Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-20
NOTES ON THE FAUNA OF VER-
MONT-XXIX
birds snd their study.

Written for the Free Press by Francis II. Herrickl
One of the first things which strikes the OBJ
server Of our nature is the profound seclusion
and privacy in which its animal life is
shrouded. This is seen to be true of out of
the way districts as well as the ncighborhood
of towns. The struggle for existence has
not yet become so pressing in the new Torlti
as 20 render our native species the bold and
aggressive creatures their ill-mannered allies
have proved to be, which have been imported
FROM ihS mother country. But here the
instinct for the wild sti'l prompts them 10
hide from the eye of tue world.
How rarely we see many common animals
like the fox, the weasel, the raccoon or the
mink, though their presence is confirmed by
their foot prins on the snow on it may be by
an occasional capture. While animal life
is determined by the conditions necessary
for its existence, yet 1t doubtless everywhere
greatly exceeds the popular estimate. The
fact that many common animals like the
moles, which honeycomb the meadows with
their little galleries, flying squirrels, rabbits,
and the like, usually escape notice, is readily
explained, of course, by their nocturnal
habits.
This secrecy and shyness We have spoken
of, is shared by majority OF our native
BIRDS particularly in the nesting season.
How few newly made rests does even the
rambler in the woods and the locker FOR such
things meet with, compared with the num-
lar ofh irIc hn tlrn-nDW
many partridge-nests, warblers', or those
even of the more common species. You
occasionally stumble upon one in walk,
but when making business-likc search for
them, discover very few, 1t is only by dlnl
| of much patience and careful study into
| the habits of The birds that they are made tc
| tell their secrets.
The ascending notes OF the golden crowned
thrush or oren.bird, may be heard ringing
| throu III nearly every wood and grove In
summer, where it is seen nimby walking
over the leaves, delicate, olivc-backed,
speCkled breasted bird The nest, which is
| placed on the ground is SO skilllully rooted
over with leaves, it ia almost impossible &c
distinguish it at first sight, fiom the little
mounds or cxcresences which are pushed ur
everywhere by developing vegetation. sc
the nest is not usually found without disturb
an easy matter. The sitting bird vii
sometimes fly from directly under the foo
of the walker, who finds to his sorrow ant
surprise that he has unwittingly crushed thu
hopes of family.
Ground builders are usually of brownlsh
obscure plumage, which is often an exac
copy of their surroundings. ! was particu
larry struck with this fact while recentl
observing partridge sitting upon her egg
, in the woods. | visited the place twice AM
had to rivet the eye well upon the spot cac
time to make out this brown bird upon tn
brown leaves A pretty sight was this, TIL
woodhen on her nest. 1t was just bcneat
the decaying remnent of PROSTATE tree
on a wooded hill side, sunk into the lea
4 mould, so that the back Of the bird wa
flush with the leaves which lined the mes
: and were strewed all about, matching we
her cream-tintod aud brown streaked plum
: age. The deep banded tail rests against ih
rotten log her keen eyes are alert. The
forewarned of danger by your near approach
: she springs into the air, and sh 1ots off, flynn
. low through the trees.
Y Here was good study for the artist-th
( wild wood-hen leaving her nest on whirrln
: wing, scattering her leaves in her flight h
d buff -tinged eggs, ten in number, Resin
a on the leaves Of the same color, sprinkle
win the down from INC parent plcasV !,
evergreens carpeting the forest, Il
partridge-vine, the red fruiled winter-gree
the arbutus trailing its sweet flowers whi'
hide on every hand, the swollen buds al
young leaves of developing vegetation,-tl
gray arches of sturdy oaks aud pines, trun
of fplcn trees decayed and moss covered,
all are in keeping with the scene aud {
nance its interest.
The observer Of nature in this country h
an advantage which caunot be enjoyed
the same extent in the cd world, in Engla
for instance. There the fa3e OF nature
acquired an artificial tinge from the compile
and long existing supremacy OF mao, VIII
this moulding influence has scarcely he
T. felt as yet in New England. Here natt
II. often runs to the very threshold of
towns, aud a short journey In anv direct
&c. will hrirg you - What Is as good almost
se the primitive woods.
e. 1t is a common error TO think that the {
TIGe beneath our feet can yield little that is W
v, thy of our attention, that only what 6