The Arizona sentinel., 1886-08-14
,ring from one hundred to five hundred

l QOllarS. An OH6r Ol i've nunQreQ QOl- 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 a good collection. There is no department of natural history so fasci- hating 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 cer- tain extent by many who care little or nothing for classification and scientific terms and nomenclatures. It is uni versal study, because birds themselves are the most interesting of all creatures. If one were to go up in Central Park on a clear sunshiny day at this season and listen to the countless little throats singing among the trees, he would feel 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 Gen. tral and Riverside parks at least twen- ty-five different species of birds build their nests annually and raise their little broods. By watching the birds during the time of their notification good idea of their dispositions and cumulative qual- ities 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 laziest, and they do not attempt to construct a new nest oftener than once in two or three years. have watched a nest in Central Park for the last three summers, and have found that cat-bird has util- ized it each successive season for raising 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. I Idid not disturb her, but allowed her to enjoy her new home in peace. The next season 1 noticed her lowering around the same place long before the time to build nests had ar rived, and l made up my mind that she had come to take possession of her old home before it was occupied by some other feathered couple. I was right, too, in my supposition She soon began to patch up the frail house, and refine it with soft hajr. In month it was completed and foUr on T.,s1 --ssL-.. of c41sef ifE2esT5 took two of the eces out and started for home Returning three weeks later l found three smaD 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.
 "A 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 a nest forever if you merely touch one of their eggs. The gold-fnch will hop around from branch to branch in nervous manner when you approach the nest, but she
  bird, on the contrary, will fly arounA in most determined manner, uttering her displeasure in loud cries, and even attempting to fly in your face. When another bird flies by accident too near this little tyrant's nest a most severe punishment awaits the offender. No matter how small or how large the vic tim is the king-bird will attempt to chastise him. Crows are their especial victims, and it is no uncommon sight to see a small king-bird chase large, clumsy crow for miles at time, peck ing him at every circle. The crow is too clumsy to attempt to return the fight, but seeks safety in flight
 "Woodpeckers' nests are seldom found in the parks, on account of the condition of the trees. These birds want old rotten trunks to build their nests in, and the parks contain few of these. Anumber of years ago noticed several old trees in Riverside Park, near the upper end, which had been drilled by woodpecker for the evident pur- pose of building a nest, but the Park Department has taken good care to cut down all such trees lately. It seems a pity, too, for these birds are their best friends. All the polsonous compost tions that they might put on the trees in two years would not keep the shrubs and trees so clear of worms and insects as dozen woodpeckers would. With their sharp, drill-like bills these birds penetrate every worm hole in the bark and extract the offender in an instant. In the country farmers regard birds as their best protectors of young trees and shrubs, and they encourage their pres ence as much as possible in their orchards. "-M y. Tribune.