New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-18
TRAVELLERS OF THE AIR.
HABITS OF THE FEATHERED WORLD AS
NOTED IN THE YEARLY VIBRATIONS.
NINETY DIFFERENT KINDS OF BIRDS TAKE UP
THEIR SUMNER HOMES IN THIS
CITY AND VICINITY

CITY AND
To the dweller in a city whose boast might we'll
he we have killed all trees" the advent OF
the spring birds rarely means anything. How often
does the man who lives In Harlem fiat ever think
OF the time for the robin the bluebird
North; how much does he know about the color OF
the Baltimore oriole or the way 1t builds its nest?
II by chance he spent his bcyhood In a coun-
try place he Will. when his attention is called to
these things remember that ne used to hunt for
birds eggs in the months OF April and May. and
maybe something OF the hickers odd little way Of
hammering "A tattoo with his bill will come to mind
like faint echo OF childhood.
But to the average city inhabitant spring means
other things than early flowers and birds. In New
York City and It's vicinity ninety differ
ent kinds OF birds take up their summer residence.
and from late in February until the beginning Of
June Song after song Is added to the choir" and
trees. woods and fields filled with melody OF
sound Yet the habits and aspect OF not more
than two or three OF the most common kinds OF
these singers familiar to the average per-
son.
One by the familiar and ever-welcome little
winged friends back from their winter In the
South. and wonderful as 1t seems that they should
know when to come rarely devIating more than
day two each year. still more marvellous Is 1t
that they should know how to come apparently
travelling in the way with almost answering
regularity.
Many theories have been advanced regarding the
flight of the birds from north to south. and back
in the spring. none fully accounting for all the
facts and some based almost wholly assump
lions yet TO be proved. There are, though. certain
curious things concerning these migrations that
have been noted for. although the birds appear so
free. they doubtless look upon certain places as
home and others as only stopping aces. And the
the young reared. the native place of the nest
ling; many birds Will use the same tree or spot
OF course all birds do not migrate. but the cold
ana the scarcity Of Tying insects upon which 50
colder climates to travel and the approach OF the
winter the long fight southwark begins and. in the
INK OF the spring and summer with their insect and
plant life the Journey north is made
the most interesting question of all the many
lating 10 the travelling OF the birds is. What
ton hrnpeh hcre9ity II is denlt to ascertain
Flocks known take long flights water
without a stop for rest and food, and going in the
travelled these seas At time when. as geologlsts
f tn the hes ad r9nns q the @
meyers plenty OF resting places. And thus the bird
Of to-day. knowing the way south by this line
keeps to II long after all the islands have been
submerged its wings often showing a greater
breadth and strength in the later generations
proving that nature has made provision for the
! longer high: without rest.
Birds do not often change their route. although
each year naturalists discover evidence Of some
hocks reasoning out their course and turning aside
Modern '', Of bird lie Who assert that the
bird is guided BY the lay OF the lard" the stars
how 20 travel just as he knows no" to get out "
/ the OF danger.
Brd. however not unlike men. apparently think
the way Of the flight and often take new d.
yet the great majority travel In the good Ola way
Of the forefathers. How many OF the same birds
make h,ir journeys II H. Of course almost impo ,so
the return Of birds to the old haunts.
In proof OF this a pretty story Is told In Ger
many. a stork that had taken up It's summer guar
tcrs IN certain village became great pet with q
to part with him whel the migratory season APP
preached. yet not wishing TO make a prisoner OF
| 20 dot ed q . ne
the same birds come back in the spring to the same
places. So small nickel ring was put around ne
greeting TO this birds distant friends and the bird
| few away with his companions When the spring
returned tho birds came back and among a mock
OF storks that settled down on the roofs OF the
houses was that wore gold ring about It's
found an inscription returning the friendly greet
| Ing Of the German family and sending n message
Without doub, most Of birds ideas of geog
| raphy are hereditary and the way many nocK
many changes in the earth's surface. The subject
az the distribution the birds is full OF suggestions
,be Inberei %avS Of the bird nocks gives data
way beyond our oldest records Columbus Is said 20
have been Influenced In his course by the night 81
nm army Of birds which led him 70 the West Indies
rather than 70 the coast OF Florida; aIa nat
place nj the same time each year
onc es,abllshed II is recorded that the few bobo
links that have found their way west OF tne lsock-
les have gone ththcr from the East ana N0r'n on
,h.ir summer Journeys. when winter comes liey
seem Obliged 10 return 20 the Gulf OF Mexico by tn9
way they originally Learned ana 50 be eo' raye
south no, being able to discern the short cut Oh,
OCT back +" the way travelled by their tribe for
ages. 49,, ,.,,..,.. ,..,,ou, &, ,,s
s,ois Of his ancestor and although just why the
nrs, bird tribe went south Is not certain. man!
mmaa,,raiis,s claim that the iceioes drove them
ay Re II What fl may Intuition. instinct or rea-
son no more welcome visitors ever come 20 US wa, .s,
the first birds Of spring ,s n,n a. over and the