The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-28
Under the caves the swallow
Plumeth his wings for flight"

Under the caves the swallow
Plumeth his wings for flight"
SEPTEMBER is busy month in the
feathered world, 80 busy indeed that
bird song is almost at an end. Fami-
lies are now grown up; babies are
nearly educated and ready to take
their place among the adults, and
among the gregarious, separate or
family life becomes merged in the
life of the flock. That is, it seems to
do SO, for of many species we begin
to see numbers together; goldfnches
in winter garb go in crowds; bobo-
links are fast putting on the family
uniform, and relapsing into the hab-
it's of rice birds; swallows begin to
settle in parties on the telegraph
wires to talk over their plans, and we
sadly realize that summer bird life
is about over, and soon will begin
that mysterious fitting called migra-
ton.
This strange episode in the life of
most of our birds, down to the tiniest
warbler and even the humming bird,
is subject of deep interest, and at
present very imperfectly understood.
We know indeed that the birds go,
and where they go, and we can guess
why they go; but why they reverse
the usual order of their lives, and in
stead of going to sleep at dusk, take
that time to set off on a long journey;
what route they take; and who
guides them over the hundreds or
thousands of miles they travel, and
brings them back next spring to the
very tree they occupied the previous
year; these things we do not know,
though there are several theories
which try to explain them.
This month, if we are in the track
of the migrating streams, and if we
listen, we may say with Longfellow:
Il hear the beat OF their plnlOnS meet,
AS from the land of snow and sleet,
They seek Southern lea.
1 hear the cry of their voices high,
Failing dreamily through the sky,
But their forms cannot see."
In September migration is already
under way in the North, and we be-
gin to see strangers among our famil-
lar friends, lovely creatures we per-
haps noticed in May, as they passed
through to their homes in cooler
climate.
Especially may we note the jaunty
army of warblers, for but few of these
bewitching beauties condescend to
nest in our vicinity. Now appears
the dainty parula, whose swinging
retreat in the hanging moss, is per-
haps the most aesthetic of bird homes.
With him is the black throated green
of tantalizing memory, with "the
sweetest song that ever stirred war
bler's throat" and the dazzling black
burnian and the black throated blue
from his cool northern woods.
Now we may look for junco, with
his pretty little family, and the white
throated sparrow, whose exquisite
song has all summer made charming
the woods of Maine and Canada.
Silently will pass the ruby crowned
kinglet and the winter wren, and we
shall have to console ourselves by re-
Numbering the joyous bursts of song
they gave us on their way up in the
spring.
1t is not, however, all additions to
our bird life; some of our dearest are
going. Part of the swallows and fly
catchers take their departures; the
two brilliant orioles, the musical rose
breasted grosbeak, most of the war
blers, and alas! the beloved very, are
seen no more.
Amid all the changes in the world
of the tree tops which keep us alert
and interested through September, it
is comfort to know that not all of
our beautiful fellow creatures leave us
Hawks and owls and some woodpeck-
ers are always with us, for their food
never fails; and it is hunger, and not
merely cold, that takes away our
birds. Our comical friend, the flicker,
or golden winged woodpecker, be-
slows upon us the light of his counte-
nance; the jolly blue jay screams his
greetings from the woods; goldfinch
es, in huttering focks, make lively
the fields and meadows; purple
finches, song sparrows and nut
matches may be found; the "chicka-
dee in coat of gray" cheers us with
his sweet voice all the long, lonely
months, and the willy crow puts life
into the dreariest winter scene.
| have spoken of the return of the
birds year after year to the same
places. That they really do so has
been proved in several ways. Occa-
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