The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-06-04

am SO glad TO see some of my readers
appreciate my efforts to instruct ana aTluse
Them and will respond when ask them TO
help ME to brighten our corner thank
the two boys who have written such nice
letters on birds and hope the children VIII
enjoy reading them as much as Aunt Su-
sic did. L give them both below:
Iandon c. Bell, WilDurn, Val am sure
the cousins would like to hear something
about birds in the Old Dominion state Birds
of the same species as those that are 1ound
in various parts of the United States.
First [ will tell you about the curious
little English sparrow. 1t pulldS us nest
In the fork of a tree or in a hollow; it it
q large bunch of grass, feathers, hair, etc;
it is built so neatly that the rain cannot
get to it, and is sometimes lined with nud.
This bird has very fine teeth, and If perse-
euted will bite and fight like a tiger
Next | will tell you about the buebrd.
II always builds its nest i'll hollows. Its
nest consists of dried hay and hair, which
1T arranges very artistically, but its charm
is not in this; it is i'll the sweet tone, mod
esty and timidity.
The "swinger' bird is the most artistic
of all the birds in this section. The de-
scription of il rs somewhat like that OF the
bottle bird, but the bottle birds nest is not
shaped like that of the sWinger bird; 1t IS
built so strong and fixed to the llmb SO
t;s.,tly tLat the limb will often be broken
in tryins, to remove the nest. The SWlnger
bird is but little larger than a common
brown sparrow, but it is more beautiful
and timid 1t will not build in your grove
nor visit your farnyard, but will stay alone
in the forest.
The mocking bird is also native Of this
region. 1t can initiate any other bird
known It has a long tail, long wings and
moderate bill. It builds its nest in a holly
or cedar tree and builds it out of sticks
and lines it with Sleeps wool or some other
soft fiber. 1t will always sing IN your grove
and visit your farmyard
The cousins must write to me ana tell me
something about birds III their sections, anu
they must not contine themselves TO blFGs
alone; they must write about all Things
about them.
correspondents solicited. Age, fourteen.
6. C. Thomas-In response to the invita-
ton given by Aunt Susie to write ON the
subject of birds, l will try to describe q
few and their mode Of life. There are so
many birds that L scarcely know which
ones to describe From the hu mining bird
lid TO the WhippoOrWill, which makes the
night sad with its doleful song, We cannot
find one whose life and habits it is not in
teresting to study. The partridge is more
like a homestead ted fowl than any other
bird | have known them to lay their eggs
in the same next with hen. The partridge
is a cunning bird and will resort to strate-
gv where her young is in danger. 1t IS as
tonishng how they will face danger to pro-
tect their young. If you go near their nest
they will fall over and pretend they are
dead, but every time YOU go TO pick them
up they will futter off and go through the
same sham 5 before until they entice you
away from their nest.
Then we have the dove which is noted for
Its gentleness 1t builds its nest On the
lower limbs of trees and is not so fastidious
as NEST Of the other bird A few sticks and
straw continues its home.
The field lark is q specie of bird that does
not spend it's life in one climate. They
spend their winter in the north, while they
go south to spend the summer and raise
their young. They build their nest some
what like the quail Then, we have the
the feathered tribe 1t generally builds its
nest in the orchard where it chants it's
pleasant song from morn till night. The
hooking birds faVorte home is the apple
tree. 1t has several imitators, but none
sing half pretty. The cat bird, the
thrush and the French hooking bird all
sing similar TO that OF the mockng bird.
The French hooking bird is OF the hawk
species, and will often pounce upon help
less sparrOws and make a meal of them.
1t is of the hardest birds to shoot there
is. 1t actually can dodge the hunters shot.
The rain crow is the LATEST bird there is.
1t Will stay in one tree nearly all day. and
is whipped by all of the other birds.
The bee martin il the bravest bird I ever
saw. 1t can whip the largest hawk and
the American jay is the only bird that will
acteristic species of the feathered tribe 1t
will wait for the innocent little tom tit to
make it's home in some dead tree, then drive
1t away and take possession Of it itsel.