Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-23

IA femsi. il Govern the hind head Only. |
Length sbout - inches.
nsa usaAsA Weedpseksr.
Tbs Red Needed Weodpscker, proper. |
:. ;.sslv entitled 10 the mama be bears, bnt |
Il vo.d appear 10 b III cuseem aiming |
many 10 6estow his title indisclininatsiy
unon every species Of woodpecker which 10
sndoved 6y nature with The least showing
Al crimson or scarlet upon either the crown
or mare. ~
the Picidse Of New England. the others
have simply the crown or nape TINS col
ored snd are therefore not entitled to %
TIM, Designated. In this species the entire
head. includes crown. nape, sides Of head,
,hr,as and UPPER breast. are
wis crimeon which combined with
his lus.rcus black hack and vinss with
pu,e white seeopdsriss. make mp costume
scarcely exceeded in bfilliAncy BY any OF
our native o'Yds.
the .Rsd Head. 10 rather rare species
in Maize ard il not common in any part OF
New England. From early records it would
appear that formerly the bird was more
fre ouentIy met with here, but doubtless the
persecution to which moot Of our bright
colored birds have been subjected, hiss had
a tendency to greatly reduce the numbers,
of this interesting and beautiful species.
The Red Head is accredited by various
pssursiists who have hsd opportunities for
observing them, with being . most remafk-
able bird, inexhsustible in fertility Of inven-
tons for either pleasure or profit. Their
antics plainly exhibit . gay ard frolicsome
disposition and they are playful even to the
eA.ent Of being mischievous. chasing each
other among the trees in which their nests
are placed almost - children play = game
Of tag. even hiding away in some convenient
hole until found. The food of this species is
made up largely of berries and fruit and il
10 not adverse to oeechruts and acorns.
Ia size it is about inches in length. and
unlike the rest of the family in New Eng
lard the c,lof markings Of both the male
and female are alike.
Golden Winged Woodpscker.
List, but not least is the Beautiful Col
den Winged Woodpscker, he Of the mary
aliases. In Maine he is known as the
yellow Hammer" white in the middle
ss.se.. he is commonly called the pigeon
| Woodpeeker." Further south his name
sgain changes to High Hole" and TO the
West he is known as the Flicker But
like the ''rose," he is tae same whstever
called, and brighter and more interesting
bird it would be difficult to find He marks
8 departure from the true and conventional
woodpecker tribe, for while discsrding few
il any Of ihtir well known Characters
tics he takes upon himself many CT
the habits vi the thiushss. While
he does not tj;ct TO ascending The trunk
OF tree Ia true woldpecker style, he ike
wise is perfectly al home when pe,cbed
crosswise on small limb surveying his
surroundings He will also spend much
Of his time upon the ground scar hing for
worms and grubs, and for ants he has an
especial fondness. These he procures
with much skill by thrusting his long
tongue, which is covered with . tenacious
salivs,t into the different cells of the ant
hills. Hs,is psrtisl also to small fruits snd
a wild cherry tree in bearing will invariably
harbor q score Of birds during the day.
The Golden Wing is q common spaciss
in every section of New England, and its
numbers do not seem to diminish to any ap-
probable extent. His familiar call in the
mateing season and his graceful uudulating
flight are familiar to all whose surround
ings is in the leas. rural. The courtship
Of these birds are often highly amusing to
the observer, the an,ics Of the male birds in
their efforts to make a'favorsble impression
upon the heart Of some eligable femsle,
: being very ludicrous. Two and frequently
three hsugh'y males will pay court at the
same time I, single female, strutting be-
fore her, and going through 3 series of
evolLttous calculated to show off the beau.
ty Of the't Iesplendant piumsge to the best
advantage.
But one can share her heart and hand
1 4. II. ~. l. L. Al.
nesly pli2hted pair hearten away from the
scene of the corqsest and at once begin
their preparation for housekeeping.
All eligable building sights are carefully
X mined before the tensile makes up heI
! mrd as to which suits her best; she otter
occupying much longer time ii selecting
home than in choosing her mate.
The nesting Of the Yellow Hammer il
bills sxcAva,ing lsrge and roomy domioilt
in some blasted tree top or dead limb Of al
apple tree.
This species average about l24 inches ii
length. The celebrations Of the plumsgs
are beth odd and beautiful, the liaings OF
the wings and tail feathers being of
satiny gold color and all the quilts a brigh
yellow. The breast is tbckly covered with
sharply defined black spots, which with the
black crescent on the upper bresst form &
combination OF colorirg and markings ex
celed by but few Of our New England birds
Both sexes have bright scarlet crescent
/. on the nspe. The male being distinguished
by his black moustsches or maxillsry
, patches on either side of the throat.
: In closing these brief and imperfect
descriptions, let me add word regarding
the idea prevailing to some extent, that our
naturalists perhaps do not know all the DIFF
, ferept species of birds existing within the
borders Of our New Eogland States. Tha,
there may be many species in the depth OF
. the forests or elsewhere not noticed By
scientific observers.
Such an idea is entirely erroneous. New
England was one Of the frat sections oil
North America to receive attention from
naturalists eminent in this branch OF science
and year after year these investigation!
, have been carried on, not only smong oul
, resident birds. but among the vast aTmiel
of migrants who, coming with the regularity
. of the seasons, pas, onward throu Oh Mes
England to the far North to pass in
quietude the period Of notification
ard who again return southwark in
the sutumn to localities where perpetual
; summer ensurer to them their natural foo1
supply.
. The combined labcrs of all our ornithol
oeists for the past two hundred years have
placed to the credit Of New England 1861
different species of birds and during the
past 20 years although the nu nber of p.ac.
. csl observers and collie .ors hiss Vastly
increased so &, to cover every portion Of
the territory constantly, III. only addition.
made to our lists havs been the accidental
, occr-ance of strsgges from the south OF
west, we'll know in iis accredited fsuas, or
some species Of sea fowl discovered mile
at ses. whose right to be considered othel
than tramp may well be questioned.
Thus practically we do know every form
Of bird life inhsoi.ing New England a,
least, and a, for making new discoveries In
this field other than notiog the occurauce
Of species inhsbi.ing adj scent territory,
the student in ornithology can say 10 the
words of King Solomon Of old "Tnere is
nothing mes ucder the sum-"
At the close of this lecture a vote Of
, thanks vas exte nded to Mr.. Noble for the
same; and the several specimens of birdl
described which he had on exhibition were
, examined with much interest by many
present.
The next regular meeting will be held a,
the hall or Thursday evening, June A., a
which paper on entomology will be READ