The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-22

birds. No wonder she often comes
out from her long seclusion looking
ragged and unkempt, and her mate
takes upon himself most of the work,
while she refreshes herself in prepa-
ration for the arduous labors of feed
ing.
How has the partner of her joys
and sorrows passed the tedious days
of sitting? To begin with, upon the
retirement of his mate his song
changed from the ecstatic quality of
courtship days to more sober but a
rich and satisfying utterance of deep
and tranquil joy. 1t is at this time
that thrushes enrapture us with their
spiritual chants; it is now that the
winter wren pours out his marvellous
and inspiring strains, and the catbird
betwitches us in the shrubbery
A Chapter on Bird Manners.
In treatment of their sitting mates
birds differ greatly. Some are most
devoted, remaining constantly within
call, answering every little inquiring
note of the sitter, as may be seen in
the charming American goldfnch,
singing till one thinks his throat
must ache, fiercely driving away every
feathered intruder, and going for
food only when he can coax her to
accompany him.
Others again not only remain with
in call 2 guards but bring food to
their sitting partners, which is the
case with two greatly maligned birds,
the blue jay, and the shrike or butch
er bird. The blue jay comes to the
next tree and calls most sweetly to
his mate, she slips off her nest and
goes over to him, receiving his offer :
ing with futtering wings and the
beautiful manners of nesting.
The shrike brings his tidbit to the
nest, stands on the edge and gives it
to his mate, who thanks him in the
sweetest and most winsome tones.
uiteQ different are the nesting
manners of the winged blackbird.
This bird does not shine as domestic
character, in fact, his matrimonial
affairs are eccentric in the extreme.
In the first place the pair do not
agree in the choice of environment.
The red-epauleted parsonage Sc
lects wet places, edges of swamps
and such surroundings for his calls
and chacks and his stirring song
"hwa- ker-ee" while his modestly
clad brown-striped partner prefers
the uplands, it is said, SO they live
apart, and each sex in parties to-
gether.
After the females have built their
pretty homesteads among the reeds
and settled to the task of sitting, their
gaily decorated mates establish them
selves little way off, where they
sing and shout to their hearts con-
tent, waiting with what patience they
may the advent of the youngsters, to
whom they-like all bird fathers l
have watched-are most devoted at
tendants.
VIII, tho Hu.nuafpO Rfrd
More unaccountable still is report
ed to be the conduct of the ruby
throated haunter of our flowers.
From the time the nest is built till
the flight of the young it is said he
never makes his appearance near the
nest. This is not to be considered
positive conclusions; not until more
observations are made need we de-
eide upon the conduct of this hum
ming bird. Even if his absence is
proved we have no right to judge
him. 1t is quite possible that he is
kept away by his fiery little mate,
for that she is one of the most spirited
of birds is we'll known to those who
have watched her.
Opposed to the conduct of the
ruby-throat is that of another bird
the ostrich, who assumes the whole
business of sitting and rearing the
young himself, whether because he
thinks he can do it better, or because
of the indifference of the mother, who
shall dare sayi We have no more
right to judge in one case than in the
other.
The appearance of the young birds
is readily known to the watchful
student on the ground by the conduct
of the happy parents. Now-usually
both of them stand on the edge of
the nest and gaze within; their hap
piness cannot be concealed; and now
things change again in the life about
the nest. The mother stays away
longer and the father begins to bring
food. The mother carries away the
broken shells. sometimes. when a