New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-27
PLEADING EOR THE BIRDS.
EGGS STOLEN TO BEAUrIFY PARLORs.

A TAxiDrRMfsT CHATS ABOUT THE HABITS OF HIS
pfTs-rnEiR IRREGULARITIES.
awhile the war against externinators of bcauti-
fu birds for millinery purposes is going on sad
taxidermist :hc Other day, let me call attention
to another mode of killing of birds which has not
vet been in print IL is becoming fashionable now
for every one to have his or her private col
lection of birds eggs for ornamental purposes fon
NAV 90 in hundreds of wealthy homes in this city
and find box of these eggs displayed III conspic-
nous place. The eggs after being taken ut Of the
nest are blown by perforatlng one end with a
needle and then inserting the point of a small IN
strument which works like a syringe When they
are dry they are laid on cotton in small box with
. class cover which shows OIL their beauty advan-
taceously One hundred OF these eggs coiiccted III
a box make "a beautiful sight White, brown, blue
sneckled green striped and all conceivable coors.
sizes and shapes are to be there. The value OF
such collection is large compared with other
ornaments. One hun lrod eggs of rare birds would
bring from 800 to $500 An offer Of $1,000 was
made for the Bailey collection, which is to be ex-
hibited soon in the Museum of Natural History.
The reason for snch prices is hat it takes several
years to make a good collection of eggs and even
then you are liable to LOST many by breakage. Blu
the price is icient to induce many to spend their
summers in robbng nests of their eggs. which they
sell in the city soon as they have made a good
collection. There is no department of natural his
tory so fascinating to the average lover of nature
as that of ORTHODOXY. The study of birds and
their habits unlike many departments OF science
is not confined alone to the specialist, but Is pur
sued to certain extent by many who care little or
nothing for classification and scientific terms anu
noinenclatures 1t Is n universal study, hecause
birds themselves are the most interesting oil al
living creatures If one were to 80 up III Contra
Park on a clear sunshiny day at thls season ana
listen to the countless little threats Singing anohS
the trees. he would teei a natural desire TO KNOW
more about their habits and natures. III he is d
an observing nature he can elsly DO TINS wlthoH,
going outside of the city llln's. In Cenir1i ana
Xiv ersde parks at least twenty-five different
species of birds build Their nests annually ana raise
their little broots. BY watching the birds during
the timc OF their notification good idea OF their
dispositions and combatlVe qualities can be o.
tanned.
Tne thrushes are usually the first ones in spring
to prepare their nests. They begin lust rs soon as
the cold weather is gone. and often before Oh all
birds thcy are probably the LATEST, and they do
not attempt to construct new nest oitener thai
once in two or three years. | have watched nest
i'm thntral Park for the last three summers. ana
ha " FOUND that catbir,i has utilize 1t each sue
ce>sive season for raising her brooi OF young ones
The first summer she built it out OF sticks and
leaves in small tree about four feet rom the
ground | did not disturb her. but allowed her TO
enjoy her home i'll peace. The next season
noticed her towering around the same place long
before the tine to build nests had arrived; ana
made up my mind that she had come TO take pos
some other fcatherci coup le. was right, too. IN
my suppOstlOn She soon began 10 patch up Tue
fral honse and refine it with soft halr. In
month il was completed and four small blue eggs
laid in IT, For the sake of experiment took two OF
the eggs ont and started for home. Returning three
weeks later found three small cat olrds III lhe
nest crying for food he mother had nov become
discouraged ut her loss OF two eggs, Dut nal gone
to work and had finished laying her litter ana thch
hatclIed the remaining ones ont
A king bird goil-hnch woodpecker or III la'';
aImnst any either kind of bird would have deserted
their nest at once. These birds are sensitive III ths
rc>pect and many will leave a nest forever II you
merely touch one of their eggs. The gold-hnci VIII
hon around from branch to branch IN Il nervous
manner when YOU approach the nrSt, but she Will
make little or noise. The klng-brd, on the con
trary will fly around IN Il most determined manner
NIT rilg her dispeasure in loud cries. ana even AT
trmptiny to tly III your face. W hen auothcr Dlrd
fires by accident too near this little Nrants nest Il
most severe punishment awaits tre onenei: ~. ~
matter how small o! now large tDe victim Is Inc
kiug-bird will attempt to chastlse INN. Cro"s are
their especial Wet Ms II is no uncommon slght
10 see small king bird chase large clumsy crow
for miles at II time. peckng him at every circle
| he crow is too clumsy to attempt To return thc
night. but sec KS >atetv III 1lght. -,
WoOdpeckcrs nests are seldom found III tle
marks on account ol the condition OF the trees
These birds want old rotten trunks 10 DulId their
nests in, and the parks contain lew OF hese' a
number of wears ago noticed several Old Trees IN
Riverside Park near the upper end winch hdd
been drl ed by wOOd-pccN er Tor the evident pur-
pose OF building u ne>t nut the lark department
has taken good care cut dowG all such trees ate
". 1t seems pity. too. for these birds are their
best friends. All the poisonous compositions that
they might put Oh the trees III two years would NOT
keen the shrubs and trees. so clear Ol worms ana
insects Dis a dozen wuOdpcckcrs would. With their
sharp drill-like oils these hlrnS penetrate every
worm hole in the bark and extract the offender IN
an instant In the country farmers regard the
birds as their best protector OF young trees and
shrubs and they encourage heir presence as much
as possib BILE Ill their orchards"