The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-12-05
WINTER BIRDS.
The Haunts and Habits of Several S,ov.
Loving Species.

Loving Species.
The red-polls and the goldAnches
often travel together, or at least are
often to be found feeding in company:
and as they resemble each other q good
deal IN size, general appearance, and
wars, the casual observer is very likely
not to discriminate between them. ONLY
the summer before the time Of which T
speak had spent vacation at Mount
Wachusett and a resident Of Princeton.
noticing my attention 70 the birds "a
taste 50 peculiar is nOt easily concealedJ.
had one day u2ht an interview with
me to inquire whether the "vellowbird"
did not remain in Massachusetts through
the winter. | explained that we had
two birds which commonly went by that
name, and asked whe, her he meant the
one with bIa K forehead and black
wings and tail Yes, he said, that was
the one. / assured him Of course, that
this bird, the goldiinch did stay with
lis q Il the year rould, ard that whoever
lad informed him to the contrary must
Aavo understood him to be speaking
about the golden warbler. He ex-
pressed his graf fication, but declared
that he had really entertained no doubt
of the f;ct himself he had Of en- seen
the birds on the mountain when he had
been cutting wood there in midwinter.
At such times, he added, they were
very tame, and would come about his
feet to p ck up crumbs while he was
eating his dinner. Then he went ON to
tell me that at that season of the year
their plumage took on more or less Of
a reddish tinge; he had seen in the
same flock some With no trace Of red,
others that were slightly touched with
it, and others still of really bright
color. At this had nothing to say,
save thats his red birds, Whatever else
they were, could not have been gold
Enches. But next winter, when I saw
the yellow birds' acd the ed-poll lin
nets feeding together in Commonwealth
avenue l thought at once Of my Wachu-
aett friend. Here was the very scens
he had so faithfully described, some
OF the flock with no red at all,
some with Yed crowns, and
few with bright carmine crowns and
breasts. They remained all winter.
and no doubt thought the farmers of
Boston very good and wise set to oul-
6vate the evening primrose so extern
aively. This plant, like the succory.
10 OF an ungraceful aspect, yet it has
sweet and beautiful blossoms, and a.
An herb-bearing seed is IN the front
rank. l doubt whether We have any
that surpass it, the birds being judges.
Many stories are told of the red
polls fearlessness and ready reconcile
ation to captivity, az we'll az of their
Oonstancy to each other. have my
self stood still in the midst of flock
anth they were feeding around my feet
10 closely that it looked easy enough
10 catch one or two OF them with but
tarAy-nee. Strange that creatures 80
gentle and seemingly 50 delioateiy Or
xanized should choose to live in the re-
Aions about the north pole! Why should
they prefer Labrador aud Greenland,
HOLLAND and Spitzbergen. to more
southsrn countries? Whyp Well, possi-
bly, for no worse reason than this,
that these are the lands Of their faith
Afs. Other birds, it may be, have grown
Encouraged, and one after another
ceased to como back 30 their native
shores as the rigors Of the climate have
Increasei: but these Lit ie patriots are
still faithful. Spitzbergen is home,
and every spring they make the long
and dangerous passage to it. All praise
10 then
Ii any be ready to call this al over
refinement, deeming it Incredible that
beings SO small and lowly should come
10 near to sent ment aud human virtue,
Jet snch not be too hasty with their dis
eent. Surel V they may in reason wait
kli they can point to at least one conn-
Gy where the the men are rs univer
sally faithful to their wives and chill
uren as the birds are to theirs.
The red-poll iinnets, us | have said.
nre irregular visitors IN this region !:
Several years may pass and not one be
seen; but the aoldtinch We have with
As always Easily recognized as he is,
fhere are many ", .!-ctklcated New Ea-
glanders, | fear, who do not know him.
even by sight: Vet when tut diStin-
guished oanltho.oglst. the Duke of Ar
Nll. comes to publish his impressions
81 this country, he AYERS that he Las
0een hardly more Interested in tho
-gieries Of Niagara" than in this same
sH*le yellow hrd, which he SAW for the
6tst time VIII lc locking from his hotel
Hindow at the great cataract A
golden finch, ind. d ~ he exclain.s.
Such Il tribute as tbs trom the pen OF
= British no,l,.m@a ought tc give .is-
Sragaii@ltx iris / Immediate entrance
INTO the Very b,st If american society.