The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30
POLICEMAN OF THE BIRD FAMILY.
The KinEbird's Defence of His Own Home
and Those of His Neic hbors.


Any one who is at all interested in municipal
regulations and devices for defending the pub
| lie from the ravaRes Of thieves and vaga bonds
would do well TO study the bird methods Of po-
ictng New York State orchard. II this seems
! peculiar suggestion to any person. let him go
forth and use his powers OF observation. No
place is moro popular with birds than an old
orchard. The various insects that conduct
| such a thriving business in destroying the
fruitRrowers chances for crop make very
palatable food for the feathe red kind. while the
bushy treetops contain the finest of sites for
| summer homes. Now and then a decayed
limb. neglected by tho primer, furnishes a
place wherein woodpecker may carve out his
habitaton. little round room. whose owner.
NJ. Nicholas 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 it unannounced. 1t may es-
cape your notice. but sundry twitters and
chirps have gone the rounds from tree to tree
saying: Here comes fellow who will bear
Watching" Sit down in the shade Of tree
and see what happens. After while suspi-
cion seems withdrawn and not a chirp breaks
the silence. No birds are visible save on dead
branch that stands out above the top OF an old
felow-slightly smaller than robin-sits APP
parentlv doing in the sunshine. He is
sober. gray-colored chap with a glistening
white breast. and a dark crest that can be
raised and depressed at will Amoment's atten-
ton. however, convinces you that he is any
thing but dozer. His body is STILL but those
quick alert turns Of the head soon show that
nothing in his part Of the neighborhood es-
capes his notice. Nor should 1t. 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 unsnrpassed2 He ia quiet
enough Just now. but let a fy or mosquito or
little moth miller try to pass within ten feet OF
him and see whether he can hunt on the wing
ornot.
finch com plains loudly and little ,dy catch
says "She6ec" in very rand and surprised
red-shouldered hawk. Big enough to carry carry
ao sP tSe 4setors sss SR RD Elena
Up to peak. At the second he l. circlne. in
snsm air ~ nttsrnG SHARP metallic gh!rp that
t pont be SCARED but lie low and watch me run
ss I9s at and a then Is rDsSp
Keeping we'll above the hawk. from this point
Of vantage he makes series Of saies, das
bis beak within a hands breadth Of the rob.
ssfS PS ssTns %
ss tPqtS and ,qssss Of s's sRs rs@ar 1ts
he flaps along. showing no sign Of
hostility; now and again darting to this side or
who follows him in every turn and twist until
he has escorted him well ont Of the orchard
and an. several fields beyond. Then M. Kingbrd
:S12ssii92naI indignant chirp as though 70 say.
nn nld b one e eyer re see such impudence' Didn't
II YOU care to know Just how the hawk felt
MnE E epns ana n, ana
limb you see shallow but compact nest CON
dSsSe 15 Gh dsF h bToM color 10. boh t
closer and now You can appreciate the HAWKS WIS
position. for there is such confusion Of
Noi only The Chief Of Poce but his 81 wife fe also also
resents your familiarity. and, like some other
males You begin to feel thoroughly ashamed
Of Yourself and you descend to the, ground with
mnathy for the hawk. who cannot fy within
q, hundESd yarbs Of an orShaFd hTithout this
The kingbird is not ali tight. Between times
he ia very busy ,efterminating insects that
come his wav. and the amount Of execution he
does makes him valuable friend to the fruit
grower. But no matter how busy he may he
WAYS on the alert and let any suspicous-look-
ing strangerapproach be 1t hawk. crow or other
enemy. and all business is suspended until the
interoper is escorted to safe distance and
the peace Of the community is assured. He Is
sure to detect any signs OF danger.
when their own homes are attacked. A robin
will make life miserable, for a red squirrel or
OF oaths as one can Imagine. and even the
modest vireos can scoli But the kingbird
differs from nll in his wider point, OF view, Not
are care to him. He takes pride 10 his own
dooryard. but also in the condition OF the whole
| settlement. He is a pull spirited. aggressive
citizen. who is not afraid OF responsibility. and
heaitates at nothing that the dignity Of the
! commonwealth may be me intained.
MANNERS ~ THE SICK ROOM