The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-09
Ihc NInrLlnr Iilrd.

The hooking bird belongs 10 the great
thrush family II has a slender form with
long toii and q bill as long az rs head and
rather wide at the base, a broad and strongly
built hrca.t-b0ne, and It's tongue is deeply
CLEFT with hair on the ends and outside edges
oi the forked pant. Its color Is mixture Oh
gray. brown and white, and It's eyes are dark.
Some are white, with pink eyes, but these
specimens are extremely rare
Their nests are made Of twigs and weeds.
and are lined with tbrous roots, hOrse-haT
and cotton. sometimes mixed with human
lair and cotton cord. They are about SIX
inches wide and two inches deep. The birds
Go not take much pains IN building them,
and they do not seem 10 try % hide them.
They select some spot within a few feet OF
the ground in an orange tree on "a blackber-
IS BUSH and like their cousins. the robins,
they hke,to love near the dwellings OF man.
This may be owing 10 the protection such
places afford against their natural enemies.
The hawk. the wildcat, the OpOssuin, and
other animals that would disturb his peace,
are likely 10 shun human 0DOdeS. and the
country being open about such places MAKES
the approach Of any foe readily seen. lie
eggs "a, well as the young BIRDS are much
sought after by snakes. bat the parent birds
are often successful IN driving them of, and
they are always ready 10 wage war on any III
truder upon their property.
I'm the early spring the female lays from
three 10 SIX eggs, about an inch long, and o!
pale grcenlsh-bue color. spotted and blDtChed
with light yellowlsh-brOwn. Then she sits
ON them aud keeps them warm and the male
bird brings her worms and other dellcaces
during this time and when the birds are
young.
When they are first Matched the bindings
are very ugly, for they have long bills that
are always stretched open for 1000, ana
scvawnv bare bodies with "a few pale yellow
. h.Ir ID
grow very rapidly. and IN about Two weeks
they are full-fedged aud are able 10 leave
the nest. and their father begins to give them
lessons in flying and IN singing
Nocking birds are found IN nearly every
nart of the United States. but I'm the North
they are only summer visitors. and hey hi
crate To the South an winter. passing that sea
son i'm the States that border on Mexico and
the Gulf.
They are great epicurcs in their way. feed
ing on oranges. the berries OF the palmetto
and those of the china tree. apples pears.
cherries. peaches, blackbelries and other
small fruits On the island of Key West tnev
eat so freely the bright. red prickly pears thHt
grow ON a kind of cactus, that their bills,
heads aud threats become dyed as If with
vermlhOn
In Southern cities where a fine is imposed
for killing one hooking birds are very nu-
merOus. and they sing 80 JOYOusly N the
trees that 10 seems unnecessary and cruel 70
coutine them IN cages They sing their
sweetest songs during the moonlight nights Of
summers, often tempting old residents 10
lose sleep for the sake Of hearing them.
The name knocking bird as You know,
comes from It's power 90 initiate the cry of
many other birds. If You were listening 10
hun for the first time YOU would have TO look
closely to satisfy yourself that the melody
WIS ripping from one little featheTed throat,
and not from Il whole concert of sOnssters.
The clear. mellow whistle of the red bird the
chatter of the jay, the continuous MARBLE of
the Carolina wren. the abrupt call Of the part
ridge Bob White the low. but lovely song
of the pine-wood finch. the shrill new Of the
eat bird. and the harsh scream OF the hawk
are all mingled with strains Of his own and
those of many other birds IN snch manner
and with such power that the effect IS eX-
tenelv fine
lie has even caught the snatches of song
That the bobolink practices when passing
northward. and hc puts these into his lay IN
the right place and with charming correct
ness. He not only mlnuc5 these birds, but
DEE excells them. and after we have heard him
their efforts seem quite tame and spirltless
Yet hc has never had his head turned 10y
the applause of mankind, and he SITS care
le-siv ON the limb of a tree, pausing now aud
then I'm the midst of his carol 10 arrange his
feathers or flying from place to place without
iutcrUpng IBIS glorious song. entirely una
ware that he is SD great amuslclan. -PAiladel-
phia Times