The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-03-21
From The New England Magazine.
OUR BIRDS.

fields in the neighborhood of Boston; vet,
how small u number Of these are at al!
known to the great majority of our people
probably not fifty, out Of the three hundred
and fifty, would he recognized by name ;
and as to identify individuals, people in
general have limited their ornithological
pursuits to that very shrewd performance of
telling "hawk from hand saw" Our
woods are full of song, and most of the
notes ale familiar 10 our ears, vet .,nety-
nine out ofa hundred of us take Flv-catch-
err for Robin, and know no distinction be-
tween a Goldfnch, a Summer Sylvia, and a
Red-start, which we may hear singing eve
ry day for months together. Now we hold
it to he a matter of some interest to know
these little visitors, and nothing more than
fair to requlte, with personal intimacy and
welcome, the greetings offered by their
pleasant strains.
No one can take ramble for a quarter
of an hour in the woods, in June, july, or
August, without having his ears saluted by
sweet, rolling melodlous whistle from the
lofty branches above bis head this note is
often taken for that of the Robin, though
any person at all acquainted with the indi-
viduai could distinguish the two species of
melody at any distance capable of transmit
ting the taintest of these sounds to his ear.
This songster is the RED-EYED FLY-cArcH-
Err, one OF the most charming ami spriohtly
musicians that our forests can boast Of
lie is about the size OF sparrow, and is of
an olive brown color. His lively and agree
able note is the charm of our woods from
morning TO night, being kept up with spir
1t and perseverance equalled by few of the
leathered choir. The talest trees and
thlckest woods are the favorIte resort of this
bird on open plains or among low thickets,
he is never seen; but among the giant aims
Of the old oaks, or in the dense foliage of
the walnuts, or on the top of tall and ma
jestic elm, he is sure TO take his stand and
make the dark shadows of the forest ring
with his sonorous MARBLE. His perform
ances, indeed, are not confined to the coun-
try but our most populous cities are greeted
by his visits. In a fine summer duy as YOU
walk through the mall in Boston, you may
hear his mellow and enlivening whistle
among the trees of that beautiful promenade,
and in passing along the busiest streets,
where towering elm lifts its fresh green
canopy over the brick walls, the little rus-
tic may be heard, straining his melodious
throat AMID the concert of rafting carts
and creeking wheelbarrows.
The nest of this charming musician is
quite a curiosity it is built often on the
horizontal branch of young walnut, oak,
or hornbeam, six, eight, or ten feet from
the ground, and is what is called a basket
nest, hanging from forked branch by the
edges, like the pocket of billiard table, or
dip-nst they are built SO near the ground
as to afford opportunity for observing the
mechanism pursued by the builder; and
the ingenuity of this little architect in knot
ting his Topped strings in regular triangle,
and weaving his chopped leaves into the
warp of his habitation, till be has brought
it into proper symmetry and mathematical
adjustment is enough to fill US with admi-
ration.
L" SIC Dos non uobis nidifcatis auesn' 1t
would seem shame that SO much ngenui-
ty and industry should not be allowed the
full enjoyment of the fruits of their toll !;
and yet Nature-Heavenb bless the mark =
does at times play understandable pranks.
This same molecular handywork-to what
base uses may it come! The FIy-catcher's
nest, so snug and cosey, is a favorite resort
of the Cow-BUNTING. and the cradle, of
course, in which changelng usurps the
honor of legitimate heir. Mayhap you
never heard of the interloper aforesaid
The Cow bunting is bird that never builds
a nest, but sneaks into that Of another, and
leaves its eggs to the care ofstrangers. lfyou
should chance to espyin your walks through
the woods, black, impish looking rascal,
fiuttering from fence to bush, like thiev-
ing cuitif, afraid TO be een,--skulking
among the thickets, and prying into hooks
and corners with the air of a catchpole or a
kpocket,-knock him down cape sara
manu-, cape robora pastor stop his priva-
teering nullify, him that is the very viii
lain, on the look-ou for nest in which to
father a spurious progeny upon some un-
lucky wight more industrious and Christian
like, than himself.
You have heard of the Cuckoo, and his
tricks of similar stamp to this,-the Euro
pean Cuckoo, should premise,-for the
Cuckoo of America is bird of different
habits, and builds a nest of his own. The
Cow-bunting is the only American bird
known to be guilty of the practice above
mentioned, and, rs | have Just remarked,
may be seen in the woods, Shaking about
with stealthy movement and villanous as
pect, silent and watchful,. lest the every
stones should prate of his whereabouts !"
and peeping and nuzzling into every odd
corner for market in which to pass off his
counterfeits. Many is the decent, industri-
ons, and pains taking little citizen, that is
plagued with the visits of this prowling Gus
toner and there is no getting clear of him
for the williams craft is equal to his impu-
dence a small bird will be driven from his
nest by the intruder, large one will lie
watched for the moment when his back is
turned. The little Wittachee cannot hide
his cradle in too close secluson for the
eye of the prowler the red-eyed Fly-catch-
er's airy basket is looked upon as constltut-
ing specially desirable quarters; the Taw-
y-thlust---simple fellow,--must lend a
hand at bringing up the infant troure the
Cat-blrd is not cunning enough to keep out
of the scrape, though various devices are
resorted TO by some Of these birds to rid
themselves of the incu.rbrance; some will
abandon their nests when the Cow-hird has
laid in them; but, in general, birds will
not leave eggs Of their own, when spuri-
Gus one is thrust into their company. OF
course, when the eggs are Matched, the
brood are equally taken care of by the DAM
interloper cum eteris,-though, in most
cases the Cow-bunting is the first hatched
and as he quickly out-grows the rest of the
brood, and, with his ample dimensions and
marrow quarters, feels good deal of that
incommodity which trouble our venerable
friend and acquaintance, the old lady who
lived in spoon; he makes short work O.
his brother nestlings, and elbows then