The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-11

bring from one hundred to five hundred
dollars. An offer of five hundred dol
lars was made for the Bailey collection,
which is to be exhibited in the Museum
of Natural History. The reason for
snch prices is that it takes several years
to make good collection of eggs, and
even then you are liable to lose many
by breakage. But the price is sufficient
to induce many to spend their summers
in robbing nests of their eggs, which
they sell in the city as soon as they have
made good collection. There is no
department of natural history so fasci-
mating to the average lover Of nature as
that Of ornithology. The study of birds
and their habits, unlike many depart
ments of science. is not confined alone
to the specialist, but is pursued to a GER
tain extent by many who care little or
nothing for classification and scientific
terms and nomenclatures. 1t is utli-
versal study. because birds themselves
are the most interesting of all creatures.
If one were to 60 up in Central Park on
a clear sunshiny day at this season and
listen to the countless little threats
singing among the trees, he would feel
a natural desire to know more about
their habits and natures. If
he is of an observing nature
he can easily do this without
going sutside of the city limits. In Cen
trail and Riverside parks at least TWEEN.
ty-fve different species of birds build
their nests annually and raise their little
broods. By watching the birds during
the time of their notification a good idea
of their dispositions and combative quail.
tiles can be obtained.
"The thrushes are usually the first
ones in spring to prepare their nests.
They begin just as soon as the cold
weather is gone, and often before. OF
all birds they are probably the LATEST,
and they do not attempt to construct a
new nest oftener than once in two or
three years. 1 have watched a nest in
Central Park for the last three summers,
and have found that cat-bird has utl=
lied it each successive season for rails: hg
her brood of young ones. The first
summer she built it out of sticks and
leaves in small tree, about four feet
from the ground. Ibid not disturb her,
but allowed her to enjoy her new home
in peace. The next season noticed her
lowering around the same place long
before the time to build nests had az
rived, and made up my mind that she
had come to take possession of her old
home before it was occupied by
some other feathered couple. l was
right, too, in my superstition.
She soon began to patch up the
frail house, and refine it with soft hair.
In month it 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 l found three small
cat-birds in the nest crying for food.
The mother had not become discour-
aged at her loss of two eggs, but had
gone to work and had finished laying
her litter and then Matched the remain
ing ones out s2
ga king bird, gold-fnch, woodpecker.
or, in fact, almost any other kind of bird
would have deserted its nest at once.
These birds are sensitive in this respect,
and many will leave nest forever il
you merely touch one of their eggs.
The gold-tinch will hop around from
branch to branch in a nervous manner
when you approach the nest, but she
will make little or no noise. The king,
bird, on the contrary, will fly arouns
in most determined manner, utterine
her disp]easure in loud cries, and even
attempting to fly in your face. Wher
another bird flies by accident too neal
this little tyrant's nest a most severe
punishment awaits the offender. NJ
matter how small or how large the vic
tim is the king-bird will attempt te
chastise him. Crows are their especia
victims, and it is no uncommon sigh
to see small king-bird chase large
clumsy crow for miles at time, peck
ing him at every circle. The crow il
too clumsy to attempt to return til.
fight, but seeks safety in flight.
| "Woodpeckers' nests are seldom
found in the parks, on account of thu
condit on of the trees. These bird
want old rotten trunks to build thei
nests in, and the parks contain few o
these. Anumber of years ago l notices
several old trees in Riverside Park, nea
the upper end, which had been drille'
by woodpecker for the evident pur
pose of building a nest, but the Parl
Department has taken good care to Gu
down all such trees lately. 1t seems
pity, too, for these birds are their hes
friends. All the poisonous compos;
tons that they might put on the trees il
two years would net keep the shrub
and trees so clear of worms and insect
as q dozen woodpeckers would. Wit
their sharp, drill-like bills these bird
penetrate every worm hole in the bar
and extract the offender in an instant
In the country farmers regard birds a
their best projectors of young trees an
shrubs, and they encourage their pres
ence as much as possible in the
orchards, IN Y. Tribune. i.