The morning times., 1895-07-14
Birds That make rlus1e
In District Trees
Habits and Customs of the Merry Throng Whose
Dialect is Meody--Pathetc Suffering of Many
Songsters During the February Blizzard.

and sing moro blithely; and then, after
the manner of birds, and OF some men,
they viii bring another mate to the old
home and start life anew.
The favorite dwellings of the bluebirds
are the orchards and groves of inhabited
districts. Being OF a fearless, social
disposition, they build their nests quite
near houses public roads, and fFequented
garden paths Bir0h ouScs near pOrchcs
always attract these beautiful little friends
and the wise suburban householder VIII
provide them, for the bluebird is extra
ordinarily dIligent in keeping boys from
vines and ornamental shrubs,
BLUEBRD'S SAD STORY.
1t is a melancholy fact to state that
this once plentiful species is this year en-
tirely absent from its old haunts. Prof.
Robert Ridgway, one Of our most famous
onithologists and curator of the department
of birds III the Smithsonian Institute, when
questioned in regard to this, told the fol
lowing sad story.
The blucbiTd wintcred about Washing
ton in larger numbers than | have ever be
fore noticed. no less than twenty -one birds
making their headquarters on my little
half-acre lot in the suburbs. Just be
fore the blizzard of February TO 8 the
berries produced by a hedge OF Japan honey
sucke which surrounds my place were
exhausted On February 10 | picked
lIbllt illt sl4pN III dlNi b'tANA '4NN
birds, which had died OF starvation, their
bodies being greatly emaclated. During
| the latter part of February, while absent
| IN Florida, the spaTows took possession
| of my bird home, and i'll order To make
room for their nests they were obliged
! 10 remove the dead bluebirds which were
! within They dragged out nine, dropping
| them on the ground beneath.
! ION April 2, observing that the sparrows
| We're building In the box, ana being sure
there We're no bluebirds about / cut down
| the pole Examining the box | found five
| more dead biuebirds, thus making twenty
! one which had perished on my place alone.
| have no doubt that the destruction was
| equally great throughout the entire re-
| gion affected by the great storm. Not
| a living hluehird has been seen or heard by
| me in this section OF the country since That
| time "
No bird is better known IN this vicinity
| than the Catbird, and although an exquisite
| songstcr. none is so little appreciated.
The catbird, like the bluebird, is indus
trious destroyer OF insect life; but unlike
its aZure-tinted sister, which has only
food habits, il possesses an inordInate ap-
petite for cherries. Currants, and other
small fruit For This reason II is frc-
| quently the victim of savage persecution.
The catbrd is often called the mOCking-
| bird Of the north. aud at dusk as II sits
| in the low underground on the outskirts of
the woods. and sings its soft. tender warb-
| ling lay, it bids fair to rival that famous
| CautatTCe
THE GRACEFUL CATBIRD.
olive Thoruc Miller in her charming book,
Bird Ways" says: No bird is more
graceful than the catbird, aud in spite Of
his sober dress of slate brown aud black
none is more beautiful His plumage may
he grave in hue, but it is Ike satin il
sheen aud texture, and is always n moSt
perfect order. for he takes the daintiest
care Of himself "
The catbird is very familiar In its ways
aud always chooses a resting place nea
dwelling houses. 1t builds quite near th'
| ground in some small tree or shrub. anC
consequently it is an easy prey for pro win:
cats aud miSChievous boys The me ewing
catlike-notes the bird utters when alarmed
= by intruderS, is another cause OF this swee
songster's uupopuIarity The Catbird ha
I a very Iovable disposition, being es
2 pecally affectionate and devoted 70 II
4 mate and their young. Its also the kindes
i. Of friends 10 others OF its species, golu