USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > History of Androscoggin County, Maine > Part 10
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78. COWBIRD. MOLOTHRUS ATER. Boddaert.
This glossy black polygamist with his faded-out wives has a very question- able character among bird circles. Gipsy-like, they never build a nest, but the females foist their eggs in nests already occupied, to be hatchied and reared by respectable birds. The vireos, warblers, and sparrows are especially the philanthropists who are thus imposed upon. The young cowbird, with the blood of generations of vagabonds in his unsightly little body, instinctively pushes his nest-mates over the edge of the nest, if they ever have the mis- fortune to be hatched after his advent, and monopolizes the entire care of his foster-parents. As soon as he can fly he always joins others of his kin and in their company goes to the bad like his fathers before him. Like some people, they seem to think that they can sing, and often alighting in the tops of tall trees, their painful, but somewhat melodious, squeaking note, given with spreading wings and ruffling feathers, and sounding like the sweaty hand of the small boy as he slides down the banister, is heard. Nothing will draw the insectivorous " cow blackbirds " like a " burnt piece," and their dusky forms seem especially in place there as they walk about, crow-like, upon the charred ground.
79. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS. Linnaeus.
General color, velvet black. The males who are two years old have crimson spots on their shoulders, as if their maturity entitled them to these
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
chevrons of respect. They are very abundant in marshy places, building in colonies among the reeds and cat-tails their deeply-hollowed, grass-lined nests. Among the earliest arrivals, they rear two broods, and linger until October before their departure. Some one has well described the vocal effort of the " swamp blackbird," as he is often called, by the syllables con-cu-ree. All that is necessary to assemble a noisy indignation meeting of these blackbirds about one's head is to enter their marshy retreat where their nests are located. The young birds assemble in flocks with their parents in the fall for migration together.
80. MEADOWLARK. STERNELLA MAGNA. Linnaus.
Variegated plumage with yellow predominating, and a black spot on the breast. Long bill and short tail. This rare summer resident, occasionally nesting in the swampy fields of this county, is the "old field lark," quite common farther south of us where they whir up suddenly in floeks before the gunners, who delight to practice shooting them on the wing. Because of this they have learned to be very shy.
81. BALTIMORE ORIOLE. ICTERUS GALBULA. Linnaus.
Black head and throat. Orange beneath and sides of tail. The social and genial "golden robin," swinging his graceful, pensile nest from the drooping branches of the old elms even in onr . cities and towns, and brightening the summer by his lively color as well as by his bugle-like co-weét-co-weét, is always recognized as a friend. Their well-known nest is a deep, pendulous pocket, woven with hair so as to be stiffened into maintaining its form. They seem justly proud of their workmanship as nest-builders, and often return to build again where, the year before, the breezes swung their little ones to and fro between heaven and earth. The male comes in advance of the female in the spring, and the period of song is not a long one. A fortune awaits the man who can interpret the story penciled in black hieroglyphics on their white eggs, which hold the reputation of being the most beautiful of all our birds' eggs.
82. RUSTY BLACKBIRD. SCOLECOPHAGUS CAROLINUS. Müller.
This bird passes through the county in the latter part of April for their nesting haunts at the sources of the Penobscot and Kennebec. When they return in the autumn they present a brownish-black appearance, and are not in full plumage. Somewhat larger than the cowbird, and not equaling in size the bronze grackle, these " thrush blackbirds " are not much known, being of too retiring and shy a disposition. They frequent low, swampy thickets for insects, worms, small crustare, and the seeds of aquatic plants, and utter an alarm note which sounds as if they said check, check! They colleet in large flocks for the retrograde movement.
83. BRONZED GRACKLE. QUISCALUS QUISCULA ENEUS. Ridgway.
Between twelve and thirteen and one-half inches in length, this miniature erow is an occasional summer resident here. They often breed in communi-
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THE BIRDS OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
ties, like the rooks in England, in hollow trees and stumps, and sometimes even on the edge of the large rambling nest of the fish hawk. Especially grotesque and ludicrous are the actions and vocal efforts of the " crow blackbird," as he is popularly called, during the mating season. His greasy, liquid note has a striking resemblance to quis quilla, and costs nearly as much effort in utterance as does that of the cowbird. He is a notorious robber of the corn fields, and hence a coolness has arisen between him and the farmers.
Fifteenth Family -Corvidæ.
84. BLUE JAY. CYANOCITTA CRISTATA. Linneus.
This garrulous, profligate, rowdyish cynic in blue remains with us, like a bad habit, the year around, but is rather more abundant in summer than in winter. He is an accomplished house-breaker and, since the only furniture the birds have in their houses is the eggs and little ones, this means that he is, in addition, a murderer. The food of the blue jay is probably more varied than that of any other bird we have. Their coarse nest is rambling and conspicuous, and their shrill, high-pitched, alarm cry of jay, jay, is familiar to every one. Curious, dishonest, and sneaking, this bird absorbs to himself so many feathered vices that it leaves all the other birds comparatively virtuous. 85. AMERICAN RAVEN. CORVUS CORAX SINUATUS. Wagler.
Much larger than the crow, whom he displaces in geographical distribution, this " ominous bird of the sable plume " is very rarely found in Androscoggin county. They select the most inaccessible places on the highest trees and cliffs for their nests and, already celebrated in tradition and song, are very interesting in their actual habits. About two feet in length. It has been taken in the winter in this county.
86. AMERICAN CROW. CORVUS AMERICANUS. Audubon.
This sagacious and versatile black knight of the air casts a shadow too often, as he passes between us and the sun in his laborious flight, to need any description. Occasionally he is seen at intervals all winter in this county, but more often he goes south to colonize in rookeries or, with his usual contrariness to the ways of mankind, he puts in his vacation at the sea-shore in the winter instead of the summer, picking up his living among the lower forms of life that are found there. For a long time there has existed a family feud between the crows and the hawks, and they improve every opportunity with each other to add insult to injury. The crow is the most skeptical of our birds, unless it may be the blue jay, as his sarcastic tones and distrustful ways signify, and if there is a single atheist among all the feathered citizens of Androscoggin county, it is he. Sometimes he is tamed, when he becomes notorious for his love of mischief and his shrewd ways, but he evidently prefers to live the life of an outlaw. Authorities differ as to whether the crow, everything consid- ered, is a benefit or an injury to us, and this open question has more than once
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
afforded the legislators a means for earning their daily bread. He has a peculiar note, not often heard, by which he expresses his feelings during his courtship, which sounds singularly like the whinny of a horse.
Sixteenth Family - Alaudidæ.
87. HORNED LARK. OTOCORIS ALPESTRIS Linnous.
A yellowish-white throat and a black spot on the chest. Often called the "shore-lark " or " sky-lark." They rear their young on the coast and in Min- nesota, and have been seen within this county during the winter. They have a shrill voice, are easily alarmed, and are one of the soaring birds.
SECOND SUB-ORDER-CLAMATORES. Seventeenth Family-Tyrannidæ.
There are twelve species of this family in New England, and eight of these visit Androscoggin county. They are all eminently insectivorous and migra- tory, and their large heads and beaks, flattened at the base and surrounded by hairs, especially adapt them for their office as fly-catchers.
88. KINGBIRD. TYRANNUS TYRANNUS. Linnens.
These familiar birds, arriving about the first of May, are distinguished especially by the white tips on their tail-feathers, which they spread like a fan whenever they sink or rise slowly through the air from one bush to another. Also beneath their crest of crown feathers is a little flame-colored patch that is not often seen except by sharp eyes. This audacious and self-reliant little fellow is quite warlike, especially during his mating and nesting season, and does not hesitate to defend his trust from any of the larger birds that approach. He is often seen flying above a crow or hawk and pouncing down upon him at intervals with spiteful jabs, while the persecuted bird, sullen and wrathy, tries in vain to outfly him. The kingbird places his nest in all kinds of conspicuous situations and then proceeds to stand guard over it, with much the same spirit as the small boy exercises when he balances a chip on his shoulder and challenges any one of the barefooted world to walk up and knock it off if he dares. He is called the bee martin because he is not particular as to his insect, and he often makes havoc with a hive of bees, but it is doubtless true that he destroys hundreds of noxious insects to one bee, and therefore peace should be maintained between them and the bee-keepers. During the latter part of September they depart for their winter home in Central America and southern Mexico.
89. CRESTED FLYCATCHER. MYIARCHUS CRINITUS. Linnous.
Olive above, with gray throat running baek beneath into yellow. This wild, solitary, irritable bird is rare and keeps high up in the trees during his occasional visits. Excitable and pugnacious, he seems to have difficulty in getting along with any of the bird kind except his own individual family. He is liable to be seen from May to September, and when he nests it is usually
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THE BIRDS OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
in a hollow tree or post-hole, and he has the peculiar weakness of adorning his nest with an old snake skin. His note is harsh and not very pleasant, for he "rolls his r's " very badly. Length, nine inches.
90. PHOEBE. SAYORNIS PHOEBE. Latham.
Olive brown above and blackish on the head. Soiled white and pale yellow beneath. Bill wholly black. The "pewee" comes earlier and lingers later than any other fly-catcher, not departing for the south until October. They build in bridges and culverts a peculiar nest, largely of mud and usually placed on the side of a vertical rock over the water. They show great attachment to certain localities, returning year after year to rebuild, even in the face of great difficulties. Perching on some lookout twig, where he jerks his tail and moves his scalp feathers nervously, or darting into the air in the fluttering, zigzag pursuit of a passing insect, this most peaceable of the fly-catchers is familiar to us all. During the earlier part of the season he is almost constant in the nervous repetition of his name-pewee, pewee-as if continually on the point of forgetting his identity and trying to avoid such a disaster; but later he becomes more reassured and utters his name rarely. They seldom alight upon the ground except when they are after building material.
91. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. CONTOPUS BOREALIS. Swainson.
Dark olive brown, darkest on the head and lightest on the sides. Bill black above only. Dr Coues says of this rarest of the fly-catchers : " A stocky, able- bodied, dark, and streaky species, quite unlike any other." The note resembles the syllables pip, pip, peu. This bird has been seen in Androscoggin county. 92. WOOD PEWEE. CONTOPUS VIRENS. Linneus.
This miniature pewee in form and porportion, but differing in having only the upper half of the bill black and in not flirting his tail, is the last of all the birds to arrive. He builds a peculiar nest of lichens and moss, so saddled upon a limb as to resemble a knot, and he is rather partial to forests, although if the trees are numerous, he often nests in cities and towns. They are very active and by no means so pensive and melancholy as their striking note, pe-to-wee, pe-to-way, hee-reu, repeated very slowly, would seem to imply.
93. YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER. EMPIDONAX FLAVIVENTRIS. Baird.
This rather rare bird is distinguishable by the yellow coloring beneath. Their nest, usually situated under the roots of trees, is very rare and has not been found in this county, so far as I am informed. Their note is a prolonged pea.
94. TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER. EMPIDONAX PUSILLUS TRAILLII. Audubon.
This fly-catcher is also a rather rare summer resident, nesting in the upright fork of a tree, usually about swamps where the insects are abundant. When- ever he utters his harsh, complaining note, he jerks back his head as if his vocal efforts were painfully difficult.
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
95. LEAST FLYCATCHER. EMPIDONAN MINIMUS. Baird.
Abundant and familiar, preferring the neighborhood of humanity, this well- known little bird is distinguishable from the Traill's only by his grayish rather than his brownish hue, and his smaller size. With the robin and the chipping sparrow, he is the most abundant of all our birds. He places his compact nest in the upright forks of trees, and his tireless chebéc, chebéc, uttered with a back- ward snap of his head and a flirt of his tail, is among the commonest of mid- summer sounds.
The following is a catalogne of the other birds occurring in Androscoggin county, excluding the shore and water birds: -
Second Order-MACROCHIRES .- Long-winged Birds. EIGHTEENTHI FAMILY -TROCHILIDE. - HUMMINGBIRDS. 96. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Trochilus colubris. Linnous. NINETEENTH FAMILY - MICROPODID.E. - SWIFTS.
97. Chimney Swift. Chatura pelagica. Linnous. TWENTIETH FAMILY -CAPRIMULGID.E .- GOATSUCKERS.
98. Whip-poor-will. Antrostomus vociferus. Wilson.
99. Nighthawk. Chordeiles virginianus. Gmelin.
Third Order -PICI- Woodpeckers.
TWENTY-FIRST FAMILY - PICIDE. - WOODPECKERS.
100. Hairy Woodpecker. Dryobates villosus. Linncus.
101. Downy Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens. Linnaus.
102. Aretic Three-toed Woodpecker. Pieoides arcticus. Swainson.
103. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Sphyrapicus varius. Linnous.
104. Pileated Woodpecker. Ceophlœus pileatus. Linnaus.
105. Flicker or Yellow-hammer. Colaptes auratus. Linneus.
Fourth Order-COCCYGES .- Kingfishers and Cuckoos. TWENTY-SECOND FAMILY -ALCEDINIDE. - KINGFISHERS. 106. Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle aleyon. Linnaus.
TWENTY-THIRD FAMILY-CUCULIDE. - CUCKOOS.
107. Yellow-billed cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus. Linnous.
108. Blaek-billed cuckoo. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Wilson.
Fifth Order-RAPTORES. - Birds of Prey. TWENTY-FOURTH FAMILY -BUBONIDE. - OWLS.
109. American Long-eared Owl. Asio wilsonianus. Lesson.
110. Short-eared Owl. Asio accipitrinus. Pallas.
111. Barred Owl. Syrnium nebulosum. Forster.
112. Great Gray Owl. Ulula cinerea. Gmelin.
113. Richardson's Owl. Nyetala tengmalmi richardsoni. Bonaparte.
114. Saw-whet Owl. Nyctala acadiea. Gmelin.
115. Sereech Owl. Bubo virginianus. Gmelin.
116. Great Horned Owl. Megaseops asio. Linnaeus.
117. Snowy Owl. Nyctea nyetea. Linnous.
118. Hawk Owl. Surnia ulula. Linnaus.
TWENTY-FIFTH FAMILY -FALCONIDE. - HAWKS AND EAGLES.
119. Marsh Hawk. Circus hudsonius. Linnaeus.
120. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter velox. Wilson.
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THE BIRDS OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
121. Cooper's. Hawk. Accipiter cooperi. Bonaparte.
122. American Goshawk. Accipiter atricapillus. Wilson.
123. Red-tailed Hawk. Butco borealis. Gmclin.
124. Red-shouldered Hawk. Buteo linneatus. Gmelin.
125. Broad-winged Hawk. Butco latissimus. Wilson.
126. Rough-legged Hawk. Archibuteo lagopus. Brünnich.
127. Bald Eagle. Haliæetus leucocephalus. Linnaeus.
128. Duck Hawk. Falco peregrinus anatum. Bonaparte.
129. Pigeon Hawk. Falco columbarius. Linnous.
130. American Sparrow Hawk. Falco sparverius. Linnaeus.
131. American Osprey or Fish-hawk. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. Gmelin. Sixth Order-COLUMBÆE.
TWENTY-SEVENTH FAMILY -COLUMBIDE. - PIGEONS.
132. Passenger Pigcon. Ectopistes migratorius. Linnous.
Seventh Order-GALLINA.
TWENTY-EIGHTH FAMILY -TETRAONIDE. - GROUSE.
133. Ruffed Grouse. Bonasa umbellus. Linnaeus.
The following is a list of birds (excluding shore and water birds) which have been observed in the state of Maine but have not yet been reported as occurring in Androscoggin county : -
FIRST FAMILY - TURDIDE.
1. Bicknell's Thrush. Turdus alicia bicknelli. Ridgway. SECOND FAMILY -SILVIIDE.
2. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Polioptila cærulea. Linnacus. SEVENTI FAMILY - MNIOTILTIDE.
3. Connecticut Warbler. Geothlypis agilis. Wilson.
4. Mourning Warbler. Geothlypis philadelphia. EIGHTH FAMILY - VIREONID.E.
Wilson.
5. Philadelphia Vireo. Vireo philadelphicus. Cussin. THIRTEENTH FAMILY -FRINGILLIDE.
6. Lapland Longspur. Calcarius lapponicus. Linnous.
7. Ipswich Sparrow. Ammodramus princeps. Maynard.
8. Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Ammodramus caudacutus. Gmelin. FIFTEENTH FAMILY - CORVIDE.
9. Canada Jay. Perisoreus canadensis. Linnaeus. TWENTY-FIRST FAMILY - PICIDE.
10. American Three-toed Woodpecker. Picoides americanus. Brehm.
11. Red-headed Woodpecker. Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Linneus. TWENTY-FIFTH FAMILY -FALCONIDE.
12. Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaëtos. Linnous.
13. Gray Gyrfalcon. Falco rusticolus. Linnaeus.
14. Black Gyrfalcon. Falco rusticolus obsoletus. Gmelin. TWENTY-SIXTH FAMILY -CATHARTIDE.
15. Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura. Linnaeus. TWENTY-SEVENTH FAMILY - COLUMBIDE.
16. Mourning Dove. Zenaidura macroura. Linneus. TWENTY-EIGHTH FAMILY -TETRAONID.E.
17. Bob-White. Colinus virginianus. Linnaeus.
18. Canada Grouse. Dendragapus canadensis. Liunous.
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX.
MAIL ROUTES, RAILROADS, AND POST-OFFICES.
Early Mail Routes-Staging -Railroads-Post-Offices and Postmasters.
E ARLY MAIL ROUTES .- In 1793 a new highway was opened from Augusta to Portland by way of Monmouth, Greene, etc. By the old route via Bath it took two days to reach Portland from Hallowell, but by this new road Portland could be reached in the forenoon of the second day, if Monmouth was reached for breakfast on the first day. This new route was adopted as the United States mail route when the mail service was established in 1794. The mails were carried weekly by "post-riders " on horseback; the mail was in a pouch fastened behind the saddle. The rider had another bag for local mail matter for the conveyance of which he received extra pay. He gave warning of his approach by blowing a long tin horn, so he should not be delayed. This route was from Portland to Gray, New Gloucester, Greene, Monmouth, Winthrop, Hallowell, Pittston, Pownalborough, to Wiscasset. The first post-rider between Portland and Winthrop was William Blossom. Another route led from Portland to Gorham, Baldwin, Fryeburg, Bridgton, Waterford, Norway, Paris, Hebron, Poland, New Gloucester, and Gray, to Portland. The post-riders were Joseph Howe, Seba Smith, William Sawin, and Joshua Pool.
A weekly post route was established in 1806 from Portland through New Gloucester, Danville, Minot, Turner, Livermore, Hartford, Buckfield, Paris, and other towns to Portland. Josiah Smith was the first post-rider. In the first of the century John Walker went through the Androscoggin towns from Livermore to Danville every week, doing the work of a modern expressman and private letter-carrier between those towns and Portland. In 1826 a post route was established from Brunswick through the upper Androscoggin towns, but from 1824 Joseph Griffin had sustained a weekly mail route from Brunswick to Jay, primarily established for the distribution of the Maine Baptist Herald he published at Brunswick. The first mail service to Lewiston was probably given by Samuel Nash, who rode a gig from Portland to Augusta, on tri-weekly trips. He was succeeded by Thomas Longley who came to Greene in 1810.
In 1830, or earlier, tri-weekly stage lines were established on the principal mail routes, and the mails were then carried by them. "Tom " Longley put on the first coach on the Portland and Augusta route at that time. He was driver and proprietor for many years, and was the beau ideal of a dashing
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MAIL ROUTES, RAILROADS, AND POST-OFFICES.
driver, courteous and obliging, tall and commanding in appearance. He had a wonderful memory, and it is said that in the many errands entrusted to him he never made a memorandum and never forgot the smallest detail. He was a marvelous story-teller and the aroma of his narrations yet lingers in the atmosphere of the places along his route. In later life he left the box and became an hotel keeper in Portland.
Starting from Augusta in the morning the stage reached Lewiston at noon and Portland at night. Two dollars was the usual fare, but sometimes a route by Brunswick lowered rates by competition. Four relays of horses were used in the palmiest days of the stage-coach, and changes were made at Winthrop, Greene, and Gray. At Littlefield's tavern, in Danville, the stage from Farm- ington was met, and two coaches were generally required from there to Portland. Longley sold the route to Edward Little, Esq., and he sold it to Charles Clark, who is presumably the last survivor of the early "whips." Among the successors of Longley as drivers were his son Benjamin, Lewis Howe of Leeds, Albion C. Howard, and Benjamin Beede.
With the building of railroads staging lost its splendors, and the small lines connecting with the cars to-day have not the prestige, coaches, or romance of the early time. The veteran driver of the old time who tarried longest was Phineas Clough, for many years seated on the box of the Turner and Livermore stage.
RAILROADS. - The Grand Trunk Railway in Maine is the successor of the Atlantic and St Lawrence Railroad Company, incorporated by the State Legis- lature February 10, 1845. This road was completed to Mechanic Falls, thirty- seven miles, in the autumn of 1848. The Grand Trunk leased this road, in 1853, at a rental of six per cent. on the cost of construction of the one hundred and forty-nine miles from Portland to Island Pond-$6,003,900. This road has done much to develop the resources of the country along its line, and has created several prosperous villages. In Maine it operates under a lease, the branch from Lewiston to Lewiston Junction -5.41 miles-and at Mechanic Falls it receives the road of the Rumford Falls and Buckfield Railroad Company, extending to the Androscoggin river in Canton.
Maine Central Railroad. - Under this name is operated several railroads built under early charters by different companies. The Androscoggin and Kennebec Railroad Company was chartered March 28, 1847, and by January 1, 1850, it had built a road from Waterville to Danville, where it connected with the Atlantic and St Lawrence Railroad. The Penobscot and Kennebec Railroad Company was chartered April 5, 1845, and constructed a road from Bangor to Waterville, making there a connection with the Androscoggin and Kennebec. A law was enacted, in 1856, authorizing these two companies to consolidate under a new name. One section of the law was not acceptable to the companies, and they did not form the new corporation until after this
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
section was repealed. September 9, 1862, the union was effected, and October 28, 1862, the Maine Central Railroad Company was organized. The Kennebec and Portland Railroad Company, chartered in 1836, built a road from Augusta to Yarmouth, connecting there with the Atlantic and St Lawrence Railroad, and a branch from Brunswick to Bath. Later it extended its road from Yarmouth to Portland. In 1852 this corporation mortgaged its road to secure an issue of $250,000 in bonds. This mortgage was foreclosed and title obtained of the road by the mortgagees, and a new corporation, the Portland and Kennebec Railroad Company, organized May 20, 1862. January 1, 1864, this road leased the Somerset and Kennebec Railroad (organized August 10, 1848), reaching from Skowhegan to Augusta. May 20, 1870, the Portland and Kennebec Company leased its road and assigned its lease of the Somerset and Kennebec to the Maine Central for nine hundred and ninety-nine years.
The Androscoggin Railroad was constructed from Farmington to Leeds Junction. Under the state law the company issued its bonds, securing them by a mortgage on the road. Later the company was authorized to extend its railroad to Brunswick, and it was provided that this new portion should not be subject to the mortgage. The mortgaged portion of the road became the property of the mortgagees by foreclosure, May 11, 1865. They formed a new corporation, the Leeds and Farmington Railroad Company. The Androseoggin Railroad then extended from Leeds to Brunswick, covering the branch from Crowley's Junction to Lewiston. June 1, 1867, the Leeds and Farmington Railroad Company leased its road to the Androseoggin Railroad Company, which, June 29, 1871, gave a lease of its road for nine hundred and ninety-nine years to the Maine Central, and assigned to it its lease of the Leeds and Farmington road. This lease was later confirmed and extended to nine hundred and ninety-nine years by the company owning the road.
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