New-York tribune., 1901-09-01

It's loren IOr the autumn Diaze
Cecilia Thaxter.
September comes in with a blaze of glory. Golden
rod frnges the country roads and lights up every
duh corner. The fields gay with It, and the
world is gorgeous to look upon. But. alas the
birds are fitting, for this month begins the great
hegira, the strange mysterious movement which
lis called migration.
"If could see the whole bird world. by night
as we'll as by day. what a wonderful procession
would appear" says Olive Thorne Miller. Robins
and other fearless wingsters boldly setting out
on their travels by day. shy thrushes stealing away
under cover of darkness small birds combining in
great hocks sometimes of many species. and one
and all departing in silence except for the calls
that keep them together.
Migration is the most wonderful and the least
understood fact OF bird life, with its two prob
lems-why they change their residence. and how
they find their way. 1t is easy to why they
leave In the fall. but why do they come back?
There are many theories but there Is little real
knowledge. Herr Gatke studied the subject for
fifty years the small island of Heligoland, and
added to the general information little more than
some doubtful theories. 1t is easy enough to form
theories of bird life, but I notice that the more
one really knows about the lives OF birds. by OBJ
servation and patient investigation. the mod
est one is about making oracular statements or
setting up any theory. II is the newcomer TO the
study who knows it all and settle ofrhand the
problems that have puzzled ornithologsts for ages.
Something is known of the wonderful height at
which migrating birds fly and of the incredible
marvellous distances, the thousands of miles some
of the smallest birds travel but how the delicate
creatures are able to endure all this. why they
| do not content themselves nearer home and how
| they know their way back the spot they left
| In the fall-of these we know nothing In these
| and other difficulties we have one resource. We
| can take refuge in the word instinct which ex-
plains nothing to be sure but is a convenient term
under which to classify the things do not know.
| Year by year as the study goes one after an
other of the acts of birds heretofore classed as
| Instructive are found by experiment be due
| to training Singing the song of his
| father. for example. is no longer considered in
stinctive; it Is known to be a matter OF training
/ or imitation. The is true of the fear Of
man. the selection OF food and other things. But
migration, the inclination to 60 the knowledge OF
the way. the place to stop. and. still more remark
able, the return to the same nesting spot. all are
| still down to instinct. We may yet get the
| clew 10 the mystery. and II is certainly most
| interesting subject OF study. Herr Gatke's theory
| that the young birds OF the season, birds few
| months old. lead in the fall fitting. finds some
supporters, but more opposers. among American
| ornitholosists. Unless every bird in flock is
killed IL is difficult to how one can know there
| are no old birds leaders. especially in species
where the plumage of the young Is like that OF
| one or both parents.
I'm this month from the latitude Of New-York.
| though the weather is stin warm and insect life
| plentiful. go almost the last Of the resident
blers. orioles fycatchers and some OF the thrushes
| The places OF some OF these are filed for time
| by migrants from the North but bird life Is plainly
| on the The world Is not entirely without
bird notes To be sure. swallows. fycatchers. song
| sparrows and robins though they are not gone.
are heard no more in song, but hickers continue
| occasionally to call and laugh nuthatches
1 'Quank' their way up the tree trunks humming
birds hover before the late flowers. while the
! blurred little chickadee makes himself heard on
all sides; indeed. he 20 try 70 h the unusual
silence with his own CHEEKY voice. This bird and
| one other-the bewitching goldhnch-give as much
4 pleasure by their sweet call and conversational
notes some birds by their songs and at this time
| of general bird silence they more than COM
| monty welcome.
| Last September a mysterious proceeding OF
| those birds OF mystery. crows. came under my OBJ
| servation All the season 1 had been interested in
sounded so exactly like 'hurrah' that l was
pet who had been taught On the occasion spoken
or tner1 was an Ssses9y , Ii Ggo"S % wa S aiIinS -
! There were dozen or more in the group or trees
| OF the talIest trees sat the 'hurrah' crow Every
| few minutes he uttered that strange cry with
pressing head and tail and lifting his wings As
a long cav and az once flew around in a small
| circle. returning to the same trees while the
| their cry This performance was kept up an hour
| al a time. Was II exercising the seasons young
coas, e, % iargeY Il not sxcusiveIv n
eSsSf S food SI The Ma n9 sa WSere found how
| ever but carried II 10 small grove OF very tall
! spruce trees. which appeared to be their common
dining room. The ground below was scattered with
| the remains of the repast, shells OF clans. sea
| urchins and crabs and other edible things found
on the shore. This too seemed TO be their dress
| ing ROOM for here their mOulted plumaGe was
| found
In this month there are often opportunities 20
| render aid to young birds which wander away or
are driven by storm from their flock and are lost.
One may sometimes rescue such unfortunates from
| cats bad boys and. keeping them day two
| TIL they are stronger. send them on their way.
| One such stray-a hermit thrush--was kept as a
/ pet. and was never afraid Of people He was an
| exquisite singer and uttered a great many low
| notes more rapturOus and thrilling than his loud
| song. than succeeds in hearing from
| wild thrush. and all within three feet of stran-
| gers, without a thought OF fear.
| Now is the time, toward the end OF the month.
| 10 lie awake night with wide windows
| and listen for the little calls of the travellers.
| which at that hour sound so pathetic. falling
| dreamily thro' the sky. AT this time, IL hap
| pens be in the underlined but evidently well
| known route OF migration. he may, with Long
| fellow.
| Hear the beat
| OF their pinonS