Evening star., 1897-01-23

in staccato. He moves about with quick
jerks, accompanying his motion with fire.
unconscious little "pit-pit" ''pit-pit-pit." ="
that is muted almost as soon as 1t is
sounded, while the dainty blast he occa-
sionally blows upon his penny trumpet is
delivered in the same abbreviated fashion
One might imagine that constant travelling
up and down the trunks of trees in search
of food. seldom extending the range of
vision beyond half an inch or so from tho
tip Of the bill, would cause these birds to
become nearsighted. But that such is not
the case is shown by the long migration
they make, during which they must be
largely dependent upon their eyesight at
very long range. And If direct evidence be
desired, can testify from personal obser-
walton that the nuthatch can leave his tree
and capture an insect in the air fully thirty
feet away.
The Brown Creeper.
The only other tree climber we have with
us. at this season, with the exception Of
the wocdpeckers. is the brown creeper a
bird of about the size of the Canada nut
hatch, whose homespun suit of brown
hecked with white is common though
very inconspicuous sight on the trunks OF
our forest trees in winter
only in winter, for in summer he is keep
ing mouse along our northern borders and
upwards toward the pole. No other bird is
as assiduous and unremitting laborer as
ne. Commencing at the base of tree he
works his way upward in an active ziezac
exploring each chink and crevice for the
possible grub it contains q hope my use of
this word will rot be misunderstood,
scarcely pausing to utter his brief, shrill
notes Of soliloquy; reaching the point he
mas set as the uppermost limit of mis-
search on that tree only to drop without
waste OF time to. the base of another to re-
peat his ascent. In the social structure of
birddom he represents the lowest order.
obliged to devote all his time to making a
mere living. And always alone. Unremit-
ting toll without companionship is the life
to which nature has doomed him, his only
excitement the finding of an occasional
nugget in the shape of an unusually fat
and luscious grub.
He does not even avail himself of the
variety that might be afforded were he to
do as the nuthatcheS do ard occasionally
take an upside-down view Of the field OF
his researches. Nor does he ever go down
the tree backward, las does the downy wood
pecker. Whether from choice or necessity,
he Is always either ascending tree trunk
or making short, quick flight to the foot
of some neighboring one to commence an
other immediate ascent.
Cedar Larks.
A most striking contrast greets US when
we divert our attention from the rudeIy-
clad, untirirg, never-resting brown creeper
to flock of cedar larks holding a Quaker
meeting among the uppermost branches.
Their principal mission in life seems to be
rest and meditation.
They show off well if you examine them
through a glass. Their rich, black mark
ings about the head. their handsome crests,
their yellow-tipped tails and the red seal
of their wings, which have given them
the title of wax WINGS set off finely their
glossy, tsilor-made suits. They are not
always so idle, these cedar larks, as many
O for xon
that he calls them Cherry birds" He
knows where he will be apt to find them in
cherry time.
The Chickadee.
The chickadee throughout the winter and
spring Is noticeable feature of our sub
urbs. Lively, bright. vivacious, with a
head made twice too large for his body by
the immense black shake he wears, with a
neat black and white uniform to match,
with his unfailing light-heartedness and his
ready confidence-there are none of our
winter birds that yield lis more pleasant
He Is SO unreserved and
proach to within few feet of you if his
course lies that way. Such engaging
friendliness and sociability naturally win
friends; SO 1t Is not surprising that the
,hlckadee mas so few enemies among his
human acquaintances. There Is something
friendly In his quaint song. He tells you
At once who. he is. waiving the formality
Of en- introduction. Don't you know who
am? I'm Chickadee. D. D." he says as
ne hutters down to the pine bough just
over your head. His ready eamaraderie
gives him extensive acquaintance among
The birds; his cousins, the tufted titmice,
The snow birds and sparrows, the purple
inches, the goldfnches, with all these birds
ne is on speaking terms and often joins
them to go a-roving through wood and
thicket In search Of food and adventure
When springtime is approaching the
is the very first bird to sense It,
The others welcome that charming season
of song and love-making upon Its arrival
but chickadee heralds its advent with a
beautiful song OF wonderfully clear, long
drawn whistles. And when we hear this
solemn announcement that the hand of
winter Is about to relax it's grip, we must
acknowledge that however f1ippant and
needless the youngster may be ordinarily
yet when occasion requires he can be suit
ably serious and impressive How much
s conveyed to the lover of nature by those
lew deliberate tones! 1t is not only that
The ear Is charmed by their beauty, but
hey bring to us The earliest tdings of the
lawn of the great festival Of the year.
HENRY OLDYS