The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-22
A ous.,Iou for Nj. Darwin.

(aenry Ward Beseher In tho N. Y. LedReE)
They who study plants, who search ioT
botopical specimens have no special need
for leisure; but they who would study
birds must needs be quiet. hnch sIrlV-
ing puts an end 70 observation: 10
rsmble one may start up new KINGS OF
birds, may search for their nests, may
learn something; but only they who live
among birds gel at their little ways, their
characteristic traits, and distinguish one
kind from another by their minute hab-
its. A house well surrounded by trees
and shrubs, with half covered porch, or
windows opening into covers TO which
birds love 10 resort, furnishes an admira-
Bile point Of study.
The old farm cottage which summer
in had Just the right attributes. In the
front are naples and elms; on the sides,
magnolias, bIrehes and sptuces; and laced
in between, all kinds Of shrubbery, with
now and then q mulberry tree, q cherry
tree, and, at a stones cast, an orchard OF
cherries. Once this hill was almost bare
Of birds; but the news has gone forth
that here bOuntiIll bird table Is always
spread-iresh meat under the sod, infinite
insects IN the air, delicious worms in va
riety upon the trees, besides strawberries,
cherries, plums, pears, apples, IN their re.
spective seasons, and aiterWard grain and
seeds Of grass, for all inclined 10 a farina-
ceOus diet.
And 60 it has come to pass that parents
have told it TO their children, and children
have told il 10 their confidential compan-
ions, until the commonwealth Of birds Ia
we'll established and popular. We can
walk nowhere without soaring bird on
its nest, in an evergreen or dogwoOd tree,
or in some shrub, or under tuft OF grass,
where foolish birds will continue TO build,
though the scythe, the cat, and mans foot
every year destroys 30 many hopes.
Near a front corner OF the cottage Is o
cherry tree, which is kept partly Tor its
shade, but largely as resort for birds.
Sitting at q window, or on the snug po:ch
in front, one may spend hours happily In
watching the busy creatures coming 10
market. Birds do not fly In and out OF
their tree, as in other trees. They have
an instinct Of prudence, or q gem OF moral
sense, which teaches them that their acts
may be deemed by upfeathered creatures
4 petit larceny. 49,. -. ia. n 49,.
Birds seldom sing in . tree when they
are feeding. They glide in Ike 9 shadow.
They do not chatter. a dozen robbins
may be making havoc o! cherries right
over your head, and you will not know 1t.
The silence and stealth are amusing 10
one who watches. A bold robin Is tug
ging away at an unwilling cherry, but he
makes no noise. Il he detaches one and
It slips, you may hear 1t patter on the
ground, but nothing more. After time
he flies into another tree, and looks out TO
see if the coast Is clear. Then quietly he
descends under the tree, and deV0urs the
fruit which he has beaten of. or he beats
it TO a pulp, and carries 1t to his home
folks.
A catbird is more nimble than his
cousin robin, and may be seen beating off
cherry, and then, quick as light, he in
tercepts lis fall, and bears 1t of gracefully
10 his trencher in neighboring tree.
Small birds cannot master cherry, pit
and all, as large birds do. Probably they
are "too film" Sparrows, linnets and
other small fry pick the meat of, and
lthNa UC 6tOuC SICauCA bo4S w kAV 1tSAA'
When the fruit is abundant, birds seem
seldom to quarrel with each other, and all
kinds consort together in amity, though II
they have nothing 10 do with each other
anywhere else. SO that my cherry tree,
like q grand hotel, brings every variety OF
guests together, only TO feed and so apart
again. n e. 20 - -..I ,c-.
Hunger, that makes small birds peace
lul while feeding, stirs up dogs and cats 10
all manner Of growing and clRwing. II
IL said that when wild animals are driven
together by some freshct or flood, they
are harmless. In close contiguity WILDE
found bears, rabbitR, deer, catamounts,
wolves, &C. that exhibityS profound re-
spect for those rights Of hospitality be.
longing TO a common calamity. But in
peaceful times all predato tory beasts refuse
TO eat together, or keep good neighbor-
hood. Arc moi birds lower on the scale
than mammals? Yet they have better
manners, arc more civilized. How 81
that, Mr.. Darwin? Or Is 1t only the seed
eating aud fruit loving birds that are
peaceful at their meals,