USA > New Jersey > Bergen County > Ridgewood > Ridgewood, Bergen County, New Jersey, past and present > Part 4
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Burdock ( Arctium mimis)
Bur-marigold ( Bidens frondosa )
Bur-marigold, larger ( Bidens lævis) Buttereups in variety ( Ranunculus) Butterfly-weed ( Aselepias tuberosa) Button-bush ( Cephalanthus occidentalis ) C'ampion, Bladder ( Silene vulgaris ) Campion, Starry (Silene Stellata ) Caneer-root, one-flowered ( Aphyllon Uni- florum )
Cardinal Flower ( Lobelia cardinalis)
Carrion Flower (Smilax herbacea ) Catnip (Nepeta cataria) Celandine (Chelidonium majus ) Chamomile ( Anthemis cotula )
Chicory ( Chicorium Intybus ) Chickweed ( Alsine media )
Chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia)
Choke-cherry ( Prunus Virginiana )
Cinquefoil, Common ( Potentilla Cana- densis )
Cinquefoil, Shrubby ( Potentilla frueti- cosa )
Citronella (Collinsonia Canadensis )
Cleavers (Galium Aparine)
Clematis (Clematis Virginiana ) Clover, Rabbit's-foot ( Trifolium arvense)
('lover, Red (Trifolium pratense ) Clover, White ( Trifolium repens)
Clover, White Sweet ( Melilotus alba)
Clover, Yellow ( Trifolium agrarium )
Clover, Yellow Sweet ( Melilotus offici- nalis ) Cockspur Thorn ( Cratægus Crus-Galli ) Columbine ( Aquilegia Canadensis)
24
PAST AND PRESENT
Coral-root (Corallorhiza multiflora) Corn-eoekle ( Agrostemma Githago)
Cranberry ( Oxycoeens Maerocarpus) Crinkleroot ( Dentaria Diphylla)
Culvers Root ( Leptandra. Virginica) Daisy, Field ( Chrysanthemum Leucan- themnm )
Daisy Fleabane ( Erigeron annus)
Dandelion (Taraxaeum Taraxacum )
Day-Flower (Commelina Virginica ) Deer-grass ( Rhexia Virginiea ) Dewberry ( Rubus Canadensis)
Dodder (Cuseuta Gronovii)
Dogbane, Spreading ( Apoeynum andro- sæmifolimm)
Dogwood, Flowering ( Cornus florida)
Dogwood, Panieled (Cornus candidis- sima )
Dogwood, Red Osier ( Cornus Stolonifera ) Dutchman's Breeches ( Bicuculla Cuen]- laria )
Elder (Sambuens Canadensis)
Evening Primrose ( Onagrabiennis)
Everlasting ( Anaphalis margaritacea ) Fire-weed ( Chamænerion angustifolium ) Flag ( Iris versicolor) Flax ( Linum usitatissimum )
Forget-me-not ( Myosotis palustris)
Foxglove, Smooth False ( Dasystoma
flava )
Frost-weed ( Helianthemum Canadense) Gentian, Closed (Gentiana Andrewsii) Gentian, Fringed ( Gentiana erinita ) Geranium, Wild (Geranium maenlatum ) Gerardia (Gerardia purpurea )
(fill-over-the-Ground ( Glecoma hedera- cea ) Ginger, Wild ( Asarın Canadense) Ginseng. Dwarf ( Panax trifolium ) Golden Corydalis (Capnoides anreum) Golden Ragwort ( Senecio anrens) Golden-rod in variety (Solidago) Grape, Fox (Vitis Labrusea.)
Grape, Frost or Chieken (Vitis Cordi- folia )
Grass of Parnassus ( Parnassia Caro- liniana )
Great Burnet ( Potelium Canadense ) Ground Cherry ( Physalis Virginiana ) Ground-mit ( Apios Apios)
Hawkweed ( Hieraeinm aurantiaenm ) Hellebore. American White (Veratrum viride )
Hepatica (Hepatica Hepatica)
Honeysuckle, Bush ( Diervilla Diervilla) Honeysuckle, Common ( Lonicera Capri- folium )
Honeysuckle, Trumpet ( Lonicera semper- virens ) Hnekleberry, Black (Gaylussacia Resi- nosa ) Huckleberry, Squaw (Vaccinium stami- neum )
Indian Cueumber-root ( Medeola Virgi- niana )
Indian-Paintbrush ( Castilleja Coceinea ) Indian-Pipe ( Monotropa unitlora)
Indian-Tobacco (Lobelia inflata ) Indigo, Wild ( Baptisia tinctoria) Iron-weed ( Vernonia Noveboracensis ) Ivy, Poison ( Rhus radicans) Jack-in-the-Pulpit ( Arisama triphyllum) Jewel-weed ( Impatiens biflora)
Joe-I've Weed ( Enpatorium purpureum ) Knotweed ( Polygonum Pennsylvanieum ) Ladies' Tresses ( Gyrostachys eernua ) Lady's Shipper ( Cypripedium acaule) Laurel, Mountain (Kalmia latifolia) Laurel, Sheep ( Kalmia angustifolia) Lettnee, Wild ( Lactuca Canadensis) Lily-of-the-Valley, False (Unifohum
Canadense)
Lily, orange ( Hemerocallis fulva) Lily, Turk's Cap ( Lilium superbum )
Lily, Trout ( Erythronium Americanum )
Lily, White Pond ( Castalia odorata) Lily, Wood ( Lilium Philadelphicum )
Lily, Yellow ( Lilium Canadense)
Lily, Yellow Pond ( Nymphæa advena ) Lion's-foot ( Nabalus albus)
Live-forever (Sedum Telephium )
Lobelia, Great ( Lobelia syphilitica.) Loosestrife, Whorled ( Lysimachia quadri- folia ) Loosestrife, Yellow (Lysimachia terre- stris )
Lupine, Wild ( Lupinus perennis)
Marsh-Marigold (Caltha palustris) May Apple ( Podophyllum peltatum) Meadow-rue, Tall (Thalietrum poly- ganum )
Meadow-sweet ( Spiræa salicifolia) Milkweed. in variety ( Aselepias)
Milkwort, Common ( Polygala virides- cens )
Milkwort, Fringed ( Polygala paucifolia ) Milkwort, Racemed ( Polygala polygama ) Mint ( Mentha Canadensis) Milrewort. False ( Tiarella cordifolia ) Monkey-flower ( Mimulus ringens )
Moonseed (Menispermum Canadense ) Morning-Glory, White ( Ipomea pan- durata ) Morning - Glory, (Convolvulus sepinm )
Motherwort ( Leonurus Cardiaca )
Mullein, Giant ( Verbaseum Thapsus) Mullein, Moth (Verbaseum Blattaria) Mustard ( Brassica nigra)
New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus Americanus ) Nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara)
Nunble-Kate (Sieyos angulatus)
Orange Grass ( Hypericum nudicanle) Orchis, Purple { Habenaria peramona) Orchis, Purple Fringed ( Habenaria psy- codes )
25
RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
Orchis, Yellow ( Habenaria ciliaris) Parsnip, Wild ( Pastinaca sativa) Partridge Vine (Mitchella repens) Peanut, Hog ( Falcata comosa) Pepperbush, Sweet ( Clethra alnifolia) Peppermint ( Mentha piperita) Pickerel-weed ( Pontederia cordata) Pink, Deptford ( Dianthus Armeria )
Pink, Grass ( Limodorum tuberosum ) Pink, Wild ( Silene Caroliniana) Pipsissewa ( Chimaphila umbellata) Pipsissewa, Spotted ( Chimaphila macu- lata )
Pitcher-plant (Sarracenea purpurea) Pogonía, Rose ( Pogonia ophioglossoides) Pokeweed ( Phytolacca decandra ) Prickly Pear (Opuntia Opuntia) Queen Anne's Lace (Dauens Carota) Raspberry. Purple Flowering ( Rubus odoratus)
Rattle-box ( Crotalaria Sagittalis) Rattlesnake Plantain ( Peramium repens)
Rhodora ( Rhodora Canadensis )
Robin's Plantain ( Erigeron pulchellus )
Rose, Swamp ( Rosa Carolina )
Rose, Wild ( Rosa Immilis)
Saint John's-wort ( Hypericum perfora- tum) Sarsaparilla, Wild ( Aralia nudieaulis) Saxifrage (Saxifraga Virginiensis)
Saxifrage Swamp (Saxifraga Pennsyl- vanica ) Self-Heal ( Prunella vulgaris)
Sensitive Pea (Cassia nictitans)
Service-Berry ( Amelanchier Canadensis)
Shad-Bush ( Amelanchier Botryapium ) Shin-leaf ( Pyrola elliptica )
Silver-rod (Solidago bicolor)
Skulleap ( Sentellaria lateriflora) Skunk Cabbage (Spathyema fortida.)
Snakeroot, White ( Eupatorium agera- toides ) Sneezewood ( Helenium autumnale) Solomon's Seal, False (Vagnera race- mosa )
Solomon's Seal, True (Polygonatum biflornm ) Spearmint (Mentha Spicata) Speedwell, Common ( Veronica officinalis) Speedwell, Thyme-leaved ( Veronica ser- pyllifolia ) Spice-Bush ( Benzoin Benzoin ) Spikenard ( Aralia racemosa)
Spring Beauty (Claytonia Virginiea)
Spurge ( Euphorbia corollata) Steeplebush (Spiræa tomentosa ) Strawberry, Wild ( Fragaria Virginiana ) Strawberry. Barren ( Waldsteinia fra- garioides ) Sumach, Poison ( Rhus Vernix) Sumach, Staghorn ( Rhus hirta ) Sundew ( Drosera)
Sundew, Round-leaved ( Drosera rotundi- folia )
Sundrops ( Kneiflia frneticosa )
Sunflower. Wild ( Helianthus gigantens ) Tansy ( Tanacetum vulgare) Tear-thumb, Arrow-leaved ( Polygonum sagittatum)
Tear-thumb, Halberd-leaved ( Polygonum Arifolium )
Thistles in variety (Carduus) Thorn Apple ( Datura Stramonium ) Tick-trefoil ( Meibomia Canadensis) Toad-flax (Linaria Linaria )
Trillium, Nodding ( Trillium cernuum)
Trumpet-flower ( Tecoma radicans) Turtle-head ( Chelone glabra )
Venus' Looking-glass foliata ) (Legonzia per-
Vervain, Blue ( Verbena hastata) Vervain, European ( Verbena officinalis) Vetch, Purple ( Vicia Cracca)
Viburnum, Maple-leaved ( Viburnum Ace- rifolium )
Violet, Blue ( Vista)
Violet, White (Viola Blanda )
Violet, White-Lance Leafed ( Viola Lan- ceolata )
Violet, Yellow (Viola Pupesceus)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quin- quefolia )
Virgin's Bower ( Atragene Americana )
Wandering Jew ( Tradescantia Virgini- ana) Watercress (Cardamine bulbosa ) Water Plantain ( Alisma Plantago- aquatica )
Winterberry ( Ilex verticillata )
Wintergreen ( Pyrola rotundifolia)
Witch-Hazel ( Hamamelis Virginiana )
Wood Betony ( Pedienlaris Canadensis )
Wood-sorrel. Yellow ( Oxalis stricta ) Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) Yellow-Avens ( Geum strictum ) Yellow Star-Grass ( Hypoxis hirsuta )
FERNS
Maidenhair ( Adiantum pedatum ) Christmas Fern ( Aspidimn acrosticho- ides ) Ebony Spleenwort ( Asplenium ebeneum ) Lady Fern ( Asplenium Filix-femina) New York Fern ( Aspidium Novebora- (ense )
Spinlose Wood Fern ( Aspidinm Spinu- losum var. intermedium)
Evergreen Wood Fern ( Aspidium mar- ginale )
Marsh Fern ( Aspidium Thelypteris)
Rattlesnake Fern ( Botrychium Virgini- anum) Ternate Grape Fern (Botrychimn dis- sectum)
26
PAST AND PRESENT
Hay-scented Fern (Dicksonia pilosins- enla ) Sensitive Fern ( Onoclea sensibilis)
Cinnamon Fern ( Osmunda cinnamonea )
Royal Fern ( Osmunda regalis)
Interrupted Fern ( Osmunda Claytoni- ana )
Broad Beech Fern ( Phegopteris Hexa- gonoptera ) Polypody ( Polypodium vulgare)
Brake or Eagle Fern ( Pteris aquilina)
LYCOPODIUMS (Ground Pine)
Lycopodium lucidulum Lycopodium absenrum
Lycopodium clavatum
Lycopodium complanatum
HORSE-TAIL
Dutch Rushes, Scouring Rush ( Equise- tum Hyemale) Common Horse-tail ( Equisetum arvense)
TREES OF RIDGEWOOD
No other two syllable word or two-word combination could so fit- tingly describe the physical characteristics of this village as the name "Ridgewood." Most of our citizens in deciding to make their homes here have been influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by the wooded or tree-covered ridges.
Trees are more indispensable to the beautifying of a city than architecture of the most æsthetie design. Washington, one of the most conspicuous examples of the city beautiful in America, would not be half so beautiful without its trees. And the trees of this village are one of the first of its features to impress the stranger with the desir- ability of Ridgewood as a place of residence.
The healthfulness of Ridgewood, also, which is widely known and which has been generally credited to the porous nature of the soil and substrata, is in as large a measure due to the influence of the trees. It is elaimed by the New York County Medical Society that "an adequate number of trees in the streets is one of the most effective means for mitigating the intense heat of the summer months and diminishing the death-rate among children"; and the Newark Shade Commission maintains that-
"The large percentage of ozone in forest air and the searcity of it in the treeless streets where crowded dwellings abound demonstrates that this tonie and recuperative element of the air is due to the presence of trees and the lack of it to their absence. The air in the vicinity of trees contains less bacteria and dust particles than does the air outside of tree influence, which again demonstrates that the presence of trees decreases the total atmos- pherie impurities."
The site of Ridgewood at the time of the coming of the white man was, no doubt, a dense forest of evergreens and deciduous trees. At the present time acres of forest land of a later tree growth, with here and there a specimen tree of the virgin forest, still remain within the village limits and only a few minutes' walk from the railroad station. To one viewing Ridgewood from the crest of some of its hills, it appears as though the Village were built in a forest; and this is actually the case with some of the newer seetions.
Following is a list naming the forest trees of Ridgewood and vieinity and also, as far as known, the shade and ornamental trees of the
27
Courtesy C. H. L. Mitchell
Pearsall's Grove-East Ridgewood Avenue-In the Early 90's.
PAST AND PRESENT
Village. Those marked with an asterisk are exotic to this immediate The others are indigenous or naturalized.
Conifers
Family or Genus
Common Name
Ginkgo Pines
* Maidenhair Tree White Pine
Jersey or Serub Pine Pitch Pine
# Austrian Pine
" Scotch Pine * Swiss Pine
Mugho Pine * Ilimalayan Pine Tamarack
Larch Spruce
** * * *
Norway Spruce Colorado Blue Spruce
White Spruce
Firs Hemlock
# Nordmann's Fir Hemlock Spruce
Arborvitæ
Retinospora
* Common American Arborvitæ, and varieties Japanese Cedars or Japanese Cy- ** press in variety Red Cedar, and many exotics
Chamaecyparis Juniperus Virginiana
BROAD LEAVED TREES
Walmts
Black Walnut Butternut
Juglans nigra Cinerea Sieboldiana
flickories
Pignut or White Hickory
Shagbark Bitternut
Poplars
* Carolina Poplar Aspen Large-toothed aspen * Balm of Gilead * Abele or White Poplar
Willows
Lombardy Black Willow Yellow Willow Pussy Willow
Hornbeams
Weeping Willow Hop Hornbeam, Ironwood American Hornbeam, Blue Beech American White Birch
Birches
Yellow Birch Red Birch Cherry, Sweet or Black Birch Green Alder American Beech European Beech * Fern-leaved Beech Weeping Beech * Cut-leaved Beech
Fagus Americana sylvatica asplenifolia pendula heterophylla purpurea
Chestnuts
# Copper Beech American Chestnut (Only sprouts remaining) * Japanese Chestnut White Oak
Castanea dentata Japonica Querens alba
Oaks
Scientific Name Salisburia adiantifolia Pimis strobus
Virginiana rigida Austriaca sylvestris cembra Montana excelsa Larix Americana Picea excelsa pungens glauca alba Abies Nordmanniana Tsuga Canadensis
Thuya occidentalis
Junipers
* Japanese Walnut
Hicoria glabra orata minima Populus Carolinensis tremuloides grandidentata balsamifera alba nigra Salix nigra blanda discolor Babylonica Ostrya Virginiana Carpinus Caroliniana Betula populifolia Intea nigra lenta Alus viridis
Alder Beeches
29
locality.
RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
Family or Genus
Common Name
Oaks
Swamp White Oak
Chestnut Oak
Chineapin Oak Pin Oak
Red Oak Scarlet Oak
Black Oak Bear or Scrub Oak
nana
phellos robur concordia
Elms
# Willow Oak * Golden Oak White or American Elin Slippery Elm
* English Elm Red Mulberry
* Osage Orange
Sweet or Swamp Bay
* Cucumber Tree
* Chinese and Japanese Magnolias in variety
Sassafras Hamamelis Liquidambar Sycamore
Sassafras
Wych Hazel or Witch Hazel Sweet Gum Buttonwood
Apples Mountain Ash
* Plane Tree Wild Crab Apple
* American Mountain Ash * European Ash or Rowan Tree Shad-bush Dwarf June-berry Cockspur Thorn
C'ratægus Wild Red or Yellow Phun Cherry
Wild Phim Wild Black Cherry Choke Cherry Mazzards
*
Japanese Weeping Cherry
Yellow-wood Red Bud Gleditsia Gymnocladus Robinia
* Virgilia
('ladrastis lutea
C'ercis Canadensis
Gleditsia triacanthos
Kentucky Coffee Tree Black Locust
* ( lammy Locust
*
Japanese Pagoda Tree
** Tree of Heaven Staghorn Sumach Dwarf Sumach Poison Sumach Smooth Sumach
Hollies
" American Smoke Tree Black Alder Smooth Winter-berry
Purning Bush Maples
* Burning Bush Red or Swamp Maple Silver or Soft Maple Sugar. Rock or Hard Maple
* Striped Maple or Moosewood # Box Elder or Ash-leaved Maple
* Norway Maple
* Japanese Maples
Scientific Name Quercus platanoides prinus prinoides palustris rubra. coccinia velutina
Ulmus Americana fulva campestris Morus celtidifolia Toxylon pomiferum Magnolia glauca acuminata
Sassafras sassafras Hamamelis Virginiana Liquidambar styracifmua Plantanus occidentalis orientalis Malus coronaria Sorbus Americana anenparia Amelanchier Canadensis obovalis Cratægus Crus-galli
Prunus Americana Prunus serotina Virginiana Avium Cerasus Japonica var. Rosea Pendula.
* Judas Tree Honey Locust
Sophora Ailanthus Sumachs
Gymnoeladus dioicus Robinia pseudacacia viscosa Sophora Japonica Ailanthus glandulosa Rhus Hirta Copallina vernis glabra cotinus Americana
Ilex verticillata lævigata Euonymous atropurpureus Acer rubrum saccharinum saecharum Pennsylvanicum negundo platanoides Japonicum in variety
30
.
Mulberries
Magnolias
Service Berries
PAST AND PRESENT
Family or Genus
Common Name
Scientific Name
Esculus
* White-Flowering, Horse Chestnut
Esculus Hippocastanum Carnea
* Red-Flowering, Horse Chestnut American Linden, Basswood
Tilia Americana
European Linden
Crimean Linden Silver Linden
Europea dasystyla tomentosa
Aralia
Hercules Club
Aralia spinosa
Nyssa Dogwoods Persimmon Ash
Persimmon White Ash
Fraxinus Americana
Black Ash
* White Fringe Tree
* Indian Bean
Catalpa Bignonioides Bungei
Chinese Catalpa
* Western Catalpa
speciosa
Viburnum
Black Haw
Viburnum prunifolium
* Exotic.
** Naturalized.
BIRD LIFE OF RIDGEWOOD
As might be expected from its beautiful location and surroundings, Ridgewood is very rich in bird life; and the birds will be found very interesting and appreciative by any one who attempts to study and attract them.
Bird life varies with the seasons even more than flowers and foliage. In considering the "Bird Life of Ridgewood," it may be well to divide them into four main classes-Permanent Residents, Summer Residents, Winter Residents, and Transients. There is another class known as Occasional Visitants, but its name will immediately eliminate it from consideration in this publication.
By far the largest and best known group is that of the Summer Residents. Few there are of the more observant people who do not recognize the song and chipping sparrows, the house wren, the swallows, the catbird, the bluebird, the robin, and perhaps one or two of the other thrushes. The interest in birds, and consequently the knowledge of them, is becoming so much more general that there are probably many Ridgewoodites who know a great many more than these. One resident in particular, the late Henry Hales, took an enthusiastic interest in bird life. He made a most valuable collection of birds, particularly those of this locality. Through his many articles on bird life written for seientifie papers, he became a recognized authority on the subject. Many persons have shown their love for our feathered friends by plac- ing bird houses on their grounds. The practice of erecting bird houses and maintaining feeding stations for birds is commended to any one who wishes to benefit his own home and the village at large, and who would enjoy many happy hours in observation and study of these shy yet friendly-disposed neighbors.
The house wren and the blue bird are undoubtedly the species most easily attracted by the nesting box, if we except always the English sparrow, which will quite unceremoniously make himself comfortable
31
Nyssa sylvatica
Tupelo, Black Gum or Pepperidge Flowering Dogwood
Cornus Florida
Diospyros Virginiana
Chionanthus C'atalpa
* * *
nigra Chionanthus Virginica
Lindens
RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
in any available place, whether his presence is desired or not. Robins take kindly to shallow boxes or shelves placed in sheltered spots and, if they are not disturbed, will often become tame enough to nest under the eaves of the piazza roof. Chipping sparrows are very fond of close privet hedges, grape vines and low bushes. Sometimes a song sparrow will be found who has the temerity to make a home in shrubbery not far from the house. Those who live on the outskirts of the village and have barns with haylofts will have no trouble in attracting barn swallows, if there are ventilators or other openings through which the birds may pass in going to and from their nests.
One may find, in wandering afield, that the possibilities are almost unlimited for the careful student who is able to recognize all the species of the Summer Residents he sees. He will probably first be attracted by the birds of the air-barn and tree swallows, chimney swifts, and perhaps crows and bluejays, the two latter being Permanent Residents. Down by Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, or in similar places, he may see water thrushes stepping quietly along over the pebbles on the shore. In the bushes nearby may be found many other kinds of warblers, notably black and white, yellow and black throated, blue, Maryland yellow-throats, and American redstarts. In the adjacent thiekets the loud crescendo chant, "Teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher," reveals the modest ovenbird. Red-eyed vireos keep up a continual chatter in the trees overhead, and from the thickets where the Mary- land yellow-throats flit to and fro, may be heard the harsh call notes of the eatbird. Back in the more obscure places the Wood and Wilson thrushes hold forth with their liquid notes, particularly toward even- ing, and pour forth music well worth the attention of the passerby. Here, or in still more secluded nooks, the bird lover may hear the quiet «huekle of the black-billed cuckoo or "raincrow," but it will take careful stalking and diligent search if he is actually to catch a glimpse of the author of the notes. At a wide spot in the brook or over some ice pond he may see a kingfisher poised for a sudden dive as an un- suspecting "sunny" comes to the surface within the scope of his keen vision ; or he may hear him clatter noisily as he flies overhead to seek new pools for investigation, the bright blue and white flashing bril- liantly against the darker foliage.
Out in the open fields a medley made up of many voices will fall upon the listener's ears. A little practice, however, will enable him to distinguish the whistle of the meadowlark, the similar and yet dif- ferent thrills of the chipping and field sparrows, the "cherink" of the chewink or towhee, and many other characteristic bird calls and songs. Perhaps in the top of a tree in the middle of the field will be a brown thrasher pouring forth a varied, but far from unpleasant, jumble of notes. If it is well on toward midsummer, he may catch the flash of yellow and black as a goldfinch, or more often a flock of them, passes over with a jerky and undulating flight.
If, as frequently is the case, the field slopes down to a marshy spot. with wild flags, arrowhead and cat-tails, he will find any quantity of red-winged blackbirds flying back and forth or circling overhead, utter- ing their distinctive "conk-err-ee-e." Here also he may find the less
32
.
PAST AND PRESENT
conspicuous rusty blackbird or the larger and more highly tinted purple grackle, although these two are more often found in drier locations.
At any time on an open country road the wayfarer may start up inconspicuous birds that fly ahead along the fences and disclose white outer tail feathers, the characteristic mark of the vesper sparrow. In the trees along the roadside a flash of black and orange will betray the Baltimore oriole, whose nest is suspended from the very tip of one of the branches. Flying over the road to his hole in a telegraph pole or hollow tree in an orchard may be seen the flicker or golden- winged woodpecker, easily to be distinguished by its graceful undu- lating flight and the flash of yellow as the sunlight strikes the lower surface of his wings. Another woodpecker, which is a Permanent Resi- dent and may be encountered almost anywhere, is the downy, or more particularly the northern downy; for there is a slightly smaller variety which is common in the South. A bird more thoroughly at home in the orchard, but frequently seen on the telephone or telegraph wires along the roadside, is the kingbird, easily recognized by the head-erest and the white tip to each tail feather, making the tail appear to have a white border. Even more common in orchards, and frequently found nesting under old bridges, is the phoebe, known to almost every one. Quiet and unassuming as the phoebe is, it is particularly industrious in consuming large numbers of harmful insects.
Another Permanent Resident not seen quite so much in Summer perhaps as in Winter, is the well-known black-capped chickadee. In New England this bird has been reported as nesting in artificial houses. A bird more common than ordinarily supposed, but one frequently overlooked on account of its small size and lightning-like movements, is the brilliant little ruby-throated hummingbird, which darts here and there among the flowers, poising himself occasionally before one of them to take honey on the wing, only to be off again in a flash to a flower in another section of the garden.
Probably many whose interest is greater than their knowledge have wondered what bird is responsible for the queer anties and nasal "peent" that they have observed toward dusk. This is none other than the nighthawk, which is much more common around Ridgewood than the whip-poor-will, from which it may be distinguished by the white markings on the wings and by the forked tail.
The fall migration affords the bird-lover an opportunity to see species which are not here at any other time except during the corre- sponding period in the reverse migration in the spring. By far the most numerous migrants in point of variety are the warblers, and most prominent among these is the myrtle warbler, which comes early and stays late. It is very difficult to distinguish the warblers in the fall of the year, as the male, female and young all take on dull plumage, which makes them look practically alike and very similar to the other warblers. The yellow-palm is another fairly common migrant which may be distinguished from other warblers by the chestnut crown and side spots and the white patches on the outer tail feathers. It may be found in open woods and along roadsides, but it more often frequents the neighborhood of a brook.
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