Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-25

agent OF flight. Although we never hhu
this arrangement applied to the wings OF
birds, we frequently find 1t in insects, and
their flight in consequence is marvelOusly
rapid. The dragonfy will dart through
the air and accomplish series of aerial
waltzes that would drive a swallow to-
shame.
Each of the feathers that 90 to make up
the covering of a bird is wonder in it.
self 1t is composed of u quill or central part
and the vane is made up of barbs, as they
are called, placed side by side like the
teeth of comb. Passing ut right angles
from each side of this barb are barbules
or little hooks which interlock with each
other, making the feather perfectly air
tight so that it can be utilized in striking
the air and raising the bird.
If you look at a feather you will see the
vane extends upon both sides of the quill,
but upon one side is much broader than
the other. This shorter side serves as
lap upon the neighboring feather, to make
the wing complete. one feather oyercap-
ping the next like shingles upon a roof,
and so arranged that in tho down stroke of
the wing the feathers are pressed together
perfectly tight. but in the up stroke the
feathers separate and allow the air to filter
through without hindrance. Thus the
down stroke is made effective in propelling
the bird, while the up stroke does not
retard.
An interesting essay could be made
upon our winter birds alone the pro-
visions Of nature for feeding and protect
ing them from the cold; our snow bird
the chckadee, the bluejay, the partridge
and some kinds of woodpeckers, etc.
| can in this brief essay only call atten-
ton to few of our most common birds
and some of their pecularities, and hope
by so doing to induce some of our younger
readers TO note more carefully the birds
and their habits.
Most of the birds of this latitude are
migratory. They stay with us through
the warm weather of spring, summer and
autumn, and ut the beginning of cold
weather migrate to warmer cline, to
return again with spring. The time of
the arrival of our early birds. like the
bluebird, robin, ETC., varies considerably
one year with another with the weather
OF with the forwardness or lateness of the
spring, while our late birds, like the bobo-
link. oriole, cuckoo. etc., seldom vary but
"a few days in their advent.
Some of these birds in their migratory
flights fly night and day. only stopping
when absolutely necessary for rest or food
others fly only in the day time, resting at
night others fly entirely by night, resting
and feeding by day.
Most of our birds have been found in
their winter quarters. some of them SO
changed in plumage and habits as to be
hardly recognizable. Some 90 away to
the tropics and find home for winter in
South America, Mexico. Central America,
and others stay about Florida and the
gulf, while some just retreat on the verge
Of severe snow, like the crow, who some.
times stays with US all winter, but when
deep snow and scarcity of food pirches
him retreats to New jersey, Delaware OF
Virginia, where the fields swarm with
them in winter.
Some varieties of our little sparrows
80 hardly further than the crow, and are
ready to appear here as soon as spring is a
sure thing, and sometimes, like last spring,
so early that winter returns to give a
parting grip that proves disastrous to bird
| life.
The cuckoo has been accused of laying
its eggs in the nest of other birds and
living an easy, shiftless life, having its
young reared by the sweat of another
bird 5 brow, if | am allowed the expires
sion; but such are not the facts in the
case. 1t builds its own nest and is re.
| markedly attentive and watchful of its
young, while the European cuckoo is
guilty of this breach of bird manners, and
is said TO never have Il nest OF its own.
The only American bird known to take
this mode of raising its young is our COM
mon small blackbird or COW bird, rs it is
sometimes called. Ornilhologists say that
it lays its eggs in the nest of the bluebird,
the indigo bird and also in the nest of a
number of other small birds. Sometimes
birds will forsake their nest when they find
deposited this strange and unwelcome egg
and some of these birds will, after making
"A great ado over the egg, throw it GU, but
whenever they allow the egg to remain
and hatch it is at the sacrifice of their own
family. The egg Of the blackbird is sup.
posed to hatch in less time than other
eggs, and their own eggs are thrown out.
Wilson says that only the young blackbird
is ever found in such a nest, and that the
old birds watch over their adopted off.
spring with as much solicitude as if it
were their own flesh and blood.
In the plumage of birds there is a won
derfuI adaptation of color to habits of life;
singular groupingof colors and shades
in certain orders.
1t Is interesting to observe the different
habits of birds developed in the manner Of
building their nests. Each bird selects its
peculiar location and builds its nest of
material and in manner peculiar to its
kind. We have the swallow and pewee
that always build their houses of clay or
mud; the kingbird or tyrant fy.catcher
that always line their nests with sleeps
wool; the chimney swallow that secretes
from glands in its throat a glue with
which it CLUES coarse sticks together for
its nest as firmly as the carpenter with his
glue pot could do it. the little fly.catcher
of tle woods that weaves its beautiful
nest of birch bark the orchard oriole that
ieIts and weaves wonderful nest of
thread and fibre, and suspends it from the
bough of some tree where its young are
rocked by every breeze that passes by.
Nor can | in this short article speak o.
the song of different birds So distinct anf
so peculiar to itself is the note of each
bird that we recognize his tones at once
however closely he may be hid among the
foliage of bush or tree.
The soft rich and plaintve note of tn,
bluebird we are hoping to hear very soon
Then comes the robin with louder ant
more cheerful song. We are surprise,
, some early spring morning by the notes O
the little song sparrow. Further along il
the spring we hear the quaint song of th
, catbird in the morning chorus; the bobo
. link that laughs and scolds in perfect tor
rents, and at evening when the loude
2 songsters are hushed the wood thrush
, that Jenny Lind of all our bir,ls-sound
= from some deep woods its flute.like notes
] But in the early morning when every bir
) lends its voice to the grand openin
+ chorus and each bird strives to Guido tn
others, making perfect Babel of voices
there is complete flood of melody whic
never grows monotonous or unpleasant.
Enrt tho