bird neighbors-第29章

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et's　exquisite　vocalization　defies　description。〃

Curiously　enough；　the　nest　of　this　bird；　that　is　not　at　all　rare；　has　been　discovered　only　six　times。　It　would　appear　to　be　over　large　for　the　tiny　bird；　until　we　remember　that　kinglets　are　wont　to　have　a　numerous　progeny　in　their　pensile；　globular　home。　It　is　made　of　light；　flimsy　material　　moss；　strips　of　bark；　and　plant　fibre　well　knit　together　and　closely　lined　with　feathers；　which　must　be　a　grateful　addition　to　the　babies；　where　they　are　reared　in　evergreens　in　cold；　northern　woods。


GOLDEN…CROWNED　KINGLET　（Regulus　satrapa）　Kinglet　family

Called　also：　GOLDEN…CROWNED　GOLDCREST；　FIERY　CROWNED　WREN。

Length　　4　to　4。25　inches。　About　two　inches　smaller　than　the　　　English　sparrow。　Male　　Upper　parts　grayish　olive…green；　wings　and　tail　dusky；　　　margined　with　olive…green。　Underneath　soiled　whitish。　Centre　of　　　crown　bright　orange；　bordered　by　yellow　and　en。　closed　by　black　　　line。　Cheeks　gray；　a　whitish　line　over　the　eye。　Female　　Similar；　but　centre　of　crown　lemon…yellow　and　more　　　grayish　underneath。　Range　　North　America　generally。　Breeds　from　northern　United　　　States　northward。　Winters　chiefly　from　North　Carolina　to　　　Central　America；　but　many　remain　north　all　the　year。　Migrations　　September。　April。　Chiefly　a　winter　resident　south　　　Of　Canada。

If　this　cheery　little　winter　neighbor　would　keep　quiet　long　enough；　we　might　have　a　glimpse　of　the　golden　crest　that　distinguishes　him　from　his　equally　lively　cousin；　the　ruby…crowned；　but　he　is　so　constantly　flitting　about　the　ends　of　the　twigs；　peering　at　the　bark　for　hidden　insects；　twinkling　his　wings　and　fluttering　among　the　evergreens　with　more　nervous　restlessness　than　a　vireo；　that　you　may　know　him　well　before　you　have　a　glimpse　of　his　tri…colored　crown。

When　the　autumn　foliage　is　all　aglow　with　yellow　and　flame　this　tiny　sprite　comes　out　of　the　north　where　neither　nesting　nor　moulting　could　rob　him　of　his　cheerful　spirits。　Except　the　humming…bird　and　the　winter　wren；　he　is　the　smallest　bird　we　have。　And　yet；　somewhere　stored　up　in　his　diminutive　body；　is　warmth　enough　to　withstand　zero　weather。　With　evident　enjoyment　of　the　cold；　he　calls　out　a　shrill；　wiry　zee；　zee；　zee；　that　rings　merrily　from　the　pines　and　spruces　when　our　fingers　are　too　numb　to　hold　the　opera　glasses　in　an　attempt　to　follow　his　restless　fittings　from　branch　to　branch。　Is　it　one　of　the　unwritten　laws　of　birds　that　the　smaller　their　bodies　the　greater　their　activity？

When　you　see　one　kinglet　about；　you　may　be　sure　there　are　others　not　far　away；　for；　except　in　the　nesting　season；　its　habits　are　distinctly　social；　its　friendliness　extending　to　the　humdrum　brown　creeper；　the　chickadees；　and　the　nuthatches；　in　whose　company　it　is　often　seen；　indeed；　it　is　likely　to　be　in　almost　any　flock　of　the　winter　birds。　They　are　a　merry　band　as　they　go　exploring　the　trees　together。　The　kinglet　can　hang　upside　down；　too；　like　the　other　acrobats；　many　of　whose　tricks　he　has　learned；　and　it　can　pick　off　insects　from　a　tree　with　as　business…like　an　air　as　the　brown　creeper；　but　with　none　of　that　soulless　bird's　plodding　precision。

In　the　early　spring；　just　before　this　busy　little　sprite　leaves　us　to　nest　in　Canada　or　Labrador　　for　heat　is　the　one　thing　that　he　can't　cheerfully　endure　　a　gushing；　lyrical　song　bursts　from　his　tiny　throat　　a　song　whose　volume　is　so　out　of　proportion　to　the　bird's　size　that　Nuttall's　classification　of　kinglets　with　wrens　doesn't　seem　far　wrong　after　all。　　Only　rarely　is　a　nest　found　so　far　south　as　the　White　Mountains。　It　is　said　to　be　extraordinarily　large　for　so　small　a　bird　but　that　need　not　surprise　us　when　we　learn　that　as　many　as　ten　　creamy…white　eggs；　blotched　with　brown　and　lavender；　are　no　uncommon　number　for　the　pensile　cradle　to　hold。　How　do　the　tiny　parents　contrive　to　cover　so　many　eggs　and　to　feed　such　a　nestful　of　fledglings？


SOLITARY　VIREO　（Vireo　solitarius）　Vireo　or　Greenlet　family

Called　also：　BLUE…HEADED　VIREO　＇AOU　1998＇

Length　　5。5　to　7　inches。　A　little　smaller　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　　Dusky　olive　above；　head　bluish　gray；　with　a　white　line　　　around　the　eye；　spreading　behind　the　eye　into　a　patch。　Beneath　　　whitish；　with　yellow…green　wash　on　the　sides。　Wings　dusky　　　olive；　with　two　distinct　white　bars。　Tail　dusky；　some　quills　　　edged　with　white。　　Female　　Similar；　but　her　head　is　dusky　olive。　Range　　United　States　to　plains；　and　the　southern　British　　　provinces。　Winters　in　Florida　and　southward。　Migrations　　May。　Early　October。　Common　during　migrations；　more　　　rarely　a　summer　resident　south　of　Massachusetts。

By　no　means　the　recluse　that　its　name　would　imply；　the　solitary　vireo；　while　a　bird　of　the　woods；　shows　a　charming　curiosity　about　the　stranger　with　opera…glasses　in　hand；　who　has　penetrated　to　the　deep；　swampy　tangles；　where　it　chooses　to　live。　Peering　at　you　through　the　green　undergrowth　with　an　eye　that　seems　especially　conspicuous　because　of　its　encircling　white　rim；　it　is　at　least　as　sociable　and　cheerful　as　any　member　of　its　family；　and　Mr。　Bradford　Torrey　credits　it　with　〃winning　tameness。〃　〃Wood…bird　as　it　is；〃　he　says；　〃it　will　sometimes　permit　the　greatest　familiarities。　Two　birds　I　have　seen；　which　allowed　themselves　to　be　stroked　in　the　freest　manner；　while　sitting　on　the　eggs；　and　which　ate　from　my　hand　as　readily　as　any　pet　canary。〃

The　solitary　vireo　also　builds　a　pensile　nest；　swung　from　the　crotch　of　a　branch；　not　so　high　from　the　ground　as　the　yellow…throated　vireos　nor　so　exquisitely　finished；　but　still　a　beautiful　little　structure　of　pine…needles；　plant…fibre；　dry　leaves；　and　twigs；　all　lichen…lined　and　bound　and　rebound　with　coarse　spiders'　webs。

The　distinguishing　quality　of　this　vireo's　celebrated　song　is　its　tenderness：　a　pure；　serene　uplifting　of　its　loving；　trustful　nature　that　seems　inspired　by　a　fine　spirituality。


RED…EYED　VIREO　（Vireo　olivaceus）　Vireo　or　Greenlet　family

Called　also：　THE　PREACHER

Length　　5。75　to　6。25　inches。　A　fraction　smaller　than　the　　　English　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　light　olive…green；　well…defined　　　slaty…gray　cap；　with　black　marginal　line；　below　which；　and　　　forming　an　exaggerated　eyebrow；　is　a　line　of　white。　A　brownish　　　band　runs　from　base　of　bill　through　the　eye。　The　iris　is　　　ruby…red。　Underneath　white；　shaded　with　light　greenish　yellow　　　on　sides　and　on　under　tail　and　wing　coverts。　Range　　United　States　to　Rockies　and　northward。　Wnters　in　　　Central　and　South　America。　Migrations　　April。　October。　Common　summer　resident。

〃You　see　it　　you　know　it　　do　you　hear　me？　Do　you　believe　it？〃　is　Wilson　Flagg's　famous　interpretation　of　the　song　of　this　commonest　of　all　the　vireos；　that　you　cannot　mistake　with　such　a　key。　He　calls　the　bird　the　preacher　from　its　declamatory　style；　an　up…and…down　warble　delivered　with　a　rising　inflection　at　the　close　and　followed　by　an　impressive　silence；　as　if　the　little　green　orator　were　saying；　〃I　pause　for　a　reply。〃

Notwithstanding　its　quiet　coloring；　that　so　closely　resembles　the　leaves　it　hunts　among；　this　vireo　is　rather　more　noticeable　than　its　relatives　because　of　its　slaty　cap　and　the　black…and…white　lines　over　its　ruby　eye；　that；　in　addition　to　the　song；　are　its　marked　characteristics。

Whether　she　is　excessively　stupid　or　excessively　kind；　the　mother…vireo　has　certainly　won　for　herself　no　end　of　ridicule　by　allowing　the　cowbird　to　deposit　a　stray　egg　in　the　exquisitely　made；　pensile　nest；　where　her　own　tiny　white　eggs　are　lying　and　though　the　young　cowbird　crowd　and　worry　her　little　fledglings　and　eat　their　dinner　as　fast　as　she　can　bring　it　in；　no　displeasure　or　grudging　is　shown　towards　the　dusky　intruder　that　is　sure　to　upset　the　rightful　heirs　out　of　the　nest　before　they　are　able　to　fly。

In　the　heat　of　a　midsummer　noon；　when　nearly　every　other　bird's　voice　is　hushed；　and　only　the　locust　seems　to　rejoice　in　the　fierce　sunshine；　the　little　red…eyed　vireo　goes　persistently　about　its　business　of　gathering　insects　from　the　leaves；　not　flitting　nervously　about　like　a　warbler；　or　taking　its　food　on　the　wing　like　a　flycatcher；　but　patiently　and　industriously　dining　where　it　can；　and　singing　as　it　goes。

When　a　worm　is　caught　it　is　first　shaken　against　a　branch　to　kill　it　before　it　is　swallowed。　Vireos　haunt　shrubbery　and　trees　with　heavy　foliage；　all　their　hunting；　singing；　resting；　and　home…building　being　done　among　the　leaves　　never　on　the　ground。


WHITE…EYED　VIREO　（Vireo　noveboracensis）　Vireo　or　Greenlet　family

Male　　5　to　5。3　inches。　An　inch　shorter　than　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　and　Female　　Upper　parts　bright　olive…green；　washed　with　　　grayish。　Throat　and　underneath　white；　the　breast　and　sides　　　greenish　yellow；　wings　have　two　distinct　bars　of　yellowish　　　white。　Yellow　line　from　beak　to　and　around　the　eye；　which　has　a　　　white　iris。　Feathers　of　wings　and　tail　brownish　and　edged　with　　　yellow。　Range　　United　States　to　the　Rockies；　and　to　the　Gulf　regions　　　And　beyond　in　winter。　Migrations　　May。　September。　Summer　resident。

〃Pertest　of　songsters；〃　the　white…eyed　vireo　makes　whatever　neighborhood　it　enters　lively　at　once。　Taking　up　a　residence　in　the　tangled　shrubbery　or　thickety　undergrowth；　it　immediately　begins　to　scold　like　a　crotchety　old　wren。　It　becomes　irritated　over　the　merest　trifles　　a　passing　bumblebee；　a　visit　from　another　bird　to　its　tangle；　an　unsuccessful　peck　at　a　gnat　　　　anything　seems　calculated　to　rouse　its　wrath　and　set　every　feather　on　its　little　body　a…trembling；　while　it　sharply　snaps　out　what　might　perhaps　be　freely　constructed　into　〃cuss…words。〃

And　yet　the　inscrutable　mystery　is　that　this　virago　meekly　permits　the　lazy　cowbird　to　deposit　an　egg　in　its　nest；　and　will　patiently　sit　upon　it；　though　it　is　as　large　as　three　of　her　own　tiny　eggs；　and　when　the　little　interloper　comes　out　from　his　shell　the　mother…bird　will　continue　to　give　it　the　most　devoted　care　long　after　it　has　shoved　her　poor　little　starved　babies　out　of　the　nest　to　meet　an　untimely　death　in　the　smilax　thicket　below。

An　unusual　variety　of　expression　distinguishes　this　bird's　voice　from　the　songs　of　the　other　vireos；　which　are　apt　to　be　monotonous；　as　they　are　incessant。　If　you　are　so　fortunate　to　approach　the　white…eyed　vireo　before　he　suspects　your　presence；　you　may　hear　him　amusing　himself　by　jumbling　together　snatches　of　the　songs　of　the　other　birds　in　a　sort　of　potpourri；　or　perhaps　he　will　be　scolding　or　arguing　with　an　imaginary　foe；　then　dropping　his　voice　and　talking　confidentially　to　himself。　Suddenly　he　bursts　into　a　charming；　simple　little　song；　as　if　the　introspection　had　given　him　reason　for　real　joy。　All　these　vocal　accomplishments　suggest　the　chat　at　once；　but　the　minute　your　intrusion　is　discovered　the　sharp　scolding；　that　is　fairly　screamed　at　you　from　an　enraged　little　throat；　leaves　no　possible　shadow　of　a　doubt　as　to　the　bird　you　have　disturbed。　It　has　the　most　emphatic　call　and　song　to　be　heard　in　the　woods；　it　snaps　its　words　off　very　short。　〃Chick…a…rer　chick〃　is　its　usual　call…note；　jerked　out　with　great　spitefulness。

Wilson　thus　describes　the　jealously　guarded　nest：　〃This　bird　builds　a　very　neat　little　nest；　often　in　the　figure　of　an　inverted　cone；　it　is　suspended　by　the　upper　end　of　the　two　sides；　on　the　circular　bend　of　a　prickly　vine；　a　species　of　smi