Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-15


murmured gatherings very different from
the conventional cries of all owldom- Keep
a pet one (and they are easily tamed) and
you will find them not only as wise as they
look, but not averse to rough and tumble
fun.
But few days ago in my wanderings I
reached the bank of river long after sum
down, and pitched my little tent by the fit
full light of green wood camp fire. Ejacu-
lations we're not smothered, but explosive,
and the whole strange scene brought not
one but three little red owls to the 'front.'
They were not afraid, and discussed my
companion. the dog, and myself vigorously.
They enjoyed the novelty, and all through
the night their tremulous tones broke the
stiffness of the dense, dark woods I
dreamed of huge docks of owls, such as no
man ever saw, and was reused at dawn by
great rushing Of wings that seemed danger.
ously close at hand. 1t was flock OF black
birds
Genuine Marriage Among Birds.
Let Us 20 back of the formation Of these
huge Aocks and give moments notice to
another phase of birds existence. This,
from recent paper, covers the whole ground:
''Most birds, we are told, pair once for all,
till either one or the other dies DR.. Brehm,
the author Of Bird Life is 50 filled With
admiration for their exemplary family life
ss to be led to declare enthusiastically that
real genuine marriage can only be found
among BIRDS" The initial point of locking
Is there, that of mating; later the family
To- hor fho al nf
the summer the families of neighborhood
unite. and, urged by the approach Of
autumn, the birds of whole river valley
will merge into some two or three great
focks and in such close companionship
migrate; or wander to and fro from one
feeding ground to another.
When did birds begin to fock7 This has
often been asked, but never can be told. A
close study of this habit, s,of many other
bird ways, points to the conclusion that it
is a survival of q much more fixed one.
There is now a vast deal of irregularity
about it. Certainly the red-winged black
birds, which form our largest focks, are not
all gathered in, and single ones, pairs, and
half q dozen together remain all winter
scattered up and down the river valley. 1t
is true of every other hocking bird. The
majority keep up the old custom, but so
many stand aloof in every instance that it
might almost be said the custom is dying
out
Our Birds Are Rapidly Going.
am disposed to make the statement that
man has so modified the land that bird life is
rapidly losing its one-tine characteristic
features. 1t is sad to think that birds have
seen their best days, and what we now have
left as as the chief charm of our outings Is
but q lingering remnant of the great con-
course that not only filed the valley, but
made glad the most uttermost ports and
neglected hooks or corners of the land.
Making due allowance for travellers exag-
except of English sparrows, not one-half OF
the birds of some two centuries ago.
Even though the hocks of red wings may
sometimes reach we'll into the thousands,
have positive knowledge of much larger
hocks than ever Wilson OF Audubon
Glanced upon
In 1722 flock of these birds appeared
one September afternoon on the Crosswicks
meadows "that shu. out the sun and caused
great concern among the farmers, who
feared. if they came to the fields, every
green growth would be laid waste" Black
birds then were feared and for years after,
by reason of their numbers; and. seemingly.
when in such focks they were far more bold
than ever as individuals
Why do they congregate in such num-
bers? 1t has been suggested that in early
autumn their food was to be found only in
limited localities, and they naturally drifted
there, moved, one and all, by the same
cause. In other words, the upland fields,
the spring holes, the grassy hooks in old
field corners, where they nested, offered
nothing but shelter, and to stay longer than
during summer meant to starve.
Nothing to Be Gained BY FIocking.
The fact that scattered birds do frequent
the nesting places contrsdicts this, and the
food found in the meadows is not greatly
different, and often too many gather In one
spot for all to be fed. Whatever the bird,
there seems to be nothing gained by flock
ing, and much is lost. 1t appears to be an
inherited instinct that once a safeguard and
delight is now doubtless q source Of pleas
ure, but directly disadvantageous.
We are accustomed to look upon certain
species of birds as flocking in autumn and
that others never do So am convinced
that all were gregarious originally, but
changes of environment have caused 1t to
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