Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-24

a little before shutdown, and circling abo
the tree descend like "a stream into no
about 90 feet from the ground" Peep
came to the spot to see the birds which,
the tree was struck, "would rush out
millionsand with great noise" This famol
elm was Topped off by the wind in 179
When Iesorling thus to chimney, thu
sometimes get warmer reception tina
counted for, from the owner, who annoyed b
their harmless chatter, fires the flue.
! So endless is the diversity OF nature, 1t
no wonder we occasionally meet her eccel
tticitics in bundles. Nor is it surprising
|, find the nest of the chimney swift as curiol
as the bird. A nest taken from chime
just after the eggs were laid, and sever
smoke Drowned specimens from the fire.plaC
of an old farmhouse are before us. Mel
wicker baskets of fine twigs, intercrossin
are these swifts' nests, lilliputan log cabin
with many gables, being round and so thi
as often 10 show the eggs from below. Bui
up of fine twigs of uniform size, all bt
sneared with a light, gelatinous glue, serviu
to fasten the whole together and to the wal
reminding us of the edible brds'-nests of til
celestial heather. On this shallow tray res
the four white, spotless eggs, contrastin
strongly with the original surroundings. Il
see these birds circulating through the with
cred branches OF tree, one may readil
guess their GRAND. 1t is nest-building time
and every twig for the house must b
snapped off on the wing. AS they das
through the dry limbs, they pause an in
slant, and il the twig is secured, bear it OF
IN triumph in their beak. l have seen
bird make half dozen trials before securing
the object and doubtless many hundre,
journeys are taken for the material of singl,
nest.
Late of a summer evening, after the night
hawk has retired TO rest, as well as through
the day, We may see the 6uU-6dt circlln,
high in air If the weather is to be fine
as the farmers say, or seeking their insect
prey near the earth if the opposite is In store
Keeling off their lively notes. hick. a-1ick
chick-d-rick, rick-ick-ick. What wonderful
powers of wing have we here! how lntcns,
the life. all breast muscle you would say t
see the bird addressed, and the red flesh be
tokens its hot blood
One might think a tragic end would await
such reckless iliers, and such may often re
suit, though they seem to steer clear of mos
obst icles. A case in point came recently Ia
hand, that OF an unfortunate bird impaled
on the sharp spear point of lightning roo
over chimney, where ii remained until shot
oil with gun, warning, and CHASTITY one
indeed, to all this s'oitt race.
Bird (Trochilus coIubris,
L.,
The ''hummers' stand apart by themselves.
They appear to have no near feathered
presenting often the characters and
habits of the insect. Belonging exclusively
to the New World, the ancienls have left nc
reports of them, their tr0chiluS being an
entirely different bird. OF upward of four
hundred species peculiar to North and South
America and their adjacent islands, but one,
the Ruby throat, comes to our latitude.
The literature of the humming-brd is very
extensive, but unfortunately involved in a
maze of synonomy. Many writers, especially
the French, have produced large and elegant
works illustrating this important family.
The great work OF John Could royalty dedi-
Gated, in five folio volumes, with its 800
plates, was twelve years in publication, and
ranks with the lasting monument OF Audi
bon in our country.
One would not suppose so delicate crea-
turc capable of extensive journeys. yet our
migrates with the other birds, going
rs far north as Canada.
A. ictu btb1ih6t ao Vi u luduuCuCu DGt,
apprises you of the presence Of this ruby
lhroated fairy. AS he probes the blue
blossoms of the larkspur, drawing up the
honey with his tubular tongue, and hangs as
il suspended there, his body seems sur
rounded by a halo, so rapid the movement of
the wings. His metallic plumage CLEANS in
the sun. Then, turning t. rifle the hectares
Of the nasturtium or some favorite flower, he
disappears as flash of light. A weathered
apple-bough is good watch-tower, for the
foliage would hide the busy world from his
active eve. AS he preens himself moment
You 600 his orincon badge hung like ycrget
about the throat, for this distinguishes the
male, and after planning, no doubt, new
conquests over bees and flowers or rival
sutton, he darts off for their accomplish
ment.
These birds have been called Flying
gems" aud we may class their nests among
the daintiest bits of bird architecture to be
found in all the tribe of feathtred artisans.
What appears a mere excrescence on the
horizontal limb is in fact miniature nest,
wrought of the softest and finest substances,
encrusted with lichens in direct and wise
imitation of nature. In this receptacle are
the tiny white eggs, the size of peas.
The Cuckoo, (COccygus erytI,rOphthaI-
mus, Wis.,,
Of the two species Of New England cuckoos,
the black and yellow-billed, the former only
is al all abundant, and he by his shy and
retired habits, escapes the eye of the ma.
jority.
In bushy pastures, on the edges of woods
and beside streams, you will see the long.
tailed, "Quaker. coored" bird with milk white
breast, darting about TO screen itself from
view. 1t loud "k0u kOu" Is OCCASIONAL,
heard in the trees by the house, whittier
expect he resorts on -robbiug eXcur
sions.
Though accused of following now and ther
in the wake of the cow-bird or reverting tt
the well-established ways of his Englisl
brother and dropping an egg in somebody
else nest, yet as rule our bird matches ant
rears its own progeny. The nest is crud
affair, to be sure, and whether it represent
improvement, a step up the ladder, the las
rung OF a descending course, or perma
nent and original idea In The economy O
nature, is question which the evolulionist
will be long in settling to the satisfaction O
all.
In this locality these birds build near tn
ground, in thick shrubs like the stunte
apple and thorn-bush. A mere scaffoldin
of twigs, leaves and bark, in no wise stitche
or intertwined, and with slight con
cavity, constitutes the nest on which ar
deposited the greenish-blue eggs, which
would seem the first wind or ram would IL
molish.
The eggs, four or five in number, are lai
at rather longer intervals than with mos
birds, so as in the case of trees which BET
both fruit and flowers at the same tan,
young birds and fresh eggs may be foun
simultaneously in the nest Of the cuckoo.
Liquor.
BRIsToL, VT, Aug IF. W. James
Sin rk ahnrn ,raa Ia ia.r a,ad af..a., l.,.Ius