The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-02-25
The Birds Around My Home.
By Rev. j. W. Wolling.

* By Rev. j. w. Woung.
= x * x X * * !;
Since a number Of readers of The
Herald and News have written in
pleasant terms about my little
"Notes from Allendale" in Late
number have determined to send
some lines and this time about the
beautiful songsters about our home.
First then let me describe the sur
roundings which invite the birds to
draw near. This used to be the home
of DR.. Hayes being improved by him
and hence is not bare of trees like a
new place. In front and near my
!! window are some large mock orange
trees full of inviting black berries.
Near the back window there is q
large grape arbor which is surrounded
with fine plum and peach trees while
near by just across the fence is a
large pear tree, and on the other side
near by TWO fine magnolias. All this
and then the street in front has three
rows Of beautiful elms and oaks. So
that the feathered visitors have
abundant place to fit on shining
wing while they sing and talk to each
other, and in the meantime make II
pleasant for me.
Let US notice first then the restless,
noisy iaybird. Here there are great
numbers Of them and as we do not
disturb them they become very
friendly. Just out Of my window ev-
cry mouing a couple of beautiful
fellows come down on the plum tree
and after a great ado Of ''cray, cray,
cray" and turning Of their heads
from side to side they jump to the
ground and pick up the scraps for
their breakfast. If the cat happens
to come across the yard they squall
and complain at him until he disap-
pears.
And now we must turn from Mr..
Jay with his bright blue. coat and
noisy ways to another daily visitor
He also is dressed in brilliant colors
but is more timid than the pay. [ re-
fer now to the red-bird. There are
numbers Of them in the trees around
every day. However, I refer to one
pair which has taken up their habl-
tat in. the parsonage grounds. The
male has suit as red as a Cardinal 5
gown or British soldiers coat; and
fine crest or 'topknot which he pulls
up on every occasion. His mate is
dressed in a dull reddish brown and
is very quiet, seldom uttering note
She, poor little thing, does not seem
| to nav. "caught the fling" Of the
:smodern female All the same she
seems to stand right faithfully by
her brilliantly plumaged companion
He is a. sweet singer, mot many notes,
but beautifully put together, and
perehed on<a high. bough not far from
my study window he sings to me ev-
cry morning. But after midday no
notes for him.
And now let me say few words
for my little neighbor who every day
| is on the trunk Of the mock orange
and the oak in which he drills little
holes in regular lines around the
trunk. T refer to the sap-sucEer!
There are two Of them and they are
dressed just alike. The wings and
back are black sprinkled with white
and he has beautiful topknots OF
bright red and pure white, while, his
breast is a dull yellow. He spreads
his crest and trills away every few
minutes just for the fun of it, and
slips around behind the tree and
peeps at me where I sit by the win
dow. There are d number of others
as for instance, droves Of robins and
waxwings which come to eat berries
in the mock orange, but these must
do for this time, and I hope the
friends will enjoy reading about my
little feathered songsters.