New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-27
THE BLACKBIRD FAMILY.
MRS. OLIVE THoRNE MILLER's LECTURE
AT THE WALDORF.
WAYS OF THE popoLrNK. CROW. cowpInD RED

WAYS OF THE DOBoLINK. CROW. cowbikp' RED
WINGED Br.AcKBIRD AND ORIOLES
The banoue, hall IN the waldorf Hotel was filled
again yesterday morning with women and few
men who look forward 10 Tuesday mornings 10
enjoy Mrs. Olive Thorne Mil.ers talks ABOUT ou'
birds The subjec; yesterday was the family Oh
blackb.rds that include the boboll7k. cowbrd' re'
winged biackbird. the purple grachle' the o''o'es
and meadow lark.
Mrs. Miller said in part:
will introduce you nrs tho purple sTa rae To OF
crow blackbird. who IS one of our earliest am i M
soned negro ono OF these birds that had built near
the house used to treat me with the bIed,'s. l1
i eoK scornfuy at me with his White eye turn his
back and sye vent 10 sqaee-S.s's. ~ ssut uo''
rhey are iaost solcltous for their young and II s
Isne9 birds s se ncslcSaSie good by Killing millions
OF Injurious giubs. worms ard insects -,of,g mar
feet blackbird cities in the tops Of trees lie ana
the nshhawk have strange friendship i9f ons an
Their nests in the straggng outskirts Of the hawks
large nes;, and they unite In protecting ono an
The The red-wingea blackbirds the most hide
ccern~d' The dull brown streaked females come up
In nocks some time after the nnlIes ha'e tbcy
separate again the males keeping 70 the mar.ne55'
while the females seek shelter n ne wo1ds Du' ara "a
insist on plenty OF water. 100. r,,oDn,,r
The cowbrd Is undoubtedly the most fnp mat
nest is built TIE egg always beng Pan and
the nest Of so Teo t. aP BIRDS OF means the loss
O. at least two songbirds for they always snoiner
or push out OF the the rightful owners. Inc
o ~ pshe strange sg: is doubtful believe IT be
another instance OF the great good-naure OF Drds
kin with overwork whatever birds they have been
folsted on have seen two SgarowS can IN '"e
The bobolink who later in the year becomes me
reed or ricebird. is handsome bird IN ms PIN.
mage OF black and white ana pun. inc leinaIe
voracious insect-eaters. but when thcX get 9oWn
10 tho rice marshes Il is almost Impossible 10 drVe
them away a hawk seems to be tho only 'hinsl
The Baltimore orlole IL one Of the most beauln,
nests are known TO every one. and 1t Is wonderful
how the bird. with only It's beak. can build such
wire in the structure OF their nests.
The meadow lark one Of the largest OF this fam
caroIng forth its quivertng. silvery song. . 80
All these birds. except the orioles walk while
srGs 10 for food and DO not mop as most 0n''
The crow does not belong TO the blackbird family
but owing TO his uniform Will speak about him
this morning. He is incorrigibe rogue, but
pet crow IL always well loved In the house. In his
wild state he is most useful bird in killing mice
snakes, lizards and frogs and is splendid scav-
enger. He has been prosecuted for 50 many gen
erations that perhaps he is the most knowing and
wary OF birds He will always fee from a with
gun. though paying little attention to the or,
their habits, and make their large. untdy nests at
the tops OF the trees.
They have regular roosting places and curious
TO say. II Is not first come. first served As each
flock reaches the sleeping grove they sit around
on the ground and 1t Is only when the last wan
derer returns that they all rise simultaneously and
scramble for their nests. Crows are mschievous.
much trouble by waiting t the clothes were hung
along the line. then II would descend from the roof.
tbroWn down p oontemptaousy !iater 10 De
The lecture next week will be on our smaller
birds.