects as they go. And -when they have nestlings to feed, they collect a mouthful which they -make up into a sort of little ball. Then they fly to the nest and feed -it to one of the little ones. - -Thus they keep the air clear and free from insects, and they do not a -bit of harm, for they never touch our fruit or vegetables. - -Barn swallows are social, and always go in flocks. They sing, too,--a -sweet little song, but not very loud. It is charming to hear them in a -barn when five or six of them sing together. But one may often hear the -little song from a single bird flying over. - -They are friendly among themselves, and they like to alight on a roof -and chatter away a long time. In one place where I was staying, they -liked to gather on a piazza roof right under my window. They often woke -me in the morning with their sweet little voices. - -One morning the sound was so near, it seemed as if they must be in the -room, and I opened my eyes to see. There on the sill close to the screen -was one of the pretty fellows. He was looking in at the open window, and -evidently keeping watch of me. When I moved a little, he gave the alarm, -and the whole party flew away. - -The chatter of barn swallows always seems to me like talk, and men who -study bird ways agree that birds have some sort of language. The -swallows have many different notes. One is a general warning of danger, -but there is another note for a man, another for a cat, and a still -different one when they find something good to eat, which they call the -others to share. - -"The variety of bird speech," says a man who has studied birds a long -time, "is very great." And of all bird voices, swallows' are the most -like human speech. If you lie on the hay in the barn very quiet, and -listen to them when they come in and fly about, you will see that this -is true. It seems sometimes as if you could almost make out words. - - -Swallows more than any other birds like to make use of our buildings for -their own homes. Barn swallows take the beams inside the barns, EAVE -SWALLOWS settle under the eaves outside, and PURPLE MARTINS, the largest -of the family, choose bird-houses which we put up for them. - -It is said that purple martins will not stay anywhere that men have not -made houses for them. But I have seen them living in a place not put up -for them, though perhaps they thought it was. It was under a terra-cotta -covering to a cornice on a business block in the middle of a busy city. -The terra-cotta was shaped like a large pipe cut in half, the long way. -This half cylinder was laid on top of the brick cornice, and that made a -little roof, you see. The whole length of that cornice was thus made -into one long room, with a brick floor and terra-cotta roof, and an -entrance at the end. That room must have had a dozen martin nests, for a -flock was all the time sailing about in the air, above the roofs of the -houses. - -As these birds eat only flying insects, they cannot stay with us when it -is too cool for insects to fly abroad. So they leave us very early. When -the little ones are out of the nest and can fly well, swallows from all -the country around collect in great flocks, and go to some swamp, or -lonely place where people do not go much. There the young ones are -taught and exercised every day in flying. And some day we shall go out -and find them all gone, not a swallow to be seen. They have started for -their winter home, which is far south, in tropical countries, where -insects never fail; but it is a comfort to think that next summer we -shall have them back with us again. - -The swallows I have mentioned, barn swallow, eave swallow, and purple -martin, are found all over our country. - -Let me tell you a story that shows the purple martin has a good deal of -sense. One of these birds built in a box under a window, fixed so that -the owner could open it and take out eggs. He took out several, one at a -time, and at last he took out one of the birds. - -The mate of the stolen bird went off and in a few days came back with -another mate. The box was too good to give up, so both the birds went to -work to make it safe against the nest robber. They built up a wall of -mud before the too handy back door. The egg thief could not get in -without breaking down the wall, and he was ashamed to do that. So the -birds kept their pleasant home, and reared their family there. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[13] See Appendix, 12. - - - - -XV - -THE TANAGER FAMILY - -(_Tanagridae_)[14] - - -THIS is a large family of between three and four hundred species, all -dressed in gay colors. But we have only three of them in our country. -Their home is in the warmer parts of the world. We have the scarlet -tanager in the East, the Louisiana tanager in the West, and the summer -tanager in the South. Tanagers are a little larger than sparrows, and -live in the trees. They feed on insects and fruit; sometimes, it is -said, on flowers. - - -The SCARLET TANAGER is the brilliant red bird with black wings and tail, -common all over the Eastern and Middle States. His mate is dressed in -modest olive green, and the nestlings are like her the first year. - -The tanager himself wears his gay dress only during the nesting season, -that is, spring and summer. Towards fall he turns from scarlet to green -like his mate, and he is a droll-looking object while he does it. He -seems to break out into green patches or streaks. One that I watched -began by showing a little green feather among the red on each side of -his breast. I have seen one with a green ring around the neck, and all -the rest of the plumage scarlet; and another with a green stripe down -the back. Some show no regularity about it, but are covered with green -patches all over, and look like bunches of colored rags. - -[Illustration: SCARLET TANAGER] - -It is no wonder that a bird hides in the woods, as many do, when -changing his coat, if he looks such an object. In spring he gets back -his brilliant coat, and comes to our Northern woods again, to nest. - -The nest of this bird is not very high in a tree. It is a rather shabby -affair, that looks as if it would fall to pieces, and the birds are -madly shy about being looked at. - -I once saw in the woods a tanager building her nest. I hoped to watch -her through nesting, and see how she brought up her little folk. Both of -the pair were there, but were too shy to come to the nest while my -friend and I were there. We kept very still, and even hid in some -bushes, hoping she would not see us. We were so quiet that she was -gradually getting over her fright, and coming nearer the nest, when -suddenly the big dog we had with us gave a loud sneeze. In an instant -both birds were off, as if shot out of a gun. And I think they never -came back, for the nest was not finished. - -The song of the tanager is much like the robin song, but having once -learned it, a sharp ear can easily tell them apart, for it is of a -different tone. It is rather hoarse, not so smooth as a robin's voice. -The common call is a hoarse and very distinct "chip, chur," given by -both of the pair. - -Several years ago I saw a scarlet tanager in a bird store. It was -winter, and I brought him home to keep till it was safe to set him free -in the spring. He was very timid, and did not like to have any one look -at him, especially when he went to eat. - -If I happened to look at him when he was at his food-dish, he would -instantly fly to his top perch, and look as if he would never eat again. -So I partitioned off one corner of his cage for a private dining-room, -by a strip of stiff paper woven between the wires. After that it was -very droll to see him retire behind the screen and eat, now and then -sticking up his head to glance over the top, and see if I were looking. - -I found it hard to please him with food. He liked living insects, but he -wanted to catch them for himself. So I got some sticky fly-paper, and -hung it up outside the kitchen door. When I had caught half a dozen -flies, I took it up to him. He was not in a cage, and the minute he saw -the flies he flew across the room and hovered before me like a big -hummingbird, while he daintily picked off every fly. He forgot that he -didn't like to have me see him eat. After that I was fly-catcher every -day till he learned to like mockingbird food. - -In the spring he began to sing--a sweet, low song, different from the -common tanager song. Then I took him out to the country, away from the -English sparrows, and set him free. - - -The SUMMER TANAGER nests in the Southern States from New Jersey to -Florida. He is all red, but otherwise looks like the scarlet tanager, -and his habits are about the same. - - -The LOUISIANA TANAGER nests in the Western States from the Plains to the -Pacific. He is brighter, with a variety of colors. He is mostly bright -yellow, with brilliant red head, and black wings and tail, and his -mate--like other female tanagers--is in olive green. He is a shy bird, -and lives in the woods, and his habits have been very little studied. - -I once saw a pair of these birds in Utah, getting their breakfast. At -least, the gay singer himself was at that business, though his -sharp-eyed mate was too busy watching me to see that I did not mean any -harm, to care for food. - -They were on a long fence, catching flies. One would fly out a little -way, his bill snapping as he seized the fly, and then return to the -fence a little farther off. Every time he came back he alighted farther -away, though he did not seem even to see me. His mate kept between him -and me, and never took her eyes from me. I feared she would go hungry, -so I came away and left them. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[14] See Appendix, 13. - - - - -XVI - -THE SPARROW AND FINCH FAMILY - -(_Fringillidae_)[15] - - -THIS is the largest bird family, more than five hundred species, and -they are found nearly all over the world. It is divided into sparrows, -finches, grosbeaks, and crossbills. All of them are smaller than a -robin, and have short, high beaks, with the back corners turned down. -The beaks show that they are seed eaters, though all of them eat insects -too. - -An interesting thing about birds who eat seeds is the grinding machine -they have inside to break up the hard seeds. For of course, having no -teeth, they are obliged to swallow them nearly whole. What I have called -a machine is the gizzard, and you have seen it on the table from a -chicken. It is well fitted to grind up the food, and birds often swallow -small stones to help in the work. - -The first group of this family, the sparrows, are all small, about the -size of an English sparrow. They are dressed in dull, brownish colors, -more or less streaked, and they live and get their food very largely on -or near the ground. Their colors keep them from being easily seen on the -ground. - -All of this group sing, and some of them are noted songsters, as the -song sparrow, the white-throated sparrow, and the fox sparrow. The best -known is the little song sparrow, who is found almost everywhere, and is -dear to nearly every one. - - -The SONG SPARROW is streaked all over in shades of brown. The breast is -white, with the dark brown streaks coming together in an -irregular-shaped spot, or sometimes two spots, in front. - -The nest of the song sparrow is on the ground or very near it. Sometimes -it is in a tuft of grass, sometimes in a low bush a few inches up. One I -found at the roots of a little clump of golden-rod, before it bloomed, -of course. It was a slight affair, right among the stems, so that it -could not be taken up without tearing the plant. - -This bird is one of the first to come in the spring, and his song and -the robin's are the first we hear. He also stays very late in the fall, -and about New York some of them stay all winter. Their food being the -seeds of weeds, which are always to be found, they do not need to -migrate. - -The song sparrow has a sweet and cheery voice, and a variety of songs, -and he sings a great deal. I have heard one bird sing six different -songs, standing on a fence in plain sight all the time. Some of the -songs are charming, and all are pleasant to hear. One never tires of -song-sparrow music. - - -The second branch of this family--the Finches--have some brighter -colored members, the goldfinch in brilliant lemon-yellow, and the purple -finch in crimson and white. - -The GOLDFINCH, called also the thistle-bird, lettuce-bird, and wild -canary, is a charming fellow, dressed, as I said, in lemon color, with -black wings and tail and cap. His mate is in olive brown. He is the most -delightful of singers, with a sweet voice, and is a common bird all over -the country. He flies in great waves, uttering a cheery little warble as -he goes over each airy wave. - -The nest is one of the prettiest we have, in an upright crotch, and -furnished with a bed of thistledown an inch thick for the baby -goldfinches to rest upon. It is made late in the season, in July and -sometimes in August. - -One of the most lovely bird-studies I ever had was of a pair of these -birds nesting in a low plum-tree. While his mate was sitting, the gay -little fellow hung around, doing nothing but watching the tree that held -his family. Every little while the sitting bird would begin to call her -sweet-voiced "s-w-e-e-t," which sounds so much like a canary's call. On -hearing this he would answer her, and at once fly over to see if she was -all right, or wanted anything. When he thought it time to eat, he would -come and call her off. Both would then go to a patch of weeds, where -they cracked and ate the seeds till they had had enough, and then go -back to the nursery. - -These little birds eat mostly the seeds of weeds,--thistle, ragweed, and -beggar's-ticks,--as well as the larvae of the wheat-midge and other -pests, and they feed great quantities to their young. - -Goldfinches do not leave us in winter. The male puts off his bright coat -and comes out in dull colors like his mate, except that he keeps his -black wings and tail. All of a neighborhood collect in small flocks and -stay about all winter, looking more like sparrows than goldfinches. - -The Western goldfinch which corresponds to this bird is called in -California the WILLOW GOLDFINCH, but in looks and in habits of life he -seems to be the same as the Eastern bird. He is a confiding little -creature, and by a person of quiet ways may be made very tame. - - -Among the finches will be found the CHEWINK, or TOWHEE BUNTING, a bird -nearly of the size of a catbird, who is sometimes called ground robin. -He is black and white, with reddish sides and red eyes, and his mate is -brown where he is black. He is usually found on the ground, where he -gets his food, and where the nest is placed. - -There are several species in California, and the Western variety of the -common chewink of the East is called the spurred towhee, with habits the -same, so far as known. - -The chewink has at the best an exquisite song, though there is a great -difference in singers, as there is in all bird families. The finest song -is like a peal of silver-toned bells. - -A bird-lover whom I know found one day a nestling chewink who could not -fly much, and seemed to be deserted, or lost, in a barren place on Long -Island. Fearing that some cat would get him, he brought the bird home -and put him in a cage. The little fellow was not at all frightened at -his new surroundings, and became very tame. - -The cage of the young bird was near that of an ortolan, a European bird -noted as a singer, and a common cage-bird. The baby chewink seemed to -take a great liking to the stranger, and tried to do everything he did. -Perhaps he felt the need of some education, since he had been deprived -of his parents. At any rate, he evidently adopted the ortolan as his -model. - -When the little one began to sing, he did not sing chewink but ortolan, -and he did it so well that one could hardly tell which bird was singing. -The gentleman wanted to see if the little fellow would recognize the -song of his own family. So he bought a full-grown chewink who was -singing, and put him close to his young relative. The new bird was full -of music, and sang a great deal. But the youngster paid no attention to -him, and kept up his ortolan notes. - -This story shows that a bird does not always, if ever, know his native -song by instinct, but has to learn it. It is supposed by those who have -studied bird ways that he learns it from the old bird before he leaves -the nest. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[15] See Appendix, 14. - - - - -XVII - -THE GROSBEAK BRANCH - -(_Fringillidae_)--Continued - - -THE third division of this family is of grosbeaks. These are the largest -of the group, and nearly the size of a robin, with very big beaks. They -live in trees and wear some bright colors. They are also fine singers. - - -In the Eastern States, and west to Missouri, is found the ROSE-BREASTED -GROSBEAK. He is a beautiful bird, black and white, with a gorgeous -rose-colored patch on his white breast, and the same color on the inside -of his wings. You can see him in the picture. His mate is modest in -stripes of brown and buffy white. - -[Illustration: ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK] - -A lady whom I know in New England has had three of these birds living -tame in her house, hardly at all confined to a cage. Each one was picked -up when just out of the nest and so injured that it could not care for -itself. It was carefully fed and reared in the house, and thus saved -from death. - -One of the three was a female, who was as tame as a domestic cat, and -lived in the house four or five years. She was a fine singer, though -never a loud one. She kept the family cats in their place by pecking at -their toes when they came near, so they had respect for her. - -Another was a young singer who had his bill crossed, so that he could -not feed himself. He was nearly dead for want of food when he was found. -She fed him carefully and brought him up, though she had always to feed -him herself. That is a good deal to do, for birds want to be fed very -often. - -These birds who lived in a house, and were not taught by their parents, -never gave the common song of the species, but made up songs of their -own. They lived several years with their friend, who was very fond of -them. - -The rose-breasted grosbeak is one who puts on his gay colors only for -the nesting season. When that is over, and he moults, and gets his new -winter suit, it is mostly streaked brown like his mate's. The rosy patch -is very small, and mixed with brown, so the effect is dull. In the -spring he moults the body feathers, and comes out again with his -brilliant rose colors. - - -The bird who takes the place of the rosebreast in the West is the -BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. He is reddish brown and black, with the same -color and lemon yellow on the under parts, and yellow under the wings, -instead of rose like the Eastern bird. He is a loud, enthusiastic -singer. Miss Merriam says of him that his song to his mate is finer than -that of any other bird she has heard. - - -The CARDINAL GROSBEAK, cardinal redbird, Virginia nightingale, or -redbird, as he is called in different places, is of the third group of -this family. He is found all over the Southern States, and as far north -as Southern New England and New York. He is a brilliant red to the tip -of his beak, with a beautiful crest and black throat and face. His mate -is in soft dove colors, with red beak, and reddish tints on her quiet -robe. - -Both of the pair are singers. He is much the louder, but she has the -sweeter song. He is famous as a singer, and is therefore trapped and -caught in great numbers for cages. In Europe, where he is a favorite -cage-bird, he is thought by many to be equal to the famous nightingale -as a singer. - -In Ohio, a few years ago, a law was made that no cardinal should be -caged, and those in cages should be set free. In one small village were -more than forty freed. This shows how many are caged. - -While nesting, the cardinal is rather savage, ready to fight any one who -disturbs the nest. If a snake comes about, all the birds within hearing, -from cardinals to kinglets, will come to help defend the nest and punish -the enemy. They fly at him with loud cries, and even attack him if he -does not leave. - -The nest of these birds is not very high, in a tree or bush, and they -are very shy about it. A cardinal will desert her nest if it is touched, -especially if eggs are not yet laid. But they have reason to be afraid; -they cannot be blamed for that. - -I saw a nest built on a trellis beside a kitchen door, and the birds -were so used to the people that they were not afraid. One who lived in -that house was a boy fourteen years old. But he was so gentle with birds -that they did not fear him at all. They would feed the nestlings freely, -while he stood not three feet from them. So they can be made tame, if -people will be gentle and not disturb them. - -The cardinal grosbeak stays as far north as New Jersey and Ohio all -winter, and a little flock have lived in Central Park, New York, for -several years. That is most delightful for those who live near, for -they sing all winter, when few bird-notes are to be heard. They can stay -because they are seed eaters, and they find many weed seeds, and wild -berries like cedar berries, that stay on all winter. - -[Illustration: CARDINAL] - -A lady once had a cardinal in a cage with a pair of the tiny green -parrots called love-birds. These little birds, you know, are always -putting the bills together and caressing each other, as if kissing. The -cardinal seemed to think this very silly; at any rate, he did not like -it. After looking on awhile, he would lose patience and dash right down -between them. Of course this drove them apart. Then he seemed to feel -better, and went back to his perch. But when they began it again, down -he would come between them again. He did not disturb them at any other -time, but that sort of thing he plainly couldn't endure. - - - - -XVIII - -THE CROSSBILL BRANCH - -(_Fringillidae_)--Continued - - -THE fourth branch of this family is of crossbills. Of these we have two. -They are smaller than grosbeaks, and, as their name shows, have the two -points of the bill crossed. It looks as if they could not feed -themselves. But a beak like this is just fitted to pick seeds out of -cones. And crossbills live mostly on cone-seeds. - -These queer beaks are used for another thing, too. They help the birds -climb around on the trees. They are almost as good as a hand. You have -seen a parrot use his beak in the same way. - - -The AMERICAN, or RED, CROSSBILL is the more common of our two. He -travels about all over the Northern States and California. But he's very -particular about a place to nest, and is suited only in the northern -parts, or in the mountains. - -The red crossbill seems to be a whimsical fellow; one never knows where -to find him. One year he will come with all his friends to a place, and -the next year there will not be one there. - -The male is dull red, more or less streaked all over with brown. His -mate is olive green, mottled and mixed with blackish. - -Crossbills go in flocks. They are usually seen among the evergreens, -where they find their food. They are much attached to one another. - -I had a chance one summer to get well acquainted with a flock of -American crossbills. I found them very odd in their manners. They had -the queerest songs and calls of any bird I know. These were not musical, -but sounded like such things as the squeaking of a wagon wheel or the -sawing of wood. - -The birds were very fond of calling and singing, and they kept up a -constant chattering, as they flew from spruce to spruce. They spent most -of their time on these trees, eating the seeds of the cones. - -The white-winged crossbill lives about as the red one does. But he has a -really fine song. It is full of trills, something like a canary's song. - -One of the odd things about these birds is their habit of nesting in -winter. A Maine hunter was once shooting moose in the middle of January, -when he came upon the nest of a crossbill, with the bird sitting. The -weather was cold, of course, and there was deep snow on the ground. The -nest was in the woods, and made of twigs, with long gray moss outside. -It looked so like a bunch of moss that it was hard to see. Other nests -have been found in winter also. - -Mr. Nehrling says that if one of these birds is caught, the rest of the -flock will not leave him. They stay around him, crying and showing their -distress in every way, and if one is put alone into a cage, he will -die. - - - - -XIX - -THE BLACKBIRD FAMILY - -(_Icteridae_)[16] - - -THERE are more than one hundred species of the Blackbird Family in -America. So we will divide them into four branches: Marsh Blackbirds, -Meadow Starlings, Orioles, and Crow Blackbirds. - -[Illustration: RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD] - -Blackbirds are walkers. They dress mostly in black, and they are of -medium size. Some of them will generally be found on the ground in a -marsh or a meadow. They are social birds, that is, they go in flocks. -Fond as they are of society, however, there is one time when they are -willing to be a little apart from the blackbird world. That is when they -are nesting and rearing a young family. Two interesting birds of this -family are the red-winged blackbird and the cow-blackbird or cowbird. - - -The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD is found all over the country. He is not so -large as a robin, and is black all over, excepting one place on the -wings. On these are bright stripes of red and orange, which seem to be -on the shoulders when the wings are closed. They make the bird very gay, -when he spreads them out in flying. - -The red-wing's mate is a modest-looking bird in stripes of brown and -black. She is a plodding sort of a creature, too. She walks about on the -ground, looking for grubs or insects so busily that she hardly seems to -see anything else. - -The nest is usually in a marsh. At any rate, it must be near the water, -for red-wings are as fond of the water as any old sailor. It is hung -between reeds, or in the branches of a low bush. It is a comfortable, -bag-like affair, deep enough and big enough to hold the restless -blackbird babies. - -While the mother red-wing is sitting, her mate stays near her and sings -a great deal. His song is a loud, sweet "hwa-ker-ee," which may be heard -a long way off. When nestlings are out, he is one of the most busy and -fussy of birds. He helps in the feeding, and seems to be a good and -careful father. But when the young ones are grown up and able to feed -themselves, a curious thing happens. All the gay red-wings in a -neighborhood come together in a flock again. And all the young ones and -the mothers stay in another flock. - -The red-wing is a very nervous and uneasy fellow. While his mate is -sitting he is always on guard to see that no harm comes to her. In the -picture you can see he looks much concerned, as if he had discovered -something. Then he makes a great row if any one comes near. He will give -such cries of distress that one would think he was hurt, or that his -nestlings were being stolen away. If the enemy is a crow, come to feed -quietly on the meadow, he will fly at him, try to peck his head, and -annoy him till he goes away. If it is a person who alarms him, he will -circle about over his head with loud cries, and now and then swoop down -as if he meant to attack him. In fact, he shows so much distress that it -is not very pleasant to stay near him. - -The young red-wing is just as uneasy and fussy as his papa. As soon as -he is able to get out of the nest, he scrambles about in the bushes. He -never stays two minutes in one place, and every time his mother comes -with food she has to hunt him up before she can give it to him. - -The red-wing is fond of green corn, and is often shot by farmers, but he -is also a famous insect eater, and earns all the corn he gets. He eats -numbers of cut-worms, and other insects, and in some of the prairie -States he does great good by eating locusts and their eggs. Besides -these, he likes variety, and is fond of the seeds of weeds. Ragweed and -smartweed seeds are dainties to him as some nuts are to you, and he eats -a great many. So unless a large flock comes to one place to disturb the -crops, you may be sure they do more good than harm. So says the -Department I told you about. - -The young red-winged blackbird is a droll fellow, and has decided -notions of his own. Mr. Keyser tells a story of one he picked up. He was -put in with some other young birds,--meadowlarks and catbirds. They were -all babies together, and all used to being fed. So when the little -red-wing got something to eat, they would open their mouths and beg for -it, in the pretty bird-baby way. At first he fed them, though he wasn't -much more than a baby himself; but they liked it so well that they -coaxed everything away from him. He soon got tired of that, and at last -refused to feed them at all. - -This little bird liked to play jokes on the sober young meadowlarks. His -way was to seize one by the wing or tail and dance around the floor, -dragging his victim after him. The young larks scolded and held back, -and at last they learned to stop his pranks. They did it by throwing -themselves over on their backs, and holding up their claws ready to -fight. - -In spite of this naughty fun, the young blackbird was really fond of -them. The larks slept on the ground, and at night, when the little -fellows settled down on the floor, the red-wing would often leave his -perch and cuddle down by them. This must have been for company only, for -it was his way to sleep on a perch. - - -The COW-BLACKBIRD, or COWBIRD, is another one of this branch of the -Blackbird Family who is found all over the United States. He is shining -blue-black all over, except his head, which is brown. His mate is -entirely brown. He is not quite so large as a red-wing, and he too is a -walker. - -This bird is called cowbird because he is fond of flying about the -cows,--not to trouble them, but to eat the insects that torment -them,--which is very pleasant for the cows, I am sure. - -There is one queer way that cowbirds have, which no one is able to -explain. The cowbird mother does not build a nest for her little family. -Yet she wants them well cared for. So she goes slyly about and lays her -eggs in other birds' nests. She generally chooses the nest of a smaller -bird, though she often uses one belonging to a wood thrush. - -Most little birds--warblers and finches--accept the charge. They hatch -out the strange egg and bring up the young cowbird, who is bigger than -themselves. He is so big that he usually smothers the young ones that -belong in the nest. So he receives the whole attention of the little -mother bird. - -Sometimes other birds come to help one who has a young cowbird to feed, -and he grows big and strong. When he is full grown he joins a party of -other cowbirds, and they go off in a flock by themselves. - -Some small birds will not submit to this. When they find a cowbird's egg -in their nest, they go away and leave it there, and make a new nest. Or -they make a new story, as I told you the yellow warbler does. - -The cowbird has a queer little song. It is something like "cluck-see!" -and he seems to squeeze it out as if it were hard work to say it. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[16] See Appendix, 15. - - - - -XX - -THE MEADOW STARLINGS - -(_Icteridae_)--Continued - - -THE meadow starlings are short-tailed birds who live on the ground. They -have long bills and mixed sort of plumage, of browns and yellows. - -[Illustration: MEADOWLARK] - -Our common one, called the MEADOWLARK or OLD-FIELD LARK, though he is -not really a lark, is a beautiful bird. He is larger than a robin, and -his mottled feathers are set off by a bright yellow breast, with a black -crescent under the throat. - -This bird lives in the meadows or pastures, and walks about on the -ground, where he gets his food. When he wants to sing, he flies up on to -a fence, or stands up very straight on a bit of turf, or a stone, and -sings away a long time. It is a sweet song, or rather several sweet -songs, for he does not always sing the same one. - -The mother lark looks like her mate. She makes her nest on the ground, -and a snug and cozy home it is. It is none of the open, cup-like -nests that anybody can see into. It has a roof, if you please, and -sometimes a covered way--like a hall--leading to it. The roof of the -nest is made by drawing the grass stems over it and weaving them -together. So it is very hard to find. And it is hidden in the long -meadow grass besides. - -You might think the little family would get hurt when the haymakers came -to cut the grass. So they would, if they happened to be there. But lark -babies are out of the egg before that time, and they run about as soon -as they can stand. Sometimes when a nest has been disturbed, and the -birds have had to make a second one, the little ones are not out when -the mowers come on. Then there are apt to be sad times in the family. -But I have known mowers who carefully cut around a nest, and did not -hurt the nestlings. That is a good thing to do, for the birds are so -useful and such fine singers that we want as many as we can have. - -The meadowlark is a shy bird, and so is more often heard than seen. His -song is charming, and he has besides a strange call, a sort of harsh -sputter, or chatter, sometimes as he flies over. No doubt he has many -more ways of expressing himself, but these are the ones we most often -hear. - - -The WESTERN MEADOWLARK looks like the Eastern, except that he is a -little paler and grayer in color. He has the same general habits, but he -is a much finer singer. The song is wilder and has more variety, and -sometimes it is very brilliant. It is different in every way from the -quiet, rather sad notes that make the Eastern bird so winning. - -The Western bird is not so timid as his Eastern brother. He often comes -into the towns and sings from the tops of houses. The finest singer I -ever heard sang every day from the peak of a low roof. His song to his -mate is most charming. It is so low and tender one can hardly hear it. - -I once saw a pair of the Western birds nest-making. The little builder -was busy filling her beak with dried grasses and such things. For these -she had to fly across the road where I sat. Her mate went with her every -time. He perched on the fence while she gathered her beakful, watching -that no harm came to her. When she went back, he flew across with her -and perched on a tree on that side. - -All the time he was singing the sweetest low warble, and all the time he -was keeping a sharp watch on me. In the West this bird eats beetles, -grasshoppers, and the disgusting big black crickets that do so much -damage. - - - - -XXI - -THE ORIOLE BRANCH - -(_Icteridae_)--Continued - - -IT seems odd to put the gay orioles into the Blackbird Family, -especially as they don't live on the ground either; but that's where -they belong in the books. Orioles live in the trees, and are fine -singers. They have sharp-pointed bills, suitable for picking tiny -insects out of fruit blossoms. They have some of the family color, -black, but more orange color, or chestnut red, or yellow. They all make -beautiful nests. - -The Baltimore oriole is all over the East, the orchard oriole in the -South, and the Arizona hooded oriole in the West. - - -The BALTIMORE ORIOLE, who has several other names, such as fire-bird, -golden robin, and hang-nest, is a very showy bird, in bright orange and -black. He has a fine though short song. His mate is yellow, and brown -instead of black, and has a sweet song of her own. Both of them can -scold as well as any birds I know. - -The nest of this oriole is one of the prettiest we have. It is hung high -up in a tall tree, an elm or willow usually, and near the end of a -branch, where it swings in the wind. It is a deep bag made of plant -fibres, bits of string, and other things. The whole has a gray tint and -a silky look, which make it very attractive. - -While the mother bird is sitting, her mate stays near and sings a good -deal; but when feeding time comes, he works as hard as she in stuffing -the hungry little mouths. - -As soon as the nestlings are off, they go away in a little party. Then -one who looks sharp may often see an oriole papa going quietly about on -the ground, with two or three little ones after him, still calling to be -fed. He doesn't sing any in these busy days. But sometimes, after the -young have learned to feed themselves, he will sing again a little -before they all start for their warm winter home in Central America. - -It is an anxious time in the bird world when the young are leaving the -nest. Orioles are so nervous and make such an outcry over their troubles -that we often hear them. The most common accident is the falling of a -nestling to the ground. The old birds make so much fuss over it that one -would think the baby had fallen into the claws of the cat, at the very -least. - -They fly around as if they were crazy, shrieking and calling, for they -are very fond of their little folk. The youngsters are plucky little -fellows. One will hop along till he comes to a tree, and then try to -climb the trunk. If he happens to hit on a tree with rough bark, he can -do pretty well. He flutters a little way up, and then holds on by the -claws till rested. Then he flies a little farther, and so he goes till -he reaches a branch. - -If it is a smooth trunk he tries, his troubles are great. Sometimes one -will scramble up till he comes to a leaf that grows out from the trunk, -and hang on to that till he is able to go on. But often one is unable to -keep his hold, and falls back into the grass. I have several times -picked up a hot and frightened birdling and put him on a branch. - -A lady told me an interesting little story, showing how helpful birds -are to one another. A Baltimore oriole was picked up from the ground -with his wing broken so that he could not fly. The kind-hearted people -fixed him comfortably in an attic. They intended to feed him and care -for him till he got well and could fly. - -They left him there with a window open, so that his wild friends could -bring food if they wished. A little while afterward one of them went up -to see about the invalid. Behold, he was gone! - -They looked for him everywhere, for they knew he could not fly. Suddenly -they noticed a great deal of oriole chatter out in the yard. Then they -looked carefully over a tree near the window, and there they saw the -broken-winged bird in the midst of quite a flock of others. - -Of course the outside birds were called by the captive, and they must -have carried him out in some way. Birds have been seen to carry off one -who was wounded, in two ways. One way was by two birds each taking in -his beak a wing of the helpless bird and so flying away with him. This -has been seen, and more than once, by men who tell the truth. - -The second way birds have been seen to help another was by one getting -under the helpless one and so holding him up on the back. This also has -been seen by men whose word can be trusted. You remember I told you such -a story about the shrike. - -So many untrue stories are told about the birds that I am very careful -not to tell you anything that is not strictly true. - - -If you live in the South, you more often see the ORCHARD ORIOLE. He is -not quite so gay in his dress as the Baltimore. He has chestnut color -with his black. His mate is different. She is olive on the back, and -yellow below, and she has bright blue legs and feet, which look as if -they were covered with kid. - -The nest is a hanging one, of course, but it does not usually swing like -other oriole nests. It is a little supported at the bottom. It is very -beautiful, for it is made of one kind of fine grass. When it is first -made, its green color makes it hard to see among the leaves. And as it -dries, it turns a rich yellow, like bright clean straw. It is not so -high as the Baltimore's, and not hung to the end of a branch. It is -often in an apple-tree, for this bird likes to be near people. - -The song of the orchard oriole is different from the Baltimore's. It is -longer, and has more variety. His mate sings also. Her voice is sweeter -than his and not so loud. - - -If you live in California, the oriole you know will be the ARIZONA -HOODED ORIOLE. Sometimes he is called the palm-leaf oriole for a reason -you will soon see. He is a beautiful, slender bird, having bright orange -color with his black. He wears more black than some of the family. His -face and throat and tail and wings are of that color, though the wings -have two white bars. His mate is yellowish below and olive brown above. - -This bird makes the regular oriole family cradle. Sometimes it swings -free like the Baltimore's, but not always. It is made of slender, wiry -grass, which is green, so that it is hard to see. Sometimes a sort of -thread from the edge of palm leaves is used. - -This bird sometimes selects a droll place for her nest. She swings it -from the under side of a palm or banana leaf. You know a banana leaf is -long and wide, and makes a comfortable shade in a hot day; and it does -just as well for an umbrella when it rains. It is hard to see how a bird -can fasten a nest to a smooth leaf. But Mrs. Grinnell has seen it done -in her own yard, and she tells us how the little builder goes to work. - -First she takes a thread in her beak and pushes it through the leaf, -making a hole, of course. Then she flies around to the other side of the -broad leaf, and standing there a minute she pulls the thread through, -and pushes it back, making another hole. Thus she goes on, flying from -one side to the other till she has sewed her bag to the strong leaf. - -Except in the place they choose for their nest, these orioles are about -the same as their Eastern cousins, and oriole little folk are the same -the world over, I think. - - - - -XXII - -THE CROW-BLACKBIRD BRANCH - -(_Icteridae_)--Continued - - -THE fourth branch of this family is of crow-blackbirds and grackles. -They have a right to the name of blackbird, for they are quite black. At -least they look so a little way off, but if one gets near and sees the -sunshine on them, he will see that they reflect blue or green or purple, -from their feathers. - -Then, too, like others of their family, they go in flocks, and they have -a dignified walk on the ground. Some birds who are so social that they -like to live in a crowd prefer to go a little apart to nest. But these -birds make their rude, clumsy nests all close together. - -Blackbirds are fond of corn; who can blame them for that? Thousands of -them have been shot because they eat it. But farmers who shoot them -forget, or perhaps they do not know, that corn is not the only thing -they eat. - -Insects as well as birds are fond of corn, and it isn't so easy to keep -them away. The birds eat great numbers of them, such as grasshoppers, -caterpillars, beetles, and cut-worms, besides mice. All these creatures -eat the farmers' crops. So when birds destroy them, they earn some of -the corn. They do more than clear the fields of troublesome insects, -they eat great quantities of the seeds of weeds that the farmer is -always fighting. - -Blackbirds are most often seen on the ground, walking around with great -dignity. They are looking for food in the grass, or in the field in -ploughing time. When they are closely watched, it is often found that -they are not in mischief. - -Mr. Warren, State Ornithologist of Pennsylvania, tells a story which -shows how easy it is to be mistaken. He was with a friend who had thirty -acres of corn growing, and was much vexed to see blackbirds walking -about among the young plants. They seemed very busy about something, and -he was sure they were pulling up his crop. So he got out his guns, and -Mr. Warren went with him to punish the birds. - -They shot thirty-one of them. Then they began to see what they had been -eating. In all the thirty-one, only seven had the least bit of corn, and -even they were mostly filled with insects. The rest were stuffed full of -insects which do much harm to young corn, mostly cut-worms. - -The farmer had killed thirty-one birds who were working for him as hard -as they could. No money could hire help that would do so much good as -they were doing. - - -In the Eastern States we have the CROW BLACKBIRD, or PURPLE GRACKLE, and -the BRONZED GRACKLE, whose habits are the same. - -The purple grackle is a handsome bird, larger than a robin, with very -light eyes. His plumage looks black in the shade, but when the sun is on -it, shows rich green and blue, and it shines like satin. The bronzed -grackle shows purple, and blue, and green, with metallic bronze on the -back. - -The purple grackle is said to eat corn, and also the eggs and young of -other birds. But what he eats has been found out by the Agricultural -Department, in the way I told you of. It is given out by them that he -does not do so much harm to nests as has been said, and among the crops -he does good enough to pay for all the corn he eats. - -It is very hard to see just what a bird is eating. It is not even safe -to believe all we think we see. - -The only time the purple grackle can do more harm than good is when he -comes with a big crowd of his friends, and settles down to spend the -winter. Then he should be driven away from crops. - -I want you to understand me about this. I do not say that these birds -never eat the eggs and young of others. What I do say is, that there is -plenty of evidence to show that they do it not half so much as people -say. I have watched birds for twenty years, as closely, I believe, as -any one ever watched them, and I never saw any of the bad deeds that are -laid to the blue jay, or the shrike, or the kingbird, or the purple -grackle. They may be guilty occasionally, but they are not the villains -they are often said to be. - -Besides, however bad we may call a few birds, we are ourselves worse. -Birds kill only to eat. Many of them are made to feed upon each other, -and cannot live in any other way. They kill quickly, and do not -generally--if they ever do--torture their prey. - -How is it with us? We kill for sport, or for useless show, and we kill -in a way that often wounds and leaves our victim to suffer tortures -before he dies. Do you think it is fair for us to say hard things about -the birds? - - -In the Rocky Mountains and west of them the common blackbird is BREWER'S -BLACKBIRD, sometimes called blue-headed grackle. He is not so shy as -his brother of the East. He is amiable and friendly with people, and as -familiar as the robin in New England. He is often seen in the streets of -towns. He will come into yards, and even take food from a doorstep. - -Brewer's blackbird is a restless, uneasy fellow, like most of his -family. He is always bustling about, and flying hither and thither with -rustling wings. - -In summer, these birds feed mostly upon insects, which they find on the -ground. They have an amusing way of being fair in their feeding. As they -walk about in little social parties looking for food, those who come -last in the string find the insects nearly all picked up before they get -a chance. So they take this clever way of getting their turn at the good -things. Every few minutes those in the rear rise and fly over the heads -of their friends and alight just before them. So they have the first -pick for a while. Then, in a few minutes, those left behind fly over -their heads, and take the lead for a time. So, without any quarreling, -each one has a fair chance with all the rest. Other birds have found out -this way of playing fair. I have seen great blue herons three feet tall -do the same thing. - -In winter, when insects are scarce, the blackbird turns to grain and the -seeds of weeds. But it has been found that he does more good by the -weeds he keeps down than harm by the grain he eats. - -Brewer's blackbird usually nests in trees, not very high. One time a -naturalist going about in Arizona, where are few or no trees, found a -curious thing,--a good many blackbird nests, a little settlement one -might call it, on the ground, and all strung along close to the edge of -a steep bank. At first he could not see why the birds had chosen to be -on the edge of a precipice. Then he remembered that horses and cattle -roamed over the country, and these animals are careful never to graze -close to an edge which might crumble and give them a fall. He concluded -that the birds had wit enough to know that. If their nests were out on -the plains, they would be likely to be stepped on, but near the edge, -they were safe from hoofs. - -The common call of Brewer's blackbird is a harsh "chack;" but in the -spring he turns musical, and serenades his mate with what we must call -songs, because songs are what he intends. They are droll enough to -listen to, and not very sweet. - -This bird is about the size of a robin, with violet-colored head in the -sunlight. His mate is slate-colored. - -Birds who live in a crowd learn to be fair in their treatment of one -another. An interesting story is told of the way a flock of blackbirds -go to bed at night. They come to the roosting-place in little parties -from all the country around. One would suppose the first one to get -there would choose his place to sleep, and let the last one take what -was left. - -But no! as they arrive, they alight in some big old tree outside the -roosting-place. When all are in, they fly up together, circle around for -a while, then all settle at the same time in the place where they are to -sleep. - - - - -XXIII - -THE CROW FAMILY - -(_Corvidae_)[17] - - -THIS is a large family. Some of our most intelligent birds belong to it. -There are first the crows, much larger than a robin and dressed in -black. They have long, pointed wings, and tails square at the end. They -live in a crowd, and walk on the ground. - -Then there are the jays, about the size of a robin, all bright-colored -birds. They have short, rounded wings, and long tails which come down -almost to a point in the middle. - -And then the magpies, between the other two in size. They have tails -longer and more pointed than the jays, and are dressed in black with -showy white markings. - - -The common AMERICAN CROW is a bird that everybody knows. He lives all -over our country, and seems to like one part as well as another. There -is enough to be said about this bird to fill this whole book. So I shall -not try to tell all about him. - -The crow is thought by many people to be the most knowing bird in -America, and he is the one who has been most abused. He does some -mischief, it is true, but he does a great deal more good. So say the -officers of the Department who have looked into his food. They have -found that he does pull up some corn; but he stuffs himself and his -family with thousands, and even millions, of grubs, and insects, and -mice, and other small creatures, that would have done far more damage to -the crops than he. - -Farmers have often killed or driven away the crows, because they thought -they were hurting their crops. But sometimes they have found out their -mistake, and have been glad to get them back again. - -A story comes from the West which shows what I mean. One year the -farmers were alarmed to see a great many crows around their fields. They -had never seen so many there. Of course they thought they had come to -eat the corn, so they began to kill them. I won't tell you the ugly -story of the war against the birds. After it had gone on awhile, the -farmers began to notice that crows were not the only ones who had come. -A new grub that they had never seen before was on hand. There were -millions of them, and they were always hungry. Young corn plants seemed -to suit them, and when corn was gone, they began eating the grass. - -It never came into the farmers' heads that the birds had anything to do -with the grubs. So they kept up their war on the crows till few were -left. - -It's easier to drive away birds than insects, so the grubs went on -eating. There were no crows left to trouble, and yet the crops got -smaller every year. At last some one had sense enough to see that the -crows had come on purpose to eat the grubs, and that they had driven -away their best friends, the most useful helpers they could possibly -have. - -When they saw how stupid they had been, they began to coax the birds -back. They sent out and had crows caught and brought to their fields to -work for them. The birds took hold of the business, and made short work -of the corn-eating grub, and the farmers learned a good lesson. - -You may think it strange that the crows should know where the grubs -were, but birds are very sharp to find their food. It is well known that -when there gets to be an unusual number of insects in one place, more -birds will come to feed on them. Some time when you are in the country -when grass is cut, notice how many birds will come to eat the -grasshoppers and other creatures that are uncovered when the hay is -taken away. - -The crows take the same fair way of going to roost that the Brewer's -blackbirds do. - -I could tell you stories--true ones, too--all day about this bird, and -his services to the farmer. We all know how wise he is, and how hard it -is to trap him. - -I will give you one little story, to show his kindness to his fellows. -Then, when you have a chance to watch one, I hope you will take pains to -see for yourself what he does and what he eats. Do not believe all you -hear or read about him, for I'm sorry to say there are some persons who -like so well to tell a sensational story that they do not take any -trouble to find out if it is true. - -The story is this. Two crows were caught and kept in a large cage out of -doors. It happened to be a time when food for birds was rather scarce. -Some one noticed that the birds seemed to eat a good deal, and he set -himself to watch them. He found that the prisoners in the cage were -giving some of their food through the bars to their hungry friends -outside. Could men be more unselfish? - -There is no end to the funny pranks that are told of crows who have been -tamed and lived with people. One that I heard of liked to get out in the -yard when clothes from the wash were hung out. He would walk along on -the clothesline and pull out every clothespin, carrying each one to the -roof and laying it safely away. Of course this let the wet garments fall -in the dirt, and he was scolded well for his mischief. Then he would fly -up to the roof and throw every pin down to the ground, as if he said, -"Well, take your old clothespins!" - -Another tame crow was very fond of pulling over a work-basket, and -scattering the spools and thimbles and other things in it. One day he -got hold of a paper of needles. This he opened, and then went on to hide -them, which crows always like to do with everything. He took each needle -and pushed it into the bed, as if it were a cushion, and hammered each -one in out of sight. - - -I hope you know the BLUE JAY. He is a beautiful bird in different shades -of blue, set off with white and black, and with a fine crest. His mate -is the same. This is the jay we know in the East and South. - -[Illustration: BLUE JAY] - -He is a noisy bird, full of fun and antics. He makes himself heard -wherever he goes. This has given him the name of being quarrelsome. It -is often said that he is always fighting. But that is a mistake, made -because people do not look closely enough. He is boisterous and jolly, -but he rarely quarrels. - -There is one time in his life when he is as still as a mouse. Then he -comes to his tree so quietly that you cannot hear him. That is when -there is a nest to look after. - -The nest of a blue jay is usually not very high, in a tree. While his -mate is sitting, he takes the best care of her. He brings food to her, -and often sings to her. This song is very low; one can hardly hear it; -but it is one of the sweetest of bird songs. - -No bird is more loving to his little folk than the blue jay, and not one -is more frantic when anything happens to them. James Russell Lowell, the -poet, loved the birds, and has written delightful things about them. He -once found a family of young blue jays who seemed to be in trouble. He -had a ladder brought, and went up to the nest to see if he could help -them. He found that they had got caught in the nest lining, and could -not get away. They were full grown, and the old birds had worked hard -from morning till night to keep them fed. - -As soon as Mr. Lowell saw what was the matter, he took out his knife to -cut the strings that held them. At first when he came near, the old -birds were very much frightened. They flew around his head and cried, -and were going to fight him. But jays are wise birds, and in a moment -they saw that he did not mean to hurt them. So they perched close by -him, so near he could put his hand on them. Then they watched him while -he cut the little ones loose. All of them could fly, and they did, at -once. - -One of the nestlings had been so tightly held that one leg was withered -and dead, but the next day Mr. Lowell saw him hopping about the garden -path, on one leg, while his parents brought him food, and took great -care of him. - -The blue jay, like most birds, is kind to others. One man found a little -flock taking care of an old, blind jay. They fed him, and led him to -water to bathe. They warned him of danger, and in every way looked out -for his comfort as if he were a nestling. - -Besides being a singer, this bird is a mimic. He can imitate the songs -of other birds, as well as many other sounds. A lady once had a blue jay -who had fallen from the nest. She brought him up, and he was very tame. -She told me that he learned to sing like a mockingbird, and did it -almost as well. This bird was very fond of her. When she tried to give -him his freedom, he wouldn't have it. If she slipped away from him, he -would sit up in a tree and scream like a lost child. Then, when she came -into his sight, he would fly down to her shoulder and rub his head -against her cheek like a kitten, he was so happy to be back with her. - -The blue jay is a useful bird. Dr. Brewer says that one pair of jays -will feed their young in one season five hundred thousand caterpillars; -also that one pair of jays will destroy one million insect eggs in a -winter. - -Many hard things have been said about this bird,--for one thing, that he -eats eggs and young birds. You will notice, however, that many who -repeat these stories about him say, "I have not seen the bird do so, but -some one else has." Testimony like this is worth nothing. Such things -are copied from one book to another because it is much easier to take -what is set down in the books than to go out and see for one's self. -Often a story which has no truth in it is said over and over till people -believe it because they have heard it so often. - -Believe me, the blue jay is not half so bad as he is painted, and he has -many lovable traits to make up for what he does do. - -Mr. Keyser brought up a young blue jay from the nest. He put him for a -while into a cage with two young orioles. Like all young birds, all -three of the youngsters were hungry, and expected everybody to feed -them. So the young jay opened wide his mouth, and waited for something -good to drop into it. He was met by the two orioles with their mouths -wide open. There they stood, face to face, all asking to be fed. It was -a funny sight. - -Then the blue jay baby was put into another cage, where were two young -catbirds. To these he was very loving. He would sidle up to them and -caress them, stroking their backs and wings with his bill. He insisted -on sleeping between the two on the perch. He looked very droll with a -small bird on each side of him, all snuggled up together. - -After a while the blue jay had a whole cage to himself. Then the other -cages were moved to the front porch, and he was left alone on the back -porch. This did not please him at all; he was lonely. He called and -cried and fretted about till he was placed beside the others. Then he -gave a cry of joy, and really squealed with delight. - - -The West is richer than the East in jays. There are several in the -Rocky Mountains and California. STELLER'S JAY is said to represent the -Eastern bird I have been telling about. He is different in looks and -larger. He is darker blue, with some sooty brown, and he has a fine -crest. But he is the same noisy, jolly fellow as his cousin on the -Atlantic side of the country. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN MAGPIE] - - -If your home is in the West, beyond the Mississippi River, of course you -know the AMERICAN MAGPIE. He is a large, splendid fellow, who looks -especially fine when he is flying over your head. - -The magpie is all in black and white: white below and in shoulder -patches, and black on the breast and above. In the sunlight he shows -purple and blue and green shades over the black. He has a very long -tail, which is wide in the middle and runs down almost to a point at the -end. This is very showy, when he spreads it wide in flying. - -In California the magpie shows a curious variation. On one side of the -mountains the magpie has a yellow bill, but the magpie on the other side -has a black one, though in every other way they seem to be the same. - -The magpie is a social bird. Even in nesting time he likes plenty of -neighbors. A party of them will settle in a little grove and build -several nests in it. The nests of this bird are the queerest bird homes -you ever saw. They look like big covered baskets. They are half the size -of a bushel basket, and made of sticks outside. There is an opening on -each side for the bird to go in and out. Those I have seen were in the -tops of low trees. - -The beautiful tail of the magpie seems to be a great care to him. When -he flies,--as I said,--he spreads it wide and makes a great show with -it. When he is going about on a tree, he jerks and twitches it all the -time. No doubt every jerk means something, if we could only understand. -When on the ground, he holds the precious tail up carefully, so that it -shall not touch the earth. He is a very dignified bird when walking -about in this way, looking for the grubs, grasshoppers, crickets, and -other creatures on which he feeds. But sometimes he has no dignity at -all. He scolds, and screams, and acts like a bad child. He isn't -particular about his food. He will eat almost anything, even scraps from -a kitchen. - -Major Bendire tells a comical story of the cunning of some magpies in -getting food away from a dog. The dog carried his bone with some meat on -it to the lawn in front of the major's tent, and lay down to enjoy it, -dog-fashion. In a minute or two, a little party of six magpies came -around, probably hoping to be invited to dinner. The dog did not take -the hint, but went on gnawing. - -Then the birds seemed to consider, and after a few minutes they placed -themselves around the dog. One stood right in front of his nose about -two feet away. Another one took his place close to the dog's tail, while -two stood on each side. - -When all the birds were ready, the one by the tail gave it a sharp peck. -No dog could stand that insult. The victim forgot his bone, wheeled -around, and dashed after that bird. He did not catch him with the first -grab, and the wily bird fluttered away. He did not go fast enough to -show the dog he could not catch him, but he led him on and kept him -eager to get at him as long as he could. - -But what happened to the dog's dinner all this time? Of course you have -guessed that the instant the dog left, the five hungry magpies pounced -upon the bone. They didn't mind eating at the second table. They knew -their time was short, and they made good use of it. I'm afraid they -"gobbled." - -When the dog saw that he couldn't catch the magpie, he thought of his -dinner, and came back. The birds stepped one side, and he took his -place again. - -Of course the birds were not half satisfied, and besides, one of them -had not had even a taste. So they made ready to play the little trick -again. Now see their fair play with one another! The bird who had coaxed -the dog away had his turn at the head of the table, while another one -did the teasing. They repeated this several times, and each time a -different bird led the dog away. - -The major was a trained observer, and he could tell the birds apart. One -had a longer tail, another had a broken feather, and another was -smaller. So he could easily see that each time a different bird had the -best chance. He was sure they had planned the whole thing out. - -I once had a chance to study the ways of some magpies. The birds were -busy in their nests, and I was well hidden and quiet, so they did not -see me. I heard much soft, gentle talk from them, and at last a sweet -song. I was much surprised at this, and hoped to know a good deal more -about them, but the next time I called on them, they saw me. Such a row -as they made! They flew around my head, shouting and screaming at me, -till I was glad to get out of the grove. I could not blame the birds, -for magpies are much prized as cage-birds. They readily learn to talk, -and are intelligent and interesting pets, so that the nests are robbed -all the time. Of course they are ready to fight for their little ones. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[17] See Appendix, 16. - - - - -XXIV - -THE LARK FAMILY - -(_Alaudidae_)[18] - - -THERE are a good many kinds of larks in the world, but only one comes to -us, the HORNED LARK, or shore lark. He differs a little in color in the -various places he is found over our broad country, but not enough to -call him another species. - -In places where there is a great deal of rain, birds take on a slightly -different shade from their brothers who live in dry places. So there are -several varieties of the horned lark. But dress isn't everything, and, -after all, he is the same bird in habits and manners wherever we find -him in the United States. He is streaked brown on the back, and white -below, with yellow throat and black and white markings. - - -The way you may always know a PRAIRIE HORNED LARK, of whom I will speak, -is by the pretty little tufts of feathers that stand up on his head -like horns, and the very long nail on his hind toe. - -[Illustration: DESERT HORNED LARK] - -Another way you may know this bird is that he lives on the ground, and -never perches in a tree. Sometimes he gets up on a fence to sing, but he -likes best to run along the road, or in a field, and he never--never -hops. The place to look for him is a field or pasture, or on a country -road. - -When insects are abroad, he eats the more dainty small ones, young -grasshoppers and locusts before they get big and tough, small beetles -and larvae; and baby larks are fed on them. But he doesn't starve when -they are gone; he is fond of seeds of weeds and grasses. - -The nest of the horned lark is on the ground, and the little mother is -very clever in hiding it, and not showing people where it is. Many -birds, you know, will stay on the nest till one almost steps on them, -and then fly up with a great fuss, thus telling their secret. When the -wise little lark sees one coming, she quietly slips off her nest. Then -she crouches to the ground, and creeps away. When she thinks she is far -enough, she rises to her full height, and begins to eat, or to walk -around as if she had nothing on her mind, and there were no such thing -as a nest anywhere about. No matter how long one may stay there -hoping to find the nest, she will not go back, not even to see if it is -safe, so long as any one is near. If all birds were so wily, there would -be fewer nests robbed, and we should have more birds. - -The little home so carefully guarded is well made. The bird scratches -out a little hollow and lines it with grass or thistledown, that is, if -she can't get what she likes best. Her choice is for nice soft mullein -leaves, which she pulls to pieces. These, you know, are thick and -smooth, and must make a warm, dry bed for the little larks. - -The brave little mother nests so early that she is often caught in a -snowstorm. Nests have been found with the bird on them, when the snow -had to be brushed away to get at her, actually sitting under the snow. - -When the young larks can run about, and before they can fly, the father -takes them in charge. Then the mother sits again, and hatches out -another brood. - -The horned lark sings on the wing, as does the skylark of Europe that -we've heard so much about. It is supposed that he cannot equal that -famous bird, but so few have heard him, it is hardly safe to say so. I -once heard a horned lark sing. He ran across the road in front of the -carriage, flew to a fence, and gave an exquisite little song. If it had -come down to us while the singer was soaring about over our heads, I -think few bird songs could have excelled it. - -The feather tufts which are called horns stand up when the bird is -excited. Usually they lie back nearly flat on the head. - -In the picture you can see one of these birds in his usual attitude, -walking. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[18] See Appendix, 17. - - - - -XXV - -THE FLYCATCHING FAMILY - -(_Tyrannidae_)[19] - - -LARKS may be scarce, but we have plenty of flycatchers, and they all -look very much alike. They are mostly in dull colors, and they have a -way of raising the head feathers which gives them a little crest. Then -they have rather thick necks, and they sit up very straight on the -perch. - -They catch living flies, as you see by the name, and they have their own -way of doing it. No flycatcher ever scrambles around like a fussy little -warbler, snatching a fly here and there. Far from it! It is a dignified -family, and none of them ever seems to be in a hurry. - -The true flycatcher way to get a dinner is to sit still and wait. The -very babies in the nest are patient little fellows. They never make half -the row over their dinner that young robins do. They could give lessons -in table manners to some young folks I have seen. And waiting seems to -be a good way, for nobody is better fed than a flycatcher. - -[Illustration: KINGBIRD] - -On his perch the waiting bird sits perfectly still, but keeps a sharp -lookout all around him. When a fly or other insect comes near that he -thinks he will like, he dashes out and catches it as it flies. Then he -goes back to his perch and waits for another. - -Some of the family have the habit of singing as they wait. The wood -pewee drawls out his sweet "pee-u-ee," the phoebe sings his sharp -"phoe-be" by the hour, and the least flycatcher snaps out his "chebec" -till we are tired of hearing him. - -Flycatchers are classed among birds who do not sing, but several of them -do sing,--not loud, like a robin, but low, quiet songs to the mate or -the nestlings. - - -One of the best known of the flycatchers all over the country is the -KINGBIRD. He is a little smaller than a robin, and all in brownish -black, with white breast. He has also white tips to his tail feathers, -which look very fine when he spreads it out wide in flying. - -Among the head feathers of the kingbird is a small spot of orange color. -This is called in the books a "concealed patch" because it is seldom -seen, it is so hidden by the dark feathers. - -This bird does much good by eating many insects. It is often said that -he eats bees. But a curious thing has been found out about this habit. -It seems he has a choice in bees. He is fond of the drones which make no -honey, and so are not useful in a hive. He will hunt drones all day, but -he is shy of a honey bee. Do you know why? The bird has not told us, but -we can guess that it is because the honey bee is armed with a sting, and -can make it very uncomfortable for any bird who catches her. - -There is another reason too why the bird may prefer the drone. The honey -bee usually flies low, where the flowers are, while the drone isn't -after flowers and flies higher in the air. The kingbird sits higher than -the honey bee flies, and the drones are the ones that come near him. - -Another insect that the kingbird is fond of is the robber fly, which -destroys hundreds of honey bees. That should make every bee-keeper his -friend. - -These things have been found out in the way I told you, by shooting the -birds to see what they had been eating. - -Mr. Bryant, who knows birds well, tells of a bee-keeper in California -who saw a great many kingbirds among his bees. Of course he thought they -were eating them, and he killed one hundred of them. On looking into -their stomachs to see if they had eaten honey bees, he found them filled -with drones. They had been working for him all the time, for every -bee-keeper likes to have drones killed. - -It has been said that the kingbird is annoying to other birds, and he is -called a tyrant. I wanted to know if this was true. I did not go to -books to find out, for many people--as I have told you--do not study for -themselves, but repeat what some one else has said. The way I took to -find out was to notice the ways of every kingbird I could see. For many -years I have watched them hours at a time, for weeks together. I spend -every summer among the birds, and almost everywhere I go I find -kingbirds. - -In this way I have found out that the kingbird is one of the most -peaceable of birds. He drives strangers away from the tree where his -nest is, and so does every other bird. The crow he seems to consider his -enemy, and often flies after him, but excepting that, I have never seen -a kingbird disturb any bird who was minding his own business. He is not -half so much of a tyrant as the robin or the hummingbird. - -The kingbird is quiet and devoted to his family. He seems never to tire -of catching insects. While young ones are in the nest, he may usually -be seen from morning till night, sitting very straight upon a low perch, -looking for flies of many kinds. - -Let me tell you a little story of a kingbird which I can assure you is -true, for a gentleman whose word may be relied upon saw it near enough -to be perfectly sure of the facts. - -A big bird, he did not notice what kind, was flying off with a nestling -robin in his claws. All at once a kingbird flew at him so fiercely that -he had to drop the young one to defend himself. The youngster could not -fly, and of course began to fall. When the kingbird saw that, he left -the thief and flew under the little bird. He held it up on his back, and -flew carefully to the ground, where it slipped off safely. - -When a kingbird has been tamed and kept in a house, he has been found to -be a very knowing fellow. One that I heard of saw that the people were -friendly, and he lost all fear of them. His greatest pleasure seemed to -be to keep warm. He would cuddle up to a lighted lamp, and dearly liked -to crawl under the bedclothes. This pet was quiet and dignified, never a -chatterbox. The only sounds he made were a few low notes like thanks, -when he was fed. - -The nest of the kingbird is usually placed in a low tree like the -apple-tree. It is made of anything that comes handy. I have seen one of -white wool where sheep were kept, and one of gray moss on the seashore -where it is found in plenty. - - -The Western kingbird differs in color from the Eastern. He is more gray, -with under parts bright yellow. He is said to be more social and more -noisy than the sober Eastern bird. But in other respects they are much -alike. - -This bird has been called quarrelsome, but persons who look closely at -birds have said that what careless observers have called quarrels are -really play. For the Western kingbird, the ARKANSAS KINGBIRD of the -books, is a rather jolly fellow, says Major Bendire. - -All flycatchers are useful and should be carefully protected, says the -same well-informed writer. - - -The WOOD PEWEE is another common flycatcher. He is not generally seen -about houses like the phoebe, who calls from the peak of the barn. He -may be found in the orchard or the edge of the woods. There he will -stand on a fence or low branch and sing or call by the hour, every few -minutes flying out to catch a passing insect. - -This bird is in dark colors, with whitish breast and two white -wing-bars. His common call is a plaintive, long-drawn-out "pee-u-ee" -and sometimes "pee-ay," but he can sing a droll little song. One lady -who watched a wood pewee build her nest heard her sing to herself as she -worked what sounded like "O-wee-wee-wee." - -The nest made by this little mother is very pretty. It is most often on -a dead limb where a branch starts out, making a broad foundation. For -this reason the bird is called in the South, the dead-limb bird. The -nests are not all alike. I have seen many closely covered with lichen, -and some made of gray moss so thin that the eggs could be seen through -it. Whatever it is made of, it is low and flat like a saucer, and so -much like the branch it is on that it is not easy to see. - -Like other bird mothers, the wood pewee is devoted to her nestlings. She -will shield them from the rain by sitting close on the nest and making -an umbrella of herself. And when the sun comes down very hot on them, -she has been seen to perch on the edge of the nest and spread her wings -to act as a shade for them. It is pretty to see this bird with her -little family when they have left the nest and are being taught to take -care of themselves. She makes many sweet little noises which sound like -talk, or a sort of whispering. - - -The WESTERN WOOD PEWEE looks like his Eastern brother, but he is a very -different bird. His dress is about the same, and he catches his flies in -pewee fashion, but his voice is not in the least like that we hear on -the Atlantic side of the country. - -The Eastern wood pewee has a low, sweet voice, of which one cannot get -tired. But the bird of the West has loud, harsh notes, so dismal in tone -that they are painful to listen to. His song is almost the only really -unpleasant bird song I know. - -The nest of this bird is a rather deep cup saddled on to a large limb. -When it is in a cottonwood grove, it is covered with the sticky white -cotton from the trees. It is very pretty when fresh, but it soon gets -soiled, and then it is not nice to look at or to handle. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[19] See Appendix, 18. - - - - -XXVI - -THE HUMMING FAMILY - -(_Trochilidae_)[20] - - -THIS is an American family, and no country in the world can show a more -beautiful one. There are more than four hundred species, and some of -them hardly bigger than a bee. All of these birds have brilliant colors -that are called metallic. That is, they glitter like metal, and they -show different colors when they are turned different ways. - -All hummingbirds fly very swiftly. You know how they go,--not straight -like most birds, but darting one way and another so quickly they can -hardly be seen. As they fly, their wings move so fast they look almost -like little clouds, and we hear the low noise we call humming. - -Hummingbirds eat nothing but tiny insects, and the honey of flowers, -which they suck up through their long bill. They take their food without -alighting, for they can hold themselves still before a flower, with the -wonderful wings, as long as they choose. - -The bill of a hummingbird is much longer than his head. It is something -like a pair of tubes through which he can draw up the sweet juices he -likes. The tongue is long too, and it can be pushed out far beyond the -end of the bill. It looks like a stiff white thread. - -We have in the Eastern States but one species, the ruby-throat, but -there are several in California. - - -No bird is more charming than our common RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. He -is most often seen flitting about among the flowers. But now and then -one may catch him sitting demurely on a dead twig, dressing his tiny -feathers. - -This bird is all in green, with a brilliant ruby-colored throat, which -looks like a gem as he darts about. His mate is in green also, but her -throat is white. - -You would not think this pretty midget could be a fighter, but he is. -When a hummingbird finds a vine full of sweet blossoms, or a bed of -bright nasturtiums, or any good place to feed in, he claims the whole of -it for himself. He tries to drive away every other hummingbird who -comes near it. Sometimes two of them will carry on a quarrel over a -honeysuckle vine for days. - -The hummingbird is the most pugnacious bird in America. If he were as -big as a crow, he would be a terror to man and beast, for he is afraid -of nothing. This spirited mite of a bird will even attack an eagle, who -is big enough to eat him at a mouthful. He beats him too, for he comes -down on top of his head, where the big, clumsy fellow cannot get at him. -There he pecks and pulls out feathers till the eagle is glad to get out -of his clutches. - -A hummingbird's nest is one of the prettiest things in the world. It is -not much bigger than a walnut, and is made of soft plant down, usually -of a yellowish gray color. - -Perhaps you don't see how plant down can be made to keep in shape, -without twigs or grasses to hold it. If you could see the bird make it, -you would understand at once. She brings her stuff in small mouthfuls, -and works it into a solid mass by strong efforts with beak and feet. She -pokes and prods each tiny bunch as she brings it, till she makes it all -hold together. It is a sort of felt. - -Then the little worker covers the outside with bits of lichen picked off -the trees, and held on, it is said, by cobwebs. This makes the nest -look exactly like the branch it is on. So it is very hard to see. - -It takes a hummingbird several days of hard work to make a nest, because -she can bring only a little at a time. She does it alone too; her mate -has not been seen to help her at all. - -I think the male ruby-throat does not help in the nest-building because -the little mother will not let him. She knows just how the cradle is to -be made, and she doesn't want him to bother her. She likes to have her -nest to herself just as she likes to have her honeysuckle to herself. I -don't say positively that is the reason, you know; I only guess it is. - -After the nest is made, and two eggs about as big as small beans are -laid, the hummingbird begins to sit. When the nestlings come out of the -egg, they are about the size of honey bees, with bills no larger than -the head of a common pin. Twenty-one days they stay in the nest and are -fed by their hard-working little mother. - -When the twins get their feathers, and their bills are growing longer -and longer, they sit up across the top of the nest, side by side. Then -they are very pretty, and not at all afraid of people. They will let one -gently stroke their backs. They will even answer in a soft murmur one -who talks to them. - -Hummingbirds are never so afraid of people as other birds. They are -easily tamed. But they should never be caged, for they will not live -long in a house. They need food that we cannot give them. - -A man had a hummingbird whom he kept alive a long time by letting him go -free when he seemed to need change of food. He would fly off, but always -came back. After the bird got to be very tame, the man brought two young -hummingbirds and put them in the cage with him. He did not notice them -much till they began to droop. Then the man opened the door to let them -out. - -At once the elder bird took the little ones in charge, and coaxed them -to fly out with him. He led them to a place where he had found the tiny -spiders these birds like, and showed them how to get what they wanted. -They all ate their fill and then came back to the house, where they were -well contented to be. - -The way the mother hummingbird feeds her babies is curious. When she -comes with food, she alights on the edge of the nest, and pulls a little -one up so that she can get at it. Then she runs her long, slim bill down -its throat, and pokes the food in with little jerks. It looks as if it -would kill the youngster, but he seems to like it. Anyway, he grows -very fast, and--as I said--in three weeks he is beautifully feathered, -with a bill as long as his mother's, and ready to fly. - -A lady who had two young hummingbirds told me that they slept so soundly -they were like dead birds. One could take them up and carry them about, -and they would not wake. In cold weather she often wrapped one up in a -piece of flannel and laid him in a soft, warm place, and he never -stirred till morning. - -The way she got this pair of birds was interesting. She was walking in -the woods and broke a dead branch from a tree, to use for something. On -turning it over she saw a nest, and strange to say two little birds in -it. She had been holding it upside down, but they had held on so tightly -that they did not fall out. - -The lady did not know what to do. She did not want baby hummingbirds, -but she couldn't put the branch back, and she was afraid their mother -would not find them if she left them. So she took them home. She had no -trouble to feed them, and they lived with her six weeks, and died by -accident at last. - -It is thought that the male ruby-throat does not come to the nest at -all, but he must have some way of knowing how things are going on. At -Mrs. Wright's summer home a mother hummingbird was killed in a -hailstorm, while young were in the nest. At once the father, or at least -a male bird, came and fed and took care of the nestlings till they flew. - - -In California one of the most common of this family is ANNA'S -HUMMINGBIRD. He is green, with a throat and crown of changeable colors, -lilac and red. - -The nest of this bird is usually, like the ruby-throat's, of plant down -covered with lichens. But some have been found made of the blossoms of -the eucalyptus, or gum-tree. This bird is as easily tamed as the -ruby-throat, and seems to act a good deal like him. - -Mrs. Grinnell found a nest in her yard in California. The mother allowed -herself to be photographed in many positions. The young ones were never -afraid, and did not mind the camera in the least. Hummingbirds never -seem to have any fear of people. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[20] See Appendix, 19. - - - - -XXVII - -THE SWIFT FAMILY - -(_Micropodidae_)[21] - - -SWIFTS are curious birds, with strange habits. The one we know by sight -in the East is the chimney swift. Most like him in the West is Vaux's -swift. His ways are like the common chimney swift's, and his looks -nearly the same. - - -The CHIMNEY SWIFT is often called the chimney swallow, but it is very -easy to tell one from a swallow. One way is, that when a swift is flying -about over our heads, he looks as if he had no tail. The tail is very -short, not half so long as the wing. He looks more like a bat than a -bird. - -Then the swift flies in a different way. A swallow soars a good deal, -that is, moves without beating the wings, a sort of gliding through the -air. But a swift beats the wings much more frequently. A swallow will -often alight on a telegraph-wire or a roof. A swift is said never to -alight except to sleep. - -This bird is so much at home on wing that he even gets the twigs to make -the nest while flying. These twigs are the smallest ones on the ends of -dead branches, and are easily snapped off. The bird flies at them, -snatches one in beak or feet, breaks it off, and goes right on, without -stopping. - -When he gets his twig, he carries it to a dark, sooty chimney. A queer -place for a home, surely. They used to choose a hollow tree or a cave to -live in, and that seems much nicer. But chimneys are now more plentiful -than hollow trees. And besides, they are nearer the bird's food. So -chimney homes are now the fashion in the swift family. - -To make a swift nest, the twigs are glued to the chimney in the shape of -a little bracket. The glue is the saliva of the bird, which is gummy, -and gets hard as it dries, and looks like isinglass. - -The mouth of a chimney swift is very odd. You have heard of "stretching -a mouth from ear to ear." That's just what the swift does every time he -opens his. It needs to be big, for he gathers up his food in it. While -he is flying around in the air, he is busy catching tiny flying -creatures, such as flies and beetles, and thus keeping the air clear for -us. - -The tail of this bird is another queer thing. It has no soft feathery -tips like most birds' tails. It ends in sharp spines, like needles. -These are most useful to brace him against the rough chimney where he -sleeps. These spines are really the stiff shafts or stems of the -feathers, sticking out beyond the plumey part. - -The chimney swift hangs himself up to sleep. He fastens his sharp claws -into the rough bricks, and props himself firmly with his spiny tail. -Even when the young swift is but two weeks old, he crawls out of the -nest and hangs himself up under it. He seems to like that for a change -from forever lying in a narrow bracket. - -Chimney swifts are social birds. They can't bear to be alone. They are -almost always seen flying about in small parties, and calling to each -other as they go, a strange, chattering cry. They are of a sooty color -suitable to their sooty home, and the pair are alike. Vaux's swift is a -little smaller and paler than the common chimney swift. - -The young swift is longer in his nursery than any bird of his size in -the United States. He is four weeks old before he ventures out of his -grimy home, though before that he will come up to the door to be fed. - -A late writer in a newspaper tells a little story showing the affection -of a chimney swift for her little one. The writer had watched all summer -a party of swifts who lived in one of his chimneys. A month or more -after he supposed that all had flown away to the South beyond our -southern boundary, where they spend the winter, he heard the twittering -of one in the chimney. He took out the fireboard and found there a young -bird. He was full grown and able to fly, but he was fastened by a -horsehair to the nest. This had been pulled off by his weight, and lay -on the hearth, holding him prisoner. - -The little fellow seemed to know he was to be helped, for he lay still -while the man looked to see what was the matter. His mother soon came -into the chimney with food. She took her place beside the man and -waited, while he cut the strong hair and set the nestling free. - -Then the old bird went to work to teach him to fly. It was an hour or -more before he learned to use his wings. As soon as he did, the two -started off on their lonely journey to the far South, to join their -friends who had been gone so long. How I wish we could know that they -reached them. - -Insects were about gone when this happened, and this swift mother would -have died if she had stayed, but she would not leave her little one to -starve. - -It is a beautiful thing to see a large flock of swifts go to bed. If -they all rushed in pell-mell, they might hurt one another. They begin by -flying around high above the chimney in great circles. As they go around -they sink lower, and the circles get smaller till it looks like an -immense whirling funnel. When the birds forming the lower part of the -funnel reach the top of the chimney, they plunge in. So in a short time -the whole flock is in and no one hurt. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[21] See Appendix, 20. - - - - -XXVIII - -THE GOATSUCKER FAMILY - -(_Caprimulgidae_)[22] - - -THESE are queer-looking birds, having their front toes tied together by -a kind of webbing, and almost no hind toe at all. The mouth, too, is -almost as odd as the toes. It has a short beak, but is very wide, and it -opens from ear to ear like the swift's. The plumage is so soft that the -birds can fly without making the least sound. - -The two most common goatsuckers are the whip-poor-will and the -nighthawk. They are both as large as a robin, and stouter. They are -dressed in dull brown, and black and white, mottled all over. If you -just glanced at the two, you might think them alike. But they are not -marked alike, and all their ways are so different that there is no -trouble in telling them apart. - - -The WHIP-POOR-WILL has broad white tailmarks, with stripes on the back, -and a narrow white band across the breast. He comes out only in the -evening, and he flies low, without making a sound. He rests lengthwise -of a log or fence, not across it as most birds do. His feet are too -short to clasp a perch. - -On his log or fence the whip-poor-will sits and sings while he waits for -his supper. You all know his song, his lively "whip-poor-will" over and -over many times. It is a delightful evening sound, which I love to hear. -It is said that his notes have been counted, and he has been found to -repeat them several hundred times without stopping. - -When moths or other creatures which fly in the night come along, he -catches them in his big mouth. But he is not obliged always to wait. -Sometimes he flies near the ground like a shadow, looking for prey, and -he often hops awkwardly along the road, for the same purpose. He picks -up straggling insects, and in the West locusts. - -The whip-poor-will mother makes no nest. She finds a little hollow in -the ground, among leaves or near bushes in the woods, and that's good -enough for her nestlings. She lays two eggs, speckled and mottled so -that they look like the ground and leaves around them. She looks almost -the same herself. You might walk close to her and not see her. - -When young whip-poor-wills come out of the egg, they are dressed in -speckled gray down. They cuddle down quietly by their mother, and the -whole family is hard to see. When their eyes are shut, they look almost -exactly like the earth and leaves among which they lie. - -If a whip-poor-will nest is disturbed, the mother will pretend to be -badly hurt. She will tumble about on the ground and cry like the whine -of a young puppy, trying to coax away the one she fears. If she is too -much alarmed, she will clasp her young one between her feet and fly away -with it. - - -Instead of the common whip-poor-will of the Northern and Middle States, -the South has the CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW, who is somewhat larger. The West -has the POOR-WILL, or the NUTTALL'S WHIP-POOR-WILL, who is rather -smaller and paler than either. The habits of all are about the same. -They are called solitary birds. That is, they are not found in parties -like swallows or crows. They do not sing or call when flying. - -These birds are hard to watch because they come out in the dark, and can -then see so much better than we can. So we know little about their -ways. - - -The NIGHTHAWK'S looks, and all his ways, are different. He wears the -same colors that the whip-poor-will does, but they are arranged in -another way. They are put in bars running across the back and tail, and -there is a great deal of white on his upper breast. On the wing is a -large white spot that looks like a hole across it, when you see him -flying away up in the air. You can always know him by this. - -[Illustration: NIGHTHAWK] - -Then he does not act like the whip-poor-will. He is a high flyer, -sailing about over our heads in the afternoon or evening. He is not -silent on the wing. Now and then he gives a strange sharp cry like -"peent." He is busy catching flies and mosquitoes as he goes. Sometimes -you will see him dive head first toward the earth as if he would dash -himself against it. At the same time he makes a loud sound, like blowing -into the bunghole of an empty barrel. But before he touches, he turns -and skims along just above the ground. - -The mother nighthawk, like the whip-poor-will, makes no nest. She -chooses a sunny spot in a pasture or on a hillside to put her eggs. -Sometimes in the cities, where flies and other things to eat are so -plentiful, she takes a flat house-roof for her nursery. Many pairs of -down-covered baby night hawks are brought up over our heads, and we -do not know it. - - * * * * * - -The family name of Goatsuckers was given to the birds from the foolish -notion that they took milk from the goats. By watching them, it has been -found that when they are so busy around the goats or cattle, they are -really catching the insects which torment them. So they are doing a -kindness to the beasts, instead of an injury. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[22] See Appendix, 21. - - - - -XXIX - -THE WOODPECKER FAMILY - -(_Picidae_)[23] - - -YOU may generally know a woodpecker the moment you see him on a tree. He -will--if he follows woodpecker fashions--be clinging to the trunk, or a -big branch, propped up by his stiff tail, and not perched crosswise like -most other birds. - -There are a good many of this family in the world. We have twenty-four -species in North America. They differ from other birds in two or three -ways. First their toes are always in pairs, two turned forward and two -turned backward, except in one genus, which has but three toes. So they -can hold on better than anybody else. - -Then again the tails of woodpeckers are not like most birds' tails. They -are strong and stiff, so that they can be used as props to hold the bird -in the queer position he likes so well. - -Oddest of all are the woodpecker tongues. They are round, worm-shaped it -is called, and except in the genus of sapsuckers, very long. They can be -pushed out far beyond the end of the beak. That is so that they can -reach into a deep hole for the insects they eat. They have little barbs -or sharp points on the tip, to catch their prey, and they are sticky -besides. The tongue of the sapsucker has a brush at the end and is not -barbed. - -One of the most notable things about a woodpecker is his bill, which he -uses as a drill and also to drum with. - -Woodpeckers are made to take care of the large limbs and trunks of -trees, to get out from under the bark the grubs which would kill them. -They are perfectly fitted for the work. - -As you learn more about birds and beasts, you will see that every one is -exactly fitted for his work in life. A worm is as well fitted to be a -worm as a bird is to be a bird. How this came to be so has long been a -study of the wise men, and they have not found out all about it yet. - - -The largest of this family that is common is the GOLDEN-WINGED -WOODPECKER, or FLICKER. He is as large as a pigeon. In the Eastern -States is the golden-wing, in the West and California the red-shafted, -who differs merely in the dress. - -The gold-winged woodpecker has a brown back with black bars, and a light -breast with heavy black spots. His wings and tail are yellow on the -inside. He has a bright red collar on the back of his neck, a heavy -black crescent on his breast, and black cheek patches or bars running -down from the corners of his mouth. - -The RED-SHAFTED FLICKER has red cheek patches instead of black, and -omits the red collar altogether. His breast is a little grayer, and the -wing and tail linings are scarlet. Both flickers have large white spots -on the back, above the tail, which show very plainly when they fly. - -These two varieties of the flicker are found from the Atlantic to the -Pacific. Their ways of living are the same, and what is said of one will -do as well for the other. - -A flicker hangs himself up to sleep. He takes a good hold of a tree -trunk, or upright limb, with his grapnel-shaped toes, presses his stiff -tail against the bark, and hangs there all night. When he flies, he goes -in great waves, as if he were galloping through the air. - -The nest of this woodpecker is a snug little room in a tree trunk, or -sometimes a telegraph-pole. He usually selects a tree that is dead, or -partly so, but sometimes he takes a solid one. The little room is cut -out by the strong, sharp beaks of the pair. The door of this home is -just a round hole rather high up on the trunk. A passage is cut straight -in for a little way and then turns down, and there the room is made. It -has to be of pretty good size, for the bird is fond of a large family. -Five or six and occasionally more young flickers have been found in a -nest. - -Fashions change in the bird world as well as in the human. Woodpeckers -more than any others are changing their habits, and improving their -condition. They have found an easier way to get a home than to chisel it -out of wood. Nowadays woodpeckers often cut a hole through a board which -admits them into a garret, a church tower, or the walls of an unused -building, and make the nest there. Thus they save themselves much labor. -One even cut out a home in a haystack. - -These birds have changed too, it is said, in their notions about eating. -They do not think it necessary to dig out every mouthful from under tree -bark. The flicker feeds on the ground. He eats many insects, but mostly -ants. When insects are scarce, he eats many wild berries--dogwood, black -alder, poke-berries, and others--and the seeds of weeds. - -Young woodpeckers in the nest are fed mostly upon insects. When they get -big enough to climb up to the door of their snug home, they stick their -heads out and call for something to eat. Then one can hardly pass -through the woods without hearing them, for they have good loud voices. -And of course they are always hungry. - -The way they are fed is by regurgitation. That is, the old bird swallows -the food she gets, and when she wants to feed, she jerks it up again. -She thrusts her bill far down the little one's throat, as I told you the -hummingbird does. Then she gives three or four pokes as if she were -hammering it down. A young flicker does not seem to know how to swallow. -A lady once picked up a nestling who was hurt, and to get him to eat -anything she had to poke it down his throat herself. - -The gold-winged woodpecker is a lively bird, most interesting to know. -He makes so many strange noises that I can't tell you half of them, and -his ways are as queer as his notes. He does not sing much, but he is a -great drummer. When he finds a tin roof, or eaves gutter that pleases -him, he will drum on it till he drives the family nearly crazy. He seems -particularly to delight in waking them all up in the morning. - -He can sing, too. I have heard a flicker sing a droll little song, not -very loud, swinging his body from side to side as he did it. - -Another thing this bird can do is dance. Two flickers will stand -opposite one another and take funny little steps, forward and back, and -sideways. Then they will touch their bills together and go through -several graceful figures. This has been seen several times by persons -whose truthfulness can be relied upon. - - -The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER is another common one of the family, -especially in the Middle States. He is a little smaller than the -flicker. No one can mistake this bird, he is so plainly marked. His -whole head is bright red. The rest of him is black, or bluish black, -with a large mass of white on the body and wings. - -This woodpecker, too, has partly given up getting food from under the -bark. He takes a good deal on the wing, like a flycatcher. Sometimes he -goes to the ground for a large insect like a cricket or grasshopper, and -he is fond of nuts, especially the little three-cornered beech-nut. - -The red-head is beginning to store food for winter use, for most -woodpeckers do not migrate. When beech-nuts are ripe, he gets great -quantities of them, and packs them away in queer places, where he can -find them when he wants them. - -Some of his nuts the red-head puts in cavities in trees, others in -knot-holes or under bark that is loose. Many he fits into cracks in the -bark, and hammers in tight. He has been known to fill the cracks in a -gate-post, and in railroad ties, and even to poke his nuts between the -shingles on a roof. Any place where he can wedge a nut in he seems to -think is a good one. - -[Illustration: DOWNY WOODPECKER] - -A woodpecker can eat almost anything. Besides insects and nuts, he likes -wild berries of all kinds--dogwood, cedar, and others that he finds in -the woods. - -The nest of the red-headed woodpecker is usually cut out in the dead top -or limb of a tree. In prairie lands, where trees are scarce, he contents -himself with telegraph-poles and fence-posts. - -This bird is rather a dainty feeder. He does not swallow his food -wherever he finds it, as many birds do. He likes a regular dining-table. -So he takes it to some place on top of a fence-post or an old stump, -where he has found or made a little hollow. There he puts his nut or -acorn, picks it to pieces, and eats it in bits. - -The young red-head is a good deal like his father, only his head is -brown instead of red. A queer thing happened to a baby red-head in -Indiana one summer. He was found on the ground, hopping about in a -pitiful way, unable to fly. The parents and others of the woodpecker -tribe were flying about him, much troubled, and trying to help him. But -this young one had been hurt, or was not yet strong enough to get about. -He acted as if he were half paralyzed, and he was wholly helpless. Once -while the little bird was hobbling about and calling for something to -eat, and no one was there to feed him, a robin happened to notice him. -He took pity on the hungry baby, and brought him a nice worm, which he -took very gladly. - -But still more strange was the way the family cat acted toward the -little stranger. When she saw him on the ground, she started for him. No -doubt she meant to catch him, for she was a great bird hunter. When she -got almost up to the little fellow, she seemed suddenly to notice that -he was a baby, and helpless. At once her manner changed. She went up to -him, and actually played with him in the gentlest way, not hurting him -in the least. She did this several times before the bird got strong -enough to fly. This is a true story. - - -The CALIFORNIAN WOODPECKER takes the place of the red-head in -California. He is most interesting because of one habit which gives him -the common name of "carpenter woodpecker." This habit is of storing -sweet acorns for winter use. - -Other birds store acorns, but this bird has found out a new way. He -drills a hole in the bark of a tree for each acorn by itself. It is -generally a soft pine or cedar, and sometimes thousands of acorns are -put in one tree. Often a trunk will be filled from near the ground up -forty feet. The acorns are driven in point first, and so tightly that -they have to be cut out with a knife. When a tree is filled, it is -carefully guarded till they are needed. - -Many people think they lay up these acorns for the worms that sometimes -come into them. But Mr. John Muir, who lives right there, and knows them -as well as anybody in the world, says the birds eat the sound acorns -themselves. Sometimes, when food is scarce, Indians go to these trees -and steal the poor birds' store. They have to chop the acorns out with -hatchets. They often take a bushel from one tree. - -These birds are more social than most woodpeckers. Often a party of them -will be seen together. In his flight and his ways of eating this bird is -like the red-headed woodpecker. Like him also, he is fond of clinging to -a dead limb, and drumming, hours at a time. - -But in looks the Californian and the red-headed woodpeckers are very -different. The Western bird has only a cap of bright red. His back is -glossy blue-black, and he has the same color on the breast. His other -under parts are white, and he has a white patch on the wings, and -another just above the tail. - - * * * * * - -The smallest of our woodpeckers is the Downy Woodpecker, who is not much -bigger than an English sparrow. The picture shows two of these birds. In -"The First Book of Birds" there is a picture of a flicker at his -nest-hole. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[23] See Appendix, 22. - - - - -XXX - -THE KINGFISHER FAMILY - -(_Alcedinidae_)[24] - - -MOST of the Kingfisher family belong to the tropics, but we have one who -is found all over the United States. This is the BELTED KINGFISHER. - -[Illustration: BELTED KINGFISHER] - -The belted kingfisher is large and rather chunky. He is dark blue above -and white below, with a bluish band across the breast. He has a fine -crest and a big head, and he sits up straight as a hawk. - -The tail of the kingfisher is short, and square at the end. His plumage -is thick and oily, so that it does not hold wet. This is very important -to him in the way he gets his food, for he is an expert fisherman. He -lives alone, or with his mate, near the water,--a lake, or pond, or -small stream. - -This bird's way of getting fish is to dive for them. You may have seen -him splash into the water out of sight, and in a moment come up with -a small fish in his beak. Then he goes back to his perch and beats the -fish to death, before he swallows it. He swallows it whole and head -first, because the fins might stick in his throat if he took it tail -first. After a while he throws up a little ball of the bones, scales, -and skin of the fish he has eaten. It is said that the kingfisher can -take a very large fish. One was shot who had swallowed a fish so long -that the tail stuck out of his mouth, and could not get down. - -The nest of the kingfisher is in the bank of a river or lake. The birds -first cut a passage or hallway. Sometimes this is only four feet long, -and straight. But when stones or roots are in the way, it will be much -longer and have many turns. At the end of this passage is the kingfisher -nursery. This is a round room nearly a foot across, with a roof rounded -up over it. It is a little higher than the passageway so that water will -not run into it. - -Sometimes it takes the birds two or three weeks to make one of these -nests, as we might expect when we think they have only beaks and feet to -work with. Usually it does not take so long. If the pair are not -disturbed, they will use the same nest year after year. Sometimes the -bed for the nestlings is of dry grass. One was found in which the bed -was entirely of the bones and scales of fish. - -Mr. Baily has told us about a family of kingfisher little folk whom he -studied and photographed. He dug down to the nest from above, and was -careful not to hurt them and to put them back safely. First Mr. Baily -took a picture of them when two days old. They were queer-looking -objects, with eyes not open, and not a feather to their backs. They were -not so young but that they had one notion in their little round heads. -That was to cuddle up close together. They were not used to much room in -their dark cradle. - -When Mr. Baily laid them out on the ground, they at once crawled up -together and made themselves into a sort of ball. They put their bare -wings and their bills over one another, and held on so that one could -not be moved without the others. After they had sat for their picture -they were carefully put back, and the nest was covered up again. - -When the nestlings were nine days old, the nest was opened again, and -another picture taken. The little ones had grown a good deal in these -few days. Their eyes were open, and they were fast getting their feather -coats on. But they were just as fond of being close together as before. - -After this the birds were left in their home till they were twenty-three -days old, and it seemed about time for them to come out. When the nest -was opened this time, it was found that the family had moved. The old -room was filled up with earth, and a new one made farther up. No doubt -the old birds thought the man too curious about their babies. The young -birds were ready to fly, and two of them did take to their wings when -they came to daylight. - - * * * * * - -There is a very old fable about the kingfisher, who was called the -halcyon. It is told in the first book that was ever written about birds -(so far as I know). The author was Aristotle, a Greek who lived three -hundred years before Christ. The story is, that the bird builds a nest -that floats on the sea, and for seven days before and seven days after -the shortest winter day, the sea stays calm, so that the nest may not be -hurt. During the first seven days she builds her nest, and in the second -seven she hatches out the young. These fourteen days were called halcyon -days. You may find more about this curious story in the encyclopaedias. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[24] See Appendix, 23. - - - - -XXXI - -THE CUCKOO FAMILY - -(_Cuculidae_)[25] - - -MOST of the cuckoo family live in a hotter climate than ours, but we -have a few of them. They are beautiful birds, with some peculiar ways. - -[Illustration: YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO] - -Cuckoos are rather slim in form, with very long tails, and bills a -little curved. Their toes are divided like woodpeckers' toes, two turned -forward and two back. In the Eastern States we have but two, the -yellow-billed and the black-billed. Best known in the East is the -YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, and in California the Western Yellow-billed, or -California, Cuckoo. - -This bird has several names. In some places he is called the rain crow, -and in other places the wood pigeon; but of course he is neither a crow -nor a pigeon. He is a graceful bird, with plumage like satin. He is a -soft brown above and white below, but he is so shy that he is not so -often seen as heard. His call or song is a loud, yet not harsh -"kuk-kuk-kuk" many times repeated. Sometimes it begins slow and grows -faster till the notes run into each other, and then grows slow again, -ending in a sort of "cow-cow-cow;" but it does not always do so. - -The cuckoo does not manage her nursery affairs as other birds do. Most -birds lay an egg a day, or every other day, so that they hatch about the -same time; but this bird doesn't mind if several days come between. Thus -it happens that one or more little cuckoos hatch out before the rest are -ready, and it is common to find little ones of several ages in the same -nest. There may be one nearly grown, another just beginning to get -feathers, and a third one not yet out of the egg. - -There is another droll thing that may be found in a cuckoo's nest. When -the feathers begin to grow out on young birds, they come wrapped in -little sheaths. In most cases these sheaths burst open and the feathers -show, when they are a little way out. But in this family it is -different. The sheath does not open, says Mr. Dugmore, till the feathers -have grown their full length. Till that happens, the youngster looks as -if he were stuck all over with white pins on his black body. - -You have heard, or read, that the cuckoo lays eggs in other birds' -nests, and leaves her young to be brought up by others. Do not forget -that the bird who does that is the European cuckoo--not ours. Our -cuckoos build nests, though very poor ones, sometimes hardly more than a -platform of sticks. - -This bird is useful to us, for he eats some of our most troublesome -insects,--such as tent caterpillars, which few birds like to eat because -they are so hairy, and other insects with spines that are poisonous, and -so generally avoided. - -The cuckoo is graceful in flight. He goes swiftly, without noise, and -seems to glide through the thickest foliage with ease. - -I once found a young bird tumbling about on the ground. He was trying to -fly, but was not able to go much more than a foot at a time. He was -giving strange calls, which were answered from the woods beside the road -by a low tapping sound. I thought of course the little one was a -woodpecker and his mother was doing the knocking. It was so dark I could -not see him well. After some trouble I caught him and was going to take -a good look at him to see who he was before I let him go. As I grasped -him he gave a shriek, and out from the thick trees popped a cuckoo. She -alighted on a low branch outside and gave such a cry of distress that I -knew at once it was her baby I held in my hand. - -I suppose the poor mother thought I wanted to carry the youngster off. I -couldn't bear to have a bird think that for a minute; so I opened my -hands and away he went, half flying, half scrambling up the road, while -the mother slipped back into the woods. In a moment she began again her -hollow-sounding calls, which I had thought were woodpecker tappings. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[25] See Appendix, 24. - - - - -XXXII - -THE OWL FAMILY - -(_Bubonidae_)[26] - - -OWLS differ from all other birds in having eyes that look forward like -ours. They have also a broad face, which is made to look even wider by -the feathers which stand out around the eyes. - -Owls cannot turn their eyes in the sockets, so they have to turn the -whole head to see to one side. Many of them have tufts of feathers like -horns, which they can stand up or lay down as they choose. These are -called horned owls. An owl's legs are covered with feathers, sometimes -down to the toes. The whole plumage of this bird is soft and fluffy, so -that he can fly without making any noise. This is important to him, for -he lives mostly on mice, and he never could catch one if he made much -noise getting about. - -The owl's mate looks like him, and--what is unusual among birds--she is -larger than he. Because they come out in the evening, when we cannot -see them well, we know very little of their ways. They are more often -heard than seen. Their voices are generally mournful, but that is no -reason why they should be feared. - -All birds have control over some of their feathers, that is, they can -make them stand up or lie down as they choose. But owls have more than -any other bird. An owl can alter his shape or size so that he will look -like another bird. - -Mr. Bolles says that a large owl can change from a mass of bristling -feathers a yard wide, to a slim, sleek brown post only a few inches -wide. When he does this, one cannot see him, though he may be in plain -sight. His colors blend with a tree trunk, or stump, and he can stand -without stirring for an hour, and likes to do it. - -Mr. Bolles had owls in the house, and watched them closely. He has told -us some curious things about their ways. He says that when one steps -daintily across the floor, his feathers tuck themselves up as a lady -holds up her gown. - -This moving of the feathers sometimes looks very droll. When eating, the -feathers around the mouth, which might get soiled, draw back out of the -way. And when an owl wants to hide his food, he stands over it, and the -feathers droop down like a curtain to screen it from view. When Mrs. -Bolles wanted to sketch an owl, he kept changing his shape all the time, -though he did not seem to move at all. - -[Illustration] - -Another man who had a pet owl says that the bird would stand before him -and throw back his breast feathers each side, just as a man throws open -his coat. - -The owlets come out of the egg dressed in soft, fluffy down. In some of -the family it is gray, in others it is snowy white. They are carefully -fed and reared by their loving parents. - -A funny story is told by a man who wanted to see what was in an owl's -nest. He lifted the mother bird out, and to his surprise the whole -family came out with her. She held on to one little one, and each one -held on to the next, and so he had the whole owl family in a cluster, -like a bunch of grapes. - - -The SCREECH OWL is the best known of this family. He is found, under -slightly different forms, all over our country. In Florida he is smaller -and darker than in the Middle States. In California he is larger and -grayer, and in the Rocky Mountains somewhat lighter. But he acts in -about the same way, wherever he lives. - -In the East the screech owl is found in two colors. Some have reddish -feathers, others have gray. The wise men have not yet found any -reason for this difference. - -The screech owl is badly named, for his song is not a screech. It is a -sort of trembling sound, and in some places he is called the "shivering -owl," which is a much better name for him than screech owl. If one does -not know who makes it, it is rather a weird song in the dark; but if one -knows the pretty gray bird, it is sweet and pleasing. - -The bird comes out before it is quite pitch dark. He may often be seen -against the sky, standing on a branch, bowing and swaying back and -forth, while he utters strange notes of many kinds. He has plenty to say -for himself. But you must keep as still as a mouse if you want to see -him. If he can see to catch a mouse in the dark, you may be sure he can -see you. - -Generally the screech owl makes a nest in a hollow tree or a deserted -woodpecker nest, and comes out only at night. What he likes best to eat -is mice, and mice too come out at night. The way he eats is curious, as -I told you in "The First Book of Birds." - -A few years ago a screech owl went through a broken window into the -attic of a house in New Jersey, and lived there all winter. The family -were bird-lovers, so they let her stay. She liked it so well that the -next spring she made her nest there and hatched out three little owls. -The little ones were not at all afraid of people, and a son of the -family made many photographs of them. - -After the owlets were grown, the whole family disappeared, and lived out -of doors the rest of the summer. But when cold weather came, the old -birds came back and stayed all winter again. They have made their home -in that attic, and reared a brood every spring since. They are always -very social among themselves. They talk and sing, and make many sorts of -noises. - - -One of the queerest of the owl family is the little BURROWING OWL of the -West. The Florida Burrowing Owl, found in Florida, differs only a little -from the Western bird. The burrowing owl is a comical-looking fellow, -only about as large as a robin. He has very long legs for an owl, and is -dressed in grayish brown. - -This bird is said to have very polite manners. In some places he is -called the "how-do-you-do owl." He is always bowing, and turning from -side to side, and seems to be greeting you as you come near him. - -The burrowing owl likes a comfortable home underground, out of the way -of enemies. In the West, where he lives, prairie dogs are plentiful, -and they are always digging out passages and rooms, more than they can -use. So the owl has no trouble in finding empty quarters to live in. - -But in California, and places where are none of the digging dogs, the -little owl rooms with some of the ground squirrels that burrow there. He -must have an underground home in that land where trees are scarce, and -he has no fancy for digging. Even if he wanted to dig, his feet are not -fitted for it like the feet of the little beasts. - -The burrowing owl has no trouble in taking a house where he finds one to -suit him, for he's a savage little fellow. He can kill squirrels and -prairie dogs much bigger than himself, and even rattlesnakes, which take -lodgings in the prairie dog houses also. He feeds upon all these -creatures. He eats also crickets, scorpions, and many troublesome -insects. This makes him valuable to farmers, for nearly all these -creatures destroy his crops. - -Remember, too, that birds have great appetites; as I have told you, they -eat more than their own weight every day. In that way they dispose of -enormous numbers of pests. It almost seems as if a bird were a sort of -eating machine, made on purpose to work for us. We should never forget -this. - -This bird, like most others, makes many different sounds. His song is a -soft "coo-oo," something like that of a mourning dove. When a stranger -comes to his home and he is there, he gives a rattle which sounds like a -rattlesnake. This scares people, and perhaps animals, away, for no one -wants to meet a rattlesnake in a dark hole. I wonder if the bird learned -this trick living in the same house with the snake. - -The Department of Agriculture has proved owls to be among the most -useful of birds. Their food is almost entirely of hurtful creatures, and -they come out at night when other birds are asleep and are ready to hunt -the pests which do the same. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[26] See Appendix, 25. - - - - -XXXIII - -THE BARN OWL FAMILY - -(_Strigidae_)[27] - - -THIS is a small family of which we have but one member in America, the -AMERICAN BARN OWL. He is found all over the country, as far north as -southern New England, but he is one of the shyest of birds. He comes out -only at night, and hides so well in the day that he is not often seen, -even where he is common. So very little is known of his ways. - -When he does happen to come out, and any one sees him, a great deal is -said about him. For he is a very odd-looking fellow indeed. He is all in -gray and white, clouded and speckled and barred, and his face is the -strangest of bird faces. It is three-cornered, and looks more like a -monkey's than a bird's. If he shows this face in the daylight, he is -generally caught or shot, and the newspapers make a great fuss about -him. Some one says he looks like a toothless little old woman, with a -hooked nose. - -Happily for the barn owl, he does not often come out. He loves quiet -more than anything. He seeks a hidden, safe place, not only for a nest, -but to spend his days in. He is almost the only bird who may be said to -live in a home. - -When house hunting, this bird will take a snug cavity in a tree, or an -empty building. He does not despise an old mining shaft, or a burrow in -the ground. He delights in a church steeple or a barn. Almost any place -that is quiet and out of sight of the world will suit him. - -All day the barn owl stays at home. But in the evening he comes out for -his dinner, and then there is havoc among the small animals. Rats, -ground squirrels, mice, bats, small snakes, grasshoppers, and almost -anything else that is eatable are welcome to him. He should be protected -because he is so useful. - -This bird is an amiable fellow too. He has been known to live pleasantly -in a church tower with pigeons, whom he could easily kill to eat if he -wished. He is a hearty eater himself, besides feeding a family of five -or six little fuzzy white owlets great quantities of food. - -One of these owls has lived for years in a tower of the Smithsonian -Institution in Washington. In the Zoological Collection of that city, -there was, not long ago, another of the family alive. Wishing to have -more of them in the Zoo, some one watched the nest of the tower bird. -When her little family of seven was about ready to fly, he took them -away, and gave them to their caged relative. She promptly adopted the -whole party, and reared them with the greatest care. No doubt she was -glad to have something to do. Life in a cage must be very tiresome for -wild birds and beasts. - -Mr. Reed of Philadelphia has told us how a pet barn owl threw up the -castings. These, you know, are the bones and skin of mice and other -creatures which are thrown up awhile after eating. He would bow his head -and shake it very hard. Then raise it and jerk out the little ball. - -This bird was very tame. The place where he liked best to sit was on the -arm or shoulder of his master. If the man wanted to do anything except -play with him, he had to get a stuffed bird to amuse the living one. It -was like a doll for a baby girl. When the owl was not perfectly -comfortable, he kept up a constant cry, so his master had to keep him -well entertained and fed. - -The note of the barn owl is a wild screech. One is sometimes heard -making this sound, but he is never heard flying, for, like other owls, -he is dressed in soft feathers that make no rustle. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[27] See Appendix, 26. - - - - -XXXIV - -THE HAWK AND EAGLE FAMILY - -(_Falconidae_)[28] - - -THIS is a family of birds of prey. That is, birds who live entirely on -living animals, which they hunt and catch for themselves. Owls are also -birds of prey, but they do their hunting by night, while this family -work by day. - -[Illustration: SPARROW HAWK] - -Like all birds, hawks are well fitted for what they have to do. They -have long wings, so that they can fly swiftly and long at a time, to -follow up the prey. They have sharp, curved claws, made for grasping and -holding things. Their hooked beak is the best kind for cutting and -tearing meat. - -Most of these birds work for us the whole time, as do the owls. For they -eat the same destructive animals, and they eat an enormous number. Yet -we have a foolish prejudice against them, because two or three of them -sometimes take poultry and game birds. Even when these birds do take -our poultry and game birds, some good is done. For they naturally catch -the weak ones who are not able to get out of their way. And it is better -for the whole race of these birds that the weak ones should not live. It -leaves the rest stronger, and better able to make their way in the -world. - -This family is found all over the world. It includes birds of all sizes, -from one as small as a sparrow to one who spreads his wings ten feet. In -our country we have neither the smallest nor the largest. Of those you -are likely to see, the least is the American Sparrow Hawk, who is not -much larger than a robin, and the greatest is the Bald Eagle, who is -sometimes a yard from the tip of his beak to the end of his tail. - -Hawks have wonderful eyes like a telescope and microscope in one, as I -have told you in "The First Book of Birds." In eating without knife and -fork, they often swallow food whole and throw up castings like the owls. - -In catching their prey these birds use their feet instead of their -beaks. Even those who hunt grasshoppers and crickets seize them in their -claws. Their feet are quite as useful as hands. In them they carry -material for the nest as well as food for the little ones. The claws are -powerful weapons of war, too. A hawk who is ready to fight throws -himself on his back and presents his claws to the enemy. Few people -would like to be grappled by those terrible claws. - -Hawks and eagles have wonderful wing power. Some of them can stay far up -in the air an hour at a time. They go up in great circles with wings -held stiffly out and not beating, till out of sight. Men have not yet -been able to see quite how it is done. It is probably by using the wings -as sailors use their sails, and making the wind carry them. - - -The one of this family I shall tell you about is the FISH HAWK, or -AMERICAN OSPREY, because he is found all over the United States. He is -one of those which you will be most likely to see, and want to know -about. - -The osprey is a large bird, about two feet long. He is dressed in -chocolate brown, with white breast and white tips to many of his -feathers. His head feathers are long, and lie back on his neck, giving a -peculiar shape to the head, by which you may know him at once. These -feathers too are white, so that as he flies over he looks as if he were -bald. He has feet marvelously fitted to hold slippery fish. The talons -are sharp, and the toes long, and rough on the under side, so that -nothing can get away from them. - -The fish hawk is a social bird and fond of his home. Though he migrates, -he comes back to the old place, year after year. He likes the top of a -stout tree to build in. It needs to be stout, for he makes a very big -nest, and adds to it every season. It generally kills the tree, if it is -not dead when he begins. If there are no trees to be had, or if there -are too many birds for the trees at hand, some of them will nest on the -ground, for they like to keep near their friends. The nest is made of -sticks and all the rubbish the birds can collect. Such things are found -as an old broom, a boy's sail-boat, a rag doll, and others as absurd. - -The young fish hawk is a pretty little fellow in white down. He is three -or four weeks in the egg, and a long time in the nest, and is helpless a -good deal longer. He is fed on fish like his parents. For this bird -deserves his name; he is a fisherman, and always takes his food from the -water. Fortunately he usually selects the poorer kinds of fish, which -men do not care to eat, and so he is not called an enemy by the -fishermen. - -But the hard-working osprey has an enemy, who makes it his business to -rob him. The way the fish hawk gets his food is to dive for it. He -hovers over the water till he sees a fish near the surface that suits -him. Then he closes his wings and dives like a shot. He plunges in often -over his head, and seizes the fish in his claws or talons. Then he -rises, and shaking off the water flies toward his family, with their -dinner. - -[Illustration: AMERICAN OSPREY OR FISH HAWK] - -But then appears the robber, the bald eagle, I'm sorry to say, who -prefers stealing his food to hunting for himself. He rushes furiously at -the fish hawk, who is obliged to drop his load to defend himself. Then -the eagle seizes it, often before it reaches the ground, and flies off, -while the osprey goes back to his fishing. - -But the osprey is learning something, like the rest of the birds. On the -shore of New Jersey there is a place where men fish with great nets, and -bring in hundreds of fish every day. The birds have noted how much -better men are at their trade of fishing than they are. So they have -thought out an easier way to get food than to dive for it. Perhaps they -got the hint from the eagle. - -Wherever the fish hawks got the idea, it is now the common custom for -them to sit on the poles that hold the net and wait. When it is drawn up -filled with flopping fish, each bird dives down and secures one for -himself. And he takes time to choose, too. If there is one of a kind -he particularly likes, he goes for that one. - -Fish hawks, like other birds, are very fond of their little ones. A -gentleman who had been traveling in the West told me this little story. -He, with a party who were wandering over a wild part of the country, -accidentally set fire to a bit of woods on the shore of Lake Superior. -On one of the trees was a fish hawk's nest with young birds. As soon as -the smoke began to spread, the old birds grew uneasy, and circled about -their tree, going often to the nest. - -The men who had done the mischief, and who had then taken to their boat, -were noting the spread of the fire. They watched the birds to see what -they would do. When the fire at last reached their tree, the loving -parents turned with one accord, plunged down into the nest, and all -perished together. They could easily have saved themselves, but they -could not desert their nestlings. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[28] See Appendix, 27. - - - - -XXXV - -THE SCAVENGER FAMILY - -(_Cathartidae_)[29] - - -THIS is one of the most useful of bird families. But it is not very -pleasant to meet, for the work it has to do makes it rather repulsive to -us. - -The vultures are scavengers. They dispose of vast quantities of carrion -and other offensive matter. In doing this they make it possible for -people to live in places where they could not live without the service -of these birds. - - -The common vulture in the United States is the TURKEY VULTURE, or TURKEY -BUZZARD. He is a large bird, with head and neck bare of feathers. In -shape and size he is a good deal like a turkey. He is a familiar bird -all over the country, except in New England and other northern parts, -and is usually seen soaring about in the air, looking for food. -Beautiful and graceful he looks away up against the sky. He sails -around as if he weighed nothing, with wing feathers spread at the tip -like fingers. But he is not so pretty when he comes to the ground, for -he is very clumsy and awkward in getting about. - -The turkey buzzard nests almost anywhere; he is not at all -particular--on the ground, in a hollow stump, or tree. The young are -comfortably dressed in white down, but they are not pretty. They are as -awkward as their parents, and have a way of hanging their heads as if -they were ashamed of themselves. That is not the reason, however; their -work is something we could not do without. It is because they are too -weak to hold themselves up. - -I once saw a funny sight. A party of eighteen or twenty great buzzards -had come to the ground to get their dinner. They were all very busily -engaged just the other side of a fence, so that I could not see them at -their feast. - -Suddenly a mockingbird that I was watching flew over and alighted on the -fence. He stood there a minute, looking sharply down at them, and -flirting his tail in a saucy way. All at once, to my great surprise, he -gave a loud cry and flung himself down right among the great birds. - -I was frightened. I thought one peck from one of their strong beaks -would kill the little fellow. But instead of that, the whole party of -buzzards flew up in a panic, as if they were afraid of him. Then the -mockingbird, who looked like a midget beside them, hopped back upon the -fence, and burst into a loud song of victory. He knew the turkey buzzard -better than I did. No one likes to get very near this bird, so very -little is known about his ways. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[29] See Appendix, 28. - - - - -APPENDIX - -CHARACTERS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FAMILIES -MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK - - - NOTE.--_These characters, though correct, are - untechnically given, and are such as may be observed - on the "bird in the bush" while the added hints on - habits, etc., will be found helpful in - identification._ - - -1. Turdidae: THRUSHES. - -Medium size; bill shorter than head, straight or nearly so; bristles -(hair-like feathers) at corner of mouth; wings rather pointed, and -longer than tail; tail-feathers wider towards the end, the whole -somewhat fan-shaped. Young in first feathers speckled and streaked, very -different from the adults. Sexes nearly alike (except robin, varied -thrush, and bluebird). (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects, earthworms, and sometimes fruit. - -These birds are all singers and build rude nests. Found usually on the -lower part of trees in the woods (except robin and bluebird) or on the -ground, where they get most of their food. - - -2. Sylviidae: KINGLETS and GNATCATCHERS. - -This family is divided into two subfamilies. - -KINGLETS: Very small; bill slender, much shorter than head, straight to -near tip, then slightly curved; bristles at corner of mouth; wings -longer than tail; tail slightly forked, feathers pointed; legs long; -claws much curved. Young without markings on head. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. - -Very small, active, musical birds, usually found flitting about in -trees. - -GNATCATCHERS: Very small and slim; bill slender and short, nearly as -long as head, notched at tip; bristles at corner of mouth; wings shorter -than tail and rounded; tail long and moderately graduated, feathers -rounded; legs rather long; toes small. (Ridgway.) - -Active, beautiful nest builders, found in the tops of trees. -Insectivorous. - - -3. Paridae: NUTHATCHES, TITMICE, etc. - -This family is divided into three subfamilies. - -NUTHATCHES: Smaller than English sparrow; bill sharp, pointed, higher -than wide, about as long as head; bristles over nostrils; wings pointed; -tail very short, nearly even, feathers soft; legs stout. (Ridgway.) - -Parents nearly alike; food, insects. - -Found on the trunks and large limbs of trees. - -TITMICE: Usually smaller than English sparrow; bill stout, conical, -shorter than head; nasal feathers turned forward; tail longer than wing. -(Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Parents alike, and young the same. No noticeable change -of plumage with season. - -WREN-TITS and BUSH-TITS: Very small; bill short and conical; tail -rounded. Sexes alike. - - -4. Certhiidae: CREEPERS. - -Smaller than English sparrow; bill slender and curved downward; wings -rather pointed, long as tail; tail graduated, stiff, with long, -sharp-pointed feathers; claws long and strongly curved. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes alike, and young the same. Found circling tree -trunks. - - -5. Troglodytidae: WRENS and MOCKING THRUSHES. - -This family is divided into two subfamilies. - -WRENS: Smaller than English sparrow; bill slender, sometimes long and -arched; no bristles at corner of mouth; wings rounded; tail usually held -up. (Ridgway.) - -Parents and young alike. Food: insects. Singers. Found near the ground. - -MOCKING THRUSHES: Larger than English sparrow; bill slender, mostly -rather long; bristles at corner of mouth; wings rounded; tail longer -than wings; appear like thrushes; fine singers. (Ridgway.) - -Sexes nearly alike. Food, insects and fruit. Some of them found in bushy -borders of woods, some about gardens and houses, and others in various -places. - - -6. Cinclidae: DIPPERS. - -Larger than English sparrow; bill slender, shorter than head; wings -short, stiff and rounded; tail shorter than wings, soft and square; -claws strongly curved; plumage soft and compact; body stout, thickset. -Sexes alike. (Coues.) - -Food: water insects and larvae. Found in and about the brooks of the -Rocky Mountains and other mountains of the West. - - -7. Motacillidae: WAGTAILS and PIPITS. - -Larger than English sparrow; bill slender, cone shaped, nearly as high -as wide, at base; short bristles at corner of mouth; wings rather long -and pointed; tail narrow and slightly forked; legs rather long; hind -claw very long, sharp and slightly curved. (Ridgway.) - -Sexes alike. Food: insects. Found on the ground, where they walk, and -wag their tails. - - -8. Mniotiltidae: WARBLERS. - -It is almost impossible to characterize this family, there are so many -varieties. With few exceptions they are very small and beautifully -colored birds, sexes unlike, and changes of plumage with age and season. -Some are found in the tops of trees, some on bushes, and some on the -ground. Food: insects. (Coues.) - - -9. Vireonidae: VIREOS. - -Generally smaller than an English sparrow, and more slender; bill -notched in both mandibles; tail rather short, nearly even, of narrow -feathers; front toes more or less united. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Constant singers. Sexes alike and young the same, without -spots or streaks. Some found in trees in the woods, and others about -towns where English sparrows are not too numerous. - - -10. Laniidae: SHRIKES. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill powerful, tip hooked and notched; -wings short, rounded; tail long and much graduated. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects, small mammals, and sometimes birds. Sexes alike, and -young the same. Found on outside of low trees, fences, telegraph wires, -and peaks of roofs. - - -11. Ampelidae: WAXWINGS, etc. - -Somewhat larger than an English sparrow; bill short, broad and rather -flat; head with pointed crest; wings long and pointed; tail short, -narrow, even; legs of moderate length. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects and fruit. Sexes usually alike. Found in trees in woods -and in shade and orchard trees. - - -12. Hirundinidae: SWALLOWS. - -About the size of an English, sparrow; bill short, flat, and very broad -at the head; mouth opens back nearly to the eyes; wings long and scythe -shaped; tail forked; legs short; feet weak; plumage compact and usually -lustrous. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes usually alike, and young a little different. Found -in flocks, in the air, on roofs or fences or telegraph wires, sometimes -on trees. - - -13. Tanagridae: TANAGERS. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill conical, notched, bristles; wings -longer than tail; tail of moderate length, somewhat notched; legs rather -short. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes unlike. Found on trees in the woods. - - -14. Fringillidae: FINCHES. - -Mostly about the size of an English sparrow, some smaller, some larger; -bill short, high, and strong, turned down at the back corner; wings and -tail variable. (Ridgway.) - -Seed and insect eaters. Found everywhere--on trees, bushes, on ground, -in woods, fields, and about houses. - - -15. Icteridae: BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, etc. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill straight or gently curved; mouth -turned down at corners; tail rather long and rounded; legs rather short. -Includes birds of very different habits. (Ridgway.) - -Food: seeds and insects. Sexes generally unlike. Found everywhere, on -trees, in marshes, in woods. Many gregarious, found in flocks, some -except in nesting season, and others all the year round. - - -16. Corvidae: CROWS and JAYS. - -Larger than a robin. There are two subfamilies. - -CROWS: Bill longer than head; wings long and pointed; tail rather short -and even. - -JAYS: Bill shorter than head; wings short and rounded. (Ridgway.) - -Food: almost everything--seeds, fruit, sometimes eggs and young birds. -Found in woody places. - - -17. Alaudidae: LARKS. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill short, conical, frontal feathers -extend along the side; wings pointed; claw on hind toe very long and -nearly straight. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes nearly alike. Found on ground in fields and roads. - - -18. Tyrannidae: FLYCATCHERS. - -Mostly larger than an English sparrow; bill broad, flattened, curved -downward at end, and notched at tip; bristles along the gape; wings and -tail variable. (Ridgway.) - -Entirely insectivorous. Found in woods and fields and about houses. - - -19. Trochilidae: HUMMINGBIRDS. - -Our smallest birds; bill slender, sharp, and straight, usually longer -than head; wings long and pointed; legs short; feet small and weak; -claws curved and sharp. (Ridgway.) - -Food: tiny insects and the honey of flowers. Sexes unlike. Found about -flowers. - - -20. Micropodidae: SWIFTS. - -About the size of an English sparrow; bill very small, triangular, much -broader than high, without bristles; wings long and pointed; legs short; -feet weak; tail very short, ending in stiff spines; plumage compact. -(Ridgway.) - -Food: entirely insects. Sexes alike. Found in the air or inside chimneys -or hollow trees. - - -21. Caprimulgidae: GOATSUCKERS. - -Larger than a robin; bill very short; gape enormously long and wide; -mouth open to behind the eyes; wings long; plumage soft. (Ridgway.) - -Food: insects. Sexes nearly alike. One species found in the edge of -woods, and another species about towns. - - -22. Picidae: WOODPECKERS. - -Larger than an English sparrow; bill usually straight, pointed or -chisel-shaped at tip; tongue extensile and except in one species barbed -at point; tail stiff and feathers pointed at tip for a prop; toes, -except in three-toed species, two forward and two backward for climbing. -(Ridgway.) - -Insectivorous. Sexes unlike. Found on trees (except one species) in -woods or orchards. - - -23. Alcedinidae: KINGFISHERS. - -Usually larger than a robin; bill long and straight; tongue small; head -large, crested; wings short; legs small; outer and middle toe united -half their length. (Ridgway.) - -Food: fishes. Sexes slightly unlike. Found by water. - - -24. Cuculidae: CUCKOOS. - -Larger than a robin; bill narrow and high, rather long and curved -downward; wings long; tail long, soft, and rounded; toes in pairs. -(Ridgway.) - -Insectivorous. Sexes alike. Found on trees. - - -25. Bubonidae: OWLS. - -Mostly larger than a robin, a few smaller; bill hooked; eyes directed -forward and surrounded by radiating feathers; plumage soft and lax; -feathers beside forehead often stand up like ear tufts; legs usually -feathered; feet sometimes feathered. (Ridgway.) - -Sexes alike. Flesh eaters. Usually nocturnal. Most species found in -holes in trees or old buildings. - - -26. Strigidae: BARN OWLS. - -Much larger than a robin; bill hooked; eyes very small; -triangular-shaped eye disk; tail emarginate; claws sharp and strong; -very downy plumage. (Ridgway). - -Food: mice and other small mammals. Sexes alike. Exclusively nocturnal. -Found in barns and deserted buildings. - - -27. Falconidae: HAWKS AND EAGLES. - -(There are several subfamilies.) - -Mostly very large birds; bill strongly hooked; eyes directed sideways; -eyelids with lashes; toes never feathered. (Ridgway.) - -Carnivorous and insectivorous. Sexes usually alike, but female larger. - - -28. Cathartidae: AMERICAN VULTURES. - -Large as a turkey, one species much larger; whole head and sometimes -neck bare of feathers; eyes prominent; tail rounded. (Ridgway.) - -Food: carrion. Found sailing about in the air. - - - - -INDEX - - -References to the FIRST BOOK are indicated by ~1~; those to the SECOND -BOOK by ~2~. - - Affections, ~1~, 78-82. - - Air-sacs, ~1~, 92, 94. - - Alaudidae, ~2~, 131, 202. - - Alcedinidae, ~2~, 170, 203. - - Ampelidae, ~2~, 63, 200. - - Arrival in spring, ~1~, 3, 4. - - Attraction and Protection of Birds, ~1~, 131-135. - - Audubon, John James, ~1~, 60. - - Auks, ~1~, 110. - - - Barn Owl Family, ~2~, 185, 204. - - Beak, ~1~, 95-97. - - Blackbird, Brewer's, ~2~, 113. - - Blackbird, Crow, ~1~, 72; ~2~, 110. - - Blackbird, Red-winged, ~2~, 94; - portrait, ~2~, 94. - - Blackbird Family, ~2~, 94, 201. - - Blackbirds, ~1~, 3, 126, 129. - - Bluebird, arrival, ~1~, 3; - getting food for young, 17; - teaching young to fly, 37, 38; - feeding, 50; ~2~, 5; - portrait, ~1~, 38. - - Bobolink, nest of, ~1~, 9; - one of the first birds to stop singing in summer, 47; - the fall migration, 61, 62. - - Bob-white (quail), ~1~, 44, 59. - - Body, shape of, ~1~, 91. - - Bolles, Frank, his pet owl, ~1~, 101, 116; - his story of a heron, 103, 104. - - Bones, ~1~, 92, 94. - - Books about birds, ~1~, 142-144. - - Brooding, ~1~, 13-16. - - Bubonidae, ~2~, 178, 204. - - Bunting, Towhee, _or_ Chewink, ~1~, 76, 77; ~2~, 84; - portrait, ~1~, 76. - - Bush-Tits, ~2~, 198. - - Butcher-birds, ~2~, 59. - - Buzzard, Turkey, ~1~, 50, 51; ~2~, 194. - - - Canary, ~1~, 20, 57, 81. - - Caprimulgidae, ~2~, 155, 203. - - Cardinal, ~1~, 69, 132; ~2~, 88; - portrait, ~2~, 90. - - Catbird, food of, ~1~, 49, 126; - jerking the tail, 113; ~2~, 37, 125; - portrait, ~2~, 36. - - Cathartidae, ~2~, 194, 204. - - Cave-dwelling Family, ~2~, 30, 199. - - Cedar-bird, feeding young, ~1~, 19; - story of affection for young, 78; - usefulness to man, 126, 129; ~2~, 63; - portrait, ~1~, 126. - - Certhiidae, ~2~, 27, 198. - - Chat, Long-tailed, ~2~, 53. - - Chat, Yellow-breasted, ~2~, 52; - portrait, ~2~, 52. - - Chewink, ~1~, 76, 77; ~2~, 84; - portrait, ~1~, 76. - - Chickadee, defending eggs, ~1~, 11, 12; - getting food for young, 18; - as an eater of insects' eggs, 68, 126; - affection for young, 78; ~2~, 22; - portrait, ~2~, 22. - - Chickadee, Mountain, ~2~, 22. - - Chickadees, ~2~, 22. - - Chuck-will's-widow, ~2~, 157. - - Cinclidae, ~2~, 42, 199. - - Color in feathers, ~1~, 120. - _See also_ Plumage. - - Cormorant, ~1~, 94. - - Corvidae, ~2~, 117, 202. - - Cowbird, ~2~, 51, 98. - - Creeper, Brown, ~2~, 27; - portrait, ~2~, 28. - - Creeper Family, ~2~, 27, 198. - - Creepers, ~2~, 19. - - Crop, ~1~, 93. - - Crossbill, American _or_ Red, ~2~, 91. - - Crossbill, White-winged, ~2~, 92. - - Crossbills, ~1~, 97; ~2~, 91. - - Crow, American, punishing a young one, ~1~, 37; - sleeping in flocks, 59, 60; - story of an affectionate, 80; - usefulness to men, 126; ~2~, 40, 117. - - Crow Family, ~2~, 117, 202. - - Cuckoo, Black-billed, ~2~, 174. - - Cuckoo, California, ~2~, 174. - - Cuckoo, Yellow-billed, ~2~, 174; - portrait, ~2~, 174. - - Cuckoo Family, ~2~, 174, 203. - - Cuculidae, ~2~, 174, 203. - - - Dipper, American, ~2~, 42; - portrait, ~2~, 42. - - Dipper Family, ~2~, 42, 199. - - Down, the first plumage, ~1~, 15, 21, 22, 115. - - Ducks, ~1~, 97, 115. - - - Eagle, Bald, ~2~, 189, 192. - - Ears, ~1~, 102-104. - - Eggs, beauty of, ~1~, 11; - the mother's care, 11, 12; - incubation and hatching of, 13-15. - - Eyes, ~1~, 100-102. - - - Falconidae, ~2~, 188, 204. - - Feathers, first appearance on the young bird, ~1~, 22; - of the wing, 109-111; - of the tail, 112, 113; - the various kinds of, 114, 115; - expression of emotions by, 116; - the birds' care of, 116, 117. - _See also_ Plumage. - - Feet, ~1~, 92, 105-108. - - Finches, ~2~, 82, 201. - - Fish, birds and dead, ~1~, 86, 87. - - Flicker, method of feeding young, ~1~, 18; - food of, 85, 127; - color markings, 121; ~2~, 161; - portrait, ~1~, 86. - - Flicker, Red-shafted, ~2~, 161, 162. - - Flycatcher, Least, ~2~, 136. - - Flycatcher, Shining Crested, ~2~, 67. - - Flycatching Family, ~2~, 135, 202. - - Flying, ~1~, 93. - - Food, ~1~, 48-55; - in winter, 67-69, 134; - in its relation to the welfare of man, 125-130. - - Frigate-bird, ~1~, 110. - - Fringillidae, ~2~, 80, 201. - - - Geese, ~1~, 98, 99. - - Gizzard, ~1~, 93. - - Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray, ~2~, 16. - - Gnatcatchers, ~2~, 198. - - Goatsucker Family, ~2~, 155, 203. - - Goldfinch, American, ~1~, 14; - story of canary and, 20; - change of color, 26; - food, 54; - flocking, 71; ~2~, 82; - portrait, ~1~, 26. - - Goldfinch, European, ~1~, 79. - - Goldfinch, Willow, ~2~, 84. - - Grackle, Bronzed, ~2~, 112. - - Grackle, Purple, ~2~, 112. - - Grackles, ~2~, 110. - - Grosbeak, Black-headed, ~2~, 88. - - Grosbeak, Cardinal, ~1~, 69, 132; ~2~, 88; - portrait, ~2~, 90. - - Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, ~2~, 86; - portrait, ~2~, 86. - - Grosbeaks, ~2~, 86. - - Grouse, ~1~, 58, 59, 110. - - Grouse, Ruffed, ~1~, 111. - - Gullet, ~1~, 93. - - Gulls, ~1~, 101. - - - Hawk, American Sparrow, ~2~, 189; - portrait, ~2~, 188. - - Hawk, Fish, ~2~, 190; - portrait, ~2~, 192. - - Hawk and Eagle Family, ~2~, 188, 204. - - Hawks, food of, ~1~, 52, 53, 126, 127; - asleep, 59; - beaks of, 97; - eyesight of, 101; - feet of, 106. - - Heligoland, ~1~, 101. - - Heron, Great Blue, ~2~, 114. - - Herons, food of, ~1~, 53, 127; - bills of, 97; - story of the hearing of a heron, 103, 104; - usefulness to man, 127. - - Hirundinidae, ~2~, 69, 201. - - Humming Family, ~2~, 143, 202. - - Hummingbird, Anna's, ~2~, 149. - - Hummingbird, Ruby-throated, absence of male from nest, ~1~, 16; - method of feeding young, 18; ~2~, 144; - portrait, ~1~, 18. - - Hummingbirds, ~1~, 15, 98. - - - Icteridae, ~2~, 94, 201. - - Identification, ~1~, 137-141. - - Indigo-bird, ~1~, 47; - portrait, ~1~, 46. - - Instinct, ~1~, 83. - - Intelligence, ~1~, 83-87. - - - Japan, ~1~, 131. - - Jay, Blue, learning to fly, ~1~, 31, 32; - storing food, 54; - story of a mischievous, 55, 56; - usefulness to man, 126; ~2~, 113, 121; - portrait, ~2~, 122. - - Jay, Steller's, ~2~, 126. - - Jays, ~2~, 117, 202. - - - Kindness of birds to one another, ~1~, 74-77. - - Kingbird, ~1~, 14, 129; ~2~, 113, 136; - portrait, ~2~, 136. - - Kingbird, Arkansas, ~2~, 140. - - Kingfisher, Belted, ~2~, 170; - portrait, ~2~, 170. - - Kingfisher Family, ~2~, 170, 203. - - Kingfishers, ~1~, 21, 115. - - Kinglet, Ruby-crowned, ~2~, 14; - portrait, ~2~, 14. - - Kinglet and Gnatcatcher Family, ~2~, 14, 197. - - - Language, ~1~, 43-47. - - Laniidae, ~2~, 59, 200. - - Lark, Desert Horned, portrait, ~2~, 132. - - Lark, Horned, ~2~, 131. - - Lark, Old-Field. _See_ Meadowlark. - - Lark, Prairie Horned, ~2~, 131. - - Lark, Shore, ~2~, 131. - - Lark Family, ~2~, 131, 202. - - Legs, ~1~, 92, 105, 107, 108. - - - Magpie, American, ~2~, 126; - portrait, ~2~, 126. - - Magpie, Yellow-billed, ~2~, 126. - - Magpies, ~2~, 117. - - Martin, Purple, ~2~, 72. - - Meadowlark, ~1~, 45, 119, 121; ~2~, 97, 100; - portrait, ~2~, 100. - - Meadowlark, Western, ~2~, 102. - - Meadow Starlings, ~2~, 100. - - Micropodidae, ~2~, 150, 202. - - Migration, ~1~, 61-68. - - Mniotiltidae, ~2~, 49, 200. - - Mocking Thrushes, ~2~, 34, 199. - - Mockingbird, ~1~, 45; ~2~, 9, 34, 195. - - Motacillidae, ~2~, 46, 199. - - Moulting, ~1~, 25, 26, 118. - - - Neck, ~1~, 92. - - Nests, situations of, ~1~, 9; - materials of, 9, 10; - building of, 10; - seldom used more than once, 10, 11. - - Nighthawk, ~1~, 107; ~2~, 158; - portrait, ~2~, 158. - - Norway, ~1~, 131. - - Nuthatch, European, ~2~, 21. - - Nuthatch, Red-breasted, ~2~, 20. - - Nuthatch, Slender-billed, ~2~, 18. - - Nuthatch, White-breasted, ~2~, 18; - portrait, ~1~, 96. - - Nuthatch and Chickadee Family, ~2~, 18, 198. - - Nuthatches, ~1~, 18, 96, 98. - - - Observation, ~1~, 137-141, 145. - - Oil, ~1~, 117. - - Oriole, Arizona Hooded, ~2~, 108. - - Oriole, Baltimore, nest of, ~1~, 9, 95; ~2~, 104; - portrait, ~1~, 10. - - Oriole, Orchard, ~2~, 107. - - Orioles, getting food for young, ~1~, 18; - teaching young to fly, 33, 34; - food of, 50; - affection for young, 78; - usefulness to man, 129; ~2~, 104. - - Osprey, American, ~2~, 190; - portrait, ~2~, 192. - - Ostrich, ~1~, 24. - - Ostrich, South American, ~1~, 24. - - Ouzel, Water, ~2~, 42; - portrait, ~2~, 42. - - Oven-bird, ~2~, 52. - - Owl, American Barn, ~2~, 185. - - Owl, Barred, ~1~, 101. - - Owl, Burrowing, ~2~, 182. - - Owl, Florida Burrowing, ~2~, 182. - - Owl, Screech, ~2~, 180; - portrait, ~2~, 180. - - Owl Family, ~2~, 178, 204. - - Owls, ~1~, 35; - food of, 52, 53, 127; - ears of, 103; - feet of, 106; - usefulness to man, 126, 127. - - - Paridae, ~2~, 18, 198. - - Penguin, ~1~, 72. - - Petrel, ~1~, 110. - - Pewee, Western Wood, ~2~, 142. - - Pewee, Wood, ~1~, 47; ~2~, 136, 140. - - Phainopepla, ~2~, 67. - - Phoebe, ~1~, 35; ~2~, 136. - - Picidae, ~2~, 160, 203. - - Pigeons, ~1~, 79, 80. - - Pipit, Sprague's, ~2~, 46; - portrait, ~2~, 46. - - Pipits, ~2~, 46, 199. - - Plumage, the nestling, ~1~, 22, 23; - coloration of, 23, 24, 27, 28; - moulting, 25, 26, 118; - change of color without moulting, 26, 27, 118-120; - protective coloration of, 120, 121; - recognition marks in, 121, 122. - - Poor-will, ~2~, 157. - - Protection and attraction of birds, ~1~, 131-135. - - - Quail (bob-white), ~1~, 44, 59. - - - Redbird, ~2~, 88. - - Redstart, American, ~1~, 14; - portrait, ~1~, 14. - - Regurgitation, ~1~, 18, 19. - - Rhea, ~1~, 24. - - Robin, American, arrival, ~1~, 3, 10, 15, 17, 18, 21; - plumage of young, 23, 34; - teaching young to bathe, 38, 39; - notes of, 44, 45; - food of, 49, 126, 127; - roosting in flocks, 60; - devotion to young, 78; - story of the intelligence of a, 84, 102; - usefulness to men, 126, 127, 129; ~2~, 5, 6, 38, 65, 167; - portrait, ~2~, 60. - - Robin, Western, ~2~, 6. - - - Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied, ~1~, 85. - - Sapsuckers, tail of, ~1~, 113; ~2~, 161. - - Scavenger Family, ~2~, 194, 204. - - Shrike, Loggerhead, ~2~, 59; - portrait, ~2~, 60. - - Shrike Family, ~2~, 59, 200. - - Shrikes, ~1~, 126. - - Skylark, Missouri, ~2~, 46. - - Skylark, Prairie, ~2~, 46. - - Sleeping, ~1~, 57-60. - - Song, ~1~, 14, 44-47. - - Sparrow, Chipping, ~1~, 54. - - Sparrow, English, learning canary's song, ~1~, 46; - young fed by a wren, 81, 82; - harmfulness of, 126, 130, 132; ~2~, 32. - - Sparrow, Song, arrival, ~1~, 3; - nest, 9; - individuality in songs, 45, 47; ~2~, 81. - - Sparrow, Tree, ~1~, 58, 128. - - Sparrow, White-throated, ~1~, 54. - - Sparrow and Finch Family, ~2~, 80, 201. - - Sparrows, ~1~, 84, 97; ~2~, 80. - - Starlings, Meadow, ~2~, 100. - - Stomach, ~1~, 93. - - Strigidae, ~2~, 185, 204. - - Swallow, Bank, ~1~, 96. - - Swallow, Barn, ~1~, 71, 96; ~2~, 69; - portrait, _frontispiece_. - - Swallow, Cliff _or_ Eave, ~1~, 71; ~2~, 72, 73. - - Swallow Family, ~2~, 69, 201. - - Swallows, food of, ~1~, 17, 35, 50; - flocking, 62, 71; - story of young, 75; - story showing intelligence, 85; - wings of, 110. - - Swift, Chimney, sleeping, ~1~, 59, 60; - devotion to young, 78; - tail of, 113; ~2~, 150. - - Swift, Vaux's, ~2~, 150, 152. - - Swift Family, ~2~, 150, 202. - - Sylviidae, ~2~, 14, 197. - - - Tail, ~1~, 112, 113. - - Tanager, Louisiana, ~2~, 78. - - Tanager, Scarlet, ~1~, 79; ~2~, 75; - portraits, ~1~, 142; ~2~, 76. - - Tanager, Summer, ~2~, 78. - - Tanager Family, ~2~, 75, 201. - - Tanagridae, ~2~, 75, 201. - - Thrasher, Arizona, ~2~, 41. - - Thrasher, Brown, ~1~, 113; ~2~, 40; - portrait, 112. - - Thrush, Brown. _See_ Thrasher, Brown. - - Thrush, Golden-crowned, ~2~, 52. - - Thrush, Hermit, ~2~, 11; - portrait, ~2~, 10. - - Thrush, Western Hermit, ~2~, 11. - - Thrush, Wood, ~1~, 133. - - Thrush Family, ~2~, 5, 197. - - Thrushes, Mocking, ~2~, 34, 199. - - Titlarks, ~2~, 46. - - Titmice, ~2~, 22, 198. - - Titmouse, Tufted, ~2~, 24. - - Tongue, ~1~, 97, 98. - - Towhee, _or_ Chewink, ~1~, 76, 77; ~2~, 84; - portrait, ~1~, 76. - - Towhee, Spurred, ~2~, 84. - - Trochilidae, ~2~, 143, 202. - - Troglodytidae, ~2~, 30, 199. - - Turdidae, ~2~, 5, 197. - - Tyrannidae, ~2~, 135, 202. - - - Usefulness of birds to man, ~1~, 125-130. - - - Veery, ~1~, 47. - - Vireo, Red-eyed, ~1~, 47. - - Vireo, Warbling, ~2~, 57. - - Vireo, Western Warbling, ~2~, 57. - - Vireo, Yellow-throated, ~2~, 56, 57; - portrait, ~2~, 56. - - Vireo Family, ~2~, 55, 200. - - Vireonidae, ~2~, 55, 200. - - Vulture, Turkey, _or_ Turkey Buzzard, ~1~, 50, 51; ~2~, 194. - - Vultures, American, ~2~, 194, 204. - - - Wagtail Family, ~2~, 46, 199. - - Warbler, Black and White, ~1~, 121; - portrait, ~1~, 120. - - Warbler, Yellow, ~1~, 50; ~2~, 50. - - Warbler Family, ~2~, 49, 200. - - Warblers, ~1~, 62, 97. - - Water, birds in, ~1~, 94; - for drinking and bathing, 133, 134. - - Water-Thrush, ~2~, 52. - - Water-Thrush, Louisiana, ~2~, 52. - - Waxwing, Cedar. _See_ Cedar-bird. - - Waxwing Family, ~2~, 63, 200. - - Whip-poor-will, ~1~, 107, 121; ~2~, 155. - - Whip-poor-will, Nuttall's, ~2~, 157. - - Wings, ~1~, 109-112. - - Winter, birds in, ~1~, 66-69. - - Woodcock, beak of, ~1~, 96; - whistling sound of wings, 111. - - Woodpecker, Californian, ~2~, 167. - - Woodpecker, Downy, ~1~, 50; ~2~, 169; - portrait, ~2~, 166. - - Woodpecker, Golden-winged. _See_ Flicker. - - Woodpecker, Red-headed, ~1~, 85; ~2~, 165. - - Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied, ~1~, 85. - - Woodpecker Family, ~2~, 160, 203. - - Woodpeckers, ~1~, 18, 21; - teaching young to feed itself, 35, 36; - food of, 50; - storing food, 54, 55; - sleeping, 59, 85, 86; - beaks of, 95; - tongues of, 98, 103; - feet of, 106; - tails of, 113; ~2~, 19. - - Wren, House, ~1~, 81, 82; ~2~, 31; - portrait, ~1~, 80. - - Wren, Western House, ~2~, 31. - - Wrens, ~2~, 30, 199. - - Wren-Tits, ~2~, 198. - - - Young birds, hatching of, ~1~, 13-15; - feeding of, 16-20; - first plumage of, 21-23; - learning to fly, 29-34, 37-39; - the mother's anxiety about, 30-32; - learning to feed themselves, 34-36, 39; - learning to sing, 36; - after leaving the nest, 70-73. - - - The Riverside Press - CAMBRIDGE . MASSACHUSETTS - U . S . A - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - -Book 2: - -Page 173, "halycon" changed to "halcyon" (called halcyon days) - -Page 212, book number was added to Woodcock. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Children's Book of Birds, by -Olive Thorne Miller - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF BIRDS *** - -***** This file should be named 41141.txt or 41141.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/1/1/4/41141/ - -Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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