Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06

ground. his peculiar coloring making him
AS difficult to see among rocks ana leaves
as is a chameleon among green foliage.
When discovered he will sit or lie per-
| fectly still until touched, and then he
presents his bill vigorously and persis-
| tently. This instinct to hide Is as mainly
| shown when the little fellow takes ia
water--which he does like a duck whom
Il day or two old. At warning cry bo
scuttlcs for the water and, half suhn,ery-
Ing himself, so that only the tons Of .hc
head and back arc visible he swims on,
from sore and appears to be only a
hlotch or speck on the surface.
GREEDY LITTLE FLEDGLINGs
When first Matched the young birds are
fed on 'predigcsted food"--that tx. food
which has been eaten and partially d.
gcsted by the parent birds and then dis
sorged into the mouths of the young.
This process. however, does not last long
for they are such greedy little things
that in a few days they will eat any
thing and everything, at any time and
all times. The old gull doesn't mother"
her young as do hens, ducks. and geese.
for she is kept too busy hustling for
bread cast upon the waters" to be with
are any time she can find anything for
them 20 eat.
At three or four weeks the young gull
begins to learn to fly, at first by fappinf,
its wings like a crow. and then gradual
~ mastering the art of sailing and soar
ing. speeding a large portion OF its time
on the wing and depending on the old
folks TO furnish rations When his fly
lessons hppiu m Ill ;o ,Ft
accompanied by all old gull, but soon
learns to go it alone and look out for
himself and forage a little as well.
The only species OF wild ducks which I
have found breeding on these islands is
tho black topkno;:ed duck. They are
SHY birds. and nest only in the dense
thickets on islands Nos. /. 2, and 3: for
fear OF frightening them and causing
them to leave did not search closely for
nests, but sitter hatcning time I could
often see the mother ducks in the water
with their schools of little ones, teaching
them navigation"
have seen only an occasional wood
duck here, and do not think they
breed on these islands. There are and
have hccn all the season number of
what is locally called the "crowbll
duck" aa6 devil diver" but which
10 really the Rrcbe. However. I've
found no nests on either island.
Large numbers of the little sandpip-
err have ncStcd and raised young on all
tho islands this season. they are
locally called "tip-ups" from wa.
they have of bowling and bobbing
their heads and tipping up their tails.
They are dainty little dudes. with their
cream-colorcd vests, jaunty cutaway
coats Of gray. knickerbockers. and
long black stockings. Those on my
home island were friendly, and would
often feed in my dooryard with the
chickens. Their feet are half-webbed
and they can swim easily and rapidly.
and look like mechanical toys as they
dart about, either on land or water.
Both national and state game laws
are rigid with regard to specified
classes Of birds ana animals. The law
of the state of New York imposes
fine OF $50 and costs--amounting to
nearly s100-for each offence and an
additional penalty of S25 for each bird
/ either dead or alive, or each part Of
bird or nest, or eggs. taken or poss-
cssed. The federal law imposes fine
of $500 in each case, on express rail-
road, and steamboat companies for the
shipment out of the state. or the de-
! livery to any common carrier of any
bird killed In violation Of the State
laws.