Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07

when this little fellow makes his appearance
to warn shivering mortals that the end is at
hand. But few Of these birds are to be seem
hereabout now, only occasionally one drops
in to say that he is still in existence even ii
he is not residing near Pittsburg.
Naturalists who have made birds a
specially, usually agree that of all native
birds the cat bird is the most plentiful, but
one can be almost absolutely certain that
wherever the robin is to be found the other
will be absent at least for the time being as
the noisy and rowdyish "Northern mocking
bird" stands in mortal fear Of che OF the
red breast
THE CAT BIRDS FAULTS.
The cat bird does not stand in very good
repute, not only on account of the pro-
pensity he has to destroy certain fruits, but
because his cat-like notes are not very
agreeable on occasions; nevertheless he can
be pleasing when he wants to- and can imi-
tate as effectively as the famous mocking
bird, but his songs cannot be depended
upon. Just about the time the listener is
becoming interested in the glittering melody
he breaks off and takes to initiating the
squeal of young pig or the new of cat
in manner anything but pleasant.
About week ago noticed in the vicin-
ity of Saw Mill Run, about two miles from
its outlet, couple OF yellow-colored birds
or wild canaries," as they are best known,
notwithstanding the fact that thev resemble
the canary but little except in color and in
that not very exactly. The two that have
reference to are the first have seen in
long while SO close to the city. although
they were very plentiful at one time. 1t is
an extremely handsome little creature of a
mellow gamboge tint with orange-chestnut
streaks on the breast. 1t delights to disport
itself among the common field thistles,
where it can be found at any hour of the
day. 1t has a song which, though brief, is
very clear and pretty.
A FAMOUS BUILDER.
are still to be heard in the neighboring
woods. 1t seems as if this little fellow had
determined on remaining near as long as
tree was left him wherein to build nest.
1t is not generally known that this bird,
which in boyhood was familiar to all as ''the
crazy pewee," is one of the finest nest
builders in the business. It selects the
oldest of materials, such as bits of bark,
moss and lichens, roots, paper and even egg
shells.
The thrush, the purest of all warblers,
and the bEight-w1nged fickers, are also
among the rarities nowadays. Either one
could be found in fair numbers few years
ago. The redbird. never very numerous in
this section, has almost if not quite disap-
peared. 1t is nearly two years since OBJ
served one to the northward of the city, and
it was the first in a long while at that. The
beautiful blue jay. few of which were oc-
casionally to be seen in this vicinity, has
to the best of my knowledge, entirely left
us. Song and vesper sparrows, house wrens,
chewlnks, wood-peckers. several varieties of
the thrush family, chats, yellow-throats and
everybody's friend, the little ''chippY," are
yet comparatively numerous.
SOME RARE SIGHTS
Crows keep few miles between them and
the city. Their first cousins, the black birds,
are not quite so shy, but the warfare has