The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-01-02
IHlBODACX, LA, SATURDAY, JANUARY
Bird Architecture,


the little warblers. We are all familiar
with the pendent nests of the golden
Driole, the brilliant fire-bird, so-called: !:
how he winds and sews elaborately
with threads and bill, in q really sur
prising way. Perhaps the humming-
birds nests are more decorated, both
with evident intention as a protective
measure and in the sense of beauty.
In the collection under notice there are
large number of nests and eggs of
humming- birds. Viewed together thew
exhibit the same general characteristics:
! vet Individually each has some special
beauty. All are pot-shaped and tiny,
| made mp OF a soft cottonv substance
and lined with thistledown or the like.
/ Now, III the course OF these little crea-
! lures house-buii1ing comes thought
/ what else but thoucht?) of the decor
ative element. The humming- bird
carefully pecks Off from the boughs of
some moss-coverea tree small fronds
of lichen, and shingles, rs it were, the
outside with them, using q secretion
from the mouth, Of v.scid liquid to
glHe on these decorations. Most ex-
| iulsltc IS the effect of q freshly made
nest 0, this kind Nor is it less with
the addition OF two little white eggs no
larger than beverly beans Our admira-
ton is equally engaged by the manifest
design here displayed in protective re-
semblance and the exquisite beauty Of
the structure.
There are several nests of South
American birds built on the plan of
those OF the orioles, but much arger
| and more artificial IN appearance.
From slender limb the bird suspends
few long grasses on which when firmly
fastened it proceeds to weave a structure
all but human in design and workman
ship. 1t swells ont much Ike a gourd,
but the wise bird, with wholesome fear
of serpents or other insinuating Great
nres, continues the structure downward
nearly two feet; smooth and closely
woven with long and slender grasses.
1t gradually narrows, finally holding q
straight cylindrical form, with no OPEN
ing but at the end. At this point our
admiration eliminates, for the bird
actually constructs Il crossbar of closely
woven grass, securely interwrought
with the periphery of The tube. Here
is the roost ns-place, or more properly
o door step; deliberate design to aid
the bird In gaining easy access to the
interior of the long tubular nest.
Perhaps quite as interesting is the
nest OF a small warbler which builds.
though on smaller scale, in somewhat
similar pattern, but with door in the
side. This nest is constructed of sub
stance more like felt, and it is quite
compact. At the lower margin of the
opening. the felt-like stuff is increased
IN thickness, so as to projectin the shape
OF crescent; a design for resting step
before entering, precisely like those in
front of pigeon houses. There are
some nests most difficult of preserving.
Those OF the woodpeckers consist mere
ly of holes picked by the bird in soft,
half-decayed knots Of trees. One exam
pie OF the store house Of a woodpecker
shows wonderful feat frequently
performed by these birds. It is
portion Of small oak into which the
California woodpecker has made sever
al hundred holes just large enough to
admit as many acorns. The nuts are
invariably driven in with considerable
force, and with the cup end out. Here
is winters store.-New York EUe1s-
ing Post.
About Genius.
The observation of Mr.. Howells, that
genius, after all, is only patient ap-
plication," is true only of the plodding
kind and IL ia questionable If that kind