Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-02-22

! NAttituL NuAuIt. IIUul lntIC u Dlssfs
into tho succentric ventricle or second
stomach. where il ismixed with the pepsin
preparatory TO the milling process in he
gizzard, where it is ground by the vigor-
GUS working of that peculiar mill with
gravel and other hard substances which
prepare il for nutrition. Yet though that
gizzard will grind quartz, seeds of plants
will often slip through it whole and after
passing through the bird will vcgetate,
thus showing "a wise provision of nature
TO seed the whole earth with various
plants.
Their power of flight is simply wonder
full, often with the fastest birds reaching
10 miles per hour, Their vision is acute
beyond our conception. Many birds can
see fly and 90 direct for it with unerring
aim 500 yards distant Their sense OF
touch is not acute, though they are
nervous and irritable.
Their distribution is often very peculiar;
emigrating from place to place they have
special attachments for'localities and re-
turn with certainty yearaher year to their
brooding places if their lives are spared.
Many species almost entirely die from
accident, as old age, even into hundreds of
years, rests lightly upon them, and the
ills so common to the animal kingdom
seldom come to them. Yet as their ene-
mics are many they have, as it were, a
constant fight for life. Some are pccu.
liarly American, as the humming bird and
condor, while others are peculiar to the
old world, as the vulture.
Some are so fat that you have but to pull
a wick through them and they will be con-
sumed as a candle, like "Mother Carey s
chicken" Other varieties vomit oil when
caught, even enough to pay for their
cahture. Others, like the crow, are pro-
verbal for their want of fat.
The marriage ceremonies with most,
while they are performed before no earthly
tribunal, are more sacredly kept than with
man. Icy are generally true to death,
and treachery is seldom known until it
comes as an educationary instinct from
mans teaching, and yet some are apt
scholars and will even deceive their. in.
structors.
The kinglishcr is one of our peculiar
birds. As he feeds upon minnows be
does us no harm, but he is a filthy follow
living in holes where he vomts the bones
and scales of the fish he swallows, making
there his nest OF fish bones, and raising
his young literally covered with parasites
the lousiest creatures you can imagine
They first kill the mnnows by threshing
them on the ground, and so strong is that
habit that the young pick up the motion
from their first meal, and if in captivity
will thresh their food, even if meat, and
then toss it and catch it, MS in their wild
state.
We do not like owls, yet every owl is
worth ten cats to the farmer, and they
don t have to be fed either If he does
takes nightly to feed his brood is large
balance in his favor.
Hawks are also friends, taking many
mice and rats even, as well as some chick
ems, but doubtless the account when set
tied would not be rs most expect.
Crows are called bad, hut nothing is
further from tho truth. 1t is true tina
they now and then pull corn, but the grut
that does such damage to grass is theil
especial favorte, and they are help the
farmer could not dispense with. 1t is true
they break up the nests of some smaller
birds, but it is our sentiment rather thar
interest that is then disturbed. AS tn,
robin is the one most often deprecated, ht
is thus driven near our homes for protec
ton, and the crow will often come near t
get him, but for any good the robin doe
US the crow might have them all. ASK
those who raise small fruits of his his
tory, and you will find him anything
but valuable friend.
Bluebrds should be protected, as they
take the cutworm, and to those not keep
ing bees do no injury. To the beekeepe
while they take bees they will take injuri
GUS moths also, and thus keep the balance
sheet in their favor
Swallows should be protected, as the,
not only take injurious insects but are
farmers barometer, fortelling storms with
out fee or reward. The science whicl
underlics this swallow barometer is this
Insects are SO created that when they fl
they make certain number of wing vi
! brations per second, and that number i
always uniform; in fair weather this Car
ries them above the houses, but before
storm as the pressure of the atmosphere i
less they fly but q few feet above the sur
face. AS the swallow flies where he ca
catch his food, he flies high or low rs tn
insect flies, and thus points out to man fact
which without him he could not know. S
j. this if needed will give farmer goo
} hiah fair ,vea.hoc 10 snro anI ,nhno io,
} fo5i weather T. imn,inent and ot rnad;nr
), heioht thn weothnr is JonbtfnI NTomin
arc easily kent, and need only ont house
provided to ensure their coming. If thei
> houses are erected near corn field the
4 will keep the crows of that corn SURF
kinglets should also be encouraged, q
c they are only good. The sparrow, impor
a ed to free the elm trees of New York IN
a Brooklyn of the canker worm, after doin
,fI their duty have become almost as big
), nuisance as the worm, but while tho pul
=, lished articles are generally against thel
they are not wholly bad. They pick a
the parasites out OF manures and rid tt
IL morse of the bot, and will soon decimal
re the tape worm and all other parasites tn;
L. seek hiding places in manure. Let us giN
them credit for the good they do, for "
cannot expect 10 extermnate them. Viii
he would not eXterminate the small bird
as he loves and protects them, he is I
Is firm believer in their being, rs Who'll
n banptcial to the farmer, lint wnuld atvi,