The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-26
BIRD HOMES.
The Nests of Kingfishers, Woodpeckers
and Other Varieties.
Maurice Thompson In Golden Rule.
- - ILL -

Maurice Thompson In Golden Rule.
Birds nests have attracted the attention
of inQuisitiye genius from the days of Aris-
totle down TO the present time. This is not
wonderful, because the nests are invariably
curious and often beautiful. besides offering
a cradle, as 1t were. for a host of romantic
speculations and p0etical theories. Imagi-
nation has taken hold of birds and their
nests with singular affection, drawing forth,
meantime, some beautiful legends to enrich
romance vithal and to add TO the sum Of
what is most persistent in the song of man.
kind.
The ancIents told that the balcyon,
beautiful aquatic bird, had its nest on the
seas breast, a little floating palace. around
which the water was always calm and
sweet. Halcyon, or alcyon, was the king
fisher, II Is supposed, but we now know
every species CT this bird and none of them
builds its nest to drift about on the sea.
Indeed. as if TO make the contrast of fact
with fancy as great as possible. most OF the
kingfishers dig deep holes in the ground for
their homes. Our American belted alcyon,
or common kingisher. is an expert hole.
along the streams of our Middle and South
ern States but has its face cut by the doors
Of one of these gloomy-looking houses.
The hole is usually quite round and goes
directly into the bank. with Il slight up
ward slant to a distance of from to 4
=
to one side or the other, ending In large
jug-shaped pocket, where the eggs are laid.
The kingfisher is my most cheerful COM
paniOn when l am out for days OF q
weeks angling. 1t is an eyer-fresh delight
TO watch him swooping down into the clear
brook water with meodiOus plunge and
coming forth sparkling like flake from a
blue sea wave or fragment OF turquoise.
He rarely fails to catch the minnow he
strikes at. but his appetite is unremittin G
and ia1a In 10 frrr inn
night.
The wOodpecker's home is very like the
kingfsheT's. but it is dug in rotten wood in
stead OF being bored in a bank OF earth.
From the great ivory-billed species down TO
| the little dOwny fellow OF our orchards, the
| woodpeckers build their nests. or. rather ex-
| cavate them, on the same general plan. The
| hole at first goes straight into the wood,
then turns downward, widening as 1t de-
sends, until it gives room for the home.
If you will go into any bit of unshorn wood
| land during early spring, and will keep your
| eyes open. you will see bright red head
| thrust out of round window in some de-
! caying trunk or Dough. ana the woodpecker
will sing out. "Peeri peer" which always
seems to mean that his or her home is a
/ most comfortable aud enjoyable place.
The bank swallow is another bird whose
| nest is hole eXcavated In the earth along
| the bluffs Of streams. l have seen high
| bank Of the Ohio River made to look like q
| huge honeycomb by thousands of these
| holes. and the air was swarmng with the
! birds that lived In them. Il was. indeed, q
! city Of sand swallows, a metropolis where
| perfect equality prevailed in the arehitee.
| ture, the internal finish and the furniture OF
| the homes. The houses were as much alike
| as the birds themselves.
A considerable number Of birds may bt
| classed as leave dwellers." They make
| their homes in clefts or the rocks. natura
| cavities la trees. stumps ana logs, aud in
fhorv ENNA
| hole, even if it be the abandoned home Of a
WOOdpecker