USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 13
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TIIE BARRED OWL. Strix nebulosu .- LINNAEUS.
DESCRIPTION .- General color umber- brown, spotted and barred with white and yellowish white above ; beneath whitish, barred transversely on the breast and longitudinally on the belly with umber brown, and having large sagittate spots of the same on the feathers towards the tail; tail long, reaching 4 inches beyond the folded wings, rounded, tipped with white, convex above, and crossed by six broad bars of umber brown, separated by narrow bars of yellowish wlutte ; plumage in front
ILisToRY .- The Barred Owl inhabits both the eastern and western continents. It is found in all parts of the United States, and is one of the most common owls found in Vermont. It does not con- fine itself' to the woods, but comes around our dwellings and is often seen among our shade trees and orchards in the midst of our villages. I have before me two specimens,both of which were shot in the village of Burlington. Their food con- sists of young hares, squirrels, mice, grous and other birds, and also of frogs and other reptiles. They sometimes destroy chickens. This owl, according to Au- dubon, does not build a nest, but lays its eggs, in the latter part of March, upon the soft rotten wood in a hollow tree, and sometimes in the old nest of a crow or red-tail hawk. The eggs are of a globu- lar form, pure white, with a smooth shell and from 4 to 6 in number.
THE SAW-WHET.
Strix acadica .- GMEL.
Ulula acadica .- Aud. Am. Birds, 1-123, p1. 33.
DESCRIPTION .- General color above olivaceous brown, scapulars and some of the wing-coverts spotted with white ; the first six primary quills obliquely barred with white; tail darker, with two narrow white bars ; upper part of the head streak- ed with grayish-white ; ruff white, spotted with dusky. Lower parts whitish ; the sides and breast marked with broad elon- gated patches of brownish-red. Length of the male 74 inches, spread 17. Female 83, 18 .- Audubon.
IlsTORY .- This little owl is not un- common in Vermont, and it is generally known by the name of Saic-Whet ; and this name is derived from the sound of its peculiar note, which resembles that of the filing of the teeth of a large saw. People, who are unacquainted with this bird, travelling in the forest, are often deceived by its note, supposing them- selves to be approaching a saw-mill, while far remote from any settlement. Andu- bon relates that he himself was several times deceived in this way. This bird is sometimes called the Little Otel, or ' Little Acadian Owl.' It is retired and solitary in its habits, confining itself dur- ing the day to evergreen and other thick- ets of the forest. For rearing its young, the Saw- Whet takes possession of the old nest of a crow, or some other large bird,
67
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE BARN OWL.
THE MEADOW LARK.
or of' a hollow cavity of an old tree. The eggs are of a form approaching to globu- lar, are of a glossy-white color, and are from three to six in number. This owl ferds upon mice, beetles, moths and grasshoppers.
THIE BARN OWL.
Strix americana .- AUDUBON.
DESCRIPTION .- Bill pale grayish yel- low ; claws and scales brownish yellow. General color of the upper parts grayish brown, with light yellowish-red interspers- ed, produced by very minute mottling, cach feather having towards the end a central streak of deep brown terminated by a small oblong grayish-white spot ; wings sindarly colored ; secondary coverts and outer edges of primary coverts with a large proportion of light brownish-red, fading anteriorly into white, each feather having a small dark brown spot at the tip. Length and spread, male 17, 42; female 18, 46 .- Audubon.
Hisrony .- This owl, though very com- mon in the southern states, is so rare at the north-east, that Audubon says that he has never seen it to the eastward of Pennsylvania, and yet I am assured by Dr. Brewer that it is not only found in Vermont, but breeds here. This owl is entirely nocturnal in its habits, and when disturbed in the day time flies about in a irregular, bewildered manner. Audubon supposes its food to consist entirely of small quadrupeds. This owl is said to bear a close resemblance to the Strix flam- mea, or White Barn Owl.
OMNIVOROUS BIRDS.
These have the bill robust, medium- sized, and sharp on the edges; upper mandible more or less convex, and notch- ed at the point ; fret with four toes, three before and one behind ; wings of medium length ; quill feathers terminating in a point. They live, for the most part, in companies or flocks and are monogamous. The greater part of them build their nests on trees, but some of the species occupy the crannies of old walls, and some build upon the ground. Their principal food consists of insects, worms and carrion, to which they often add grain and fruit.
GENUS STURNUS .- Linnaeus.
Generic Characters .- The bill in the form of a lengthened cone, depressed and some- what blunt, with the edges vertical ; above some- what rounded. Nostrils partly closed by an arched membrane. The tongue narrowed, sharp, and clefi at the point ; the hind nail longest and lar- gest ; the first quill short, the second and third longest.
THIE MEADOW LARK.
Sturnus ludovicianus .- LINNAEUS.
DESCRIPTION .- The color above is va- riegated with black, bright bay and ochre- ous; beneath and a line over the eye bright yellow ; a black crescent on the breast ; tail wedge-form, feathers pointed, and the four outer ones nearly all white; bill brown above, bluish white beneath, conical with deep rounded sinuses at the base ; legs and feet large, reddish white. The sexes differ but little in color, but in the young the yellow is much fainter. Length of the specimen before me 10 inches ; folded wing, 5.
IIISTORY .- The Meadow Lark is a harmless bird, and is common in all parts of the United States, and particularly so in Vermont, where it breeds in large numbers. Their residence is chiefly in meadows and old fields. They build their hest in some thick tuft of dry grass. It is usually constructed of the coarse grass, lined with finer blades of the same, and approached by the bird through a con- cealed covered way, and hence they are not readily found. The eggs are large and white, with a bluish tint, and marked with brownish spots. They are usually 4 or 5 in number. The food of the Meadow Lark consists of the larve of various kinds of insects, worms, beetles and grass seeds ; but it does not meddle with fruits and berries. It is of' a shy, timid and retiring disposition, usually spending the whole summer in the moist meadows, and only retiring from them on the approach of winter.
GENUS ICTERUS .- Brisson.
Generic Characters .- Bill in the form of au elongated sharp pointed cone, somewhat compressed, rounded above, and rarely somewhat curved ; with the margins inflected. Nostrils oval, covered by a membrane. Tongue sharp and clett at the tip. Tarsus longer than the middle toe ; inner toe bat little shorter than the outer, and uearly equal to the hind one ; middle toe longest ; hind nail twice as large as the others. Wings sharp ; first and second primary, but little shorter than the third and fourth. which are longest. The female very dliferent from the male, and the young resemble the female.
68
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
THE RED-WINGED BLACK-RIRD.
THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE. Icterus Baltimore .- BONAPARTE.
DESCRIPTION .- Color of the shoulders, rump, lateral tail feathers, breast and belly bright orange ; head, back, wings, middle tail feathers and chin black ; wing feathers and coverts slightly edged with white on their outer webs; bill bluish horn color ; legs, feet and nails brownish ; iris hazel. lu the female and young the orange is pale, and the parts which are black in the male are grayish ; tail even ; hind toe and nail strongest; bill very acute ; 2d and 3d primaries equal and longest. Length of the specimen before me 7 inches ; folded wing, 4].
HisroRY .- The Baltimore Oriole, or Golden Robin, as he is here more common- ly called, is one of our most gay and live- ly birds. It arrives in Vermont in the early part of May, and about the begin- ning of June may be seen busily engaged in the construction of its nest. For this purpose they usually select a flexible branch of a tree standing on the side of a gentle declivity. The nest is suspended from this by strings or threads in the form of a pendulous cylindrical pouch 5 or 6 inches in depth. The exterior is formed of strings, strips of bark and other fibrous substances, and the interior lined with grass, moss, wool, hair or downy sub- stances. The eggs are usually 4 or 5 in number. They are white with a faint tinge of blue, and are usually marked at the large end with irregular brownish lines and spots. The period of incubation, according to Audubon, is 14 days, and the same pair frequently rear two broods in a season. Though shy and suspicious, they seem to prefer building their nests upon the high trees in the open land by the side of roads and about farm-houses. They feed their young principally with soft caterpillars, and the male and female both unite in this labor. The food of the old birds consists mostly of caterpillars and insects of different kinds. They are also fond of cherries, currants and straw-
berries, but do not often commit depreda- tions upon these fruits in our gardens. They are thought to possess an extraor- dinary relish for green peas, as they some- times attack those growing in our gar- dens. They split open the pod without detaching it from the vine, and, as is gon- erally supposed, for the purpose of obtain- ing the young and tender peas. But Mr. Peabody informs us that it has been as- certained by Dr. Harris, that the Oriole opens the pods not for the sake of the peas, but for the grub of the pea-bug ; and that instead of mischief, he is perform- ing a service, for which he is more de- serving of gratitude than reproach. Al- though we have several birds which oc- casionally do a little mischief in our fields and gardens, it is at least doubtful wheth- er we have any which would not be found to be beneficial rather than otherwise, were their history fully known. From its manner of building, this bird is often called he Hang Bird, or Ilang Nest.
THE RED-WINGED BLACK-BIRD. Icterus phoniccus .- DAUD.
DESCRIPTION .- Color of the male rich glossy black, with the exception of the lesser wing coverts, in which the lower row of feathers is of a buff orange color tipped with white, and the rest of a bright scarlet ; legs, feet and bill glossy black, the latter an elongated, straight, sharp- pointed cone, slightly flattened in front ; iris hazel ; tail rounded, reaching 2 inches beyond the folded wings. Length of the specimen before me 9 inches, the folded wing 5 inches, spread of the wings 13} inches. The female is considerably smal- ler than the male, and her general color dull reddish brown. "The lesser wing coverts usually exhibit something of the reddish and orange hue, but seldom, if ever, is the bright scarlet observed in the female.
IlisTORY .- This singularly marked bird usually arrives in Vermont early in April, and takes up its residence in flocks in the marshes and swamps. Here they com- mence building their nests about the mid-
69
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE COW BLACK-BIRD.
dle of May. These are usually construct- ed in a thicket of alders, or other bushes, at the height only of a few feet from the ground, and are made of the leaves of flags, swamp-grass, &c., something in the form of that of the Golden Robin. The eggs, varying from 3 to 5 in number, are bluish white, with irregular faint purple markings on the larger end. About the beginning of September they begin to col- lect in flocks, and sometimes do consid- erable damage to the unripe corn. But it is believed that the advantage derived from these birds in the destruction of larvæ and insects in the spring of the year vastly more than compensates for all the damage they do It is stated by Kalın, that after a great destruction of these and the connnon Black-Birds for the legal reward of 3d. per dozen, in 1748, the worms and grubs multiplied so ex- ceedingly as to destroy a great part of the grass in New England. *
THE COW BLACK-BIRD. Icterus pecoris -TEM.
DESCRIPTION .- Color glossy black with violet reflections from the back and breast; head and neck above and below dusky cinamon brown ; bill robust, conical, acute, slightly compressed towards the end, and of a glossy black color; upper mandible rounded and encroaching a little upon the forehead, sides of the lower mandable inflected ; nostrils basal and partly cov- cred ; neck short, body robust; tarsus compressed, acute behind and covered anteriorly with seven longish scutella ; toes free, lateral ones nearly equal ; legs, feet, and claws brownish black. Tail rather short and slightly forked. Wings longish, curved, slightly rounded and the 2d and 3d quills longest. Length ofthe specimen before me 7 inches; folded wing 43, spread of the wings 12, tail reach- es Finch beyond the folded wing. Fe- male less than the male, and of a dusky color.
HISTORY .-- The Cow Black-Bird de-
rives its name from its habit of being much among the cattle as they are feed- ing in the pastures. Its food consists al- most entirely of insects, and it might be regarded as a public benefactor were it not for certain habits which render it de- testable and prevent its receiving the credit to which its good qualities would otherwise entitle it. Being strangers to the joys which spring from conjugal fi- delity and having a strong aversion to do- inestie cares, this bird contrives to escape them by laying its eggs in the nests of other birds. This it does in the absence of the owners of the nest, and when the owners return they usually manifest much uneasiness and make strong efforts to throw out the intruded egg. When they do not succeed in this, they often build a flooring over the strange egg and ele- vate the sides so as to form a new nest within the old. But in many cases cir- cuinstances will not allow them time for this labor, and then they are obliged pa- tiently to submit to the imposition. The egg of the Cow-Bird is always hatched first, and the young by its superior size often smothers the lawful heirs. The proprietors of the nest, however, feed the foundling and treat it with the same kind- ness as if it were their own offspring.
A case of this intrusion of the Cow Black-Bird occurred in Burlington in 1810, in the garden of my friend R. G. Cole, Esq. Cashier of the Burlington Bank. He had noticed a pair of common yellow birds, Fringilla tristis, busily en- gaged for several days in building a nest upon one of his trees. A day or two af- ter he had supposed it complete, he no- ticed that it had suddenly undergone a very considerable enlargement, so much so that his curiosity was excited, and upon examining it he found that it consis- ted of'two nests, one within the other,and that the lower nest contained an egg of the Cow Black- Bird. The upper nest was entirely of cotton, and upon the cireuni- stance being known, it was found that my friend Mr. S. E. Howard, whose yard is adjacent to the garden containing the nest, had observed two birds eagerly searching his premises for building mate- rials, and that he had, with his accustom- ed liberality, purposely thrown out sev- eral handfuls of cotton, all of which dis- appeared in the course of a few hours, and were found neatly wrought into the nest above-mentioned.
The egg of the Cow Black-Bird is a little larger than that of the Blue bird, oval, whitish tinged with green and spot- ted with brown. Its notes are affected and nupleasant.
* Travels in North Ame. ca, 1-372.
70
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE BOB-O-LINK.
THE CROW BLACK BIRD.
THIE BOB-O-LINK. Icterus agripennis .- BONAP.
DESCRIPTION .- The spring dress of the male :- the top of the head, wings, tail, sides of the neck, and whole under phi- mage, black, with the feathers frequently skirted with brownish yellow ; back of the head yellowish white ; scapulars, rump, and tail coverts white, tinged with ash ; extremities of the tail feathers similar to those of the woodpeckers ; bill bluish black ; legs dark brown. Color of the fe- male, the young, and the male, in autunm and winter, varied with brownish black and brownish yellow above, dull yellow beneath. Length of the specimen before me 7 inches ; spread of the wings 11g in- ches.
IHISTORY .- This is a common bird in the summer throughout the United States. In many parts it is called the Rice Bird, or Rice Bunting, from the circumstance of its feeding much upon wild rice. It is also sometimes called the Skunk Black Bird, from the resemblance of its black and white markings to those of the skunk. But Bob-o-link is its most common designation. This bird does not usually make its appearance in Vermont till the latter part of May, and the males are gen- erally seen a few days earlier than the fe- males. They take up their residence in the low meadows, and upon these and the neighboring ploughed fields they destroy vast numbers of insects and larvæ; and this kind of food being abundant, they seldom leave it for the purpose of doing injury by feeding upon grain or fruits. Hence they are rather regarded as bene- factors, and being of an animated, jovial turn, though somewhat boisterous, they are received on their return in the spring with a hearty welcome. The Bob-o-link builds its nest on the ground, among the grass. It is placed in a slight depression and constructed of grass, coarse on the outside and lined with that which is finer. The female lays from 4 to 6 eggs, which are of' a dull yellowish white color, spot- ted with brown. About the last of July the males put off their black and white
nuptial dress, and assume thegray, unosten- tatious garb of the female and the young, and by the middle of August they begin to collect in flocks in the swamps and wet meadows, and soon after leave for a more southern climate.
GENUS QUISCALUS .- Vieillot.
Generic Characters .-- Bill bare, com- pressed from the base, entire, with sharp edges bent inwards ; upper mandible forming an acute angle with the feathers of th : head, curved from the middle, projecting beyond the lower, and pro- vided with a long heel within. Nostrils oval, half closed by a membrane. Tongue cartilaginous, flattened, torn at the sides and cleft at the point. Tarsus a little longer than the middle toe; inner toe free, outer one united at the base to the middle one Wings moderate in length ; Ist primary equal to the 5th, and but little shorter than the 2d, 3d, and 4th, which are longest. Tail of 12 feath- ers, more or less rounded.
COMMON CROW BLACK-BIRD. Quiscalus versicolor .- VIRII.L.OT.
DESCRIPTION .- Color of the head, neck, and breast, deep violet, with greenish and purplish reflections; back, belly, and sean- nlars dark bronze color; wings and tail refleeting various shades of purple, with green blue and coppery tints. Bill and legs black. Upper mandible longer, but not so stout as the lower, and the keel within large. Feet and claws strong. lris bright gamboge yellow. Tail of 12 feath- ers, rounded or wedge form, and reaching 3 inches beyond the folded wings. Length of the speehnen before me 12 inches; tail 51; folded wings 5.7; bill above 1.2, to the angle of the mouth 1.4. Length of the female usually 11 inches.
HISTORY .- The Crow Black Bird is an active and sociable bird, which warns us by his loud, clanking note, late in the spring, that he is once more in our fields and gardens, apparently unconscions that there can be any objection. Ile is one of those creatures concerning which it is dif- ficult to say whether they are friends or Toes ; sometimes they are the one and
71
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE CROW.
THE RUSTY BLACK-BIRD.
sometimes the other, and it is only by striking a balance between the service and injury, that we can determine how to regard them. That he pulls up corn for the sake of the seed is undeniable ; but it is also true that he devours innense num- bers of insects, grubs and caterpillars. Perhaps it may be possible to secure his services and prevent his depredations. Some attempts to effect this object have already been made, by soaking the seed in some solution, which shall make it less palatable to the bird .* Crow Black Birds build their nests in communities, some- times on bushes and sometimes on lofty trees, and several nests are frequently seen upon the same tree. The nest is composed outwardly of mud and coarse grass, and is hned inwardly with fine grass, hair, & c. The eggs, usually 5 or 6, are greenish, spotted with dark olive. Only one brood is usually reared in a season. About the time the leaves fall in autumn the old and young collect in very large Hocks and commence their migration to the south, laying the whole country un- der contribution as they advance.
THIE RUSTY BLACK-BIRD. Quisculus ferrugineus .- LATII.
DESCRIPTION .-- General color of the male deep black, with greenish and bluish reflections ; bill and feet black ; iris pale yellow. Wings long; second quill lon- gest ; tail long, slightly rounded ; plumage soft, blended, and glossy. Bill straight, tapering, and compressed from the base ; nostrils, basal, oval, half closed above by a membrane. Body rather slender; feet strong ; tarsus covered anteriorly with a few long scutella. Length 95 inches ; spread 143, in males. General color of the female brownish black ; the sides of the head over the eyes, and a broad band beneath it, light yellowish brown ; the feathers of the lower parts more or less margined with brownish. Bill, iris, and feet as in the male .- Audubon.
IHISTORY .- The Rusty Black Bird, call- ed also the Rusty Grakle, passes through this state in its spring and fall migrations, and is sometimes seen here in considera- ble flocks, particularly in the fall. Some of them probably breed in the north part of the state. They resemble the Red- winged Black Birds in their habits and in the construction of their nests, which are built upon low bushes in moist meadows. The eggs are 4 or 5, of a light blue color, streaked and dashed with lines of brown and black.
GENUS CORVUS-Linnaeus.
Generic Characters .-- Bill thick, straight at its base, slightly bout towards the point ; nos- trils basal, open and hidden by reflected bristly fathers ; feet with three toes before and one be - bind, divided ; the tarsos longer than the middle toe ; wings pointed ; tirst quill short, third and fourth longest. The tail consists of 12 feathers.
THE CROW. Corvus americanus .- AUDUBON.
DESCRIPTION .- Color black and glossy, with violet reflections from the wings, tail and shoulder feathers ; tail rounded, and extending an inch and a half beyond the folded wings ; bill, legs, feet and claws black ; bristly feathers incumbent upon each side of the bill covering the nostrils ; the fourth quill feather longest ; usual length 19 inches.
IlISTORY .- The Crow is found in all parts of the world, and is one of the few large birds which pass the whole winter in Vermont. During the winter the Crows reside in flocks, but on the approach of spring they separate into pairs, and retire into the forests for the purpose of rearing their young. During this period they are vigilant, suspicious, and upon any real or supposed intrusion upon their purpose they become very noisy. They build their nests upon lofty trees, and usually select for that purpose such as have thick tops, in which the nests can be more ef- fectually concealed. On this account the pine and other evergreens are often cho- son. The nest is constructed exteriorly of sticks, plastered with earth, and lined with moss, wool, or other soft substances. Their eggs, from 4 to 6 in number, are of a pale green color, marked with streaks and blotches of brown. The Crow is om- nivorous, devouring insects, worms, ear- rion, fish, grain, fruits, snakes, frogs and other reptiles, and also the eggs of other birds. in the spring of the year he dors the agriculturist considerable damage by pulling up the young Indian corn for the sake of the kernel, on which account a
* Peabody.
.4
72
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE RAVEN.
THE BLUE JAY.
bounty of 10 cents a head for his destrue- tion was, for a time, authorized by legisla- tive enactment. To prevent his depreda- tions upon the corn fields various kinds of scare-crows have been devised, but that which is most commonly resorted to at present, consists in stretching threads of cotton yarn across the field in various di- rections. To compensate for the mischief which they do, it must be acknowledged that crows do the farmer some service by the destruction of grubs and insects, be- sides acting as general scavengers in re- moving the carcases of dead animals. It is said they know how to break open nuts and shellfish, in order to eat what is within, by letting them fall from a great height upon the rocks below ; and there is a sto- ry that, as a certain ancient philosopher was walking along the sea-shore gather- ing shells, one of these unlucky birds, mistaking his bald head for a stone, drop- ped a shell-fish upon it, and thus killed at once a philosopher and an oyster.+
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