Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-01
NOTES ON THIS FAUNA OF YER.
NONT-vl.
The Beited Kingnsaer tCerylc alcyon
Hsle.l

A harsh metallic clicking or rattle announ-
ces the presence of the Kiug6sher. You look
up and see the dimnutive author Of this
alarum, careerlng precipitately overhead, and
bending his way to the lake or river beyond.
Now he lelsurely skirts the shore In an un-
dulaling, zigzag course, dealing out his
notes iu rapid succession, then suddenly pulls
up on twig of an overhanglng tree. You
silvered smet and shining dace beware how
you heliotropc to Wonder enemy! His eye
il telescope and his aim sure. Like all true
fishermen he takes his prey on the fin. The
doing frog wakes to find his fate but already
sealed, and the helpless field mouse,
starting at the dread sound, betrays his
cover.
But the Kiugisher plays fair game.
There is no stalking up behind his victim,
but like tho ''ratller" of another race, he gives
n warning note. This is probably done 10
arouse the fish, to stir them up, and possibly
to bewilder them also. AS they start and
glance his sharp eye follows them. He is
over them In an instant, and darting down
with the speed of an arrow, secures his scaly
prey and bears 1t off in his bcak.
The kingfsher was fret observed in Bur-
linglon this year on the 24lh of April. They
commonly appear about the middle OF the
month and announce their arrival by their
loud cracking call. The pond, the mill
stream. the lake, or wherever there are
banks of sand or clay in tho neighborhood Of
water, are his chosen haunts.
Like the sand. martins, his nest ia SUBJ
terranean, but the kingfsher:is the most ex-
tensive miner of the two. You can some
times reach into martins nest with your
hand, but the latter frequently runs his shaft
six feet into the earth. This horizontal
tunnel or gallery has three or four inch
bore, and is usually drilled with slight
curve downward, pcrforating tho bank two
or three feet from the surface. At the cx-
,rrm,ty OF the p ,ssage there is rounded
apartment sunk trihe below its level. Ia
this dark retreat on the sand aud accumu
lated bones of mice and fish, with perhaps
few feathers and wisp Of straw, the king
fisher laws her six white, shining eggs, secure
from enemies aud protected from the ele-
nen's. The youCg birds leave their cavern
in June, but frequently seek 1t again for
refuge during The summer together with
their parents. Then the family dlsbanls and
they pursue their trade para,ely, veritable
lone fishers every one of them.
Ine nhlc NutCyOt, WHICH tuc ot'cho Bd'c
| to this bird, sisnities the sen.br0oier. Til"
ancicu, Slcilians believed the kingtsher laid
her eggs and hslched them in fourteen
days, before the winter solstice, on the
Sill face Of the sea, which during that time
was unrufn d by wave. But We have
no ''halcNon brooding on IA winters
sea-" which Dryden celebrates. The
incubation period of our bird is sixteen
| days. They disappear, as rule, before the
| c,ld weather begins and pass the winters in
the South Atlantic States.
The Loon COLUMBUS torquatus,
Brunn.)
In April long-drawn wolfsh cry may be
heard, borne up from the retired parts of the
the lake or pond on the wings Of the wind,
wild, musical sound as it dies or swells
With the breeze. This is the laughing call
of the Loon or Great Northern Diver, who
may lie mile or more Ia the distance invoK-
lug storm, as many lelieve.
This species is migratory with us, appear
ing Ia Luke Champlsln at Burlington by the
last of the month, where it IS quite abuu dan
until June, when it seeks some l,w island OF
marsh for The purpose OF breeding. They
are seen sinrly or in pairs, fiequenting tile
shallow bays or coves whi,her they retire
early 10 tho day to feed. Their dwellings
are rude structures, composed of coarse grass
and sedges hcaped up into the form Of nest
pitched in the swamp and sometimes upOr
the cabin OF a water-rat, leading down from
which to the waller are well beaten paths
The Loon lays a long, handsome egg, al
large us that of the goose, OF dark smoky
J olive or brown color, coarsely blotcaet
! with durk umbcr spots. Two and sometimes
three are found in their nests.
While on Lake George last summer oh
served an interesting trait in this bird which
may be set down to his credit. Returning
one evening to our camp in the ''Narrows,
and threading the islands, which add so mucl
e the beauty and attraction of that par. of tn
Horizon, We came to an open place, wher
/ Immediately ahead a family OF looms wer
di-porting themselves In the water. The
sighted us first and for short time spneare
to deliberate, but their resolve was quickl
made aud speedily executed My compar
4 ions followed suggestion to measure ou
paddles with theirs although we knew thf
pursuing them with a boat, II not will
J goose chase, was something even more hop'
less, and expected they would dive and max
of in the usual manner. Their tactics, how
ever, were somewhat different upon tn
: occasion as they had their young to look OF
= for.
T, When well on their tracks all disal
peared simultaneously, and SHORTLY after II
mother-loOn came up with her young in Il
r middle of the lake, skuling rapidly to Il
,e opposite shore, while TO our surprise, pate
L. famias rose to the surface in his form
position, and there awaited our approac
a We soon reached him with the boat, whe
10 he remained several minutes, sometim
As coming within reach OF the oar, diving spa
n medically and Immediately returning to Il
r. surface as II he had made some niislak
When lie baked us most successfully
NJ celebrated the event by uttering peculi
~ and unesrlhly sort OF howl, more like /
w deliberate yell Of beast than the cry of al
BIRD.
10 He was evidently sacrificing himself {
W. the safety of his young aud mate, as
I'D knew. II this ruse vi his worked, 1t would
he at extreme personal risks. While keen
watching us, | noticed he had an eye al1o
of his iillle family, the cinef object of
no care, which was now nearing the westt
s shore.
on Tho two mouse.colored young presen,
Is an Interesting sight, swimming side by sit
he IN front of the old bird and probably also
at her direction. We did not get sight of thu
* after they disappeared, until they were "
he over to the opposite side. BY what chicant
nd tho old bird concealed her young do
know, but when well out of harms "
n there was a reunion and long and loud v
ard the laughter Of the whole family.
bt This strong instinct which prompts bi
ola to preserve its offspring at all huzards 10
led self Is always admirable. In such CAS-
4rv birds which ara shycst under ordln
.rs circumstances, become now the boldest {
sis. most vcntureBome.
4. -
OF scarcely any plrd mas learned 10 ay
ere man more successfully than inc loon.
is except in the gray Of the morning, he m,
iains himself vt II safer distance at all ct
times, except In the most unfrequen
~ places. When surprised near the land