New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-19
BIRDS ~ CENTRAL PARK.

Spring Is In the DIR. The sparrow Is prol,lnin2
It on every side. in it, simple hearty strain and birds
instinct IN such matters Is fully trustworthy farmers
ilmanacs and Astronomical data March /, a transition
month a sort Of comp sitc photograph Of winter and
prng and +, that uneasy stir that betokcns tho
end Of it. long siunler. The first sound q the song
sparrow fall, the Ike bit Of unexpected
shine stormy day and raises he temperature Of ones
feelings several degrees for it breaks spell Of winter
plain. unprctentous bird Is this. but fayore Will
all who know H. for what it LACKS beauty 1t than
makes in good works the first herald Of spring. IL Is
,' pouring forth ia srrIehiy chant by tho waysGe in
the fan after al, the other ohoristcrs silent.
About dozen species ~ sparrow.> 10 b. found
around Ncw-YoI all in rather homey garb OF colo-
strcaked vita chestnut and black. which makes them
ta-ily dlstnguishable from other species. buo Tor the
difficult VI identification amcag themselves
especially they differ little in sire. soncscrs non
Of them notable being characterized by simplicity
rather than depth and maeniccnce and At best only
be called ballad singers" one Of the hBcst cong
sparrow. wins alIro,1l rUch by IT. hcarncss and
enthusiasm by IL, vocal ability.
One advantage a studying bird, In sring that th
they IN their animated mood aud finest llumaee
Some like thu godnEch lay aside their bright cQlofin
entirely and in almost all the coiors dull and life
tess IN Water How sptcss and shabby robin looks
in December skuking among the under growth; but In
March he /, ncN creature quick and eager in
ment witt, bright chestnut breast black had slcr,
and shop'N, typical thrush. the robin b.
in the Park In and thr'cs uttcrnc only their
call note. aud Ic,cNing then song until II /, beyond the
danger 4 interruption. More stately and s.lcon,cioi,
than tho sparrow they Ia ar'ss. Thcrr
are several p'ia' Of human contrast between these earliest
Of the familiar birds.
An unusual visitor in the Park found lltcly. cac
the shrkc o. butcher bind. The writer's attention wa,
called TO it by hearing harsh noise. several tunes
pcitcd, rc-cmllinG the tr akiEg Of hinge. This &,
about The extent Of IL vocal powers The shkc enjoy,
the ucnyabe reputation OF being the smallest bird Of
pry about large the robin. of ASH cclor. wings
I1..l NlIt ltntf N.ifh hand
sid it, chief claim 10 concentration is in the fct
portion Of its diet consists 1T English sp,rrows.
Would that ten time, larger, that (; could
Of them.
a rock OF eight cedar waving, found near thu
swans basin morning. an OtrFtNc bird with crested
aG SOFT and rich and graceful form unporu.
lar with the farmer because II pluhdcf~ his cherry trees
4, regard, birds reputation ShiS spares Wind, are
often true: The evil that II does lives after II. the
good i often inferred with IL, boncs' The tcfo II a
cherries Is evident fact; bur the fame birds de.
structon OF thousands Of n0Nous Insects ra.ses unnotcd
The birds called waNwngs because OF small apIen.
dages on wings and sometimes the toll resembling,
salng.waN IL Is not known what purpose they
indeed any but IL il hnzarioIs to affirm that
they merely ornamental eNcrs,ccncc.
On a warm. brghu day can hear tie bubblng song
OF the European godhnch, and any Gav cold or
sunshine TIE iucprc>sble outbreak Of the chek,.
dee. Indeed. the writer has never found him
mood than IN a cold and driving sncvstom. Like Mari,
Tap.,y. out saong' under the most adverse
circumstances trait Of which he unfortunately enjoys
almost exclusive monopoly among his fellows.
GA some evergreen ,fe nurseries the writer
Gently found four red closs6s the male Ct brick.red
color with dark wings and tail the female with olive
green and ycowish tints. The often thus
differently colcicd mach that would not sup.
pose belong the same species and throughout
the tribe wLcie tn diner in plunage. is
the male that always mas the superior beauty
The cro>-bl, get their from the appearance. Of
the BILL II tie lower jaw twisted out OF posi-.
ton, probably signed to aid them In extracting food
from cones They breed far the north and appear in
this latitude rregul,rly In winter.