USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 14
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The crow is easily tamed, and soon learns to distinguish those who have the care of him, but is of a thievish propensi- ty, and often carries off' valuable articles and hides them by thrusting them into holes and crevices.
THE RAVEN. Corvus corux .- IANNEUS.
DESCRIPTION .- Color of the plumage deep black, glossed with blue and purplish blue, the lower parts with green ; feathers of the foreneck lanceolate and elongated ; tail much rounded, reaching 2 inches be- yond the wings ; nasal feathers half the length of the bill; bill and feet black ; iris dark chestnut brown. Length 26 in- ches, spread 50 .- Aud. Rich.
HISTORY .- The Raven is a well known bird, being found in almost all parts of the world. Dr. Richardson says that it abounds in the fur countries, and extends its migrations northward even to the po- lar seas. It has for several years been less frequently seen in Vermont than for- merly, and it was always a rare bird here compared with the crow. It feeds principally upon the carcasses and offals of the larger animals which are slain by hunters or wolves, or that die by disease. The Raven does not, like the crow, build its nest upon a tree, but in the inacces- sible clefts of lofty precipices. The Raven is easily tamed, and manifests much at- tachment to its keeper. It may be taught to imitate the human voice and to articu- late many words very distinctly.
THE BLUE JAY. Corvus cristatus .- LINNAEUS.
DESCRIPTION .- General color light blue above, grayish white beneath ; a stripe of black passes over the head and down on each side of the neck, forming a collar under the throat ; a black spot before each eye connected by a black line over the base of the bill ; crest pale blue in front, approaching to black on the back part ; outer webs of the primaries, and both webs of the secondaries and wing coverts bright blue, the two latter barred with black and tipped with white; tail of 12 feathers, wedge-form, bright blue, barred with black excepting the two outer feath- ers, and tipped with white excepting the two inner ones; mouth, bill, legs, feet and claws black. Length of the specimen before me 11 inches.
IhsTonY .- The Blue Jay is one of our most elegant and lively birds. It is com- mon in every part of the United States, and is found as far north as the 56tho of latitude. It breeds in Vermont as well as in almost or quite every other state in the Union. They are somewhat migra- tory, most of them proceeding to the south in the fall. Audubon says they are very numerous in the southern states dur- ing the winter. They are most plentiful in Vermont in autumnm, when they com- mit depredations upon fields of corn and oats. The greater part of them proceed to the south before winter sets in, but some remain with us after the snows fall, and purloin a seanty subsistence from our corn cribs and granaries. These birds are truly oumivorons, feeding upon almost any thing which falls in their way. In the summer season it destroys the eggs and young of other birds. When confined in a cage with several other birds, it has been known to kill and devour them all. The Blue Jay is a very active, noisy bird, and is capable of imitating the voice of the sparrow-hawk so nearly as to frighten all the small birds in the neighborhood. Its nest, which is composed of twigs and
* Nuttall.
73
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE CANADA JAY.
THE CHICADEE. THE HUDSON BAY TITMOUSE.
fibrous roots, is built in trees. The eggs | black ; a white line from the nostril pass- are 4 or 5, of a dull white color, spotted with brown.
THE CANADA JAY.
Corvus canadensis .- LINN.
DESCRIPTION .-- General color dark lenden gray ; hind head black ; forehead, collar beneath, and tip of the tail brown- ish white; interior veins of the wings brown and partly tipped with white; bill and legs black ; iris dark hazel ; plumage of the head loose and prominent; tail long and wedge-shaped. Sexes alike in color. Length 11 inches; spread, 15. -Nuttall.
lisroky .- This jny, which is called in some places the Whiskey Jack, and in others the Carrion Bird, inhabits principally be- tween the 44th and 65th parallels of north latitude. It is found in the state of Maine, and in the north parts of New Hampshire, Vermont and New York, but is seldom seen further to the south ward. It breeds in each of the states above nam- ed. The nest is usually placed in the thick top of a spruce or fir, at the height of 6 or 8 feet from the ground. It is pla- ced near the trunk of the tree, and is made of twigs and fibrous roots, lined with moss and grass. The eggs are from 4 to 6, of a light gray color, faintly mark- ed with brown. They feed, during the summer, upon worms and insects, and, during the winter, they are driven by ne- cessity to feed upon the buds and leaves of spruce and fir.
GENUS PARUS .- Linnaeus.
Generic Characters .-- Bill short, straight, conic, compressed, entire, edged and pointed, hav- ing bristles at the base ; the upper mandible lon- ger, rounded above and slightly curved; nostrils at the base of the bill, rounded and concealed by the advancing feathers ; tongue blunt and cleft or entire, and acute ; feet rather large, toes almost wholly divided ; the nail of the hind loe strongest, and most enrved; fourth and fifth primaries longest. The female and young differ but little from the adult male. Moult, aunual ; plumage, long and slender.
THE CHICADEE.
Purus atricapillas .- LINN.
PT. 1. 10
ing beneath the eye, spreads out upon the side of the neck ; back ash color; quill and tail feathers brownish black, edged with grayish white; belly brown- ish white, deepening into brownish yel- low upon the sides and beneath the tail ; bill black; legs and feet bluish ; fifth quill feather longest; fourth and sixtlr nearly as long ; tail long and rounded. Length 53 inches, tail 23 ; folded wing 2.7, spread of the wings 63.
HISTORY .- The Chicadee, or Black- cap Titinouse, seems to be common through the whole continent, from Mex- ico to the 65th degree of north latitude. They rear their young in all parts of the United States. For that purpose they take possession of the hollow ofa decayed tree or of the deserted holes of the wood- pecker, or where these are not to be had they excavate a cavity for themselves in some rotten stub of a tree. The ma- terials of which the nest is composed, ac- cording to Audubon, vary in different dis- tricts, but are generally the hair of quad- rupeds in considerable quantities, and disposed in the shape of a loose bag or purse lining the inside of the excavation, while others have said that without constructing any nest, they lay their eggs, usually 6 or 8, upon the dry rutten wood at the bottom of the cavity. The eggs are white, with specks of brownish red. This industrious little bird resem- bles the wood-peckers in many of its hab- its, running round upon the trunks and limbs of the trees with the greatest ease, frequently with its back downward, while searching for its food. Late in the fall, they may be seen in considerable numbers about our orchards and shade trees, and they doubtless render essential service by destroying the eggs and larvæ of insects which have been deposited in the crevi- ces of the bark, to be hatched the next spring
THE HUDSON BAY TITMOUSE.
Parus hudsonicus .- LATHI.
DESCRIPTION .- General color dull lead- en, tinged with a light brown ; head nin- ber brown ; throat and fore neck black, with a band of white under each oye ; breast and belly grayish white, sides light yellowish brown. Bill black, short, straight, slightly convex and acutely poin- ted; iris dark brown ; feet lead color. Length 5 inches, spread 7. Female r .- sembles the male, but the colors are dul- ler .- Audubon.
ThisroRY .- This species is much less
DESCRIPTION .- The whole upper part of the head, nape, chin and throat, velvet comnon in Vermont than the preceding,
74
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE CEDAR, OR CHERRY BIRD.
INSECTIVEROUS BIRDS.
and is not often seen farther to the south- ward than the north part of this state. It breeds in the state of Maine, and some of them very probably rear their young in the northeastern part of this state. Its nest, like that of the preceding, is in the hollow cavity of an old tree, and one, which Audubon found in Labrador, was completely lined with fur.
GENUS BOMBYCILLA .- Brisson.
Generic Characters .- Bill short, straight and elevated ; upper mandible slightly curved to- wards the rip, and provided with a strongly mark- ed tooth ; nostrils at the base of the bill, oval, open, hidden by stiff hairs directed forward ; tongue cartilaginous, broad at the tip and lacera- ted ; feet with three toes directed forward, and one backward, the exterior united to the middle toe. Wings moderate, Ist and 2d primaries longest ; the spurious feathers very short, Sexes alke in appearance and both crested.
THE CEDAR, OR CHERRY BIRD. Bombycilla carolinensis .- BRISSON.
DESCRIPTION .-- Head, neck, breast, back and wing coverts yellowish brown, brighest on the front of the crest and darkest on the back ; frontlet black, with a black line over the eye extending back- ward under the crest; chin blackish, a white line along the margin of the under jaw ; belly yellow ; vent white; wings dusky ; rump and tail coverts dark ash; tail of the same color deepening into dusky and broadly tipped with bright yellow ; more or less of the secondaries of the wings sometimes ornamented with small ver- million colored appendages, resembling sealing wax. The bill, legs and claws are black ; iris red. In the female the tints are duller. Length 78 inches.
HISTORY .- This species inhabits all parts of the United States. It is most common in the southern states during the | and fourth quills longest.
winter and in the northern during the summer. These birds are very social in their habits, usually living in small flocks, even during the period in which they are rearing their young ; and hence we usu- ally find several of their nests in the same neighborhood, and often within a few rods of each other. The nest is usually placed in the top of a spruce or hemlock, at the height of 15 or 20 feet from the ground, and is constructed with sticks, roots and grass, lined with lint, down and other soft substances. The eggs, usually 4 or 5 in number, are of a pale clay-white, spotted with umber at the large end. These birds, which mostly migrate to the south in the fall, return to Vermont in April, and are found here during the sunmer in large numbers. During the early part of summer they feed upon worms and insects, and render an essen- tial service by the destruction of these and the catterpillars, which infest our or- chards; but this service is soon for- gotten, and when the little bird claims for his reward, a few of the cherries, which he has protected, he is only an- swered by the gun of the ungrateful and cruel gardener. Although they feed upon fruits and berries of various kinds, they seem to be more fond of cherries and the berries of red cedar than any others, and hence their name Cherry Bird, or Cedar Bird.
INSECTIVEROUS BIRDS.
In birds of this order the bill is either short or of moderate length. It is straight, rounded or awl-shaped. The upper man- dible is curved and notched towards the point, most commonly provided at the base with stiff hairs directed forward. The feet have three toes before and one behind, all on the same level. The outer toe is united to the middle one as far as the first articulation. Their food is in- sects in the summer, but principally ber- ries during the colder part of the year. Their voices are, for the most part, melo- dious.
GENUS LANIUS .- Linnaus.
Generic Characters .- Bill of medium size, strong, straight from the base, considerably compressed ; upper mandible mich bent, toothed and hooked towards the tip, which is acute ; base of the bill without a cere, furnished with strong bristles directed forward; nostrils close to the base, lateral, nearly round, half closed by a vaul- ted membrane, and nearly concealed by the bris- tles ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; feet with three toes before and one behind, free ; the third
75
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THY. BUTCHEK DIRD.
THE KING BIRD-
THE BUTCHER BIRD. Lanius borealis. - VIEM.LOT.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above pale ciner- rous, becoming nearly white towards the tai; wings and tail brownish black, with a black bar extending from the nostril through the eye to the neck ; beneath white, beautifully waved with pale brown; onter feathers of the tail partly white and a whitish spot on the wings just below their coverts; legs and fret black ; bill and claws bluish black. Tail rounded, extending 3 inches beyond the folded wings ; third primary longest. Length of the specimen before me 10 inches, spread 13.
History .- The Butcher-Bird, or, as he is, perhaps, more generally called, the Great Northern Shrike, though frequently seen in Vermont, is not very common. The specimen from which the above de- scription and figure were made, was shot in Burlington in May, 1842. Dr. Rich- ardson says that this bird is common in the woody districts of the fur countries as far north as the 60th parallel of latitude. Many of them migrate to the south in the fall, but some remain in the fur countries through the winter. Its nest is built in the fork of a tree, of grass and moss, and lined with feathers. The eggs, 5 or 6 in number, are of a pale bluish gray, spotted at the large end with dark yellowish brown. Like the king bird it attacks ca- gles, hawks and crows, and drives them from the neighborhood of its nest.
GENUS MUSCICAPA .- Linnens.
Generic Characters .- Bill medium siz- ed, rather stout, angular, considerably widened and flattened towards the base, which is guarded by longish bristles ; upper mandible notched low- ards the end and bout at the tip ; nostrils basal, lateral and ovoid, partly hid by bairs ; taraus the same length as the middle toe or a little longer ; inner the free, or seavely united at the base ; hind uail more curved than the rest, and larger than that of the middle toe ; wings long and somewhat sharp; first quill very short, the second shorter than the third and fourth, which are longest.
THIE KING BIRD.
Muscicapa tyrannus .- BRISSON.
DEseRIPTION .- Color of the head when the feathers are smooth, shining velvet black, but when the feathers are ruffled a spot of bright ochrey yellow appears on the crown ; back brownish black ; wings very dark, hair brown, the secondaries und wing coverts edged with gray ; tail even, pitch black, tipped with white, and extending far beyond the wings; breast light ash ; belly white ; bill, legs and fect black ; bill wide at the base gradually narrowing to the tip; upper mandible with convex sides, meeting in an obtuse ridge and hooked at the point ; short, stiff bristles at the angle of the month ; second quill longest. Length Sinches, spread of the wings 14.
HISTORY .- The King Bird, or Tyrant Fly-catcher, as he is sometimes called, spends the winter at the south, beyond the limits of the United States. Early in the spring he proceeds to the north and dur- ing the summer is found rearing its young in all parts of the United States, and, ac- cording to Richardson, as far north as the 57th parallel of latitude. It arrives in Vermont in the carly part of May, and in the summer is common in all parts of the state. Its nest is built in the tops of orchard and forest trees, at various heights from the ground, and is composed of coarse dry grass, weeds and loose pieces of bark, compactly connected and bedded with down, tow and woolly substan- ces, and lined with fine fibrons roots, grass, and hair. The eggs are from 3 to 5, of a blnish white color, marked with spots of deep bright brown. The same pair frequently rears two broods in a sea- son. The food of the king bird consists almost entirely of insects, such as bee- tles, crickets, grasshoppers and various kinds of flies and catterpillars, and the only harm, which he is accused of doing, is that of catching a few honey bees as they are gathering honey from the flow-
76
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE PILEBE.
THE WOOD PEWEE.
THE SMALL PEWEE.
ers, which is very trifling compared with the services which he renders the farmer and gardener. The king bird manifests no fear of the larger birds, but whenever, during their breeding season, a hawk or crow comes near his nest, he boldly at- tacks hin, pounces npon his back, and perseentes him till he is glad to abandon the neighborhood.,
THE PRICEBE. Muscicupa fusco .- BONAP.
DESCRIPTION .- General color above brown with an olive tinge, darker on the head ; wings and tail blackish brown, the feathers having the appearance of being faded and worn, and the color of their shafts dark umber; an indistinct grayish circle around the eye, the pupil of which is bluish black and the iris dark hazel; belly yellowish white; tail slightly fork- ed. Bill broad, hooked at the point, and wholly black; legs and feet black with sharp claws. Length of the specimen before me 65 inches; folded wing 3.4; fail 2.7 and reaching 1.4 beyond the fold- ed wings. The 3d quill longest, 2d and 4th equal.
HISTORY .- This well known and fa- miliar bird arrives from the south about the beginning of April and retires again in October. During the summer it is found in all parts of the state. It seems to prefer building its nest beneath bridg- es, in sheds and under the eaves of barns. The nest is usually constructed of mud and moss, and lined with grass, hair and other fibrous substances, and is sometimes built upon the top of beans, and at others stuck upon the sides. The eggs are 4 or 5, and are white and unspotted. These birds become very much attached to pla- ces where they have reared their young, and the same pair will resort to a partic- ular locality for that purpose, many years in succession, In illustration of this statement I will mention one, of several cases which have fallen under my own
observation. About the year 1826 two of these birds built a nest upon a shelf in my wood-shed, and for two years in suc- cession raised broods of young-ones in the same place. The third year when the young were about half grown the fe- male bird disappeared. The male bird remained about the nest, but, not feeding the young ones, they died. The male staid till fall and then left, but returned alone in the spring ; and for three suc- cessive summers that bird sung his solita- ry and sad lament for her to whom his young heart and early vows had been plighted, around the place which had been the scene of mutual joys. AThe name of this bird is derived from the sound of its note. It is also called the Pewit Flycatcher.
THE WOOD PEWEE. Muscicapa virens .- LINN.
DESCRIPTION .- Color dusky brownish olive ; head brownish black, slightly cres- ted; below pale yellowish, inclining to white. Tail forked ; 2d primary longest ; Ist much shorter than the 3d, and longer than the 6th. Length 6 inches ; spread 10. The female a little sinaller .- Nutt.
IlistoRY. This species bears consider- able resemblance to the preceding, but differs from it in its habits and notes. It ar- rives later in the spring, and confines it- self principally to the thickets and forests. Its nest is usually attached to the hori- zontal branch of a tree, and is very euri- ously constructed of grass, fine roots, lich- ens and cobwebs, held together by a glu- tinous cement, and is so thin as to appear almost transparent. The eggs are 4 or 5, of a light yellowish hue, spotted with red- dish brown towards the large end.
THE SMALL PEWEE. Muscicupa acadica .- GMEL.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above dusky ol- ive green ; yellowish white beneath, in- clining to ash on the breast; wings dusky brown, crossed with two bars of dull white ; outer edge of the 1st primary, edges of the secondaries, and ring around the eye, whitish ; under wing coverts pale yellow ; 2d, 3d, and 4th primaries nearly equal and longest. Tail pale dusky brown, notched ; legs and feet black. Sexes nearly alike. Length 5 inches ; spread 9 .- Nuttall.
IlISTORY .- This species is common du- ring the summer in all the northern parts of the United States and Canada, but none of them were seen by Audubon or ! his party in Labrador. It breeds in this
77
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE SPOTTED FLY-CATCHIER.
THE VIREOS.
state, and usually fixes its nest in the up- right forks of a small tree, at a height of from 8 to 30 feet from the ground. The eggs, from 4 to 6 in number, are white and unspotted. It feeds, like the other species of this genus, upon bees, flies and moths. .
THIE SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER. Muscicapa canadensis .- LINN.
DESCRIPTION .- Male with the upper parts ash-gray ; the feathers of the wings and tail brown, edged with gray ; the head spotted with black ; loral space, a band beneath the eye proceeding down the side of the neck, and a belt of trian- gular spots across the lower part of the fore neck, black ; lower parts, and a bar from the nostril over the eye pure yellow ; lower wing and tail coverts white ; the third quill longest, the second and fourth hut little shorter ; tail rounded. Female similar to the male, but the colors fainter. Young with the neck unspotted. Length 5, spread 9 .- Audubon.
HISTORY .- This bird, according to Au- dubon, gives a decided preference to mountainous districts, and particularly to such as are covered with a thick growth of underwood and shrubbery. We are informed by the same high authority that its nest is placed in the fork of a bush, made of moss and lined with grass-that the eggs, usually 5, are white, with a few spots of bright red towards the large end. It probably breeds in Vermont, but I have no positive proof of the fact.
GENUS VIREO.
Generic Characters .- Bill rather short, a little compressed, and furnished with bristles at its base ; upper mandible curved at the extremity and strongly notched ; the lower shorter aud re- curved at the tip ; nostrils basal, rounded ; tongue cartilaginous and cleft at the point ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; wings rather acute, the 2d or 3d primary longest. Female resembles the male, and both sexes more or less tinged with olive green.
THE YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. Virco flavifrons .- VIEILLOT.
DESCRIPTION .- Color yellow-olive above, belly white ; throat, breast, frontlet and line round the eye yellow ; lesser wing- coverts, lower part of the back and rump, ash ; wings nearly black with two white bars ; tail blackish, a little forked ; pri- maries edged with pale ash, secondaries with white ; exterior tail feathers edged with white ; legs, feet and bill grayish- blue; iris hazel. The yellow of the fe-
male and young duller. Length 5}, spread 9 .- Nuttall.
HISTORY .- This species rears its young in the south part of the state. Its nest is suspended npon the limb of a tree, and is constructed of strips of bark and fibrous substances, which are cemented together with saliva. The eggs are about 4 in number, are white and spotted towards the larger end with blackish.
THE WHITE-EYED VIREO.
Vireo noveboracensis .- BONAPARTE.
DESCRIPTION .-- Yellow olive above, white beneath ; sides, line round the Aye and spot near the nostrils yellow ; wings dusky, with two yellow bands ; tail dusky brown, forked; bill, legs and feet light bluish-gray ; iris white. Length 51 ; spread 7 .- Nutt.
Hisronr .- This species constructs its nest very much in the manner of the pre- ceding, but usually builds nearer the ground. It lays 4 or 5 eggs, which are white, spotted towards the large end with brown.
TIIE RED-EYED VIREO. l'ireo olivaceous .- BONAP.
DESCRIPTION .- General color above yel- low olive ; crown dark ash ; a light gray line from the upper mandible passes over the eye and widens behind it, with a dark line above and another below, extending from the eye to the rictus ; all beneath whitish, tinged with light yellow under the wings and on the sides ; wing and tail feathers brownish black, with their outer margins yellow olive; 2d and 3d primaries longest ; bill brown above, light- er beneath, straight, abruptly bent and notched at the point ; nostrils roundish, basal ; a few weak bristles at the angle of the month; iris bright brick red ; legs bluish gray ; tail slightly forked. Length 6 inches ; tail 2.4 ; folded wings 3.3; bill above .5, to the angle of the mouth .75; tarsus .7.
IlsTORY .- This is probably the most common species of Vireo found in Ver- mont. They arrive carly in May, and take up their residence in the forests and the lofty trees around our fields and gar- dens. Their song is loud, lively, and en- ergetic. They feed principally upon in- sects and catterpillars. Their nest is con- structed of strings, strips of bark, and fi- brous substances, agglutinated together into the form of a pouch. The eggs are 3 or 4, white, with a few blackish brown spots towards the large end. The cow black-bird lays its egg in the nest of this
78
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE SOLITARY VIREO.
THE BROWN THRUSHI. THE CAT BIRD.
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