The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-03-07

can only be seen by parting the
/ feathers. In times of great excite
ment they show this themselves, add.
ing greatly to their beauty. In the
| spring and fall they feed about the
extremities of the branches, some
times futtering in the air in front OF
them, seizing small flies. and at such
times often expose the golden feath.
ers of the head, opening and shutting
them with great adriotness. At home
| have stuffed specimen, which YOU
shall take in your own hands,
L would said she, that | could
any way attain your knowledge. |
have a friend-a naturalist-who
thinks those young ladies very def
cient who don't know the birds that
frequent the fields and orchards. He
says it is shame to them to be so
al fat in matters of dress and toilet,
and not be able to call by name the
songsters that add so much to the
charm Of our country life.
As Molly spoke, l perceived a
troubled look fitting across her love
ly face, and her eyes were directed
far away across the marshes.
You can learn, said |. softly.
Learn she replied; 'how can
learn? When l see a bird and run to
find its name by comparing my men,
tai note of it with the description, /
get so confused l can hardly tell one
from another. am in despair about
it
I will help you,' 1 replied. 1T is
necessary That you should asS;t's'1'..a 81, Z. q
birds close by at first, be able to
handle them and compare them with
stuffed specimens, or colored engrav-
ings. Some Of the first birds we
learned about were obtained from
the New York markets. At this
time Of year various birds are offered
for sale
We were now passing neglected
field where seedy weeds in many
places cropped out above the snow.
Hush, said Molly. what are theseY
A whirling flight of birds, like leaves
blown by the wind and settling down.
fell now on all the struggling plants.
1t is a flock Of Arctic snow bunt-
ings, driven by stress of weather to
find food in this milder climate.
These birds have their breeding
places far to the north. Greenland
is full Of them. Their nests, made
Of grass and feathers, lined with the
down Of the Arctic fox. are placed
in the assures of the rocks. When
the extreme cold drives them south.
they seem to overflow the lands in
great abundance. They have soft
whistling call-note which they repeat
ut intervals while they are flying. l
have often been first made aware of
their presence by hearing this note
down from the sky. Pretty
creatures of white and black. inter
mixed with reddish brown. Could
you examine them closer YOU would
find no two alike
Molly looked a little and exclaimed
4 thought ] knew the snow bird.
The bird have always called by that
name is of a dark mouse color
Yes | replied. That is the COM
mon snow-bird, you must mind the
distinction. This is the Arctic snow
and it does not come so
regularly as the other. We have
had this bird alive Gagged for awhile.
We gathered sprays of seedy weeds
for its food, which it accepted, but
for several days We could not per-
suade it to drink. Some one at last
suggested that we should present
frozen granulated STOW to it. Of
this it partook at once plentifully.
How forcibly does this peculiarly
tell of those frozen countries where
1t is its habitude to live. In its as
pect 1t is the gentlest Of birds. 1t is
to convey an idea of the
dove-like innocence expressed in its
looks. | can tell you way of draw
ing birds near the house where you
can observe them. We have prac-
tised throwing hominy under our
dining-roOm windows. We have had
the white-throated sparrow, the snow
bird, the fox-colored sparrow and
song sparrow, all feeding there,
scratching with their tiny feet in the
snow, like miniature hens. This you
cannot do, of course, if any cats are
about