The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-06

When | 90 into the woods in May and
early summer, | often see gay bird.
He is about seven and half inches
long. His wings and tail are jet black,
and his head and body SO red that he
looks like coal Of fire among the green
leaves. He is always on the lookout for
insects, and destroys a great many,
daily. His song is rich and sweet, and
flls the woods where he stays. "E-erp
hn-ic que-ic que-we-o ka.wet que-a-ru !"
The strain is sung quite rapidly.
His mate is not red; her back is dull
green, and her breast is yellowish. She
does not return north in spring until
several days after the arrival of the male
bird. The males of most kinds of our
birds come by themselves, leaving their
future mates to follow them, a week or
ten days, sometimes month later.
The nest of the scarlet tanager, for
this is the name of the red bird, is built
late in May. 1t is often placed quite
up on some great limb of tree. Early
in, June, found one of these nests on
top of thorn tree. Mrs Tanager was
sitting, and | did not disturb her to take
peep at her treasures, but knew from
what | had learned about the bird be-
fore, that the eggs she was keeping
warm were greenish blue, spotted with
brown. The usual number in the nest
is four or five.
Passing that way few days after, the
old bird cried, in troubled voice,
"Chip-er.e, chip-er-e!" The eggs had
changed to little birds. The skin of
their bodies was delicate, rather bril-
liant red, and the long, gray down,
tinged in spots with rich brown, covered
them like thin vail. Their eyes were
closely shut. Birds which are reared in
nest, do not open their eyes until they
are several days old.
In eight or ten days the nest was
empty; but could hear the parents
calling tenderly to the little ones in the
woods near by. The nest was loosely
made of the dry stalks of weeds, and
lined with very fine leaves of grass, and
strips of grapevine bark.
Late in summer, when birds drop
their ola feathers, and get new ones,
the red bird becomes green one, like
his mate. The young males look like
the mother, ornameNted however, with
few red feathers. In September, the
scarlet tanager and his family go away
to the far south, to Central America, or
some islands of the sea. There, the
tropical sun paints his plumes and those
of his children, until, when they come
back to us in May, they are of dazzling
red
The scarlet tanager has pretty, little
cousin, which haunts the banks of
creeks and rivers. Sometimes | find
him in garden shrubbery, or in patch
of hazel bushes, quite distance from
water. He is so shy and restless that it
is not easy to get a good view Of him.
When perched upon twig, he always
looks as if just ready to fly. His back
is brownish green, his throat and breast
fine yellow, and there is broad, black
band across the forehead, passing down
over the cheeks, which makes him look
as if he were wearing mask. The
bill is black, and the long, slender legs,
flesh color. The color of his throat
gives him part of his name, the Mary
land yellowthroat.
He comes early in May, and sings a
great deal from the time of his arrival
until the middle of July. During this
season of song, he almost always salutes
me with "Chip-per-a, chip-per.a, chip! !"
or, Witch-e-te, witch-a-te, witchv' 1t
is bold, lively strain, and makes one
feel as happy as the little singer him
self. On warm, moist nights, | have
heard him sing at midnight, "Chip-per
a, chip.per-a!' When the female is
sitting, have seen him rise into the
air, describe small circle warbling at
the same time tender song, and then
descend into the bushes.
The nest, which is built in late May
or early June, is generally placed in a
bunch of tall grass, or in shrub. 1t is
constructed Of broad blades of dry grass,
and lined with fine grass and horse
hairs. Some of these nests are said to
be arched over at the top, with an en-
trance on one side; but never found
any made in this way. The eggs are
four or five, very small, pure white,
tinted with pink when newly laid, and
spotted with brown at the large end.
When there are young to be cared
FOR, the yellowthroats work constantly
among the vines and bushes, hunting
for small worms. If a pair perceive me,
the male calls "Chip!' in hoarse, ex-
cited tone; and the little mother an
swers in sweet, excited tone, /" Chit ~
They keep close watch of me, and will
hardly approach the vicinity of the
nest, fearing will discover it. When
the little ones open their bills, see
that their mouths have fine, red tint.
Two broods are reared in season. The
last in July.
The Maryland yellowthroat lives upon
insects. He is found from the Atlantic
to the Pacific Ocean.-lNrS. Hatho,cay, Il,
little Corporal.
FfdO.
How came this dog here, Frank p
asked Mrs. Cameron, when she came
down, winters morning, and found a
little dog in the kitchen, thin, dirty and
forlorn as possible.
20, mamma, do let him stay r. said
Frank. in eager tones. "Tll take care
of him, and not let him trouble you
any"
! But you have not answered my
,o.t;o, my bow said Mrs Cameron