New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-01

Pv Reete OF
Geological Society.
AS the whirIing winds Of winters edge strip
the trees bare Of their last leaves the leaden sky
Of the eleventh month seems to push It's cold
face closer 70 earth. Who can tell when the
northern sparrows first arrive7 a WhirI OK
brown leaves scatters in front OF Us: some fa4
back to earth; others rise and lodge IN the thick
briers-sombre little. white thrOated and free
sparrovvs! These brown coated. low voiced
birds attract our attention the more that me
great host Of brilliant warbIers has now passed
lust as our hearts warm toward the humble
poIypody fronds. passing them BY unnoHced
when flowers are abundant, but which now hold
up their bright greenness amid all the cold
But all the migrants have not left Us yet oy
any means. and We had better leave our CoreaI
visitors until uidwnter's blasts show Us these
hardest Of the hardy at their best
We know little Of the ways Of the gaunt
berons on their southwark journey, but day
after day in our Geological Park we may see
rreat blues. little greens and the beautiful
black crowned night herOns, as they stop IA
their fight to rest for a time. and to watch
; their Gagged brethren and envy them theE
abundant pals Of fish. Was ever a heron satedE
What TantaIus-Iike crime must they ever expi-
ate by their Unsuitable appetites2
The cold draws all the birds OF species 20
gether Dark hordes Of clacking grackles pass
/ "
birds r7fngIe amicabIy together, both OF dark
hue but Of such unlike matrimonial habits
single male redwing may assume the cares OF
| a haren Of three four or five females each OK
which rears her brown streaked offspring IN her
own particular nest, while the valiant guardian
KEEPS faithful watch over his small colony
among the reeds and cattails.
Little thought or care does Mother Cowoird
waste on her offspring. No home life IS hers
n 20
unsuspecting yellow warbler other small
bird a hastily deposited egg, and the unnatural
parent goes on her way chuckling her delight AZ
having shouldered all her household cares upon
another. Her young may be Matched and care
fully reared by the patient little warbler mother
or the egg may spoil in the deserted nest, OF bs
| left in the cold beneath another nest bottom
built over it; little cares the cowbird parent
The ospreys OF fish hawks seem to circle
southwark in pairs or trios. but some clear,
cold day the sky will seem alive with hawks of
other kinds 1t IS a strange fact that these
birds. which have the power to rise so high that
they fairly disappear from our sight, choose The
trend Of terrestrial valleys whenever possible n
directing their aerial routes Even the series Of
| New-Jersey hills. fattered by the name OF the
Orange Mountains, seem to balk many hawks
which elect to change their direction and hy 20
| the right or left toward certain gaps or passes
/
numbers during the period OF migration that a
person with a foreknOwledge OF their path In
former years may lie IN wait and watch scores
| upon scores Of these birds pass close overhead
| within a few hours. while a short distance 20
| the right or left one may watch all day without
| seeing a single hawk The whims OF migrating
birds are beyond our ken
Sometimes out IN the broad fields ones eyes
will be drawn accidentally upward, and a great
| flight Of hawks will be seen-a compact flock Of
| intercircling forms, perhaps two or three hun
| dred in ALL the whole number gradually passing
| from view IN a southerly direction, now and
then sending down a shriu cry. II IS a beautiful
sight not very often seen near the city.
Even as late as this. when the water begins
| to freeze In the tiny cups OF the pitcher plants
and the frost brings into being a kind OF
| foliage glass and stone. few insect eaters
! OF the summer woods Will Hnger on A belated
/ red eyed vfreo may be chased by q snOwbird,
| and when We approach a flock OF birds taking