Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1916-03-15

wing bare. When this birds nest
is completed, he takes it upon him.
self to patrol the whole neigh
borhood, and none there are who
dare resist his tyranny.
The Wood Pewee lives close to
the woods, where he utters his
plaintive wall. The amateur fire.
uuently mistakes for this bird the .
Phoebe-a bird which is as soci-
able as the former is shy.
Night Hawks prove their useful |
ness by flying with mouth open in
quest of flies and mosquitoes. The
Barn Swallow delights in attach
ing his nest to the rafters of
barns. The parent birds rear two
or three broods in season.
With the Purple Martin the
speaker declared he had an init
mate acquaintance, for family
of these has for several years
made their home on the lawn of
the Manse. The first or second
week in April they arrive, first
the male, then in perhaps a week
or so, the mother bird. The song
of the male is like gurgling laugh
ter, but the female makes merely
loud noise. In July their young
are ready for their trip to the
southland, where they are Of
great service in protecting the
cotton crop.
The Chimney Sweep gets around
so quickly he gives one the i'm
preston that he is without tail.
He seeks a home in deserted Chin
neys, sometimes miscalculating to
his own destruction. A family
making their home in chimney
in Recitation Hall met this sad
fate, several years ago.
One of the very latest birds to
arrive is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo
sometimes called the rain crow.
The favorite food of this bird is
the caterpillar which attacks our
fruit trees. One bird has been
known to devour whole nest. We
ought to pass over their lack of
sweet song for the wonderful SER
vice they render US.
The Red-Eyed Vireo. an exclus-
viely American bird, nests some
times on the college campus, usu-
ally building the nest about three
or four feet from the ground. The
speaker told of finding several in
Donnell's wood. When excited
this bird scolds like wren.
The White Breasted Nuthatch,
one of our permanent birds which
nests in April, is noted for its &C
robatic feats, being able to run
with equal ease either up or down
tree. The bird lives here all the
year and is perfectly willing to be-
come acquainted.
The Chickadee, less common in
summer than in winter, destroys
beetles and insects. He is an ex-
tremely friendly little fellow,
making an effort to keep but one
secret, the location of his nest
The speaker found a nest of these
in the hollow of tree, facing the
"reek. above the old bath houses
at Lovers Retreat. The nest con-
tanned four pink dotted eggs.
Among the seed eating birds
the speaker mentioned first the
Doves-the weed eating birds,
. sounding in the woods like VEN
triloquists; the Cardinal GrOs-
beaks, famous as the Kentucky
. Cardinal. A pair of these birds,
the speaker declared, nest each
season in Jex's Woods; the Blue
.. Jay. fond of acorns, with the
trait of burying seeds, many of
which are never found, but serve
as a source of propagation.
The Song Sparrow DR.. Rowan
places next to the orchard oriole
in the quality of his song. From
the thorn hedges, the fruit trees,
or a tangle of blackberry bushes
the song comes, sounding on a
drear February morning like the
divinest song. The Field Sparrow
as its name implies, remains in the
fields. It's song is entirely differ
ent from the former, the singer in
this instance beginning at a high
pitch, and descending the scale in
almost perfect notes.
: The American Goldfnch flies
and dips in great undulating
, waves. 1t has a sweet canary-like
!, ohirp. These birds prove them
!, selves of almost inestimable value
, in keeping down thistles. They
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