St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-06-07
THE RosE-BREAsTED GROsBEAK

Encouraged by the interest mani
tested by many of our citizens in bird
life, 1 am glad to speak of another very
charming singer, the Rose breasted
Grosbeak, ZaneeIodia IudoUiciGna. He
is somewhat smaller than the robin
and larger than the bobOlink. The
male bird is one of the most beautiful
in coloring of any that visit US. His
head, neck and back are black, under
parts white, wing and tail black varie
gated with white, the breast and un-
derside of wings are of the most ex-
quisite carmine Or rOse-red. His bill
is short and thick which enables him
to pry open the cones of the pine and
spruce for the seeds, and also to break
the shells of the beetle or "June bug"
His food consists almost wholly of in
sects land he devOurs multitudes of
them) yet he will not refuse any good,
plump seeds. His beautiful plumage
and graceful flight is excelled by his
song, if | may be allowed to make this
comparison. The lover of bird lore
is amply paid if he has to go a long
way to hear him sing. 1 wish the
bird would be willing to come to our
parks and well-shaded streets, SO that
all could hear his sweet notes. But he
will not, for reasons best known to
himself, (perhaps he is afraid of the
boys shot-guns) so we must go little
way outside of the village to find him.
He likes an open woods near some
stream, and where he can also find
tangled vines and thick underground, (,
where he can hide if disturbed. | have
at least two pairs which | think are es-
tablished for the season on my grounds.
They are often seen along the banks of
the Passumpsic south of our village.
His song is clear, melodiOus and con-
! tinuous, and is often mistaken for the
oriole, but differs materially from that
| bird, in being continuous and not Sin
terrupted" or jerky. 1t is much more
like the wood thrush, yet more bril-
liant. His song is greatly superior to
either of them. He is easily disturbed
and one may pass very near him and
not know it, foI if singing never so
sweetly he will certainly cease his song
when he sees or hears you come. So
YOU must sit down or wait quietly,
sometimes a good while for him to be-
come fully assured that you meaE him
no harm, when he will commence again
his song. This will also apply to near
ly all our finest and choicest wild for
est birds. The great naturalist Audu-
bon when camping near the shores of
the Mohawk river, heard this bird
singing in the night and thus he tells
the story:
"The thoughts of my worldly mis-
sion then came over my mind, and haV-
| ing thanked the Creator of all for his
never-failing mercy, closed my eyes
and passing away into the world of
dreaming existence, when suddenly
there burst on my soul the serenade of
the rose breasted bird, SO rich, so mel
low. so loud in the stiffness of the
night that sleep fed from my eyelids.
Never did enjoy music more; it thrill
ed through my heart and surrounded
me with an atmosphere of bliss"
The Rose breasted Grosbeak spends
the winter in the tropics, coming to Us
about the middle of May and leaving
the later part of August or early in
September. These birds are not abun-
dant and are rather wild.
FRANKLIN FAIRBANKS.