New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-23
THE LOVE-GIFTS OF BIRDS.
ACTS OF SELF-DENIAL DURING THE
PAIRING AND NESTING SEASON.

! would
| no evidence that il had anything to do with
love But the converse is the case l have
never heard OF wild bird which habitually
shares It's 1000 with a mate. In times of scare
! ity however, a bird has sometimes been OBJ
served to feed companion In the severe
winter of 1S10-'SO there was a good deal Of
! snow in the Western counties and the rocks
had bad time finding a diet of mangold in
sufficient Several OF them came to a garden in
which the birds were fed. Another rock, whose
flight betrayed its ughtness and weakness
perched in tree there and one of the usual
TWO or three took up piece of bread directly to
| tne newcomer. and gave it up to him without
any snow OF resistance or anger. l saw this
from distance of about twenty five yards.
quite possibly the birds were mates; but the
incident Is only mentioned for it's rarity.
in the nesting season the males of many spe-
cles ieed their mates on Off the nest as is
well known The rock. for instance brings food
TO his mate. who when receiving it, hutters her
wings "a frequent habit at this tine). and also
utters hoarse cry similar to the cries of the
young The adult rock utters this note on no
other occasion. In several species OF inches,
also. the male feeds his sitting mate. l have
seen this done by the chafinch, greenfinch lin
net and lesser redpole. The recipients shook
their wings and uttered ca-notes. The food
thus bestowed could hardly be termed love
gift; but when before birds have nest and
apparently before they have paired the male
assume that this courtesy is intended
earnest OF passon-that it is, in fact, love-
gift
do not know of any book to which the stu
dent can refer for information on this fascinat-
ing theme He should. therefore, refer to the
book of nature; and If he win use small tee-
scope, and be silent, he should easily obtain in
formGti9n from this source.
Among the raptores it is probable that the
brOoding female obtains food chiefly by the
agency OF her mate. Major c. Hawkins Fisher
dhe weil-known falconer) informs me that the
male pere4rine hpnts all day to supply the do
mestc laEder. which is in charge OF his mate.
Among domestic birds the common fOw! af-
fords conspicuous instance of gallantry when
. ,a ,,aTA lie tt,a fAp, nnfr
sci. He obviously intends the tidbit only for
the hens. and any rival attempting to partake
of ii is al once attacked
In regard TO domestic pigeons I have OBJ
tanned information from my brother f. N.
Witchell. who has been for many years sue
cessful fiier Of homng pigeons. and has from
childhood kept this and other varieties. One of
the indications Of pairing by pigeons Is the in
sertion Of the beak of the male into that Of the
| female, and this is accompanied by a shutting
of the wings exactly as occurs when the young
fed. IL does not appear however. that any
considerable amount of food Of any at alb
passes from the male. Honers never omit this
performance before pairing. The male homer IL
passionately fond of his home. his mate and
his young 1t is a general rule for the cock TO
feed only his own hen. though there are eXcep-
tons to this rule This very curious fact has
often been noticed by my brother. In indicates
that to the wife Of the nest this courtesy OF the
pigeon is reserved and that the other birds are
deemed unworthy Of it. 1t should be remem-
bered that hOmers live the most naturally OF
therefore be supposed 10 possess the natural
instincts OF their race in greater vigor than any
other fancy breed
Returning to wild birds my opportunities
have been too limited tO enable me to general
ize but the following observations may be not
without value to those who try ID see in the
bird a sentient and tender being.
\ few days after the arrival OF the spotted
hycatcher a pair Of them were in near tree
The male often attempted a song. and was eVb'
IDENTIFY following the female He suddenly Went
nCfID
for a larger insect. turned and went 10 the
female, and in the gentlest manner presented II
her the captured insect (Which appeared to be
| OF the size of a bee). She took II secately.
Shortly after she received another gift Of the
same kind. 4 second pair of hycatchers be-
haved in precisely the same manner. Last
April a male robin gave some food in the same
way to its mate. Both birds often uttered their
call note.
Several male chafinches before nesting time.
gave captured insects to their intended mates.
All these insects were captured in flight. The
chafinches were full of ardor. the males. all
a-hutter with excitement. following the females,
and with the cuckoo like flight, which is one Of
the birds surest signs Of love. and repeating the
soft love-nOte almost necessarily.
on one Of the first days of May two willow
wrens were busy in a hedge. The male often
sang but was mainly intent on keeping near ms
companion. who appeared to be female BRO
She was seemingly Indifferent to his presence.
and hunted for insects with all the graceful
activity of her species. But she remained in the
same spot. The male was greatly excited. ms
wings lowered and pusating. and his cail-note
prolonged to a scream rather than chirp.
Through the telescope it was evident that she
also was trembling little. Suddenly the male
darted forth. returned, and alighted near the
other He then without haste went to her. ana
her beak met his The incident was so Driet
that the telescope could not be used but II was
perhaps. fair to assume that ne had foun1 ana
bestowed a love-gift. She accepted 1t with the
same sedateness that the female hycatchers,
chahinches and robin had exhibited In the ike
circumstances