bird neighbors-第12章

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It　serves　a　more　utilitarian　purpose；　however；　than　bracing　faint…hearted　spirits。　〃There　is　no　bird　that　compares　with　it　in　destroying　the　female　canker…worm　moths　and　their　eggs；〃　writes　a　well…known　entomologist。　He　calculates　that　as　a　chickadee　destroys　about　5；500　eggs　in　one　day；　it　will　eat　138；750　eggs　in　the　twenty…five　days　it　takes　the　canker…worm　moth　to　crawl　up　the　trees。　The　moral　that　it　pays　to　attract　chickadees　about　your　home　by　feeding　them　in　winter　is　obvious。　Mrs。　Mabel　Osgood　Wright；　in　her　delightful　and　helpful　book　〃Birdcraft；〃　tells　us　how　she　makes　a　sort　of　a　bird…hash　of　finely　minced　raw　meat；　waste　canary…seed；　buckwheat；　and　cracked　oats；　which　she　scatters　in　a　sheltered　spot　for　all　the　winter　birds。　The　way　this　is　consumed　leaves　no　doubt　of　its　popularity。　A　raw　bone；　hung　from　an　evergreen　limb；　is　equally　appreciated。

Friendly　as　the　chickadee　is　and　Dr。　Abbott　declares　it　the　tamest　bird　we　have　it　prefers　well…timbered　districts；　especially　where　there　are　red…bud　trees；　when　it　is　time　to　nest。　It　is　very　often　clever　enough　to　leave　the　labor　of　hollowing　out　a　nest　in　the　tree…trunk　to　the　woodpecker　or　nuthatch；　whose　old　homes　it　readily　appropriates；　or；　when　these　birds　object；　a　knot…hole　or　a　hollow　fence…rail　answers　every　purpose。　Here；　in　the　summer　woods；　when　family　cares　beset　it；　a　plaintive；　minor　whistle　replaces　the　chickadee…dee…dee　that　Thoreau　likens　to　〃silver　tinkling〃　as　he　heard　it　on　a　frosty　morning。

　　　　〃Piped　a　tiny　voice　near　by；　　　　　　Gay　and　polite；　a　cheerful　cry　　　　　　Chick…chickadeedee！　saucy　note　　　　　　Out　of　sound　heart　and　merry　throat；　　　　　　As　if　it　said；　'Good…day；　good　Sir！　　　　　　Fine　afternoon；　old　passenger！　　　　　　Happy　to　meet　you　in　these　places　　　　　　Where　January　brings　few　faces。'〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Emerson。


TUFTED　TITMOUSE　（Parus　bicolor）　Titmouse　family

Called　also：　CRESTED　TITMOUSE；　CRESTED　TOMTIT

Length　　6　to　6。　inches。　About　the　size　of　the　English　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Crest　high　and　pointed。　Leaden　or　ash…gray　　　above；　darkest　on　wings　and　tail。　Frontlet；　bill；　and　shoulders　　　black；　space　between　eyes　gray。　Sides　of　head　dull　white。　Under　　　parts　light　gray；　sides　yellowish；　tinged　with　red。　Range　　United　States　east　of　plains；　and　only　rarely　seen　so　　　far　north　as　New　England。　Migrations　　October。　April。　Winter　resident；　but　also　found　　　throughout　the　year　in　many　States。

〃A　noisy　titmouse　is　Jack　Frost's　trumpeter〃　may　be　one　of　those　few　weather…wise　proverbs　with　a　grain　of　truth　in　them。　As　the　chickadee　comes　from　the　woods　with　the　frost；　so　it　may　be　noticed　his　cousin；　the　crested　titmouse；　is　in　more　noisy　evidence　throughout　the　winter。

One　might　sometimes　think　his　whistle；　like　a　tugboat's；　worked　by　steam。　But　how　effectually　nesting　cares　alone　can　silence　it　in　April！

Titmice　always　see　to　it　you　are　not　lonely　as　you　walk　through　the　woods。　This　lordly　tomtit；　with　his　jaunty　crest；　keeps　up　a　persistent　whistle　at　you　as　he　flits　from　tree　to　tree；　leading　you　deeper　into　the　forest；　calling　out　〃Here…here…here！'；　and　looking　like　a　pert　and　jaunty　little　blue　jay；　minus　his　gay　clothes。　Mr。　Nehrling　translates　one　of　the　calls　　〃Heedle…deedle…deedle…dee！〃　and　another　〃Peto…peto…peto…daytee…daytee！〃　But　it　is　at　the　former；　sharply　whistled　as　the　crested　titmouse　gives　it；　that　every　dog　pricks　up　his　ears。

Comparatively　little　has　been　written　about　this　bird；　because　it　is　not　often　found　in　New　England；　where　most　of　the　bird　litterateurs　have　lived。　South　of　New　York　State；　however；　it　is　a　common　resident；　and　much　respected　for　the　good　work　it　does　in　destroying　injurious　insects；　though　it　is　more　fond　of　varying　its　diet　with　nuts；　berries；　and　seeds　than　that　all…round　benefactor；　the　chickadee。


CANADA　JAY　（Perisoreus　canadensis）　Crow　and　Jay　family

Called　also：　WHISKY　JACK　OR　JOHN；　MOOSE…BIRD；　MEAT　BIRD；　VENISON　　　　HERON；　GREASE…BIRD；　CANADIAN　CARRION…BIRD；　CAMP　ROBBER；　＇GRAY　　　JAY；　AOU　1998＇

Length　　11　to　12　inches。　About　two　inches　larger　than　the　　　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　p　arts　gray；　darkest　on　wings　and　tail；　　　back　of　the　head　and　nape　of　the　neck　sooty；　almost　black。　　　Forehead；　throat；　and　neck　white；　and　a　few　white　tips　on　wings　　　and　tail。　Underneath　lighter　gray。　Tail　long。　Plumage　fluffy。　Range　　Northern　parts　of　the　United　States　and　British　　　Provinces　of　North　America。　Migrations　　Resident　where　found。

The　Canada　jay　looks　like　an　exaggerated　chickadee；　and　both　birds　are　equally　fond　of　bitter　cold　weather；　but　here　the　similarity　stops　short。　Where　the　chickadee　is　friendly　the　jay　is　impudent　and　bold；　hardly　less　of　a　villain　than　his　blue　relative　when　it　comes　to　marauding　other　birds'　nests　and　destroying　their　young。　With　all　his　vices；　however；　intemperance　cannot　be　attributed　to　him；　in　spite　of　the　name　given　him　by　the　Adirondack　lumbermen　and　guides。　〃Whisky　John〃　is　a　purely　innocent　corruption　of　　〃Wis…ka…tjon；〃　as　the　Indians　call　this　bird　that　haunts　their　camps　and　familiarly　enters　their　wigwams。　The　numerous　popular　names　by　which　the　Canada　jays　are　known　are　admirably　accounted　for　by　Mr。　Hardy　in　a　bulletin　issued　by　the　Smithsonian　Institution。

〃They　will　enter　the　tents；　and　often　alight　on　the　bow　of　a　canoe；　where　the　paddle　at　every　stroke　comes　within　eighteen　inches　of　them。　I　know　nothing　which　can　be　eaten　that　they　will　not　take；　and　I　had　one　steal　all　my　candles；　pulling　them　out　endwise；　one　by　one；　from　a　piece　of　birch　bark　in　which　they　were　rolled；　and　another　peck　a　large　hole　in　a　keg　of　castile　soap。　A　duck　which　I　had　picked　and　laid　down　for　a　few　minutes；　had　the　entire　breast　eaten　out　by　one　or　more　of　these　birds。　I　have　seen　one　alight　in　the　middle　of　my　canoe　and　peck　away　at　the　carcass　of　a　beaver　I　had　skinned。　They　often　spoil　deer　saddles　by　pecking　into　them　near　the　kidneys。　They　do　great　damage　to　the　trappers　by　stealing　the　bait　from　traps　set　for　martens　and　minks　and　by　eating　trapped　game。　They　will　sit　quietly　and　see　you　build　a　log　trap　and　bait　it；　and　then；　almost　before　your　back　is　turned；　you　hear　their　hateful　ca…ca…ca！　as　they　glide　down　and　peer　into　it。　They　will　work　steadily；　carrying　off　meat　and　hiding　it。　I　have　thrown　out　pieces；　and　watched　one　to　see　how　much　he　would　carry　off。　He　flew　across　a　wide　stream；　and　in　a　short　time　looked　as　bloody　as　a　butcher　from　carrying　large　pieces；　but　his　patience　held　out　longer　than　mine。　I　think　one　would　work　as　long　as　Mark　Twain's　California　jay　did　trying　to　fill　a　miner's　cabin　with　acorns　through　a　knot…hole　in　the　root。　They　are　fond　of　the　berries　of　the　mountain　ash；　and；　in　fact；　few　things　come　amiss；　I　believe　they　do　not　possess　a　single　good　quality　except　industry。〃

One　virtue　not　mentioned　by　Mr。　Hardy　is　their　prudent　saving　from　the　summer　surplus　to　keep　the　winter　storeroom　well　supplied　like　a　squirrel's。　Such　thrift　is　the　more　necessary　when　a　clamorous；　hungry　family　of　young　jays　must　be　reared　while　the　thermometer　is　often　as　low　as　thirty　degrees　below　zero　at　the　end　of　March。　How　eggs　are　ever　hatched　at　all　in　a　temperature　calculated　to　freeze　any　sitting　bird　stiff；　is　one　of　the　mysteries　of　the　woods。　And　yet　four　or　five　fluffy　little　jays；　that　look　as　if　they　were　dressed　in　gray　fur；　emerge　from　the　eggs　before　the　spring　sunshine　has　unbound　the　icy　rivers　or　melted　the　snowdrifts　piled　high　around　the　evergreens。


CATBIRD　（Galcoscoptes　carolinensis　）　Mocking…bird　family

Called　also：　BLACK…CAPPED　THRUSH；　＇GRAY　CATBIRD；　AOU　1998＇

Length　　9　inches。　An　inch　shorter　than　the　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Dark　slate　above；　below　somewhat　paler；　top　of　　　head　black。　Distinct　chestnut　patch　under　the　tail；　which　is　　　black；　feet　and　bill　black　also。　Wings　short；　more　than　two　　　inches　shorter　than　the　tail。　Range　　British　provinces　to　Mexico；　west　to　Rocky　Mountains；　　　to　Pacific　coast。　Winters　in　Southern　States；　Central　　　America；　and　Cuba。　Migrations　　May。　November。　Common　summer　resident；

Our　familiar　catbird；　of　all　the　feathered　tribe；　presents　the　most　contrary　characteristics；　and　is　therefore　held　in　varied　estimation　　loved；　admired；　ridiculed；　abused。　He　is　the　veriest　〃Dr。　Jekyll　and　Mr。　Hyde〃　of　birds。　Exquisitely　proportioned；　with　finely　poised　black　head　and　satin…gray　coat；　which　he　bathes　most　carefully　and　prunes　and　prinks　by　the　hour；　he　appears　from　his　toilet　a　Beau　Brummell；　an　aristocratic…looking；　even　dandified　neighbor。　Suddenly；　as　if　shot；　he　drops　head　and　tail　and　assumes　the　most　hang…dog　air；　without　the　least　sign　of　self…respect；　then　crouches　and　lengthens　into　a　roll；　head　forward　and　tail　straightened；　till　he　looks　like　a　little；　short　gray　snake；　lank　and　limp。　Anon；　with　a　jerk　and　a　sprint；　every　muscle　tense；　tail　erect；　eyes　snapping；　he　darts　into　the　air　intent　upon　some　well…planned　mischief。　It　is　impossible　to　describe　his　various　attitudes　or　moods。　In　song　and　call　he　presents　the　same　opposite　characteristics。　How　such　a　bird；　exquisite　in　style；　can　demean　himself　to　utter　such　harsh；　altogether　hateful　catcalls　and　squawks　as　have　given　the　bird　his　common　name；　is　a　wonder　when　in　the　next　moment　his　throat　swells　and　beginning　phut…phut…coquillicot；　he　gives　forth　a　long　glorious　song；　only　second　to　that　of　the　wood　thrush　in　melody。　He　is　a　jester；　a　caricaturist；　a　mocking…bird。

The　catbird's　nest　is　like　a　veritable　scrap…basket；　loosely　woven　of　coarse　twigs；　bits　of　newspaper；　scraps；　and　rags；　till　this　rough　exterior　is　softly　lined　and　made　fit　to　receive　the　four　to　six　pretty　dark　green…blue　eggs　to　be　laid　therein。

As　a　fruit　thief　harsh　epithets　are　showered　upon　the　friendly；　confiding　little　creature　at　our　doors；　but　surely　his　depredations　may　be　pardoned；　for　he　is　industrious　at　all　times　and　unusually　adroit　in　catching　insects；　especially　in　the　moth　stage。


THE　MOCKING…BIRD　（Mimus　polyglottus）　Mocking…bird　family

＇Called　also：　NORTHERN　MOCKINGBIRD；　AOU　1998＇

Length　　9　to　10　inches。　About　the　size　of　the　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Gray　above；　wings　and　wedge…shaped；　tail　　　brownish；　upper　wing　feathers　tipped　with　white；　outer　tail　　　quills　white；　conspicuous　in　flight；　chin　white；　underneath　　　light　gray；　shading　to　whitish。　Range　　Peculiar　to　torrid　and　temperate　zones　of　two　Americas。　Migrations　　No　fixed　migrations：　usually　resident　where　seen。

North　of　Delaware　this　commonest　of　Southern　birds　is　all　too　rarely　seen　outside　of　cages；　yet　even　in　midwinter　it　is　not　unknown　in　Central　Park；　New　York。　This　is　the　angel　that　it　is　said　the　catbird　was　before　he　fell　from　grace。　Slim；　neat；　graceful；　imitative；　amusing；　with　a　rich；　tender　song　that　only　the　thrush　can　hope　to　rival；　and　with　an　instinctive　preference　for　the　society　of　man；　it　is　little　wonder　he　is　a　favorite；　caged　or　free。　He　is　a　most　devoted　parent；　too；　when　the　four　or　six　speckled　green　eggs　have　produced　as　many　mouths　to　be　supplied　with　insects　and　berries。

In　the　Connecticut　Valley；　where　many　mocking…birds'　nests　have　been　found；　year　after　year；　they　are　all　seen　near　the　ground；　and　without　exception　are　loosely；　poorly　constructed　affairs　of　leaves；　feathers；　grass；　and　even　rags。