The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-27
OUR TEATHERED SONGSTERS
THE FIRST TO GREET 4 BSCKWARD
SPRING ~ MSS ICHISET1y.
Pecu,sa-'tses or the Crow Bim~S bird a~d hts
Copsin R.dw Ing -ll",v the Cow bird Fills
th~eAir with Music-1ke Cherry lBIrd.

NORTHAMPTON, April Fl. - The spring
comes on slowly hereabouts this year. Tbs
grass Ia green from almost constant rain. and
the leaf buds are swelling. and only waiting
for touch OF genuine vernal warmth to brenk
out In u blush OF pink on tho naples. and
spicad n nmv veil Of palo green gauze over tho
limbs Of the elms. But with cold north and
cast winds constantly prevailing. and chilling
earth and sky together. we cannot expect much
reminder Of summer mt present. Tho most dis.
cDuraGlng thing about tho matter to me Ii that
the birds do not come back to us from their
Southern residence. In II forward season
should havs noted tho swnllowsa and the orioles
by this time. and b. getting up each morning
with tho expectation OF hearing tho bibulous.
rollckng laugh Of tho bobolink down in the
meadows but thus far have had to content
myself with the earlier varieties. such as tho
robin bluobird. song sparrow. and others.
whose return l hnve already chroniced
In my rambling notes OF bird life. There
are tho backbirds also. to be sure. three varie-
ties OF them. whom always enjoy. in spite OF
their appropriately with the farmers. their on-
nous color, and their poverty OF song. The
crow backbird Is tho largest OF the species--a
bird whom 1t were an insult TO call black" at
oil. since he Is in plumaGe one OF tho most
gaudy and variegated Of our summer residents.
He looks black enough in shadow. or when he
stands between you and the light. but let the
sun but reflect it's beams upon him. and he
looks as though clad in tho most gorgeous OF
changeable silks. shot through with hues OF
metallic lustrs in every shade OF gold. bronze.
blue. and green. and without touch OF true
black anyWherss about him. And then his vel;
beauty. and certain barbaric. tropical look
which makes him TO me as marked visitor as
our summer woods like q live coal from some
equatorial volcano.
which makes him very " mpr"ss live" aithoHGh
cannot avoid the opinion. after long observa-
ton Of him. that it il the dignity which rascality
is one Of the, chieiest, virtues q the true and
natural gen tleman. He lie not like other birds.
about my lawn among the brsker robins and
sparrows. like q pnrson taking u grave consti-
,atona after matns with MS hands In his coat
cant crying down the light, enjoyment of song
and love in tho other birds by .rur and unmu-
steal. although it is invariably harsh. for in the
symphonies Of nature. us in some Of the great.
effects arc produced by discords. When the
April wind PUSHES across these meadows there
Is in all the years sights in them nothing more
sand or two OF. these birds, Staggering slowly
up the valley In the teeth of the blast. struggling
then closing up against 1t. waving and yielding.
yet always advancing. and performing n thou
s SAM different ana graeeiul manIuvres while
and the confusion Of the troubled air.
no loss feature Of the spring fields. although
now preparing to leave them to make his nest
no grseis the egg collector With Violent scoId.
ings. He is u brilliant fellow with his epaulets
OF scarlet and nale yellow, and his song-a
accords wonderfully we'll with dead grass. leaf
loss trees. pools OF water and spongy turf in
low places. and the strong ard steady winds.
IN Ia init every oiTds song seems to 20 yell With
SOUND a 81 IN deep 1ood sa the % wood
thrush. am sure. would sing Hat in the
meadows. whilo the rod-eyed vireo. the only
where nearly so well to mo rs when lie down.
hall asleep under the shade at the odge Of
bravely from tho top of lone tree in tho sun
shine. When one les down and listens to this
bird he feels as though he would not care to
additionally hot and lazy dbes tho day seem
With tho ilanguid MARBLE of the vireo threading
The other biackbird. the cowbird OF infamous
habit and unhal!owed memory. is not gifted
with much OF song. although nature has cru
honors which tho unprejudic.d lsteher Is
bound to confess he is unlikely ever to attain.
to SEQ this bird who has smart green coat
and Il brown hood upon his head. attempt to
sing he gets upon the top raj, of tn fence to
gave Ills effort prominence. swellS himself out.
and begins. You expect to hear a note that
shall rival tho lark's. so impressive and prom
isng has been tho preparation. but instead
sqncaks. like q bird who is choking with the
a r,,na nnd observe conortions and efforts
como to nothing except prcpostsrousness.
Yet, when the bird Is done. he pIumns himself
ers with envy. and struts M and down his rail
In great enjoyment of his supposed triumph.
SHUTTER through sheer excess OF qualification.
The cowhird. SO far us know. is the only bird
who thin Ks imself singer when no is none,
his betters; l know plenty of human beings
who are like him, but In general. birds have
much possible s sSis "S"ye S o tSs
c so !, as OF Infamous memory and SO it is.
eggs on other birds-nIways smaller than itself
and colnpols them to adopt and raise the re-
sultnnt offspring. have never myself found a
cowbrd's, egg in another birds nest. but once
inv ST Wors or yns ea@bri
nearly rs biz IA both OF them together. which
made vicious PUSHES at them when they did
on tho ground, while above, in an ample tree.
three hungry and ncglscted young. the genuine
offspring, squeak ing vainly for sustenance. Tho
old birds. through some strange fatuousness Of
Judgment. were giving all their time and SUBJ
stance to tho overgrown intruder perhaps con:
sidering him. on account Of his bic body and
sparrow who should DO raised ut MI hazards,
and at whatever cost to the moro puny mem
bers Of the brood. At all events. the Incident
strikingly confirmed the mother cowbird's
si,gncty in its selection OF foster parents al
though we cannot commend this thing OF leav-
Ing babies on other peoples door steps.
Speaking Of birds that can't sing. I am re-
minded Of tho cherry bird. whose cinnan,on-
coIor"d suit and peaked cap make him one OF
tho most beautiful OF orr summer visitors. l
am not sure. however, that he should not bs
called q regular resident for he is often seen
long before tho snow is gone. and. ! am in
clinoh to think. winters somewhere. hereabonts
IN tho warm swnnps, and rarely il ever goes
South. Like tho cowbird. his character Is not
good. from which fact ! am inclined to gather
tho "ninion that ono Of natures Judgments is
to iIillct birds who arc careless Of reputation
with loss Of voice. 1t Is not unlikely that tho
cowhrd and cherry bird once sang respec-
lively like the nightingale and thrush. hut
falling under sin, were deprived OF this ac-
complis hmont. Tho deprivation was doubtless
gradual. perhaps with tho bennicent design to
leave chanre for reform, 80 that wo see to-
day in tho cowbird the survival of the inspra-
ton and iosire. while tho cherry bird is hard.
ensd. and. while he knows he cant sing. doesn't
care straw anyhow. Tho cherry bird Is q
great thief. and doesn't deserve tho gift Of
song. and mn insatiate gntton. too. which
don't know but IL worse. He Ia a greater foe
Natt.a -.