bird neighbors-第23章

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and　acute。　Skin　about　the　eye　bright　red。　Tail　　　long；　and　with　spots　on　tips　of　quills　that　are　small　and　　　inconspicuous。　Female　　Has　obscure　dusky　bars　on　the　tail。　Range　　Labrador　to　Panama；　westward　to　Rocky　Mountains。　Migration　　May。　September。　Summer　resident。

　　　　　〃O　cuckoo！　shalt　I　call　thee　bird？　　　　　　　Or　but　a　wandering　voice？〃

From　the　tangled　shrubbery　on　the　hillside　back　of　Dove　Cottage；　Keswick；　where　Wordsworth　and　his　sister　Dorothy　listened　for　the　coming　of　this　〃darling　of　the　spring〃；　in　the　willows　overhanging　Shakespeare's　Avon；　from　the　favorite　haunts　of　Chaucer　and　Spenser；　where

　　　　　〃Runneth　meade　and　springeth　blede；〃

we　hear　the　cuckoo　calling；　but　how　many　on　this　side　of　the　Atlantic　are　familiar　with　its　American　counterpart？　Here；　too；　the　cuckoo　delights　in　running　water　and　damp；　cloudy　weather　like　that　of　an　English　spring；　it　haunts　the　willows　by　our　river…sides；　where　as　yet　no　〃immortal　bard〃　arises　to　give　it　fame。　It　〃loud　sings〃　in　our　shrubbery；　too。　Indeed；　if　we　cannot　study　our　bird　afield；　the　next　best　place　to　become　acquainted　with　it　is　in　the　pages　of　the　English　poets。　But　due　allowance　must　be　made　for　differences　of　temperament。　Our　cuckoo　is　scarcely　a　〃merry　harbinger〃；　his　talents；　such　as　they　are；　certainly　are　not　musical。　However；　the　guttural　cluck　is　not　discordant；　and　the　black…billed　species；　at　least；　has　a　soft；　mellow　voice　that　seems　to　indicate　an　embryonic　songster。

〃K…k…k…k；　kow…kow…ow…kow…ow！〃　is　a　familiar　sound　in　many　localities；　but　the　large。　slim；；　pigeon…shaped；　brownish…olive　bird　that　makes　it；　securely　hidden　in　the　low　trees　and　shrubs　that　are　its　haunts；　is　not　often　personally　known。　Catching　a　glimpse　only　of　the　grayish…white　under　parts　from　where　we　stand　looking　up　into　the　tree　at　it；　it　is　quite　impossible　to　tell　the　bird　from　the　yellow…billed　species。　When；　as　it　flies　about；　we　are　able　to　note　the　red　circles　about　its　eyes；　its　black　bill；　and　the　absence　of　black　tail　feathers；　with　their　white　〃thumb…nail〃　spots；　and　see　no　bright　cinnamon　feathers　on　the　wings　（the　yellow…billed　specie's　distinguishing　marks）；　we　can　at　last　claim　acquaintance　with　the　black…billed　cuckoo。　Our　two　common　cuckoos　are　so　nearly　alike　that　they　are　constantly　confused　in　the　popular　mind　and　very　often　in　the　writings　of　ornithologists。　At　first　glance　the　birds　look　alike。　Their　haunts　are　almost　identical；　their　habits　are　the　same；　and；　as　they　usually　keep　well　out　of　sight；　it　is　not　surprising　if　confusion　arise。

Neither　cuckoo　knows　how　to　build　a　proper　home；　a　bunch　of　sticks　dropped　carelessly　into　the　bush；　where　the　hapless　babies　that　emerge　from　the　greenish　eggs　will　not　have　far　to　fall　when　they　tumble　out　of　bed；　as　they　must　inevitably　do；　may　by　courtesy　only　be　called　a　nest。　The　cuckoo　is　said　to　suck　the　eggs　of　other　birds；　but；　surely；　such　vice　is　only　the　rarest　dissipation。　Insects　of　many　kinds　and　〃tent　caterpillars〃　chiefly　are　their　chosen　food。


YELLOW…BILLED　CUCKOO　（Coccyzus　americanus）　Cuckoo　family

Called　also：　RAIN　CROW

Length　　11　to　12　inches。　About　one…fifth　longer　than　the　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Grayish　brown　above；　with　bronze　tint　in　　　feathers。　Underneath　grayish　white。　Bill；　which　is　as　tong　as　　　head；　arched；　acute；　and　more　robust　than　the　black…billed　　　species；　and　with　lower　mandible　yellow。　Wings　washed　with　　　bright　cinnamon…brown。　Tail　has　outer　quills　black；　　　conspicuously　marked　with　white　thumb…nail　spots。　Female　larger。　Range　　North　America；　from　Mexico　to　Labrador。　Most　common　in　temperate　climates。　Rare　on　Pacific　slope。　Migrations　　Late　April。　September。　Summer　resident。

〃Kak；　k…kuh；　k…kuk；　k…kuk！〃　like　an　exaggerated　tree…toad's　rattle；　is　a　sound　that；　when　first　heard；　makes　you　rush　out　of　doors　instantly　to　〃name〃　the　bird。　Look　for　him　in　the　depths　of　the　tall　shrubbery　or　low　trees；　near　running　water；　if　there　is　any　in　the　neighborhood；　and　if　you　are　more　fortunate　than　most　people；　you　will　presently　become　acquainted　with　the　yellow…billed　cuckoo。　When　seen　perching　at　a　little　distance；　his　large；　slim　body；　grayish　brown；　with　olive　tints　above　and　whitish　below；　can　scarcely　be　distinguished　from　that　of　the　black…billed　species。　It　is　not　until　you　get　close　enough　to　note　the　yellow　bill；　reddish…brown　wings；　and　black　tail　feathers　with　their　white　〃thumb…nail〃　marks；　that　you　know　which　cuckoo　you　are　watching。　In　repose　the　bird　looks　dazed　or　stupid；　but　as　it　darts　about　among　the　trees　after　insects；　noiselessly　slipping　to　another　one　that　promises　better　results；　and　hopping　along　the　limbs　after　performing　a　series　of　beautiful　evolutions　among　the　branches　as　it　hunts　for　its　favorite　〃tent　caterpillars；〃　it　appears　what　it　really　is：　an　unusually　active；　graceful；　intelligent　bird。

A　solitary　wanderer；　nevertheless　one　cuckoo　in　an　apple　orchard　is　worth　a　hundred　robins　in　ridding　it　of　caterpillars　and　inch…worms；　for　it　delights　in　killing　many　more　of　these　than　it　can　possibly　eat。　In　the　autumn　it　varies　its　diet　with　minute　fresh…water　shellfish　from　the　swamp　and　lake。　Mulberries；　that　look　so　like　caterpillars　the　bird　possibly　likes　them　on　that　account；　it　devours　wholesale。

Family　cares　rest　lightly　on　the　cuckoos。　The　nest　of　both　species　is　a　ramshackle　affair　　a　mere　bundle　of　twigs　and　sticks　without　a　rim　to　keep　the　eggs　from　rolling　from　the　bush；　where　they　rest；　to　the　ground。　Unlike　their　European　relative；　they　have　the　decency　to　rear　their　own　young　and　not　impose　this　heavy　task　on　others；　but　the　cuckoos　on　both　sides　of　the　Atlantic　are　most　erratic　and　irregular　in　their　nesting　habits。　The　overworked　mother…bird　often　lays　an　egg　while　brooding　over　its　nearly　hatched　companion；　and　the　two　or　three　half…grown　fledglings　already　in　the　nest　may　roll　the　large　greenish　eggs　out　upon　the　ground；　while　both　parents　are　off　searching　for　food　to　quiet　their　noisy　clamorings。　Such　distracting　mismanagement　in　the　nursery　is　enough　to　make　a　homeless　wanderer　of　any　father。　It　is　the　mother…bird　that　tumbles　to　the　ground　at　your　approach　from　sheer　fright；　feigns　lameness；　trails　her　wings　as　she　tries　to　entice　you　away　from　the　nest。　The　male　bird　shows　far　less　concern；　a　no　more　devoted　father；　we　fear；　than　he　is　a　lover。　It　is　said　he　changes　his　mate　every　year。

Altogether；　the　cuckoo　is　a　very　different　sort　of　bird　from　what　our　fancy　pictured。　The　little　Swiss　creatures　of　wood　that　fly　out　of　the　doors　of　clocks　and　call　out　the　bed…hour　to　sleepy　children；　are　chiefly　responsible　for　the　false　impressions　of　our　mature　years。　The　American　bird　does　not　repeat　its　name；　and　its　harsh；　grating　〃kuk；　kuk；〃　does　not　remotely　suggest　the　sweet　voice　of　its　European　relative。


BANK　SWALLOW　（Clivicola　riparia）　Swallow　family

Called　also：　SAND　MARTIN；　SAND　SWALLOW

Length　　5　to　5。5　inches。　About　an　inch　shorter　than　the　English　　　sparrow；　but　apparently　much　larger　because　of　its　wide　　　wing…spread。　Male　and　Female　　Grayish　brown　or　clay…colored　above。　Upper　　　wings　and　tail　darkest。　Below；　white；　with　brownish　band　　　across　chest。　Tail；　which　is　rounded　and　more　nearly　square　　　than　the　other　swallows；　is　obscurely　edged　with　white。　Range　　Throughout　North　America　south　of　Hudson　Bay。　Migrations　　April。　October。　Summer　resident。

Where　a　brook　cuts　its　way　through　a　sand　bank　to　reach　the　sea　is　an　ideal　nesting　ground　for　a　colony　of　sand　martins。　The　face　of　the　high　bank　shows　a　number　of　clean；　round　holes　indiscriminately　bored　into　the　sand；　as　if　the　place　had　just　received　a　cannonading；　but　instead　of　war　an　atmosphere　of　peace　pervades　the　place　in　midsummer；　when　you　are　most　likely　to　visit　it。　Now　that　the　young　ones　have　flown　from　their　nests　that　your　arm　can　barely　reach　through　the　tunnelled　sand　or　clay；　there　can　be　little　harm　in　examining　the　feathers　dropped　from　gulls；　ducks；　and　other　water…birds　with　which　the　grassy　home　is　lined。

The　bank　swallow's　nest；　like　the　kingfisher's；　which　it　resembles；　is　his　home　as　well。　There　he　rests　when　tired　of　flying　about　in　pursuit　of　insect　food。　Perhaps　a　bird　that　has　been　resting　in　one　of　the　tunnels；　startled　by　your　innocent　housebreaking；　will　fly　out　across　your　face；　near　enough　for　you　to　see　how　unlike　the　other　swallows　he　is：　smaller；　plainer；　and　with　none　of　their　glinting　steel…blues　and　buffs　about　him。　With　strong；　swift　flight　he　rejoins　his　fellows；　wheeling；　skimming；　darting　through　the　air　above　you；　and　uttering　his　characteristic　〃giggling　twitter；〃　that　is　one　of　the　cheeriest　noises　heard　along　the　beach。　In　early　October　vast　numbers　of　these　swallows　may　be　seen　in　loose　flocks　along　the　Jersey　coast；　slowly　making　their　way　South。　Clouds　of　them　miles　in　extent　are　recorded。

Closely　associated　with　the　sand　martin　is　the　Rough…winged　Swallow　（Stelgidopteryx　serripennis）；　not　to　be　distinguished　from　its　companion　on　the　wing；　but　easily　recognized　by　its　dull…gray　throat　and　the　absence　of　the　brown　breast…band　when　seen　at　close　range。


CEDAR　BIRD　（Ampelis　cedrorum）　Waxwing　family

Called　also：　CEDAR　WAXWING　＇AOU　1998＇；　CHERRY…BIRD；　CANADA　ROBIN；　RECOLLET

Length　　7　to　8　inches。　About　one…fifth　smaller　than　the　robin。　Male　　Upper　parts　rich　grayish　brown；　with　plum…colored　tints　　　showing　through　the　brown　on　crest；　throat；　breast；　wings；　and　　　tail。　A　velvety…black　line　on　forehead　runs　through　the　eye　and　　　back　of　crest。　Chin　black；　crest　conspicuous；　breast　lighter　　　than　the　back；　and　shading　into　yellow　underneath。　Wings　have　　　quill…shafts　of　secondaries　elongated；　and　with　brilliant　　　vermilion　tips　like　drops　of　sealing…wax；　rarely　seen　on　tail　　　quills；　which　have　yellow　bands　across　the　end。　Female　　With　duller　plumage；　smaller　crest；　and　narrower　　　　tail…band。　Range　　North　America；　from　northern　British　provinces　to　　　Central　America　in　winter。　Migrations　　A　roving　resident；　without　fixed　seasons　for　　　migrating。

As　the　cedar　birds　travel　about　in　great　flocks　that　quickly　exhaust　their　special　food　in　a　neighborhood；　they　necessarily　lead　a　nomadic　life　　here　to…day；　gone　to…morrow　　and；　like　the　Arabs；　they　〃silently　steal　away。〃　It　is　surprising　how　very　little　noise　so　great　a　company　of　these　birds　make　at　any　time。　That　is　because　they　are　singularly　gentle　and　refined；　soft　of　voice；　as　they　are　of　color；　their　plumage　suggesting　a　fine　Japanese　water…color　painting　on　silk；　with　its　beautiful　sheen　and　exquisitely　blended　tints。

One　listens　in　vain　for　a　song；　only　a　lisping　〃Twee…twee…ze；〃　or　〃a　dreary　whisper；〃　as　Minot　calls　their　low…toned　communications　with　each　other；　reaches　our　ears　from　their　high　perches　in　the　cedar　trees；　where　they　sit；　almost　motionless　hours　at　a　time；　digesting　the　enormous　quantities　of　juniper　and　whortleberries；　wild　cherries；　worms；　and　insects　upon　which　they　have　gormandized。

Nuttall　gives　the　cedar　birds　credit　for　excessive　politeness　to　each　other。　He　says　he　has　often　seen　them　passing　a　worm　from　one　to　another　down　a　whole　row　of　beaks　and　back　again　before　it　was　finally　eaten。

When　nesting　time　arrives　　that　is　to　say；　towards　the　end　of　the　summer　　they　give　up　their　gregarious　habits　and　live　in　pairs