Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-05-10


tp,.,eriation OF Audubon Societies.
Altar long period OF winter weather,
u, ia bare and brown or snox-covered
AIDS It's frozen streams, and its leafiess
800 how the lover of out-of-doors
-,,ebes for the first indication OF the
,oru,ne OF spring. The vitality that has
,..n dormant, but 10 commencing To
.raksu with the lengthening OF the days,
,rd the increasing power Of the sun is
ws,ehed with daily growing interest.
tvery new shade OF green that the
grassy carpet OF the earth assumes is q
S.usbt. the first dsndelion blossom that
shows itself on the lawn is thing OF
beauty. the opening Of the arbutus and
the modest violet increases our Joy, the
arrival OF the advance guard OF winged
hosts that we know will soon follow,
thrills US with pleasure and . desire for
,he elimination, when every tree in
orchard or forest Is bursting forth with
blossom aud leaf and every piace Is vocal
with music.
Then it is, some morning early in May,
the flashing beauty OF the rose- breasted
srosbeak. During the winter months IL
has lived in the tropical regions OF the
IVES, Indies, Mexico, Central America and
northern South America; but with spring
comes the longing for home, and 1t
journeys, by night, through the trackiess
SKY 20 its birthplace. This Is anywhere
in eastern United States and the more
southern British provinces, from the
Atlantic cost to eastern Kansas and
Manitoba.
During its seni-annuai migrations II
passes through the gulf states. One OF the
most wonderful and interesting subjects
in nature is migration. The cause OF the
migration Of birds Is still puzzle to scien-
lists. and, although theories have been
advanced from time to time by learned
students, yet none have been universally
accepted. The changing seasons, from
heat TO cold, has been suggested ~ cause;
lack OF food as another. The latter cause
might well explain the necessity for the
southwsrd movement of birds in the
autumn, but 1t hardly seems reason for
the return OF the birds in the spring from
tropical countries where nature Is prolific
With plant and insect-iife. The most
attractive theory Is that birds return to
their breeding places from q passionate
foudness Tor home, which even the dan
gers and fatigue OF . long journey cannot
overcome.
Setting aside the reasons for migration,
let Us consider Tor q moment migration it,
self, and the more we think o, 1t the more
wonderful il seems. Take, for instance,
the rose breasted grosbeak, that has spent
the winter in Colombia. How does 1t
know when to start for its homs in the
temperate cline where its offspring were
reared the previous Year, Can IL calculate
the days and hours that it will take 10 sc-
eomplish the distsnces How can it re-
trace the path trsversed the previous
suiumnf II reaches its old home about
the same date each year, having travelled
thouands OF miles to do so. Most Of this
journey was made In the night, sometimes
nan altitude OF many thousand feet.
The vision OF ali birds Ia very acute, and
the grosbea may tiy from one Landmark
10 another, which, when 1t is reached,
may disclose still another in the distance,
and SO on until home Is reached. These
journeys are not continuous; during the
daytime the traveller descends TO the
earth for rest and food and At night re-
sumes It's journey again. During the
neigat OF the migratory period, the upper
All must be filled with thousands of
iea'hered wanderers, who are sometimes
met by storms or thick weather when all
hhdmarks must be blotted out. 1t Is
known that they then fly at . uQch
lower altitude, for on such occasions
.ney are attracted by lighthouses, and
thousands Of birds OF numerous species
sn killed by flying against the glass OF
'as lantern. This wonderful phenomenon
o. nature, migration, Ii well worth ex-
tended study, and the scholar 10 advised
70 read the exhaustive treatment of the
subject by Prof. Alfred Newton and w.
W. Cooke.
ihe rose breasted grosbeak selects - its
nome, most frequently, second growths Of
uks on the borders OF large timber, but
aoes not eonAne itself exclusively to such
iocahties. 1t builds rather . bulky nest
" weed-stalks, twiss, rootlets, etc., in
bushes or trees from fve to twenty feet
IRON the ground. The eggs are usually
.0uf In number, Of . pale green color pro-
'aseiy speckled with brown.
Inc song Of this bird Is the theme OF
VERY nature-writer, and all unit in pro-
u0ohcing 1t Of the highest type. In some
respects it resembles that OF the robin,
". is thought TO have Q more refined
.ua musical quality. The description Of
.ae song Of the rose breasted srosbesk by
auaaoon is such . delightful exhibition
the Character Of the man, showing 80
Nfieetiy his childlike faith in . Creator,
nu MS absolute absorption in the
suties Of nature, that the passage is
given in full:
ue year. In the month Of August, was
=, along the shores Of the Mohawk
III, nlwht