Smyrna times., 1890-11-12
November Birds.

now almost faded from the hillside,
and is now smouldering beneath the
ashen gray of naked twigs; for docs
not the sound of rustling leaves now
follow us in our rambles through the
woods?
The woods are almost desolate as to
birds voices the plaintive note of the
bluebird is the sweetest bird note these
days, and the jargon of the distant
crow is NOvember's own.
But the crows we have always with
us, and their vocal strain is never
much OF a novelty. Most of the great
choir of spring sOngsters are now on
their migration to the South-the bob
olinks (such as have escaped the shot
guns of New Jersey and Pennsy lvania)
song sparrows, thrushes, orioles, vireOs
etc.-and those thaC remain with US,
are mostly so shy and uncOmmunica-
tive as to be scarcely recognizable by |
their friends.
But these November remnant of
spring and summer birds are not my
November BIRDS" November, at
least with us in New England, has its
own especial bird even as it has its
flower. But they are ours for few
days or weeks Only-brief visitors,
birds of passage from the north, that
touch and go, as it were, sampling
our meadow crumbs in their leisurely
journey to the South, and we should
avail ourselves of the opportunities to
make their acquaintance.
Prominent among the list of these
rare visitors is the fOx-sparrOw, which
may now be seen in flOcks in the woods
in size suggesting a thrush, but whose
stouter bill and foxy dress and speck-
led breast will readily identify him.
Then there is quite brood of tiny war
blers which are new passing our way,
either as pioneers of those coming
nocks, or lOiterers of hOcks already
gone. The autumnal-streaked war
bier, with its jetty head and white
cheek, and gray and black streaked
back and breast (DeHdrOicd strjatU), is
frequent straggler in our November
woods also the yellow rumped war
bier with yellow crown, black cheek
and broad black stripe on the breast,
under the wing ID. cOrOaatq). The
Cape May Warblers are considered the
rarest of these flying callers I'D. Tgri .
nay. It's throat ana breast are of a
bright yellow streaked with black. A
yellow line over the eye an the tan
colOred cheek, with melting tinge Of
the same color around the back of the
head and upon tho throat will help to
identify the species
Then there are yellow redpole and
black and yellow warblers, whose dis
tinguishing features are well indicated
in their names, though the latter ha,
lost some of its black in its autumna
plumage.
autumn birds Is the snow bird, will
his black head and ashen GRAY body
He has only Just arrived with US bu
inasmuch as he Will abide with us al
winter, he is not properly one of ID!
November birds" The most conspic
uOus of all the November corners is the
white bunting or white snow bird, anC
through the winter their hOcks may b,
seen flying before the wind in th
cloud of drifting snow, for they too
have come to stay with US. Thei
5 summer has been spent among tn
Arctic SHOWS. They are lovers of tn
n cold and keep 20 the edge of the sc
# verest winter, going Southward rs tn
) cold increases, but never at home with
out the snow and the biting cold.
e But my one NoYember bird which il
e the crown Jewel of them ALL yet re
mains TO be described. We may con
fidently look for him now in the Dor
! der thicket Of the woods or in tn
orchard. He passed us in his north
/, ernj journey early last spring, but wa
! lost in the throng. But now he is al
most alone and we should not let ou
November pass without paying Ou
. compliments to him. almost the TIMES
of our native birds. His total lengt
is only four and half inches, his p)u
mage generally of dull olive color
but he wears crown of the brightes
vermillion, which is his unique fea
I ture. You would hardly suspect it a
you see him there, almost within reac
of your hand, prying among the dea
leaves upon the apple branch. Strang,
ly enough he seems specially careiu
to keep them concealed beneath tn
es surrounding olive feathers. Rub
crowned Kinglet," he is called--Kinl
10 let, little King. There are few kinl
'e Of larger size that wear brightt
In eOrQnet than the RegUl US cGIepduI
His is needed lesson, for surely npI
of his super!ors IN size has more reas,
to display the crown thanhe.- Wiliid
Hamilton Gibson, in Hdrper'S YOn
M PeODle