The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-31
THE VALIANT KINGBIRD.
lie Is che Policeman of the whole
BIRD Family.

rom the New YORK sun.
Any one who is at an interested in mu-
nicipal regulations and devices for defend
ing the pubic from the ravages of thieves
and vasabonds would do well 10 study the
bird methods of policing a New York state
orchard. II this seems peculiar sugges-
ton to any person, let him go forth and
use his powers of observation No place
is more popular with binds than an old
orchard. The various insects that conduct
such thriving business in destroying the
fruit growers chances FOR a crop make
very palatable food for the feathered Kind.
while the bushy trcetops contain the fin
est of sites for summer homes. Now and
then a decayed limb. neglected by the
pruner furnishes a place wherein wood
pcckCr may carve out his habitalion, q lit
RE round room, whose owner, 81. Nieho-
las-like, always comes and goes by the
chimney
To see this police work at its best walk
quietly into an orchard ON some sultry
summer day Cautiously as you make your
entrance. you cannot do il unanIounced.
II may escape your notice but sundry twlt-
tcrs and chirps have gone The rounds from
tree to tree. saying: Here comes a fef-
low who win bear watching" Sit down
In the shade of tree and see what hap
pens. After a while suspicion seems with
drawn and not a chlrp breaks the silence.
No birds are visible save on a dead branch
that stands ont above the TOP OF an old
apple tree In front Of you where trim
looking fellow-sfightly smaller than a
rObin-slts apparently doing In the sun
shine. lie Is a sober. gray-colored chap
with a glislening white breast and dark
crest that can be raised and depressed at
win. A moments attention, however. con-
hot ts Inc l,gt
err His body Is sim, but those quick alert
turns Of the head soon show that nothing
notice. Nor should il, for is he not the
chief of police of the orchard, and has not
his title OF king bird" been won by deeds
Of nerve and daring unsurpassed2 lie Is
quiet enough just now, but let fly or mos
quito or little moth miller try TO pass
within ten feet Of him and see whether he
can hunt on the wing or not.
There Is a noise and hubbub at the other
end OF the orchard. A robin chirps, a
goldhnch complains loudly and little fly
catcher says "Chebec" In very rapid
and surprised way. Some reason for all
that row. A great red-shouldered hawk,
big enough 10 carry away spring chick
en-. comes Tapping along Just above the
treetops See Mr.. Kingbrd now Al the
first warning chip his crest goes up to a
peak. At the second he is circng In the
air utterng a sharp, metallic chirp That
seems 10 say All IlEUNs NY III HtA's
Don't be scared, but lie low and watch me
run him out of town"
An instants poise, and them as tor
pedo boat might dash at battleship, ne
is off Keeping wen above the hawk, from
this point Of vantage he makes series
of salios, dashing down between the great
wings, swapping his beak within a hands
breadth OF the robbers eyes, the while
utterng volley Of strldent vocal billings
gate that would shame a cab driver. The
hawk seems TO feel the truth and justice
of the remarks, for in the most eheepish
and hasty way he flaps along, showing
no sign of hostility. now and again dart
ing TO this side or that, as If to avoid his
insignificant prosecutor, who follows him
in every turn and twist until he has es-
corted him well out of the orchard and
several fields beyond. Then Mr.. Kingbird
returns to his perch on the dry branch,
hirts his wings from time to time, and
utters an occasional indignant chirp, as
though to say Did one ever see such
impudence? Didn't / put him out in
hurry?'
II you care to know just how the hawk
felt walk over to yonder apple tree ana
climb up among its branches. out toward
the end OF a limb you see a shallow -but
compact nest containing four eggs of rich
cream color botched and dashed with dark
brown Get little closer and now you
can appreciate the hawks position, for
there IL such a confusion Of tongues
around your head and within a yard OF
your eyes that you nearly fall out OF the
tree Not only the chief of police, bur
his wife also. resents your familiarity, and,
like some other animals, the females can
even out-talk the males. You begin TO
feel thoroughly ashamed Of yourself and
YOU descend to the ground with much re-
spect for the pluck Of the kinsbird and
svmnathy for the hawk who cannot fly
hmm Nardq Of orchard
without this little midget in his eyes to
spoil his sport and disturb his medita-
lions
The kingbird is not all fight. Between
times he Is very busy DISCRIMINATING IN
sects that come his way, and the amount
of execution he does makes him valuable
friend TO che fruit grower. But no matter
how busy he may be with entomology or
domestic duties he is always on the alert.
and let any suspicious-looking stranger
approach. be It hawk, crow or other enc
my and an business is suspended until
the interioper is escorted to a safe distance
and the peace OF fhe community Is as
snred He Is sure to detect any signs of
danger.
There are other birds that VIII fight well
when their own homes ore attacked. A
robin will make life miserable for a red
squirrel or crow or Jay wren will
swear as vile a string Of Oaths as one can
imagine. and even the modest vireos can
scold But the kingbird differs from all
ia his wider point Of view. Not his home
only but the homes Of his neghbors are
a care 10 him. He takes pride In his own
do0ryard but olso in the condition of the
whole settlement lie is a philosophical,
aggressive citizen. who Is not afraid OF
responsibility and hestates at nothing
that the dignity OF the commonwealth
may be maintained.
&C.,
THAT may be-. said old schoolmastcr
Brown,
"a conjunction or else proncun;