The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-12-10


become quite active az twilieht ap-
proaches. Many birds. such as black
birds and crows. have regular haunts
and as the sun nears the s western
horizon thousands OF these birds
may be seen flying In great flocks
toward certain orchard or grove
Many select thicket in some lonely
hollow. while others will select some
large lawn where shade trees stand.
Crows often select a dark, deep
hollow with trees and bushes ON all
sides, where they form a sort Of
rookery. They like dead trees to roost
on, and in some places they visit
certain favored spots until their con-
tinued occupancy kills many Of the
trees. 1t is amusing to visit the
haunts OF a great flock and listen to
the prattle OF the young crows.
Crows and blackbirds are quiet
during the dark hours IL unmolested,
but occasionally some enemy besides
the human hunter will disturb them,
and there is a great chatter and flut-
tering of wings. A hungry owl, or
cat with some OF its wild nature
still remaining, will frequently visit
such a place. and of course, has no
trouble in securing a meal. Such
visitor often disturbs those near, and
the frightened birds will flutter and
fly away in the darkness to seek am
other roosting place.
Swallows, after a day spent in
Swimming the air and catching hun
dreds of insects,wi seek roosting
place at night. The chimney swift will
soar and dart about until after sun
set and then suddenly dive into some
chimney. The birds have very sharp
pointed claws. and cling on the sides
OF the sooty flues. Old or unoccu-
pied factory smokestacks make ex-
cellent places for the chimney wal
lows in vast numbers.
In some of the country districts,
and especially along wide river bot
toms, where the conditions seem to
provide a fine place for birds to catch
insects, there Is a swallow that likes
to find a hollow tree for a roosting
place at night. In early spring, before
robins begin to nest, these birds will
gather in large numbers in some
group of trees or grove, where they
will sing until almost dark, and then
they remain quiet until the first signs
of day, when they break forth in
song, filling the air with the sweet
est of music. AS soon as they begin
nesting they do not collect in such
large numbers, but each. pair seeks
sheltered roosting place near the
spot selected to raise their broods.
After the first egg is deposited In the
nest. and until the young birds are
able TO leave, one OF the robins re-
mains on the nest, while the other
sits on some limb. When the young
birds can fly the parents induce them
to go with them to some protected
thicket or sheltered location where
there is as little danger as possible.
Some birds roost in very much
exposed places, not seeming to real
ize the danger from their enemies.
Others will select protected spots and
secrete themselves in such manner
in the foliage Of trees and vines that
even their enemies cannot find them
Many birds choose a natural shel,er
from the rains by getting beneath
them, while others sit out in the open
taking the storm in all its fury.
Large numbers of birds are blown
from trees and killed during the Sc
we're summer storms.
Quite a number OF birds roost upon
the ground. All sorts Of places are
chosen. Quail sit in a circle with
their heads out, always ready to fly
IL disturbed. They have been seen in
such a position in daylight Many
small birds roost in large weeds. and
other select a turf of grass in which
to spend the dark hours. Quite
number of birds build their nests on
the ground in pastures and meadows,
and while the mother bird is hatch
ing and caring for the brood the
male bird is always near at hand, on
the alert or gathering grubs or in
sects for the little ones. At night the
male bird remains near the nest, and
in some instances both parenss sit