The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-05-08
HAVE BIRDS A LANGUAGE?

built their nest i'll an evergreen near our
back door. They were very tame, and it
appeared as they came so near for protec-
ton. But we could not protect them against
prowling cats in the night, and one morning
found the female and her young brood gone.
The male, who was 4 find singer, seemed
very disconsolate for several days. His
joyous song was hushed, and he called his
mate in sad, plantve way. and apparent
. ly made no effort to secure second partner.
/ Time healed his sorrow, yet still he remain
ed single; but the paternal instinct prompt
ed him to have sort OF supervision over
the young Of other species. He was special
ly watchful over a brood of young bluebrds
which had their home in n little earthen
house which we had placed on 4 low pillar
of the upper piazza.
Several times the cat-hrd had made II
great cutlery, and called the parent birds to
their young and not only the parents, but
other birds flocked around to learn the cause
of the trouble. AS soon as | heard the out
cry, would look for the cause, but could
see nothing, and l began to conclude the
bird was giving false alarm out of pure
mischief But l was soon undeceived. l
was sitting where my eyes rested on the
bird-house. Both parents were absent, and,
in fact no birds We're in sight. 1t was OPP
pressively warm and still: not Il leaf was
stirring, nor Il bird-note heard. Suddenly
an English sparrow fit past me, and
alights on the step of the little house, and
puts its head in ut the door. Immediately
the guardian cat-birl-whose watchful eye
had seen the sparrow from his leafy screea
i'll an adjacent grape-vine-sounds the alarm
and comes forth and stations himself on
tree near the piazza. The sparrow leaves
Immediately and alightS on the railing at
the opposite end Of the piazza. But still the
cat-bird seems much excited throws his
tail from side to side, DROPS his wings, and
loudly prcclaims his tispleaSure. Quicker
than can tell it, the parents We're at home
and other species came tiocking in; robins,
wrens, and vireos add their clamor. The
sparrow, Il veritable little john Bull
Straightans himself up, blustery about, and
adds his sharp chirp, as ifdehyiug the charge
made against him. His auiacious behavior
is too much for the cat-brd, who dashes |
across the piazza, and chaseS him out OF |
sight. And now the parents twittcr COM
placently, and the other birds return To |
their quarters.
| have closely observed the English spar
row ever since its advent in our village, and |
have yet TO see the first instance where il |
has driven away our soug birds Where |
our song birds love to congregate, and find |
good nesting places, and are encouraged by |
man, they will not he displaced by the
sparrow. On the contrary, our songSterS
hold them under perfect subsection. In the
Summer they will not allow them to remain |
about the grounds of our homes. But in |
winter they mingle and feed with the song
~parrnw the slate-colored snow bird, and |
rhe toX-sparrow without vrangling; hut as
,onn as the birds OF passage return, I'LL this
Is changed. The English Sparrows are now
promptly driven from the grounds by the
united force of the various species which |
have their old established homes about the
house.
In Southern New Jersey the bluebirtlS re-
main with us all winter, retiring to the dense
cedar swamps during the coolest weather.
\ year ago the winter was cold for this lati-
rude, and the spring backward, and the
bluebirls were not as prompt as usual in
coming to their boxes; SO Il pair of enter
prising English sparrows took advantage of
their absence, and doniciled themselves III
one of the houses. When the rightful pro-
prietorS arrived, their indignation seemed
10 have no bounds. They at once called
meeting of their relatives, who quickly re-
ponded TO the summons, and came tlocking
IN To the number of i dozen or more. The
,ummer birds had not yet arrived or they
700 would have sided with the bluebir,ls.
An excited discussion arose as to what
measures to adopt. First one and then
another would peer into the house, which
reused and inhamed their anger up to the
point of booming the little helpless sparrow>
to Il cruel death. They We're just ont of the
shell, they were quickly killed. And
now the indignant birds tore every vestige
of the nest out of the box, and hurled it to
the ground.
The parent sparrows looked on from !,
safe distance and seemed to take the matter
very coolly and philo>ophically. The busy
little creatures had no time to pine over the
sad termination of their household, but
went to more congenial quarters, where they
could rear as many broods as they pleased.
Birds not only seem to have Il language
but also sense of humor. One pleasant
day in February | noticed number OF
English and song sparrows under large
evergreen. Quite aqnantity of pretty white
feathers had blown under the tree and
lodged there One of the sparrows gathered
several in his mouth and hoped on to one
of the lower limbs, and let the feathers blow
away, and then Immediately gathered more;
and now another joins the trolic, and then
another, and another, until seven or eight
are filling their mouths and hopping on to
the limbs let them fall and fly in the light
wind. 1t looked like play and they may
have been discoursing the while about the
fine lining they would make for their nests,
which they would soon need if this warm
weather continued.
Perhaps there is no bird that manifests
more cleverness and sagacity than the crow
but there is such Il widespread prejudice
against him that but few people are aware
how much intelligence he has. l have
sometimes been so incensed against him,
when have seen him rob the nests of our
song birds to feed his own nestlings, that
if had possessed the power, l would have
struck him down, and rescued his prey.
What right had lie to cause such agoniZins
cries of distress from my tavorite songsters?
At the same time / shut my ears TO the
wailing call of our pet cow for her calf,
which the butcher has dragged from her
side to supply our table. and continue to
hurl my anathemas at the crow for depriv-
ing the parent birds Of their young simply
to crafty the appetite of his young brood.
Crows are not men, and should not be al
lowed to initiate them.
The best time to observe them is in early
spring, before they have set up housekeeping
and have leisure to show off their pranks.
And | have found no place equal to the
lonely pine barrcns of New Jersey to make
observations. On my first visit to the pines
was greatly surprised at the tameness of
the crow, and wondered if the Jersey people
never shot at them; hut soon learned that
Il Jersey crow could tell Il woman from Il