bird neighbors-第17章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


w　Jersey。　Pennsylvania　is　still　favored　with　one　now　and　then；　but　it　is　in　the　Southwest　only　that　the　blue　grosbeak　is　as　common　as　the　evening　grosbeak　is　in　the　Northwest。　Since　rice　is　its　favorite　food；　it　naturally　abounds　where　that　cereal　grows。　Seeds　and　kernels　of　the　hardest　kinds；　that　its　heavy；　strong　beak　is　well　adapted　to　crack；　constitute　its　diet　when　it　strays　beyond　the　rice…fields。

Possibly　the　heavy　bills　of　all　the　grosbeaks　make　them　look　stupid　whether　they　are　or　not　　a　characteristic　that　the　blue　grosbeak's　habit　of　sitting　motionless　with　a　vacant　stare　many　minutes　at　a　time　unfortunately　emphasizes。

When　seen　in　the　roadside　thickets　or　tall　weeds；　such　as　the　field　sparrow　chooses　to　frequent；　it　shows　little　fear　of　man　unless　actually　approached　and　threatened；　but　whether　this　fearlessness　comes　from　actual　confidence　or　stupidity　is　by　no　means　certain。　Whatever　the　motive　of　its　inactivity；　it　accomplishes　an　end　to　be　desired　by　the　cleverest　bird；　its　presence　is　almost　never　suspected　by　the　passer…by；　and　its　grassy　nest　on　a　tree…branch；　containing　three　or　four　pale　bluish…white　eggs；　is　never　betrayed　by　look　or　sign　to　the　marauding　small　boy。


BARN　SWALLOW　（Chelidon　erythrogaster）　Swallow　family

Length　　6。5　to　7　inches。　A　trifle　larger　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Apparently　considerably　larger；　because　of　its　wide　　　wingspread。　Male　　Glistening　steel…blue　shading　to　black　above。　Chin；　　　breast；　and　underneath　bright　chestnut…brown　and　brilliant　buff　　　that　glistens　in　the　sunlight。　A　partial　collar　of　steel…blue。　　　Tail　very　deeply　forked　and　slender。　Female　　Smaller　and　paler；　with　shorter　outer　tail　feathers；　　　making　the　fork　less　prominent。　Range　　Throughout　North　America。　Winters　in　tropics　of　both　　　Americas。　Migrations　　April。　September。　Summer　resident。

Any　one　who　attempts　to　describe　the　coloring　of　a　bird's　plumage　knows　how　inadequate　words　are　to　convey　a　just　idea　of　the　delicacy；　richness；　and　brilliancy　of　the　living　tints。　But；　happily；　the　beautiful　barn　swallow　is　too　familiar　to　need　description。　Wheeling　about　our　barns　and　houses；　skimming　over　the　fields；　its　bright　sides　flashing　in　the　sunlight；　playing　〃cross　tag〃　with　its　friends　at　evening；　when　the　insects；　too；　are　on　the　wing；　gyrating；　darting；　and　gliding　through　the　air；　it　is　no　more　possible　to　adequately　describe　the　exquisite　grace　of　a　swallow's　flight　than　the　glistening　buff　of　its　breast。　

This　is　a　typical　bird　of　the　air；　as　an　oriole　is　of　the　trees　and　a　sparrow　of　the　ground。　Though　the　swallow　may　often　be　seen　perching　on　a　telegraph　wire；　suddenly　it　darts　off　as　if　it　had　received　a　shock　of　electricity；　and　we　see　the　bird　in　its　true　element。

While　this　swallow　is　peculiarly　American；　it　is　often　confounded　with　its　European　cousin　Hirundo　rustica　in　noted　ornithologies。

Up　in　the　rafters　of　the　barn；　or　in　the　arch　of　an　old　bridge　that　spans　a　stream；　these　swallows　build　their　bracket…like　nests　of　clay　or　mud　pellets　intermixed　with　straw。　Here　the　noisy　little　broods　pick　their　way　out　of　the　white　eggs　curiously　spotted　with　brown　and　lilac　that　were　all　too　familiar　in　the　marauding　days　of　our　childhood。


CLIFF　SWALLOW　（Petrochelidon　lunifrons）　Swallow　family

Called　also：　EAVE　SWALLOW；　CRESCENT　SWALLOW；　ROCKY　MOUNTAIN　　　SWALLOW

Length　　6　inches。　A　trifle　smaller　than　the　English　sparrow。　　　Apparently　considerably　larger　because　of　its　wide　wingspread。　Male　and　Female　　Steel…blue　above；　shading　to　blue…black　on　　　crown　of　head　and　on　wings　and　tail。　A　brownish…gray　ring　　　around　the　neck。　Beneath　dusty　white；　with　rufous　tint。　　　Crescent…like　frontlet。　Chin；　throat；　sides　of　head；　and　tail　　　coverts　rufous。　Range　　North　and　South　America。　Winters　in　the　tropics。　Migrations　　Early　April。　Late　September。　Summer　resident。

Not　quite　so　brilliantly　colored　as　the　barn　swallow；　nor　with　tail　so　deeply　forked；　and　consequently　without　so　much　　grace　in　flying；　and　with　a　squeak　rather　than　the　really　musical　twitter　of　the　gayer　bird；　the　cliff　swallow　may　be　positively　identified　by　the　rufous　feathers　of　its　tail　coverts；　but　more　definitely　by　its　crescent…shaped　frontlet　shining　like　a　new　moon；　hence　its　specific　Latin　name　from　luna　=　moon；　and　frons　=　front。

Such　great　numbers　of　these　swallows　have　been　seen　in　the　far　West　that　the　name　of　Rocky　Mountain　swallows　is　sometimes　given　to　them；　though　however　rare　they　may　have　been　in　1824；　when　DeWitt　Clinton　thought　he　〃discovered〃　them　near　Lake　Champlain；　they　are　now　common　enough　in　all　parts　of　the　United　States。

In　the　West　this　swallow　is　wholly　a　cliff…dweller；　but　it　has　learned　to　modify　its　home　in　different　localities。　As　usually　seen；　it　is　gourd…shaped；　opened　at　the　top；　built　entirely　of　mud　pellets　（〃bricks　without　straw〃）；　softly　lined　with　feathers　and　wisps　of　grass；　and　attached　by　the　larger　part　to　a　projecting　cliff　or　eave。

Like　all　the　swallows；　this　bird　lives　in　colonies；　and　the　clay…colored　nests　beneath　the　eaves　of　barns　are　often　so　close　together　that　a　group　of　them　resembles　nothing　so　much　as　a　gigantic　wasp's　nest。　It　is　said　that　when　swallows　pair　they　are　mated　for　life；　but；　then；　more　is　said　about　swallows　than　the　most　tireless　bird…lover　could　substantiate。　The　tradition　that　swallows　fly　low　when　it　is　going　to　rain　may　be　easily　credited；　because　the　air　before　a　storm　is　usually　too　heavy　with　moisture　for　the　winged　insects；　upon　which　the　swallows　feed；　to　fly　high。


MOURNING　DOVE　（Zenaidura　macroura）　Pigeon　family

Called　also：　CAROLINA　DOVE；　TURTLE　DOVE

Length　　12　to　13　inches。　About　one…half　as　large　again　as　the　　　robin。　Male　　Grayish　brown　or　fawn…color　above；　varying　to　bluish　　　gray。　Crown　and　upper　part　of　head　greenish　blue；　with　green　　　and　golden　metallic　reflections　on　sides　of　neck。　A　black　spot　　　under　each　ear。　Forehead　and　breast　reddish　buff；　lighter　　　underneath。　（General　impression　of　color；　bluish　fawn。）　Bill　　　black；　with　tumid；　fleshy　covering；　feet　red；　two　middle　tail　　　feathers　longest；　all　others　banded　with　black　and　tipped　with　　　ashy　white。　Wing　coverts　sparsely　spotted　with　black。　Flanks　　　and　underneath　the　wings　bluish。　Female　　Duller　and　without　iridescent　reflections　on　neck。　Range　　North　America；　from　Quebec　to　Panama；　and　westward　to　　　Arizona。　Most　common　in　temperate　climate；　east　of　Rocky　　　Mountains。　Migrations　　March。　November。　Common　summer　resident　not　　　Migratory　south　of　Virginia。

The　beautiful；　soft…colored　plumage　of　this　incessant　and　rather　melancholy　love…maker　is　not　on　public　exhibition。　To　see　it　we　must　trace　the　a…coo…o；　coo…o；　coo…oo；　coo…o　to　its　source　in　the　thick　foliage　in　some　tree　in　an　out…of…the…way　corner　of　the　farm；　or　to　an　evergreen　near　the　edge　of　the　woods。　The　slow；　plaintive　notes；　more　like　a　dirge　than　a　love…song；　penetrate　to　a　surprising　distance。　They　may　not　always　be　the　same　lovers　we　hear　from　April　to　the　end　of　summer；　but　surely　the　sound　seems　to　indicate　that　they　are。　The　dove　is　a　shy　bird；　attached　to　its　gentle　and　refined　mate　with　a　devotion　that　has　passed　into　a　proverb；　but　caring　little　or　nothing　for　the　society　of　other　feathered　friends；　and　very　little　for　its　own　kind；　unless　after　the　nesting　season　has　passed。　In　this　respect　it　differs　widely　from　its　cousins；　the　wild　pigeons；　flocks　of　which；　numbering　many　millions；　are　recorded　by　Wilson　and　other　early　writers　before　the　days　when　netting　these　birds　became　so　fatally　profitable。

What　the　dove　finds　to　adore　so　ardently　in　the　〃shiftless　housewife；〃　as　Mrs。　Wright　calls　his　lady…love；　must　pass　the　comprehension　of　the　phoebe；　that　constructs　such　an　exquisite　home；　or　of　a　bustling；　energetic　Jenny　wren；　that　〃looketh　well　to　the　ways　of　her　household　and　eateth　not　the　bread　of　idleness。〃　She　is　a　flabby；　spineless　bundle　of　flesh　and　pretty　feathers；　gentle　and　refined　in　manners；　but　slack　and　incompetent　in　all　she　does。　Her　nest　consists　of　few　loose　sticks。　without　rim　or　lining；　and　when　her　two　babies　emerge　from　the　white　eggs；　that　somehow　do　not　fall　through　or　roll　out　of　the　rickety　lattice；　their　tender　little　naked　bodies　must　suffer　from　many　bruises。　We　are　almost　inclined　to　blame　the　inconsiderate　mother　for　allowing　her　offspring　to　enter　the　world　unclothed　　obviously　not　her　fault；　though　she　is　capable　of　just　such　negligence。　Fortunate　are　the　baby　doves　when　their　lazy　mother　scatters　her　makeshift　nest　on　top　of　one　that　a　robin　has　deserted；　as　she　frequently　does。　It　is　almost　excusable　to　take　her　young　birds　and　rear　them　in　captivity；　where　they　invariably　thrive；　mate；　and　live　happily；　unless　death　comes　to　one；　when　the　other　often　refuses　food　and　grieves　its　life　away。

In　the　wild　state；　when　the　nesting　season　approaches；　both　birds　make　curious　acrobatic　flights　above　the　tree…tops；　then；　after　a　short　sail　in　midair；　they　return　to　their　perch。　This　appears　to　be　their　only　giddiness　and　frivolity；　unless　a　dust…bath　in　the　country　road　might　be　considered　a　dissipation。

In　the　autumn　a　few　pairs　of　doves　show　slight　gregarious　tendencies；　feeding　amiably　together　in　the　grain　fields　and　retiring　to　the　same　roost　at　sundown。

　　BLUE…GRAY　GNATCATCHER　（Polioptila　coerulea）　Gnatcatcher　family

Called　also：　SYLVAN　FLYCATCHER

Length　　4。5　inches。　About　two　inches　smaller　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　　Grayish　blue　above；　dull　grayish　white　below。　Grayish　　　tips　on　wings。　Tail　with　white　outer　quills　changing　gradually　　　through　black　and　white　to　all　black　on　centre　quills。　Narrow　　　black　band　over　the　forehead　and　eyes。　Resembles　in　manner　and　　　form　a　miniature　catbird。　Female　　More　grayish　and　less　blue；　and　without　the　black　on　　　head。　Range　　United　States　to　Canadian　border　on　the　north；　the　　　Rockies　on　the　west；　and　the　Atlantic　States；　from　Maine　to　　　Florida　most　common　in　the　Middle　States。　A　rare　bird　north　of　　　New　Jersey。　Winters　in　Mexico　and　beyond。　Migrations　　May。　September。　Summer　resident。

In　thick　woodlands；　where　a　stream　that　lazily　creeps　through　the　mossy；　oozy　ground　attracts　myriads　of　insects　to　its　humid　neighborhood；　this　tiny　hunter　loves　to　hide　in　the　denser　foliage　of　the　upper　branches。　He　has　the　habit　of　nervously　flitting　about　from　twig　to　twig　of　his　relatives；　the　kinglets；　but　unhappily　he　lacks　their　social；　friendly　instincts；　and　therefore　is　rarely　seen。　Formerly　classed　among　the　warblers；　then　among　the　flycatchers；　while　still　as　much　a　lover　of　flies；　gnats；　and　mosquitoes　as　ever；　his　vocal　powers　have　now　won　for　him　recognition　among　the　singing　birds。　Some　one　has　likened　his　voice　to　the　squeak　of　a　mouse；　and　Nuttall　says　it　is　〃scarcely　louder；〃　which　is　all　too　true；　for　at　a　little　distance　it　is　quite　inaudible。　But　in　addition　to　the　mouse…like　call…note；　the　tiny　bird　has　a　rather　feeble　but　exquisitely　finished　song；　so　faint　it　seems　almost　as　it　the　bird　were　singing　in　its　sleep。

If　by　accident　you　enter　the　neighborhood　of　its　nest；　you　soon　find　out　that　this　timid；　soft…voiced　little　creature　can　be　roused　to　rashness　and　make　its　presence　disagreeable　to　ears　and　eyes　alike　as　it　angrily　darts　about　your　unoffending　head；　pecking　at　your　face　a