The Elbert County tribune., 1908-07-02


ing to what unquestionably was the
habit Of an ancestor. The English
cuckoo invariably lays its eggs in 9th
er birds nests. The American cuckoo
builds nest of its own, but the con-
struction OF the nest is OF such q
fiimsy nature that 1t shows house
building with the American bird II .
comparatively recent requirement.
One cuckoo at least retrograded and
imposed its eggs and the care of its
young on the motherly cedar bird.
Had cuckoo's nest been subjected
to the rattling hailstorm assault which
two robins nests under my observa-
ton withstood successfully there
would not have been a shred of the
building material left to tell the tale.
The chances are the bird itself would
have fed for thicker shelter when the
first pelting bit Of hail fell. 1t was a
terrific storm. but strictly local. being
confined to about one ncrare nile OF
territory. One pair of robins had
placed nest at the very top of tree.
The hail tore the foliage and the wind
broke the branches about the little
home, but the mother robin sat on
her precious eggs through the terror
OF 1t all. The edges of the nest were
cut and torn. but the body of the
structure held and the brave bird
saved her eggs. Another robin with a
home near at hand had exactly the
same experience.
There is a vast difference in the
courage OF birds-the moral courage
If one may so call 1t. The domestic
instinct in some of them is developed
so highly that they will brave all
and sdffer all rather than abandon
their homes. Others apparently are
unconcerned when their nests are
harried. and even though 1t be early
in the season they will give over all
thought of offspring and appear to be
rather glad than otherwise that they
are not to be burdened with the cares
Of a family.
1t is pleasant to be able to say that
the heartless ones among the song
sters are very much In the minority.
Man has spent time and study in the
effort to fix the reason for the migra-
ton of the birds. By far the most
poetical. IL not the most satisfactory,
theory which can be advanced is that
the northward flying of the birds in
the spring is promted by the home
love, as strong in most songsters'
hearts as 1t is In the hearts of hu-
mans.
once saw female oriole at work
building her nest. The male ortole
sensibly leaves this work to his mate
for his brilliant coloring would attract
the attention of the foes OF bird life to
the nesting site. The mother oriole
had the nest about half completed. I
noticed that she labored when she
flew and that on the ground the move
ments weer awkward. A closer in
spection showed that the bird had n
broken leg. She toiled away heavily.
Have / not come thousands of miles
to the old home scenes?" doubtless
was the thought in her bird mind,
"and must not once more swing the
cradle for my babies?"
That devoted oriole worked painful
ly for an hour within my sight She
found a piece of string at the last and
wove 1t into the structure at the tips
of the eim's dropping branches. 1t
was final effort and she fell futter.
ing and dying to earth. killed the
oriole, being cruel In order to be kind
Once while passing through wood
ed ravine, near the city, was at
tackled by a mother ruffled grouse
(Bonasa umbellus) locally called part
ridge. The assault was as sudden as
a shot. / knew nothing of the birds
presence until heard a whirr like a
mill wheel and heavy body struck
my knee. Startled, sprang back and
then looked down. There three feet
in front OF me was the grouse, with
every feather on end. while she sput-
tered and hissed like an angry old hen
that she was. Again she came at me.
but / had heard of the trick before.
and l paid little attention to my an
tagonist, but looked carefully about
the ground for a sight OF her little
ones that l knew were scuttling for
shelter. while their parent made a d.
version In their favor. saw the last
two as they disappeared under the
brush. Then the mother was away
like bolt and l walked on gingerly,
fearing to tread out innocent life lying
close to earth beneath the fallen
leaves and boughs.
EDWARD B. CLARK.