New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-03

SOME or THE FEATHERED CREATURES THAT
FARMERS DELIGHT TO KILL ARE IN REALITY
THE AGRICULTURISTs' BEST FRIENDS.
The fifth talk on birds given by Mrs. Olive Thorne
Miller at the Waldorf Hotel yesterday morning
was most interesting one, ranging over large
field. and was appeal for mercy toward some
of our most cruelty maligned birds. MS Miller
said in part:
My talk this moraing will be about some queer
Characters among our Bird friends, and viii there
fore comprise one family. Here rs the sSdl!e s
body scarlet Sc, Of by black wings and tall He Is
bird that shuns the haunts OF men anu 10 Wb;ia
0ay WoS y Ss ecrev we and should nest
be found while in the course OF buioAs .ieS rr"w
AfteF the breeding season is over the male bird
gradually loses his cardinal coors and Olive ieahers
early oy winter Hne 'a the brd bears the I'M
form with yellow stomach nat charac 5 1 ont
female throughout the year Inese pnnS o uo ne
get reconced to being confined to nous, am ,bo %s
their FOOD is live insects I is fir ss off stickfas
ypapers but when the spring came rouhe ,p1 set
at the window get out and ne was son 10
free. Their song is almost counterpart % Wv
robins. . ~,u,oa far he Is
neither a night bird is he hawk Is one % Tu
best-known summer birds He can be seen n21i1s
and evenings forever hunting insects anu W'' l,.
great. gaping mouth catching my, H eSrs that
look like pebbles are laid the bare rock. anu t
fiat roofs OF houses have been useu lo' "V''''S
The whippoorwn, which is often mistaKe N i iH
the s gaI I 6Tmer BIRD d. and of
distinct white throat has only narrow ,'eai IF
insects much as a fycatcher does darine alter
his prey from convenient Dough ~ 80
orally on rude nest of dried Leaves when c 'h rc
and the young birds ard the iea nerfesdy Silent
that among the Indians and our own iofeia'heIS
they were looked upon with awe Vic, can be seen
about harbors. is beauui4ii pnuii tMas An
ored legs and adds a charm to our SeaporiS' 10
show What power of flight these birds have. , one
leg followed a vessel 500 miles down the coast Iney
are easily made pets. and make most AMUSING mus.
dog rush for one once The bird seized the dogs
TRey 8 and stalk !hG sparrOW just as cat does
l will introduce to you few OF the T ifGS
these ruthlessy because he thinks they are doing
his crops harm As an actual iaft uhey are ms ms
cankerworms and many other insects and gruos
that, were 1t not for these birds, would utterly
The cedar6ird. or waYwing has earned r a had had
deserves every cherry he picks, for there are few
birds who DO mere good in the GTGhapGs in pTs
larvae and eggs Of moths. whose existence would
make the trees frutless. These plrds are mos,
cedarbird took charge of nestful of young robins
whose parents had been killed, and brought up the
The american cuckoo, unlike his English cousin
These dim -coiored birds. with white siomachs, are
numerous here in the summer and the male BIRD
counting is most grotesque. After each note he
makes most profound bow TO the mate and then
opens his mouth wide possible as II about
to emit loud cry, but only the feeblest of COOS
be heard
The blue jay though OF our best-known birds.
IS greatly misunderstood. II is said he is always
Quarrelline and fighting. whereas really he is only
full of froc and mischief and is most affection
bird and instead of tyranniZnG other birds
is most kind to them. These birds have shared
with dozen other birds much smaller than
themselves. and were never known 10 modest them.
They will defend their young against all corners.
and James Russell Lowell tells story OF discover
ing three young birds who were held To their nest
by a string in which they had got entanglcd. He
determine ell to cut them loose. The old birds few
at him at first, but learning what his object
sat quietly within reach of him. watching the
operation. and when the birds released noisily
thanked HIM ] a good instance Of the
frolicsomeness of this bird. one seated on
fence rail. and two kittens having espied him es
sayed to stalk him. They got up near him: then ne
began playing leapfrog over those TWO kittens un-
til they returned full of offended dignity the
house. The bird tried 70 coax them ont 10 a game
several times afterward. but the kittens had had
enough OF il.
The shrike or butcher bird has perhaps the
worst character OF any Of our birds. He is not
only accused OF killing birds but OF mpsling tn m
doubted but only when other food is scarce. FOR he
much prefers field mice. grass shoppers and other
noxious insects That ne impales his prey is
doubted, and the reason for this is. think that
he has such small delicate feet that they
strong enough 20 hold down mouse insect
while he tears II 10 pieces.
Next Tuesdays lecture will be on our warblers.
and visitors would do we'll 70 take their opera
glasses, for these are family of small birds.