St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-06-19
ST. SSuhnsburp Galrdunian.
Our Native Birds.

THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE OR GOLD
EN- ROBIN, a few specimens of which
are always with us in summer, this
season are to Ice seen and heard in all
sections of our village, and are abund-
ant throughout Northern Vermont.
Prof. Coues Describes it as Zone of our
famous beauties of bird-life, noted
alike for its flash of color, its assijnity
in singing and its skill in the loom"
Who has not listened with delight to
his clear, fiute-like whistle, as he sits
perched upon the topmust branch OF
an elm, swaying too and fro in the
wind. He commands attention every
where. | am panied that anyone
should be hard hearted enough to shoot
them and see the brilliant creatures
fall lifeless to the ground. ! am glad
that the taxidermist refuses every
specimen offered. 1t wonld be well If
the penalty of the law was visited
upon every boy or man taking the life
of this most noble bird. BY closely
observing the song of the Oriole You
will notice that it is not only various
in different individuals, but also i'll Il
single individual. While each has Il
song substantially his own, yet they
all vary it from time to time so that
we NAV almost say we have different
tune
The ROBIN needs no description,
for the child learns to know this bird
the first of any He is on our lawns
from early morning until dark, digging
for gruhs and worms. His voice is the
first one To he heard in the morning.
If the moon is shining bright he often
mistakes the hour, no doubt thinking
that the sun rise is close at hand,
while yet it is only midnight. He
great, grand morning concert, very sell
dom allowing the Pewee to get the
start.
The CAT BIRD, with his sombre
slate colored dress, is one of the sweet
est singers. He is long, slim bird,
appears to he quite nervous, hopping
his tail about in the strangest manner.
He prefers to be in scclusinn, and that
near the edge of river or brook, but
is not averse to the proximity of hui
man dwellings if there is close thicket
of trees and bushes for him to hide in.
He Joins in with the other birds in the
grand morning concert, and during
the time his mate is sitting on the eggs
he will continue his song, or songs
(for they are ''interruptcd') during the
entire day, especially if the weather is
warm and cloudy. As he sings he will
hop about from place to place, occa-
sionally stopping to utter his complain
ing (?) NEW like the cry of a kitten.
This mcwing note of the Cat Bird, from
which his name was derived, has been
the occasion of many misfortunes to
his species. have often heard him
initiate the songs of other birds, but
to limited extent and that in short
sentences. The song of this bird is
more like the southern Mocking bird
than any we have.
THE PURPLE Finch is in every
dooryard. a plump, round bird. The
color of his head, neck and breast Is
red, varying somewhat, according to the
age of the bird. The color is not pur-
pie at all. and why he has that name i,
IA mystery. The wings and tail III,
like the warblcr's. He will often com.
mence singing as he starts Ia fly from
his perch and will continue as he file,
until after he has alightcd on another
tree. it may lac several rods away
He has IL marked fondncss for tn,
society of man, and comes fcarlcsslN
about our houses. to build his own
which is generally in some low hush il
any thickct he can find.
The SONG SPARROW excels all othe
birds in the number and variety of hi
songs. While he sings dd Hbitum as t,
time and tune, his songs can he an,
indeed have been reduced To writing
The lamented ornithologist Wilson
Flagg, of Massachusetts, observed
seven different, distinct songs. hav,
Il I / II = Il 1.
have no doubt whatever of the correct
ness of his statement. He numbere,
them from one to seven, and observe,
No. ! tn he his Theme" No. , sun;
"Brisk," No. 3 "Joyful," No. / "Plaih
tive etc. Mr.. Flagg gives c. 5. Pain
of Randolph the credit of first observ
ing this habit of the song sparrow
He also states that he observed tin
same bird to sing No. |, 81 times Nc
., 30 times; No. 3, % times; No. /, l.
times No. >, u times No. Is, - times
No. :, IL times. This he tested with
dozen birds, and became confident tina
each male has his seven songs, or varia
tons of "theme" aud are all equal
irregular in the order of singing then
win not some careful musical observe
test the above while the birds are wit
us 50 abundantly.
FEANLLIN FAIRBANKs.
Chamberlin Post, No. I, d. A. *
At a regular meeting of this Post
following resolutions were unani
mously adopted:
Resolred, That the thanks of thi
Post be extended to Mr.. Joseph Cluke