Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-11


The distance. This white circular field
hcshed with the sombrc colors If sumbering
vegetation, bristling on all sides with snow
bound mountains has generally cold and
unlnvltng appearance, which is increased by
the general stiffness that prevails AMI the
currents Of cold air in constant circula-
ton.
Winter wnir..
At intervals through the month Of Fclu-
airy We hear the sweet voiced gol,ifinches.
On tie fifteenth | noticed a flock Of thirty or
more eagerly gathering of the snow in the
road some hay seed scattered by passing
team. Their present dress of yellowish gray
Is quite contrast to the bright lemon vel
low suit of spring. And now we begin to
hear for the first time this season, the pectl-
liar whistlcd note Of the chickadcc. 1t seems
to come from the distance, yet the birds are
In the trees by the door. THIS ,eayi, the
birds say in a peculiar dreamy tone. or
when in a another mood, the words are
whstled loud and clear.
About the same time | see some little
birds on the edge OF the woods and hear their
low, rather sharply-cut notes. They are the
golden-crowncd kinglcts, an other winter
waif and ms we approach them the yellow
and black stripes on the head become visible
Later noticed few tree sparrows. They
| we're busy cleaning their diet of seeds,
which nature still deals out with lavish
hand
From growth of saplng pines comes the
soft plaintive whistle of the pine grosbeak,
and we suddenly find ourselves in the midst
Of CT
Arctic visitors hanging from the trees far and
near. We could wish no better opp Jrtunity
to observe their habits Here are the car
mine-coated males with their colors in var
lous stages of development. These bright
liyerlcs seems to be as numerous as The more
sonbre ones Of the other sex. which is not
usually the case. How several of these hand
s1me birds ornament small evergreen set
of by the snow. They are rotund and well
feathered, having anything but a starved APP
pearance. The old males exhibit the most
color. This is brightest on the head and
rump, blending to the back which is whitish.
Tncre Is suifusion Of the same rich dye
on the ash. colored breast.
lhls IL the most dreamy unsuspCCtiug bird
| know Of. Tney are perfectly natural. Not
yet have their aboriginal habits been spoiled
or modified by contact with civilization.
y u II "
primitive woods. Here is bird that You
can approach to within arms reach and
clap your hat over il rs If "A butterfly
Now one takes its perch on neighbJring
h0ush, and shrugs its shoulders and lowers
It's head aad ASSUMES quiet speculative air
There is n philosophic rcvcrie in its deep black
eyes. Presently the thought of food bes,irs
him. He walks on sides awkwardly to the
extremity Of the branch and extracts one of
its terminal buds with his thick horny bill.
Then with a tow turns of the maudiiles it is
freed o; It's external scales, and he swallows
the rcsuGus mOrsel with satisfaction, drop
ping the brown chaff on the snow. The
conlferJus tro cs do not materially suffer from
this rlunderinI on the part Of the birds. At
the cod Of each b)ugh and twig is cluster
Of half dozen buds, and the birds neversteal
the whole lot but leave the largest half for
the uses Of the tree. So, as in thinning
tGe stalks ina corn hill, thcremainng germs
have m)reroom for development. Aheallhy
diet must This he, the rank, green buds of the
pune and the spruce. But they also occasion
ally feed upon the acid about berries of the
sumlCh'. II IS interesting to see them pick
ing at IL, rcd, velvety clusters which tip the
slender shoots of this shrub, the color of the
bird 50 nearly matching that of the berry.
Now and then male and female alight to.
gcthcr Ou the same sapling, thus showing he
marked contrast in their plumage. Audubon
would have made a sketch upon the spot,
had that great delincatOr Of biri-llfe been
here.
Bat these philosophers show what mettle
they are made of when once thoroughly
aroused Meetings. flock one day in a storm,
walked slowly toward them and scoopcd one
utf his perch with my hat. As | stopped to
pick the bird from the snow he squawkcd
and car-r-r'd like u cat bird dealing
some smart blows with his beak
When st on the snow, he tapped about few
moments resisting any effort to disturb him,
then rising scul of 10 the pines to smooth
his ruilltd feathers.
This grove of young pines presents an
interesting sight, hordercd on either side by
the hoary woods. The light hocculent snow
fills the air, clothing all vegetation and
anew the landscape. The ever
greens drOop under their loads in contrast
to the fine sprayey birchcs and the sturdy
oaks. The topmOst plume of each young
pine stands erect holding the snow like 4
cup, while the circle of boughs below is
weighed to the earth. The birds rattle down
the snow as they ny through the trees.
The Impatient Jay.
The jay blows n peculiar trumpet, which
may be heard any season of the year.
During the warm months of summer, above
the maze of sound which floats in from
wood and field, in spring and fall aud
throughout the long New England winters,
we distinguish this impatient scream, and
know at once who is in the vicinity.
The egg-sucking and thievish propensities
IF the blue-iay do not render him a favorte |
either with man or lis own fraternity, and he |
,kulks about as if aware OF the price set on
ais bright feathers. We see their
azure aud white coats in the dis
ance as they NY from tree to
rec screaming out their wild notes. In the
west, on the contrary, the jays stand on a
different footing with man, enjoying to |
certain extent his confidence and respect, |
they will alight In the streets of the towns
and gather up the grain like pigeons
There also the black, birds share the same
friendly relation, but much sad experience
las taught them not to attempt such liber-
les with us.
The iay has the blood and modified in
tincts OF the crow, and glance at his anato-
nv shows us at once that he was made 10
,lunder Under an attractive garb he carries
murderers weapons That long sharp
weak and stout claw were never designed for
lines OF peace.
This Jay is a dandy in dress, clad In soft
warm feathers of the richest azure or pur-
,hsh blue, barred and tipped with black
md white. The prominent crest 81 silken !