Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-05-06
From the New England Farmer.
BIRDS-THETR USEFULNESS.

runs through tie town, whose banks at IN |
tervals are ornamented with numerous elms |
and other trees, which add much to the |
beauty of this pleasant village. In these |
trees the birds congrcgate in great numbers,
and rear their young. A gigantic elm, the
admiration of travellers, and the pride of the
village, threw out its wide-spreading branches |
over the cottage in which VIC dwclt, and
while it shielded us from the scorchng sun,
afforded in its ample head IA forest almost in
itself,) secure retreat for variety of binds,
whose movements afforded much amusement
for the family. Among these birds were a
pair of crow backbirds, who had selected
the fork of partly decayed limb very high
in the tree, as a place to build their nests
and rear their young. Having in my juvenile
days some prejudice against this bird, as
was taught that with the crow it would dig up
the newly sprouted corn, and commit sundry
other depredations, therefore viewed them
with very suspicious eye, as | saw them in
company from day TO day upon my newly
planted grounds, busily engaged in helping
themselves to what they liked best. salts
fled myself soon, however, that they had
been vely slandered, and that they were
friends and not enemies. 1t was evident
that they were clearing my grounds of grubs
and worms at great rate. They soon
found that l was no enemy to them, and
consequently became quite tame and IA
miar, following the plough or harrow with
nearly as much confidence as the domestic
fowls. 1t appeared that there was good
state of feeling among the numerous tribes
that inhabited the tree, consisting as thcv
ana OF so many families, embracing the robin,
blue-bird, sparrow, goId-robin, and variety
OF others, and things seemed to prosper
among them, and 60 on well, until the night
before the old fashioned election" fatal
day to the featlered tribe. During that
night there was high wind early in the
morning l was awakened by an unusual
clamor among the birds, and rose to ascer-
tain the cause. found that the decayed
limb on the fork of the crow black birds
nest had been broken off by the wind, and
the nest and contents, five young ones, pre-
clpitacd to the ground, and four of them
dead or dying. The surviving one was
nearly, fledged, and could fly a little. I
picked it up from the grass and placed it in
secure situation, supposing the distressed
parents would take care of it, The old ones
continued their clamor all the morning
which, with the sympathsing cries of the
other birds, formed melancholy concert
While the black-birds had pcrched upon
nelghborlng tree near the road, still giving
vent to their sorrow, boy passed with his
gun, fired, and brought them both to the
ground, and carried them away in triumph.
Luckily for the boy, did not witness the
barbarous deed, but it was noticed bv one
OF the family, and soon reported to me. As
had become somewhat interested in the
unfortunate orphan, proposed to nv child
rem that they should feed it with worms mill
1t could take care of itself, and ACCORDINGLY
placed it in pen under tree, and re,urncd
TO my work near by. TWAS not long before
l heard from the young bird its peculiar note
which 1t uttered when its parents brouph,
1000, and on looking up, saw that it had
hopped up on the .joist to which the board
fence was fastened, and to my delight and
surprise behrld a bluc-bird in the act OF
feedlnglt. That beautiful passage of Scrn-
ture flashed on my mind: "Are not five
sparrows sold for two farthings? and no one
of them is forgotten before God" NV Gu
riosity was now raised to see the issue. and
soon found that any further care on nv part
would be supernuous, for the young had
} fallen into better hands. 1t was with the
: deepest interest l watched the movements OF
this devoted pair of bue-b birds to thei,
adopted one; for it appcared that both male
and female had taken part in this work o.
dlslnterested benevolcncc, and devoted
themselves with unrcmtting attention to il.
wants, until it was able to take care of itself
=. For couple of days it remained near the
spot where | first saw the birds feeding it
and being near a window, had a good op-
portunily to see how things went on between
them. 1t appeared that the young one hat
, kept his benefactors busy; for their nces.
SAINT labors could hardly satisfy the gormand.
lzer, as upon estimate, after much attention
he received portion Of food every two and
a half minutes during the day, which an.
peared to consist of worms and grubs.
, The black-bird probably weighed twice a,
much as both blue-brds, and when it opened
its capacious mouth to receive the food. il
, seemed as if its kind friends were in i'm.
minent danger of being swallowed whole
The blue-blrds appeared alternately with the
food, and lit down few feet in front of the
bird on the fence, and viewed with apparent
establishment the extended mouth of the
young one for a second, then hopping Up
deposited the food, and then as quick bach
to IFS first position, regarding for another
second with marks of satisfaction the obec
of charity, and then away for new supply
In few days the young bird found the
use of its wings, and was followed from tree
to tree upon the premises by its faithful pro.
viders for nearly week it had by tina
time learned to find its own food, and soor
fell in company with some of his kith ant
kin, and could recognize it no more
Whether it ever returned to express it.
: gratitude to its foster parents we have never
learned.
Many ofmy neighbors could testify to tho
; above facts, as some of them called daily tt
see for themselves. In
DEATH OF ALEXANDER.
|, Whom A1nyonIpr Wne n,