USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 16
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BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER. Sylvia varia .- LATU.
DESCRIPTION .- The crown white, bor- dered on each side by a band of black, which is again bounded by a line of white passing over each eye ; ear feathers black, as well as the chin and throat ; wings the same, with 2 white bars; breast back, sides, and rump spotted with black and white ; tail and primaries edged with light gray, the coverts black, bordered with white; belly white; legs and feet dusky yellow; bill rather long, black above, paler below. Female with the crown wholly black, and without the black ear- feathers. Length 5, spread 73 .- Nuttull.
HISTORY .- This bird is found in most parts of the United States, and in many of its habits is closely allied to the Creep- ers and Nuthatches. It seldom perches upon the branches of trees, but creeps spirally round upon the trunk and large limbs, searching for insects and their eggs in the crevices of the bark. Dr. Brewer informs us that this bird builds its nest up- on the ground. It is composed external - ly of coarse straw, and lined with hair. The eggs, about 4 in number, are white, with a few brownish red spots, chiefly to- wards the large end.
GENUS REGULUS .-. Cuvier.
Generic Characters .-- Bill short,straight, very slender, subulate, compressed from the buse, and narrowed in the middle, furnished with bris- tles at the base, and with the edges somewhat bent in ; the upper mandible is slenderly notched, and a little curved at the tip. Nostrils basal, oval, half closed by a membrane, and additionally cov- ered also with two small projecting, rigid, decom- pound feathers. Tongue bristly at the tip. Feet slender ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; later- al tocs nearly equal ; the inner one free ; hind toe stoutest. Wings short, rather acute ; 3d and 4th
31
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE RUBY AND FIERY-CROWNED WRENS.
THE HOUSE AND WINTER WRENS.
THE RUBY-CROWNED WREN.
Regulus calendulus .- STEPHENS.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above olivaceous, yellowish on the rump and grayish on the head, with a bright vermillion colored spot on the hind head, which is partly con- cealed by the dark feathers ; wings and tail brownish black, with the outer edges yellow ; wing coverts terminated with white, forming a whitish bar upon the wings ; a yellowish white line around the eye ; beneath, brownish white on the neck, changing into yellowish white on the belly ; upper mandible slightly curv- ed near the tip; legs, toes and nails long, slender, and of a smoky brown color. Length 4; spread 53.
HisToRY .- The history of this little songster is very imperfectly known. It is found during the winter, in considera- ble numbers, in the southern states, and, in the northern states, is frequently seen in its migrations to the north and south, in spring and fall. Audubon has no doubt but that it breeds in Labrador, but neith- er he nor any other of our ornithologists has succeeded in finding its nest. The beautiful specimen from which the above description was made, was killed in Bur- lington on the 26th of April, 1842.
THE FIERY-CROWNED WREN. Regulus tricolor .- NUTT.
Regulus satrapa .-- Aud. Am. Birds, It-165, pl. 132.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above ash gray on the neck, and the back yellowish olive ; checks grayish white ; crown flame colored, bordered with yellow and black ; beneath whitish, tinged with olive gray ; bill slender and rather short ; bris- tles at its base ; plumage loose and tufty ; 4th primary longest ; the first very short ; legs rather long, tarsus slender. Length 4 ; spread 7 .- Audubon.
HISTORY .- This is an active little bird, and is often seen in company with the creepers and titmice, searching for flies and insects. It is put down by Dr. Brew . er as breeding in this state. Audubon found it rearing its young in Labrador.
GENUS TROGLODYTES .- Cuvier.
Generic Characters .- Bill slender, sub- ulate, somewhat arched and elongated, also acute, compressed, and without notch ; mandibles equal. Nostrils basal, oval, half closed by a membrame. Tongue slender, the tip divided into 2 or 3 small bristles. Feet slender ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; inner too free ; posterior with a lar- ger bail than the rest. Wings short, con- cave and rounded ; 3d, 4th, and 5th primaries lon- gest.
THE HOUSE WREN. Troglodytes adon .- VIEILLOT.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above reddish- brown, darkest on the head and neck, lighter towards the rump, feathers mostly barred with dusky ; beneath dull pale gray, nearly white on the belly ; sides and under tail coverts barred with brown ; a yellowish line from the upper mandilde over the eye; cheeks yellowish gray, spotted with brownish red ; bill dark brown above, lighter beneath ; iris hazel; feet flesh color ; wings short, 3d and 4th quills longest ; tail rather long. Length 43, spread 53
History .- This familiar and interest- ing little bird is common in all parts of the United States, from April until the beginning of October, when it retires to the south : but the place where it winters seems yet to remain unknown. The Ilonse Wren is sprightly, active and dili- gent, and has received its name in conse- quence of its delighting to make its resi- dence in our orchards, gardens, and about our houses. Its nest is formed with coarse sticks, shreds of bark, hair, &c., in some natural or artificial cavity, such as a hol- low stump, or post, or the vacant space at
the foot of a brace in the frame of a build- ing, or a box provided for it by the gar- dener. And whatever the cavity select- ed, it seems to be its object to fill it with sticks and other articles, leaving room only for itself and young. The eggs, from 6 to 8, are of a reddish flesh-color, sprinkled with reddish-brown. Audubon has represented this wren as feeding its young in a nest constructed in an old hat. The Wren manifests great antipathy to the cat, and will scold her till she is out of sight.
THE WINTER WREN. Troglodytes hyemalis .- VIEILLOT.
DESCRIPTION .- Dark brown above, cross- ed with transverse dusky touches, except on the head and neck, which are plain ; the black spots on the back terminate in minute points of dull white ; the same colored points are seen on the first row of
85
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE WOOD WREN.
GENUS SIALIA.
THE BLUE BIRD.
wing-coverts ; the primaries are crossed by alternate rows of cream color ; throat, Ime over the eye, sides of the neck and breast dirty white, with minute transverse touches of drab ; belly and vent mottled with sooty black, deep brown, and white, in bars; tail very short; legs and feet pale clay-color ; bill straight, half an inch long, dark brown above, whitish beneath ; iris hazel. Length 34, spread 5 .- Nutt.
fhsrony .- This sprightly and musical little bird bears a very strong resemblance to the preceding, and might easily be mis- taken for it. It may, however, be distin- guished by its shorter tail, more slender bill, and by having the under parts more distinctly barred. The nest of this wren is built upon, or very near the ground, at the foot of a tree, or by the side of a rock. It is formed of moss and leaves, and lined with hair, and has its entrance on the side. This bird is said to lay from 10 to Is eggs, but the nests, discovered by Au- dubon, contained no more than 6. Their color is light blue, spotted with reddish brown. The song of this wren is very agrecable and loud for the size of the bird.
THE WOOD WREN.
Traglodytes americanus .- AUD.
DESCRIPTION .- Bill of moderate length, nearly straight, slender, acute; neck short; body rather full ; plumage soft, blended, slightly glossed ; wings short, broad ; 4th and 5th quills longest ; tail rather long, graduated ; general color above dark red- dish brown, duller and tinged with gray on the head, indistinctly barred with dark brown ; wings and tail waved with dark brown, edges of the outer primaries light- er; under parts pale brownish gray, bar- red more or less distinctly. Length 43, spread 61 .- lud.
HISTORY .- This new species was dis- covered by Audubon in the summer of 1832, in the state of Maine, where it breeds in hollow logs in the woods, sel- dom if ever making its appearance in elcared land. The color of the egg of the Wood Wren is dull yellowish white, with blotches and streaks of purplish-red and blackish-brown. This wren breeds in Vermont, and Audubon describes an egg procured in this state by Dr. Brewer. Late in the fall of 1840, { saw a pair of these wrens in a little wood in Burling- ton, and watched them for some time. They were silent except a low chirp occa- sionally, and were intently and diligently searching for spiders and insects upon the sides and beneath the logs.
GENUS SIALIA .- Swainson.
Generic Characters .- Bill of ordinary length, nearly straight, about as broad as high at the base; upper mandible rounded carinated to- wards the base, notched and curved at the rip ; tongue cartilaginous, shortly lacerate at the base, and emarginate at the point ; nostrils basal, open, partly obstructed by an internal toberele, the nasal fosse extensive and depressed ; tarsus rather ro- bust, a little shorter than the middle toe ; inner toe free ; the hind one stoutest, longer than the nail; wings rather long and acute ; 1st and 2d primaries longest, the 3d scarcely shorter.
THE BLUE BIRD. Sialia Wilsonii :- SWAINSON.
DESCRIPTION .- Color sky-blue above ; ferruginous, passing into brownish white, beneath ; vent white; wings full and broad ; inner vanes of the quills and their shafts dusky, onter vanes blue ; bill and legs black ; inside of the mouth yellow. Colors of the female duller than in the male. Length Gg, spread 114.
HISTORY .- This well known and fa- miliar bird is found in all parts of the United States and of the British North American provinces. It is every where a great favorite, and its return in the spring is hailed with hardly less joy than that of the Robin. It seems to delight in being around our dwellings, and rears its young in hollow stumps and posts and in little boxes made for that purpose and placed on upright poles. The nest con- sists of a slight lining of the cavity with a few straws and feathers. The eggs are usually 5, of a pale blue color and with- out spots. They often raise two or three broods in a season. Their food consists almost entirely of insects, such as beetles. spiders and grasshoppers, and, on account of their destruction of these, they are, like most others, real benefactors of the farmer, and richly deserve his protection. Birds seem to be specially designed by Providence to prevent the undue increase of noxious insects, and so useful are they that, in general, whoever destroys a bird, destroys a friend. Blue Birds are very common in all parts of Vermont, and their
86
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE BROWN LARK.
GRANIVOROUS BIRDS.
THE SNOW BUNTING.
agreeable warble is heard from March | together in the fall and migrate in large till October. flocks.
GENUS ANTIUS .- Linnaus.
Generic Characters .- Bill straight, slender, cylindric, and subulate towards the point, with edges somewhat inflected towards the middle, and at the base destitute of bristles ; the base of the upper mandible carinated, with the point slightly notched and declining. Nostrils basal, lateral, half closed by a membrane, Feet slender ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; inner toe free ; hind toe shortest, with the nail generally long and near- ly straight ; wings moderate ; three first primaries longest ; secondartes notched at the tip ; two of the scapulars nearly equal to the longest prima- ries ; tail rather long and emarginate.
THE BROWN LARK. Anthus spinoletta .- BONAP.
DESCRIPTION .- Grayish brown above, with a darker shade in the centre of each feather ; beneath and line over the eye, white; breast and flanks spotted with grayish brown, or blackish ; tail feathers nearly black, the outer one half white, upon the 2d and often upon the 3d, a co- nic white spot; lower mandible straight and livid, the npper blackish ; legs chest- nut ; iris hazel. Female more spotted be- low. Young dark brown, inelining to ol- ive ; strongly spotted on the beast .- Nutt.
HISTORY .-- The Brown Lark is met with in every part of the United States as a bird of passage. It feeds upon insects and seeds, and may often be seen run- ning along the margin of ponds and streams, and in old fields in pursuit of these. It was found by Audubon breed- ing abundantly on the coast of Labrador, and Dr. Brewer obtained its eggs from Coventry, (now Orleans), in this state. "The nest is placed at the foot of a wall or rock, euriously formed of bent grass, and partly buried in dark mould. The eggs are usually G. Their ground color is a deep reddish chestnut, darkened by nu- merous dots, and various lines of reddish brown. This bird is also called the Amer- ican Petit, or Titlark.
GRANIVOROUS BIRDS.
The Birds of this order have a strong, short, thick, and more or less conic bill, which extends back upon the forehead. The ridge of the upper mandible is usual- ly somewhat flattened, and both portions of the bill are generally without the tooth- ed notch. The feet are arranged with 3 toes before and 1 behind. The wings are of moderate dimensions. These birds spend the summer in pairs, but assemble | the snow, they always come down in a
GENUS EMBERIZA .- Linnaus.
Generic Characters .- Bill short, robust, conic, somewhat compressed, and without notch ; the margins contracted inward, a little angular to- wards the base ; the upper mandible rounded above, acute, smaller and narrower than the low- er ; the palate with a longitudinal bony tubercle ; the lower mandible rounded beneath, and very acute. Nostrils basal, small, partly covered by the feathers of the forehead. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe ; the lateral toes equal ; outer oni- ted at the base to the middle toe. Wings with the Ist primary almost equal to the 2d and 3d, which are longest. Tail even or emarginate.
THE SNOW BUNTING.
Emberiza nivalis .- LINNEUS.
Plectrophanes nivalis .- And. Am. Birds, W1-55 pl. 155.
DESCRIPTION .- Male, in winter, with the head, neck, lower parts, a great pro- portion of the wings, including the small- er coverts, secondary coverts, several se- condary quills, the bases of the primaries and their coverts, and the greater part of the outer tail feathers on each side, white ; the head and hind neek more or less ting- ed with brownish red ; the upper parts reddish gray, or yellowish red mottled with black, the concealed part of the plu- mnage being of the latter color ; the bill brownish yellow. Female, in the winter, with the white less extended. Young, at this season, like the female, but browner. Male, in summer, with the back, seapu- lars, inner secondaries, terminal portion of the primaries, and 4 iniddle tail feath- ers deep black ; all the other parts pure white ; bill blaek. Female with the black parts tinged with brown, and more or less reddish brown on the head and rump. Length 7 ; spread 13 .- Audubon.
HISTORY .- The Snow Buntings spend the great part of the year in high northern latitudes. They breed, according to Dr. Richardson, in the most northerly part of the continent, and on the islands of the aretie ocean. The nest is made of dry grass in the crevices of rocks, and lined with deer's hair and feathers. The eggs are greenish white, spotted and blotched with umber. They usually make their appearance in Vermont in December, in the midst of storins of snow. They ar- rive in flocks, frequently in company with the Tree Sparrow and Blue Snow Bird, and, in descending upon our gardens and fields, to collect their scanty pittance of seeds from the dry weeds which rise above
87
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
THE BAY WINGED AND SAVANNAH BUNTINGS.
THE SONG SPARROW.
spiral direction, passing several times a- | turgid and a little bent at the tip, without keel, do- round the spot on which they are to alight. They are much more plentiful in some winters than in others, and are generally known by the name of White Snow Bird.
TIIE BAY-WINGED BUNTING. Emberiza graminca .- GMEL.
DESCRIPTION .- General color of the upper parts light brown, streaked and mot- tled with darker ; lesser wing-coverts red- dish-brown ; first quills margined exter- nally with white ; outer tail feathers mark- ed with an oblique band of white ; a nar- row circle of white round the eye; throat and breast yellowish white ; the latter and fore part of the cheeks streaked with dark brown ; sides and belly yellowish brown, fading into white towards the tail, and sparsely streaked with dark brown ; wings with the 3d and 4th quills longest ; plum- age compact ; tail rather long ; tarsus, toes, and claws flesh color. Length 53, spread 10 .- Aud.
IlISTORY .- The Bay- Winged Bunting, or Finch, is found in all the northeastern portion of the United States. I learn from Dr. Brewer that it breeds in Vermont as well as other parts of New England, and that its nest is placed upon the ground without concealment, but that it uses much art in decoying enemies from the neighborhood of it.
THE SAVANNAH BUNTING. Emberiza sarann .- WILS.
DESCRIPTION .-- General color above pale reddish brown, spotted with brown- ish black ; the edges of the feathers be- ing of the former color; lower parts white, the breast spotted and the sides streaked with deep brown ; cheeks and space over the eye light citron yellow ; bill dusky above, pale brown beneath ; wings and tail short, the latter emargin- ate; head rather large; neck short. Length 53, spread 83 .- Aud.
HISTORY .- The Savannah Bunting, or Savannah Finch, as he is also called, is, according to Audubon, one of the most abundant and hardy species in the United States. It breeds in this state, and con- structs its nest very much in the manner of the Song Sparrow, at the foot of a tuft of grass, or in a low bush. The eggs, from 4 to 6, are of a pale bluish color, softly mottled with purplish brown.
Genus Fringilla .- LINNAEUS.
Generic Characters .- Bill short, robust, conie on all sides and generally withont a notch ; upper mandible wider than the lower, somewhat
pressed at the upper part, and often prolonged in- to an angle entering the feathers of the forehead ; nostrils basal, round, covered by the feathers ; longue thick, acute compressed and bifid at tho tip ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe ; tous dis- connected at the base ; hind nail largest. Wings short ; Ist and 2nd primaries but little shorter than the 3d and 4th, which are longest.
X
TIIE SONG SPARROW. Fringilla melodia .- Wir.s.
DESCRIPTION .- Crown brownish chest- nut, divided longitudinally by a grayish line ; line over the eye light ash, beconi- ing white towards the bill ; mottled above and below with brown, chestnut and ash ; much lightest on the belly, each feather being marked with brown along the mid- dle, surrounded by chestnut and edged with ash, giving the bird a striped appear- ance, particularly on the back and lower part of the breast; wings and tail chest- nut brown ; bill dark horn color, lighter below ; legs light flesh-colored ; feet and nails dusky. Length 61 inches; spread of the wings 83 inches. Tail wedge-form, 2 inches longer than the folded wings ; Ist primary short, 3d and 4th longest.
IIISTORY .- This is one of our most com- mon and familiar sparrows. It arrives early from the south, and in company withs the Blue Bird and Robin, ushers in the spring with its cheerful notes, while the snows are yet lingering upon the ground." This sparrow breeds in all parts of tho United States and Canada. The nest is usually placed upon the ground but is sometimes a little elevated above it in a low bush. It is usually formed of dry grass and lined with hair. The eggs, usually 5, are of a bluish gray color, thickly spot- ted with different shades of brown. They are very prolific, frequently raising three broods in a year. The Song Sparrow is common in our gardens, orchards and meadows, preferring the open fields and low bushes to the woods. They feed upon worms, insects, larva and seeds.
* For the time of their appearance see Part I-13.
88
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE BLUE SNOW BIRD.
THE TREE AND CHIPPING SPARROWS.
TIIE BLUE SNOW-BIRD. Fringilla hyemalis .- LINNAEUS.
DESCRIPTION .-- General color dark brownish ash, or bluish slate above and on the breast ; belly white ; feathers on the back slightly tinged with ferruginous ; wings and central tail feathers dark slate; outer tail feather on each side pure white, and the next white wholly or in part ; tail forked, the lateral feathers curving outward towards the tip ; bill short, acute; bill, legs and feet brownish in sumner, pale flesh-color in winter ; claws slender and compressed. Female and young ting- ed with brown. Length 6 inches, spread of the wings 9 inches.
Thisronr .- This is one of our most common and numerous species, and in the spring and autumn they are met with in every part of the state. Late in the fall they mostly migrate to the south, and in the early part of summer they mostly retire from the low lands either beyond the limits of the state to the north, or to the central mountainous districts for the purpose of rearing their young. They breed in large numbers in all the moun- tain towns, through the whole length of the state. The nest is built upon the ground by the side of a rock, stump, tuft of grass, or in the side of a dry bank, and is composed of small sticks and wither- ed grass. The eggs, from 3 to 5, are of a pale green, brushed and spotted with darker. They breed in small numbers in the low lands in this state. 1 found one of their nests in Burlington, near Winooski river, on the 27th of July, containing 3 young nearly fledged. The most common note of this bird is a sharp chip, and hence it is often called the Chipping Bird, or Blue Chipping Bird.
THE TREE SPARROW. Fringilla canadensis .- LATHAM.
DESCRIPTION .- Crown of the head bright bay, slightly mottled with ash color; a stripe over the eye, white at its commence- ment near the bill, and backwards fading into pale ash ; sides of the neck, chin and breast pale ash; on the centre of the breast an obscure dark spot ; from the lower angle of the bill and behind the eye proceeds a small stripe of chestnut ; back varied with black, bay, brown and drab; wings marked with two white bars ; outer feathers edged with white, inner with pale brown ; bill black, yellowish beneath ; tail forked, feathers black, edged with white ; vent white ; legs slender, dusky brown; feet black. Length of specimen before me 6 inches ; spread 9 inches.
HISTORY .- This beautiful little sparrow is a winter resident in Vermont. It ar- rives in flocks from the north about the first of November, and proceeds again northerly about the first of April. During the winter these sparrows are often seen in flocks by themselves or in company with the snow buntings, gathering their seanty pittance of seeds from the weeds which rise above the snow in our fields and gardens. They are sometimes seen seeking shelter, in the midst of woods, from the winds and storms. Some of them rear their young in Vermont, but the greater part breed farther north, in the neighborhood of Hudson's Bay. They build their nest among the herbage, with mind and dry grass, and line it with hair or down. They lay 4 or 5 eggs at a lit- ter, which are of a pale brown, spotted with darker color.
THE CHIPPING SPARROW. Fringilla socialis .- WIE.S.
DESCRIPTION .- Frontlet nearly Hack ; crown bright chestnut ; back varied with brownish-black, ash and bay ; wings and tail dark chestnut brown ; line over the eye, chin and vent white; breast and sides of the neck pale ash ; rump dark ash ; bill blackish above, dark flesh-color below ; legs and feet slender, pale flesh- color ; hind nail a little shorter than the toe ; first four primaries nearly equal; tail forked, reaching 12 inch beyond the folded wings. Length 5 inches, spread of the wings 74 inches.
IlisTony .- Of all our sparrows this is the most familiar and most common. It breeds abundantly in every part of the state, and seems to take much pains to place its nest as near as possible to our dwellings, or close by the side of the most frequented walks in our yards and gar- dens. Sometimes it is placed upon a lilach or other shrub so near to a window as to be easily reached with the hand. The female will sit upon her nest with apparent unconcern while people are al- most constantly passing and repassing within 2 or 3 feet of her. The nest is rather slight, and always composed, inter- nally, of hair, and hence it is often called the Hair Bird. The eggs, 4 or 5, are bright greenish blue, with a few spots of brown of different shades. They usually raise two or three broods in a season.
THE FIELD, OR RUSHI SPARROW. Fringilla juncorum .- NUTr.
DESCRIPTION .- Above varied with bay, drab and dusky ; crown chestnut ; cheeks
89
BIRDS OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 3.
SWAMP SPARROW.
YELLOW BIRD .- PINE LINNET. LESSER RED-POLL.
throat and breast pale brownish drab ; bel- | seldom builds its nest till some time in ly and vent white ; tail dusky, forked and edged with whitish ; bill and legs reddish cinnamon color ; hind nail as long as the toe ; the 3d primary longest, the Ist short- er than the 6th. Length 52 in .- Nutt.
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