The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-12-19

understood by the general reader.
Characteristics.
In describing hisfeathered subjects. the
writer has taken pains to point out the
individual characteristics Of birds, 80 that
they can in many eases be recognized in
life, or when flying. walking or running
on the ground, or when at rest Although
devoted particularly to the various food
stutfss animal flesh, insects, etc. and
vegetable seeds, cereals, blossoms. grass
e. etc. on which birds subsist, interest
ing and instructive mention IS made Of
the life histories in general Of different
birds Indeed it is surprising to fnd
such vast fund Of solid information in
80 small q space. Besides giving quite a
complete account Of each Of the Raptores
ihawks, eagles and owls which Usually
are found in the State, a chapter is de-
voted to Birds OF Prey and the Scalp
Act Of June p. 1885" which was repeal
ed except as to wolves and wildcats at
the last session Of the Legislature. This
chapter is particularly interesting. con-
tanning. as it does. extracts from reports
collated by Secretary Thos. J. Edge for
the state Board and clippings from OBJ
selvations, reports, etc, ofdifferent natur-
alists relating 70 the Bounty Act, besides
giving the names and numbers Of the
many birds and mammals killed, also the
amounts paid for same by diffenent coun-
ties.
THE SCALP ACT REPEALED.
The effort to repeal the burdensome
Scalp Act. which, in a period Of about
nine months, cost the various counties Of
the Commonwealth over SlO0O)o about
$4,000 Of which was paid for haw Ks AMI
owls, Was begun by Dr. Warren, who is
recognized, by naturalists generally, as
one Of the foremost authorities or the
food Of birds in this country, and as
he has dissecfed over COO hawks and owls.
it is unnecessary to add that his views,
with regard to the economic value Of the
hawk and owl tribes, viii Justly be es-
teemed as authoritative The various
members Of the sparrow family over 30
species are found in Pennsylvania in
their several conditions Of plumage, are,
as every bird specialist is well aware. ex-
eeeiingly difficult. at times, to study.
The Doctor appreciating this fact has
taken great care 10 give full and minute
descr ptions. in addition 70 having a
number Of common sparrows, fnches.
etc, beautifully colored in the iIlustra-
tions. The destructive English sparrow.
and the other kinds of sparrows which
are frequently mistaken by the casual
I observer for this naturalized bird. are all
Z handsomely reproduced in colors. 50 that
anyone, at a glance, can see the differ
enee, and when they shoot sparrows
be able TO select only the injurious ones
I The woOdpeekers found with Us, both as
Z permanent residents and trznsitory so
/ jolrners, have been carefully worked up
and il is shown, that contrary 10 prevail
ent impression, only one kind. called
+ ccmmonIy the yeIlow-bellied sapsucker
is deserving of the vernaeular name
"sapsucker," which is generally vet er-
roneously applied to the smaller wood
pecken and nuthatches The author in
writing Of the red-bellied wOodpecker-
a bird which by Audubon was found in
( Pennsylvania as summer resident
I breedingl, but that now is said 70 occur
+ here chiefly as 3 rare winter visitant-
F gives a very interesting account Of the
destruction which this species occasions
in the orange orchards Of Florida, where
I the orange borers," as they are there
/ known, are the most plentiful Of all
( the woodpeckers. This orange eating
habit has never before been observed or
at least written of by any naturalist.
] The remarks relative 10 the food based
on several hundred disseciionsl Of the
/ different blackbirds, the thrushes. also the
7 robin, crow and bluejay, win be Of par
ticular interest to the farmer and fruit
grower, who often are led to condemn
these birds for their grain and fruit de-
vouring propensities and the crows and
JAYS for their nest robbing procliyities.
T The nesting materials Of the birds which
( generally rear their Young within our
borders are described and their usual
building sites mentioned; the average
measurements Of eggs, color, markings,
etc, are also particularized. An impor-
tant feature in the book and one which
viii be especially advantageous to the
ornithologicsl student is that in classi-
tication aud nomenclature, the work IS in
accord with the Check List Of the Amer
ian Ornithologists' Union the modern
standard authority on such matters In
consequence Of the fact that the arrange
ments and names Of birds have recently
undergone numerous changes, the Birds
Of Pennsylvania" viii posess a great adj
vantage over most books devoted 10 bird
life.