USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne County [Pa.] > Part 6
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73
THE BLUEBIRD AND SWALLOW.
which can be heard far away for a mile or more; then he claps his head close to the tree and listens for the movement of any grub or insect that he may have disturbed. The red-headed woodpecker is a gay, frol- icsome bird, living upon grubs, cherries, and green corn. Their nests are built in some hole made in dead trees. They are a match for any bird in a fight. There is a small woodpecker called a sap-sucker, which bores holes in apple-trees. The whole race is diminishing in numbers.
THE BLUEBIRD.
This bird is a favorite every-where. He is known to almost every child. His reappearance after his South- ern pilgrimage is hailed as the herald of returning spring. "So early as the first of March," says Wilson, "if the weather be open, he usually makes his appear- ance about his old haunts, the barn, orchard, and fence posts. Storms and deep snows sometimes succeeding, he disappears for a time, but about the first of April is again seen, accompanied by his mate, visiting the box in the garden, or the hole in the old apple-tree, the cradle of some generations." The food of the bluebird is made up of insects, particularly large beetles, fruits, and seeds. Its song is short, but very cheerful, and is most frequently heard in the calm, pleasant days of spring.
THE SWALLOW.
As the bluebird is the harbinger of spring, the swal- low is the harbinger of summer. The barn-swallow
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74
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
comes in May and immediately commences the build- ing of its nest in and about barns and sheds, which is made with mud and lined with fine grass, feathers, and hair. It is not unusual for twenty or thirty of them to build in and about the same barn; and every opera- tion is carried on with great order. No appearance of discord is exhibited in this affectionate community. They have often two broods in a season, the female laying four eggs for each brood. The male cheers his mate with his sprightly twitter during her period of incubation. The activity of the male is unremitting. Almost constantly on the wing, he catches his prey in his flight, which consists wholly of winged in- sects. The flight of the barn-swallow is rapid, circuit- ous, and varied by the most intricate and zigzag evolu- tions. To show the kindly nature of the swallow, per- mit me to relate that I once knew two pair of swal- lows to commence their nests late in the season, in a place not fifty feet from my door. At first the nests increased slowly. One morning, hearing an uncom- mon amount of twittering, I found that they had got up a bee and that ten or a dozen were at work upon said nests which were quickly completed; a brood of young swallows was raised in each, in time to join the great convocation which took their departure in August for a Southern clime. Another variety of these birds is the chimney-swallow, which builds and breeds in chimneys. They fly. very high in the air. Their wings being very narrow are kept in a constant flutter, and as they do not descend to the ground, they must
75
THE PURPLE MARTIN AND KINGBIRD.
feed on flies and insects which are beyond the reach of our vision.
THE PURPLE MARTIN.
This bird is a particular favorite wherever he makes his home. He is more likely, than the common swal- low, to make his nest in a box; indeed something like a box is what he seeks to build in. At any rate the summer residence of this agreeable bird is always chosen near the habitations of man, who, be he black or white, civilized or savage, is generally his friend and protector. In habits, this noble bird closely re- sembles the swallow, excepting that the martin is val- iant in fight. He is the terror and common enemy of crows, hawks, and eagles, uniting with the kingbird in attacking them. It is astonishing with what spirit and audacity, this bird sweeps around his enemy and in- flicts painful blows with his poniard bill. He gives the kingbird a beating when he finds him in the vicinity of his premises. He is migratory and insectivorous.
THE KINGBIRD.
This bird is also called the tyrant fly-catcher. These names have been given to him on account of his be- havior in breeding time, and for the despotic authority he assumes over all other birds. His extreme attach- ment to his mate, nest, and young, makes him suspi- cious of every bird that comes near his chosen abode, so that he attacks every intruder without discrimina- tion. Hawks, crows, and even the eagle dread an en- counter with him. He generally comes off conqueror.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Upon his return from a successful combat, he mounts a tree near his nest and commences rejoicing with a shrill, rapid, and hilarious twittering, to assure his mate that she is safe under his protection. The purple mar- tin is said to be, in a square fight, more than a match for him. The general color of the kingbird is a slaty ash, the throat and lower parts being white. He is migratory and insectivorous, and the orchard is his favorite resort.
THE WREN.
This noisy, chattering, restless, quarrelsome little bird chooses his summer abode near some farm-house or barn, and is not particular as to the place where his nest shall be made, but, when once made, the place is sacred to him. He is a bold, saucy, and aggressive bird, being jealous of every bird that builds near him, and is accused of tearing to pieces the nests of the bluebird and barn-swallow. If his nest is built in a crevice, he lays down a long trail of little sticks at each end of his nest. These telegraphic sticks convey intel- ligence of the approach of an intruder. The song of this little chatterer is lively and agreeable. Children always admire the little, sociable wren. He destroys an immense number of flies and insects.
THE WHIP-POOR-WILL.
This bird is seldom seen or heard in the beech or hemlock woods. They prefer high, dry lands, and frequent the Delaware and the open woods. They are noted for their staid and peculiar song, in which
77
THE COW-BIRD.
they indulge during the calm and warm nights of June and July. This is the only bird that breaks the stillness of our summer nights, save the boding owl. They seem to articulate plainly the words by which they are called. Their color, in the upper part, is a dark brownish gray, streaked and slightly sprinkled with brownish black; cheeks of a brown red; quill feathers, dark brown, spotted in bars, with light brown; tail feathers, white at the tips, under parts, paler than the upper, and mottled. The female lays her eggs on the bare ground, and when they are hatch- ed, she is extremely attentive to her young.
The night-hawk, though resembling the whip-poor- will, is a different bird. The latter is altogether noc- turnal, while the night-hawk in cloudy weather is often abroad, in the day-time, chasing its insect prey, sometimes skimming over meadow and marsh, and making shrill, squeaking sounds as it dashes along. It lays its eggs on the ground. It is migratory and in- sectivorous.
THE COW-BIRD.
This bird, although larger than a cat-bird, some- what resembles it. Many call it the cuckoo, although its notes are altogether unlike those of the English cuckoo, which distinctly pronounces its name. But the notes of the bird that we are describing may be represented by the words "cow, cow, cow," quickly repeated, consequently it is called cow-bird in every part of the country. Wilson calls this bird the yel- low-billed cuckoo. Like the English cuckoo, this bird
78
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
deposits its eggs in the nests of other birds, which sometimes hatch and rear the alien impostors, to the great discomfort of their own brood. The naturalist, Le Vaillant, from evidence collected by him, became convinced that the female cow-bird carries the egg in her mouth from her own nest to that of another bird. Perhaps she has a surplus of them, for it is a fact that the cow-bird builds a simple, flat nest, composed of dry sticks and grass. They rear only one brood in a season. The young of the cow-bird have been found in the nests of the robin, blue-bird, and fly-catchers. The cooing of this bird is considered an indication of rain. The Pennsylvania Germans call it the rain- bird.
BLUE JAY.
This bird, clad in blue varied with purple and white, and barred on the wings and tail with black, when viewed without prejudice, is a beautiful tenant of the woods, and is distinguished as a kind of beau among the feathered tribes. He makes himself conspicuous by his loquacity, and the oddness of his tones and gestures. In early times, the jay gave notice by his screams and squalling to all the beasts that the hunter was approaching. We are glad to be excused from repeating the exact language that was sometimes used in imprecating vengeance upon this "blue devil," as the hunters called him. If the hunter turned upon him, away he went with a vehement outery, flying off and screaming with all his might. " A stranger," says Wilson, "might readily mistake his notes for the re-
79
THE MEADOW-LARK AND CEDAR-BIRD.
peated creakings of an ungreased wheelbarrow." The jay builds a large nest, lining it with fibrous roots.' The eggs, five in number, are of a dull olive color. He is omnivorous, living on nuts and Indian corn, then on caterpillars, and then, at other times, he plun- ders the nests of small birds of their eggs and young. He is becoming scarce, and no one will mourn over his extinction.
THE MEADOW-LARK,
Larger than the robin, is a shy, agreeable bird, that comes up from its Southern home and stays from two to three months and returns. Its back and wings are marbled with brown and gray, and its breast is light olive, sprinkled with brown spots. The nest is made in tall grass and is so well concealed that it is seldom found. Its notes are pleasant, but without variety. Farmers consider it harmless and insectivorous.
THE CEDAR-BIRD
Is small and graceful with a soft, silken, dun-colored plumage. The feathers on the head are elevated into a beautiful crest of a bright, brownish gray. It is generally known as the cherry bird, and is sure to be on hand as soon as strawberries and cherries are ripe. It is a peculiarity of these birds to fly in close, compact flocks of twenty or thirty in a flock, and for all to light upon the same tree. Where the red cedar is found, these birds feed upon its berries. About the 10th of June they disperse over the country in pairs to breed,
80
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
and spread through the Middle and Western States. They utter nought but a lisping sound.
THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
Fifty years ago this bird was scarcely seen or known in the beech-woods. In consequence of the increasing heat of our summers it is multiplying in numbers. It derives its name from the brilliant orange and black colors of the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore. In former times it was called the hang-bird from the hang- ing and pensile position of its nest. This beautiful creature arrives among us about the first of June, and departs early in August. In plumage it somewhat re- sembles the dark-winged tanager, and like it is very sensitive to cold. It exhibits wonderful ingenuity in constructing its long, pouch-like nest in the forked ex- tremity of some high tree. To be justly admired, the nest must be seen. The position chosen by the oriole for its pensile nest is, no doubt, prompted by instinct as a means of security against squirrels, snakes, and other enemies. Besides insects it feeds on strawber- ries, cherries, and other fruits. Its notes are a clear, mellow, flute-like whistle repeated at short intervals in a plaintive tone, and are extremely musical. The late Mrs. H. G. Otis, some years ago, took to Boston an oriole's nest, which was constructed with magical skill, and sold it at a fair for five dollars. The nest was built in a high elm upon her premises in Bethany.
THE SNOW-BIRDS
First appear about the twentieth of October in
81
THE NUT-HATCH.
flocks of twenty or thirty, flying about very leisurely and searching for food. When deep snows cover the ground, they collect about barns, stables, and even about the farm-houses, and become almost tame, gath- ering up crumbs and appearing lively and grateful. They retire northwards in April. Dr. Kane speaks of them as being very abundant in high latitudes, where they make their nests upon the ground. Their length is five inches, and their general color slate-gray, the lower part of the breast being nearly white. There is another larger bird, called the snow-bunting, which only appears in small flocks, in the depth of winter, commonly before a snow-storm. They frequent barn- yards and hay-stacks in search of hay-seed. The color of these birds is of a yellowish gray. They probably come from and return to the Arctic regions. They are timorous, suspicious birds.
THE NUT-HATCH
Is found almost every-where in the Northern States, among the large trees, in thick forests, but is seldom known or called by its proper name. It is a small bird about five or six inches in length, with a white breast, the back and wings being rufous-brown and gray. It breeds in holes which it finds or makes in old trees, and lives upon beech-nuts, chestnuts, and hazel-nuts, which it can open with its strong pointed bill. Any man who has been much in the woods must have observed a bird that can run swiftly, head- foremost, down a tree. That bird was a nut-hatch.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
He must have noticed that the same bird was in the habit of running in circles around a tree, searching in the seams of the bark for insects. Naturalists declare that this bird is of an untamable disposition and will not endure confinement. It has been known to batter up its bill in its attempts to es- cape from a cage, and after days of painful struggles, to die with exhaustion and vexation. There is a variety of this bird called creeper. Among them is a very small one called the phebe-bird, which will some- times come and repeat its name from some tree near a dwelling-house.
There is another creeper, called "cocheek," which is seldom seen, but is sometimes heard in the woods, most frequently in June, repeating in a very high, lond key "cocheek, cocheek, cocheck," very rapidly for a dozen or more times, and the sounds can be heard eighty rods away. Some have supposed that the noise is made by a squirrel, but I know to the contrary from my own observation.
THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMING-BIRD.
This is the only species of the genus found in the original Thirteen States, though there are scores of dif- ferent kinds in America. It is found only on this con- tinent. It needs no lengthy description, as it cannot be mistaken for any other bird. It comes to the North only in the summer months. It is the smallest and one of the most brilliant of the feathered race. No bird excels its powers of flight. Its long and narrow
83
THE SONG-SPARROW.
wings are admirably adapted for aerial progression. Its flight from flower to flower resembles that of a bee, but is much more rapid. It can suspend itself in one place for several seconds so steadily that its wings can scarcely be seen, while it thrusts its long bill into the flowers, to inhale their nectared sweets. When it alights, it prefers some small twig. The ground is never its resting place. It feeds not only upon the nectar of flowers but also on insects. In describing this bird, naturalists have exhausted all their skill. Buffon, the French ornithologist, obtained these birds at great expense and domesticated them, and his description of them is inimitable.
THE SONG-SPARROW.
This bird is a representative of the song finches of the Northern States. It is the first singing bird in the spring, and is heard through the summer and autumn. It will sit upon the branches of a small tree and, per- haps, for a whole hour, repeat its short and enlivening notes. It builds its nest on the ground, in general, but, sometimes, strange to say, in trees five or six feet from the ground. Its eggs are of a cream-color, speckled with brown. The male and female are nearly alike in color. The upper part of the head is of an iron-rust
hue, mixed with dark-brown; back gray, neck and breast spotted with brown, under parts white, tinged with gray. There are other familiar kinds of finches as the field, tree, white-throated, and chipping-sparrow. The latter is a very small bird, which keeps about the
84
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
kitchen yard and tamely comes near the door-steps for grain or scattered crumbs. It builds its nest by the side of a stone, year after year, if not molested. It picks out the downy seed of the thistle, and destroys many worms, especially the cabbage-worm. Its notes are short but agreeable. The English sparrows which have been recently naturalized, were imported into New York and Philadelphia to destroy the worms and cat- erpillars that were destroying the foliage of the decor- ative trees in their public parks. They effected what they were expected to do. These birds have increased wonderfully and spread into all our large cities and towns, and, though our climate is too cold for them, yet they contrive to live, for they are bold, active, and full of fight. They do not go into the farming dis- tricts, nor invade the forests, but confine themselves to towns and cities, where they work as petty scavengers in the streets. These birds did not come here of their own free-will, but, like the negroes, were forced into the country. But a loud complaint is now made that these sparrows are saucy and aggressive and that they are dispossessing and driving out our native birds, and the inquiry is being made, How shall we get rid of them? The devilish proposition has been made to poison them all! It must be admitted that these birds partake of the nature of the people of the island from which they came; which people have, by their warlike craftiness and enterprise, by fair means and foul, con- quered, colonized, and taken possession of, by force of arms, large portions of the globe. It little becomes
85
THE BLACK-CAP TITMOUSE.
us, the descendants of men who drove out and destroy- ed the Aborigines, to blame and persecute the little birds for doing, in their line, what we excuse our fore- fathers for doing.
THE BLACK-CAP TITMOUSE.
This is the bird that every body knows by the name of chickadee. It ranges through the whole width of the American Continent from latitude sixty-five degrees to the Southern districts of the United States, being stationary throughout the year. "Small families of chickadees," says Nuttall, "are seen chattering and roving the woods, busily engaged in gleaning their multifarious food with the nut-hatchers and creepers, altogether forming a busy, active, and noisy group, whose manners, food, and habits, bring them together in a common pursuit. Their diet varies with the sea- son. In the month of September they leave the woods and assemble familiarly in our orchards and gardens, and even enter thronging cities in quest of that sup- port which their native forests now deny them." But what more than any thing else endears these little birds to us is the fact that when "winter spreads its, latest gloom, and reigns tremendous o'er the conquered year," the chickadees prove themselves no summer friends ; they stay with us, cheering us by chanting their sweet notes, picking up crumbs near the houses, searching the weather-boards for spiders and the eggs of destruc- tive moths, especially those of the canker-worm, which they greedily eat in all stages of its existence. The lar-
86
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
vae of no insect can escape their searching sight. When the woodman, in the winter or spring, fells the forest timber, the chickadees will be there to cheer him with their presence and their song. They can hear the fall of the tree a great distance, and are very soon upon the spot, searching among the broken and decayed wood for insects and the larvae of every kind of beetle. In describing the bird, suffice it to say, that the top of the head, the back of the neck, and the throat are vel- vet black; the back is lead-colored with a little white on the front of the neck. They roost in the hollows of decayed trees, where they, also, hatch their young. After a brood is reared, the whole family continues to associate together through the succeeding autumn and winter. Where is the man or woman reared in the country that does not remember how in childhood days he or she was captivated by the dress and song of the little chickadee ?
THE TANAGER.
There are several varieties of this bird, one of which is called the cardinal or summer red-bird. This kind is very shy and timorous, and he seems to realize that his dazzling, crimson plumage exposes him to scrutiny and observation. He, therefore, takes up his abode in the deep recesses of tangled forests, and very little is known about him. In Western Pennsylvania and Ohio this bird is quite common, often building its nest in large orchards, and visiting cherry-trees in search of fruit. The black-winged tanager is a bird
87
THE YELLOW-BIRD.
of still greater beauty. The whole body is of a deep crimson. The wings are black and the tail is dark purple, excepting the ends of the feathers, which are tipped and dotted with white. The whole form of this bird is symmetrical and faultless. There are many persons who declare that they have seen this bird, but none, perhaps, that have seen him for many years. He is doubtless, so far as plumage and symme- try are concerned, the most beautiful bird that ever lived in our woods; and no being less than an omnipo- tent God could have made a bird of such transcendent beauty.
THE YELLOW-BIRD,
Also called goldfinch, very much resembles the domestic canary. In the spring they gather in flocks and bask and dress themselves in the sunshine. If there is any such thing as pure sublunary happiness, they appear to enjoy it. Their song is weak, but, when many of them join in concert, the mingling of ' their notes produces an agreeable harmony. They seem to take great delight in washing themselves by flying through any small column of falling water. Their flight is not in a direct line, but in alternate ris- ings and sinkings. In the early part of June they associate in large flocks to feed upon the seeds of the sweet-scented vernal grass which seems to be their favorite food. Their nests are built in small trees, being constructed with great neatness and skill and lined with some soft, downy substance. This hand- some bird does not appear to be decreasing in num-
88
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
bers. It is too small to invite the destructive cruelty of the huntsman.
There is another bird which is called the summer- yellow-bird, which is about five inches in length, with an upper plumage of greenish-yellow, the wings and tail deep brown, edged with yellow. Formerly this bird frequented gardens and orchards, built a cosy nest and lined it with down. Its plumage was showy, but its song was short and weak. This bird has dis- appeared, being too sensitive to bear our cold, chilling winds.
THE CROW BLACK BIRD.
This bird appears in every part of the country at different times. Formerly they committed great havoc among the fields of maize. Less complaint has been made about them in late years. Transient flocks of them are seen every spring and fall. The walk of this bird is stately and dignified. The red-winged variety built its nest among alders, hatching out five or six at a brood. This latter kind was also very fond of Indian corn. They all have but one simple note which they often repeat and which sounds like the word "check."
THE BOBOLINK.
The bobolink is classified among the blackbirds, being mostly black, relieved by a stripe of white. The song of the male, which is loud, varied, and re- peated generally upon the wing, while he hovers over the field, where his mate is attending to the duties of
89
THE DIPPER.
incubation, has a gushing joyousness which the most skillful mimic cannot imitate. The female is a little brown bird, with one simple note, and makes her nest in the grass. Their stay at the North is very short; on leaving they go to Chesapeake bay and are there called reed-birds; thence to the rice fields of the South, where they are called rice-birds, and, on becoming fat, are killed in great numbers.
THE DIPPER.
This is a timorous, high-stilted, little water-bird that in summer runs along the shores of our ponds, making a piping sound, and belongs to the order of sandpipers. He swims and dives well and is very graceful in the water, but when on land is constantly rocking his body backwards and forwards, dipping his head downwards, from which motion he has been called the dipper. Although we have searched for the nest of this shy bird, we never found one.
There are probably some other birds that are tran- sient visitors among us, such as the flicker, the scrap- ing-thrush, and cross-bill. Even the mocking-bird has been seen in Lebanon township. The greater part of the birds that come among us in the summer months, stay just long enough to build their nests, hatch, and rear their young and then are away. They come, in all probability, to escape from the snakes, squirrels, and birds of prey which are so abundant in Southern climes. The vivid, bewitching greenness of our forests
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