The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-05-28
MIGRATORY BIRDS.


The Ordes In which They Return to the
Northern Woods In Spring.
The firstsbird to return is the robin.
The robin is known as wanderer on
the face sof the earth. He usually
makes his appearance early in Febrn-
airy. when the ground is still mantled
in snow and ice, and when, It would
seem, he could find nothing TO eat The
robin visits every part Of the union. He
makes his mnd-spattered nest on an
apple bough in the orchard The eggs
are usually Of blue-green color, and
from four to six in number.
The second bird to return Is the blue
bird Familiar to all must be this
CHEEKY bird. one Of springs earliest y is
itors, and one Of the most welcome ones
withal. All Of us who have ever been
in the country can recall finding the
bluebird's nest, usually in some hollow
stump or other artificial retreat A
dainty nest it is, too, lined with horse
hair and the depository for, perhaps,
half a dozen pale blue eggs.z=..
Then comes back again, next in or
der, the meadow lark. This bird is
clumsy in form, though Of rich yet sub
dued plumage. Its general aspect is
brown, with streaks of ash over its
crown. The meadow lark flies low
over the fields, its wings rustling much
of the startled fashion of the quail
started from cover. Its nest is a rude
affair, loosely constructed of small
twigs, dead wood, etc. y
The song sparrow follows the meadow
lark. This CHEEKY songster is with us
the year around. II comes first in the
early springtime. Who does not know
the song sparrow? A modest bird, of
simple, unadorned plumage, this bird is
the life Of our hedges and groves,
whistling soft subdued note, sweet
and tender in its melody.
The 'blackbirds next return to their,
old, old haunts. There are many species
of this family of birds, such as the crow
blackbird. the red-winged blackbird,
etc. The blackbird is much in demand
at the hands of the amateur hunter or
sportsman, who finds this bird easy
game.
Then back again, whistling plaintiye-
~ and shrilly in its haunts in some.
thick bramble or copse, is the catbird.
This songster is indeed a. familiar one
OF our bird life. The catbird is of a
somber, slate gray in color clean
limbed, spry, graceful and of aristo-
cratic bearing. There is much dignity
in the carriage of this bird, although it
must be confessed that its walk is not
the poetry of motion. But for this short
coming its song more than eounterbal-
ances Ringing forth sharp and clear,
q peculiar quality of defiance is heard
in its quivering note. The catbird re-
mains with us nearly the entire year.
The tohee bunting is one of springs
earliest visitors. This bird is glossy
black in color, with dash of rich chest
nut at its sides.
One day the swallows return again,
and soon after the warblers. The first
OF the wood warblers is the San Domingo
yellow-throat, of which there are no
less than twenty varieties. The Mary
land yellow-throat is next in line. This
bird takes its name from the color of
its breast and from the fact that over
its head it wears black hood or mask.
These birds are among our most spripht.
ly singers.
By the middle of May the woods are
alive with returned wanderers in bird
land. The Baltimore oriole returns to
nip the opening cherries. This bird is
the prince of migratory songsters. In
plumage it is of dazzling beauty, its
breast glowing like fame, with back
and wings of glossy black or olive color.
City people can know nothing of-the
delight in watching the birds como
back in the springtime. That pleasure
is reserved for those who, simple in
heart ike nature, are content to pass
their days near her deep green woods
and her wild haunts, beyond the habita-
lions of men.-Detroit Free Press.