New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
MEADOW AND WILDWOOD.
THE BIRDS ARE RETURNING TO THEIR
OLD IiAUNTS
NEST BUILDING OF THE FEArHERED WORLD

xEsr BUILDING OF THE FEATHERED WORLD
WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE EARLY BLOSSOMS.
THE time of the singing OF birds has come and
from now until the whiting heat OF summer the
morning chorus and vesper song VIII be ringing
from treetop and hedgerov. from everywhere
that tree a bush or two are gathered tosether'
Every morning enc may greet new visitor'
Now can he ind three warblers. the pine, the myr-
i:e and the yellow palm. The tree and barn swat
lows the song, white-throat vesper and field spar
rows the hermit thrush pipit and goidhnch are
also arriving.
Have an opera-glass always al your hand; you
need AZ to detect markings on wings and breast
which otherwise might escape you
II you wish TO attract birds to your house and
grounds. the thing that will bring them In greatest
numbers is a fountain Barring this, shallow
dish or pan Of wafer II you will fill II every day,
will prove a welcome bathing place to our feathered
friends. who VIII come from long distance for
the pleasures OF dip. Do not put your pan upon
the ground. lest the agile cat or dog OF sporting
procvities should make havoc among the bathers.
Before the leaves come the trees is the best
time for the bird lover and student TO become &C
quanted with the various kinds Of nests. Those
from last year still retain their characteristic DIFF
ferences. and you may easily distinguish the rob-
ms nests-arge loosely woven, OF twigs and
grass. and placed In the crotch of tall
bush. The inside of the nest is lined with mud.
which Is smoothed and moulded into shape by the
soft breast OF the motherhood she turns about.
The robin Is early builder and often before a
sheltering leaf has ventured forth may see
her sleek. dark head and beadke eye peerng over
the edge OF the nest
NEST MAKING
The chipping sparrow lines its lowly cup with
horsehair. The Baltimore orole hangs from the
ends Of high twigs the waterproof cradle where
she rears her little family, while her cousin the
orchard orio.e, sometimes leaves the orchard for
the vicinity OF the house and weaves. in some
secure crotch a basket nest of straw and grasses
The warbler family, whose members are already
here. is large one. They restless birds ever
Hitting about terminal twigs for the insects upon
which they feed They small. few reaching
the size OF the English sparrow. One or two
species catch their food on the wing one or two
seek the ground for II. but all insectvorous.
OF its thirty members. most Of them are with US
only for a brief time spring and fall though It's
brightest species. the summer yellow bird is with
US all the summer Strangely enough. in view OF
their name they poor singers with shrill
piping voices. Those gayes in plumage the
worst singers. while the ground warbers soberly
clad for their better protection. have exquisite
voices and great range of song.
The chestnut sided. Kentucky and Canadian
are among the singers None of these birds are
shy They are exceedingly numerous. and equally
at home in our parks or suburban gardens.
There is here already bird whose disreput bic
habits make wish he were not one OF the first
70 come and the last to leave. This is the cow
blackbird. IT is often called by the farmer,
the crow-blackbird. 1t looks like small crow
and is at its best walking about the meadows.
its shiny black feathers glsncing in the 1t
feeds upon the insects which buzz about the
patient cows whose vicinity IL haunts: This bird
builds no nest but victimzes such birds as II can
notably the summer yellow-bird perpetual ray
Of sunshine as It flies about the gardens glorihes
the dusty roadside and the wood or builds by the
brook It's nest OF glistening mlkweed fun and
moss.
Into this cradle the w-blackbird puts its egg
On her return the imposition is detected by the
yelowbrd who does not hesitate moment. but
The maraudng cowbird. watching from the neigh
boring thicket. at the first opportunity comes
essn seal w the oe asan M b ne
she has never been known to do It more than
three times. preferring to seek spot for her
The hedgling which emerges from the cow-black-
birds egg Is nj child for such mother. 1t is
bunch the little yellow birds out of the nest by
inserting its back beneath them
The roughness OF the interiors OF most nests
10 a. necessary factor In the physical development
The muscles OF the claws and legs are In con-
the. time. making them strong enough to hold the
bird when perching The experiment was tried
OF raising birds IN nests lined with cloth to pre-
their legs became paralyzed as the cloth pre-
sented no grasping surface
wILDFLOwERs
None OF the earliest wildfowers are very strong
IN color or fragrance One Of the earliest is the
hepatica a modest flower seeking the woods
edge or hillside. and never raising it's lilac petals
high from the ground. The whole plant is a study
In lavender tones, as the underside OF the leaves
has quite purple shade. Its loosely set lilac
extremely pretty while leaves and stems
cred with a downy covering OF silk hairs AS
freQueQfp1 lOrles