Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-07-05

In number, six bsirg tn msximur
they are MOI especially attr,ctiv, md
% pale blue that Il IL better 10 ~, Ing OF
bluish white. Two broods a. mem
raised each yea-, though thrse ~. ..y
b not uncommon; for blusbird, a.. az 70
tive during : long season, and. ws;,e =. &C
hrst nest 10 made before the m;ad,. 'ne
April, last year brood LEFT the ho, VI VI
my rose arbor September IL, thonss y'sr
not know whether this was be,a,ss No
prolonged family arrangement. y =
As parents, the blue birds are ,,.
both in supplying the nest with ms,
food and attending to its santa tior. ~
wastage being taken away and dronnss ,.s
. distance from the nest at sltuos, ~.
iievably short intervals, proving the ~
derful rapidity OF digestion ana Tho ~
mense amount Of labor required to sunni,
the mill inside the little speckled ,hro ss
with grist.
The young blueb birds are spotted ,biol,.
on threat and back, after the manns,
the throat OF their cousin, the robin.
rather, the back feathers are spotted -.
breast feathers having dusky edges, yv.
ing . speckled effect.
The study Of the graduations o, plum,..
Of almost any brightly colored male NJ
from its first clothing until the per,ec,,.
matured feather OF its breeding season 1.
in itself, . science and . subject shor,
which there are many theories and AZ.
ferenccs OF opinion by equally dis,In.
guished men.
The food Of the nestling bluebird Ia in.
sectivorous, or, rather, to be more eY,c,
should say animal; but the adul, hi,s.
vary their diet at all seasons by eating
berries and small fruits. In autumn and
early winter, cedar and honeysuckls her.
ries, the grape-iike cluster OF fruit Of the
poison ivy, bittersweet and catbrier bs,.
ries are all consumed according to thai,
needs.
Professor Beal, OF the department, Of
agriculture, writes, after a prolonged
study, that IS per cent. of the bluebird,.
food "consists OF insects and their allies.
while tbs other "a per cent. is made up q,
various vegetable substances, found most.
~ in stomachs taken in winter. Beetles
constitute Is per cent, OF the whole food.
grasshoppers q, caterpillsrs II, and vsri.
Gus insects, including quite number o,
spiders, comprise the remainder Of the In
sect diet. All these are more or less harm
full, except few prcdaceous beetles, which
amount TO 8 per cent. but In view Of The
large consumption Of grasshoppnrs and
caterpiiiars, wc can At least condone thi,
offense, il such il may be called. The de-
struetion OF grssshoppers 10 very notice
able In the months OF August and sep,em-
Der, when thcss insects form more than 20
per cent. OF ths diet"
II il not easy TO tempt biuebirds TO an
artificial feeding place, such as I keep
supplied with Iood tor iuneos, chickadees,
woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays, etc;
though in winter they will eat dried cur
rants and make their own selection from
mill sweepings IL scattered about the trees
OF their haunts. For, above all things, the
blue bird, though friendly and eeking the
borderiand between the Wild and the tame
never becomes familiar, and never does he
lose the ,half-remote individually that is
one OF his great charms. Though he lives
with us and gives no sign OF pride OF birth
or race, he is not OF us,las the song spar
row. chippy or even the easily alarmed
robin. The poets mantle envelopes hin
even ~ the apple blossoms throw rosy
mist about his doorway, and il Is best so.