bird neighbors-第22章

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at　on　the　earth　rather　than　expose　themselves　by　flight。　Sometimes　they　run　nimbly　over　the　frozen　ground　to　escape　an　intruder；　but　flying　they　reserve　as　a　last　resort。　When　the　visitor　has　passed　they　quickly　return　to　their　dinner。　If　they　were　content　to　eat　less　ravenously　and　remain　slender；　fewer　victims　might　be　slaughtered　annually　to　tickle　the　palates　of　the　epicure。　It　is　a　mystery　what　they　find　to　fatten　upon　when　snow　covers　the　frozen　ground。　Even　in　the　severe　midwinter　storms　they　will　not　seek　the　protection　of　the　woods；　but　always　prefer　sandy　dunes　with　their　scrubby　undergrowth　or　open　meadow　lands。　Occasionally　a　small　flock　wanders　toward　the　farms　to　pick　up　seeds　that　are　blown　from　the　hayricks　or　scattered　about　the　barn…yard　by　overfed　domestic　fowls。

The　Prairie　Horned　Lark　（Otocoris　alpestris　praticola）　is　similar　to　the　preceding；　but　a　trifle　smaller　and　paler；　with　a　white　instead　of　a　yellow　streak　above　the　eye；　the　throat　yellowish　or　entirely　white　instead　of　sulphur…yellow；　and　other　minor　differences。　It　has　a　far　more　southerly　range；　confined　to　northern　portions　of　the　United　States　from　the　Mississippi　eastward。　Once　a　distinctly　prairie　bird；　it　now　roams　wherever　large　stretches　of　open　country　that　suit　its　purposes　are　cleared　in　the　East；　and　remains　resident。　This　species　also　sings　in　midair　on　the　wing；　but　its　song　is　a　crude；　half…inarticulate　affair；　barely　audible　from　a　height　of　two　hundred　feet。


AMERICAN　PIPIT　（Anthus　pensilvanicus）　Wagtail　family

Called　also：　TITLARK；　BROWN　OR　RED　LARK

Length　　6。38　to　7　inches。　About　the　size　of　a　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　brown；　wings　and　tail　dark　　　olive…brown；　the　wing　coverts　tipped　with　buff　or　whitish；　and　　　ends　of　outer　tail　feathers　white；　conspicuous　in　flight。　White　　　or　yellowish　eye…ring；　and　line　above　the　eye。　Underneath　light　　　buff　brown；　with　spots　on　breast　and　sides；　the　under　parts　　　being　washed　with　brown　of　various　shades。　Feet　brown。　Hind　　　toe…nail　as　long　as　or　longer　than　the　toe。　Range　　North　America　at　large。　Winters　south　of　Virginia　to　　　Mexico　and　beyond。　Migrations　　April。　October　or　November。　Common　in　the　United　　　States；　chiefly　during　the　migrations。

The　color　of　this　bird　varies　slightly　with　age　and　sex；　the　under　parts　ranging　from　white　through　pale　rosy　brown　to　a　reddish　tinge；　but　at　any　season；　and　under　all　circumstances；　the　pipit　is　a　distinctly　brown　bird；　resembling　the　water　thrushes　not　in　plumage　only；　but　in　the　comical　tail　waggings　and　jerkings　that　alone　are　sufficient　to　identify　it。　However　the　books　may　tell　us　the　bird　is　a　wagtail；　it　certainly　possesses　two　strong　characteristics　of　true　larks：　it　is　a　walker；　delighting　in　walking　or　running；　never　hopping　over　the　ground；　and　it　has　the　angelic　habit　of　singing　as　it　flies。

During　the　migrations　the　pipits　are　abundant　in　salt　marshes　or　open　stretches　of　country　inland；　that；　with　lark…like　preference；　they　choose　for　feeding　grounds。　When　flushed；　all　the　flock　rise　together　with　uncertain　flight；　hovering　and　wheeling　about　the　place；　calling　down　dee…dee；　dee…dee　above　your　head　until　you　have　passed　on　your　way；　then　promptly　returning　to　the　spot　from　whence　they　were　disturbed。　Along　the　roadsides　and　pastures；　where　two　or　three　birds　are　frequently　seen　together；　they　are　too　often　mistaken　for　the　vesper　sparrows　because　of　their　similar　size　and　coloring；　but　their　easy；　graceful　walk　should　distinguish　them　at　once　from　the　hopping　sparrow。　They　often　run　to　get　ahead　of　some　one　in　the　lane；　but　rarely　fly　if　they　can　help　it；　and　then　scarcely　higher　than　a　fence…rail。　Early　in　summer　they　are　off　for　the　mountains　in　the　north。　Labrador　is　their　chosen　nesting　ground；　and　they　are　said　to　place　their　grassy　nest；　lined　with　lichens　or　moss；　flat　upon　the　ground　　still　another　lark　trait。　Their　eggs　are　chocolate…brown　scratched　with　black。


WHIPPOORWILL　（Antrostomus　vociferus）　Goatsucker　family

＇Called　also：　WHIP…POOR…WILL；　AOU　1998＇

Length　　9　to　10　inches。　About　the　size　of　the　robin。　Apparently　　　much　larger；　because　of　its　long　wings　and　wide　wingspread。　Male　　A　long…winged　bird；　mottled　all　over　with　reddish　brown；　　　grayish　black；　and　dusky　white；　numerous　bristles　fringing　the　　　large　mouth。　A　narrow　white　band　across　the　upper　breast。　Tail　　　quills　on　the　end　and　under　side　white。　Female　　Similar　to　male；　except　that　the　tail　is　dusky　in　color　　　where　that　of　the　male　is　white。　Band　on　breast　buff　instead　of　　　white。　Range　　United　States；　to　the　plains。　Not　common　near　the　sea。　Migrations　　Late　April　to　middle　of　September。　Summer　resident。

The　whippoorwill；　because　of　its　nocturnal　habits　and　plaintive　note；　is　invested　with　a　reputation　for　occult　power　which　inspires　a　chilling　awe　among　superstitious　people；　and　leads　them　insanely　to　attribute　to　it　an　evil　influence；　but　it　is　a　harmless；　useful　night　prowler；　flying　low　and　catching　enormous　numbers　of　hurtful　insects；　always　the　winged　varieties；　in　its　peculiar　fly…trap　mouth。

It　loves　the　rocky；　solitary　woods；　where　it　sleeps　all　day；　but　it　is　seldom　seen；　even　after　painstaking　search；　because　of　its　dull；　mottled　markings　conforming　so　nearly　to　rocks　and　dry　leaves；　and　because　of　its　unusual　habit　of　stretching　itself　length…wise　on　a　tree　branch　or　ledge；　where　it　is　easily　confounded　with　a　patch　of　lichen；　and　thus　overlooked。　If　by　accident　one　happens　upon　a　sleeping　bird；　it　suddenly　rouses　and　flies　away；　making　no　more　sound　than　a　passing　butterfly　　a　curious　and　uncanny　silence　that　is　quite　remarkable。　When　the　sun　goes　down　and　as　the　gloaming　deepens；　the　bird's　activity　increases；　and　it　begins　its　nightly　duties；　emitting　from　time　to　time；　like　a　sentry　on　his　post　or　a　watchman　of　the　night；　the　doleful　call　which　has　given　the　bird　its　common　name。　It　

　　　　　〃Mourns　unseen；　and　ceaseless　sings　　　　　　　Ever　a　note　of　wail　and　woe；〃

that　our　Dutch　ancestors　interpreted　as　〃Quote…kerr…kee；〃　and　so　called　it。　They　had　a　tradition　that　no　frost　ever　appeared　after　the　bird　had　been　heard　calling　in　the　spring；　and　that　it　wisely　left　for　warmer　skies　before　frost　came　in　the　autumn。　Prudent　bird；　never　caught　napping！

It　is　erratic　in　its　choice　of　habitations；　even　when　rock　and　solitude　seem　suited　to　its　taste。　Very　rarely　is　this　odd　bird　found　close　to　the　seashore；　and　in　the　Hudson　River　valley　it　keeps　a　half　mile　or　more　back　from　the　river。

The　eggs；　generally　two　in　number；　are　creamy　white；　dashed　with　dark　and　olive　spots；　and　laid　on　the　ground　on　dry　leaves；　or　in　a　little　hollow　in　rock　or　stump　　never　in　a　nest　built　with　loving　care。　But　in　extenuation　of　such　carelessness　it　may　be　said　that；　if　disturbed　or　threatened；　the　mother　shows　no　lack　of　maternal　instinct；　and　removes　her　young；　carrying　them　in　her　beak　as　a　cat　conveys　her　kittens　to　secure　shelter。　


NIGHTHAWK　（Chordeiles　virginianus）　Goatsucker　family

Called　also：　NIGHTJAR；　BULL…BAT；　MOSQUITO　HAWK；　WILL…O'…THE…WISP；　　　PISK；　PIRAMIDIG；　LONGWINGED　GOATSUCKER；　＇COMMON　NIGHTHAWK；　AOU　　　1998＇

Length　　9　to　10　inches。　About　the　same　length　as　the　robin；　but　　　apparently　much　longer　because　of　its　very　wide　wing…spread。　Male　and　Female　　Mottled　blackish　brown　and　rufous　above；　with　　　a　multitude　of　cream…yellow　spots　and　dashes。　Lighter　below；　　　with　waving　bars　of　brown　on　breast　and　underneath。　White　mark　　　on　throat；　like　an　imperfect　horseshoe；　also　a　band　of　white　　　across　tail　of　male　bird。　These　latter　markings　are　wanting　in　　　female。　Heavy　wings；　which　are　partly　mottled；　are　brown　on　　　shoulders　and　tips；　and　longer　than　tail。　They　have　large　white　　　spots；　conspicuous　in　flight；　one　of　their　distinguishing　marks　　　　from　the　whippoorwill。　Head　large　and　depressed；　with　large　　　eyes　and　ear…openings。　Very　small　bill。　Range　　From　Mexico　to　arctic　islands。　Migrations　　May。　October。　Common　summer　resident。

The　nighthawk's　misleading　name　could　not　well　imply　more　that　the　bird　is　not：　it　is　not　nocturnal　in　its　habits；　neither　is　it　a　hawk；　for　if　it　were；　no　account　of　it　would　be　given　in　this　book；　which　distinctly　excludes　birds　of　prey。　Stories　of　its　chicken…stealing　prove　to　be　ignorant　rather　than　malicious　slanders。　Any　one　disliking　the　name；　however；　surely　cannot　complain　of　a　limited　choice　of　other　names　by　which；　in　different　sections　of　the　country；　it　is　quite　as　commonly　known。

Too　often　it　is　mistaken　for　the　whippoorwill。　The　night　hawk　does　not　have　the　weird　and　woful　cry　of　that　more　dismal　bird；　but　gives　instead　a　harsh；　whistling　note　while　on　the　wing；　followed　by　a　vibrating；　booming；　whirring　sound　that　Nuttall　likens　to　〃the　rapid　turning　of　a　spinning　wheel；　or　a　strong　blowing　into　the　bung…hole　of　an　empty　hogshead。〃　This　peculiar　sound　is　responsible　for　the　name　nightjar；　frequently　given　to　this　curious　bird。　It　is　said　to　be　made　as　the　bird　drops　suddenly　through　the　air；　creating　a　sort　of　stringed　instrument　of　its　outstretched　wings　and　tail。　When　these　wings　are　spread；　their　large　white　spots　running　through　the　feathers　to　the　under　side　should　be　noted　to　further　distinguish　the　nighthawk　from　the　whippoorwill；　which　has　none；　but　which　it　otherwise　closely　resembles。　This　booming　sound；　coming　from　such　a　height　that　the　bird　itself　is　often　unseen；　was　said　by　the　Indians　to　be　made　by　the　shad　spirits　to　warn　the　scholes　of　shad　about　to　ascend　the　rivers　to　spawn　in　the　spring；　of　their　impending　fate。

The　flight　of　the　nighthawk　is　free　and　graceful　in　the　extreme。　Soaring　through　space　without　any　apparent　motion　of　its　wings；　suddenly　it　darts　with　amazing　swiftness　like　an　erratic　bat　after　the　fly；　mosquito；　beetle；　or　moth　that　falls　within　the　range　of　its　truly　hawk…like　eye。

Usually　the　nighthawks　hunt　in　little　companies　in　the　most　sociable　fashion。　Late　in　the　summer　they　seem　to　be　almost　gregarious。　They　fly　in　the　early　morning　or　late　afternoon　with　beak　wide　open；　hawking　for　insects；　but　except　when　the　moon　is　full　they　are　not　known　to　go　a…hunting　after　sunset。　During　the　heat　of　the　day　and　at　night　they　rest　on　limbs　of　trees；　fence…rails；　stone　walls；　lichen…covered　rocks　or　old　logs　　wherever　Nature　has　provided　suitable　mimicry　of　their　plumage　to　help　conceal　them。

With　this　object　in　mind；　they　quite　as　often　choose　a　hollow　surface　of　rock　in　some　waste　pasture　or　the　open　ground　on　which　to　deposit　the　two　speckled…gray　eggs　that　sixteen　days　later　will　give　birth　to　their　family。　But　in　August；　when　family　cares　have　ended　for　the　season；　it　is　curious　to　find　this　bird　of　the　thickly　wooded　country　readily　adapting　itself　to　city　life；　resting　on　Mansard　roofs；　darting　into　the　streets　from　the　housetops；　and　wheeling　about　the　electric　lights；　making　a　hearty　supper　of　the　little；　winged　insects　they　attract。


BLACK…BILLED　CUCKOO　（Coccyzus　erythrophthalmus）　Cuckoo　family

Called　also：　RAIN　CROW

Length　　11　to　12　inches。　About　one…fifth　larger　than　the　robin。　Male　　Grayish　brown　above；　with　bronze　tint　in　feathers。　　　Underneath　grayish　white；　bill；　which　is　long　as　head　and　　　black；　arched　and　acute。　Skin　about　the　eye　bright　red。　Tail　　　long；　and　with　spots　on　tips　of　quills　that　are　sma