Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-27


We have very many little interesting
olrd friends. a great many OF them
being of beautiful plumase One
bird which We all like and think very
Interesting is the yellow billed cuckoo
Ihis cuckoo Is about the size OF Il
Drown thrush. He was dressed i'm q
summer coat Of pale brownisli color
The Two middle feathers Of his tail
were the longest being Of the same
color as his back and wings while
The others were black tipped with
white The black part OF his tail when
spread around form the shape of q
ran The lower parts OF This bird
were white. the breast being of hight
BLUSH color. His eyes were brown and
the "yeIids were bright yellow. His
beak was curved. the upper parts being
brown. the lower parts yellow. His
feet and legs were pale blue His
toes were like those Of the woodpeck en-
Two forward and two behind. The
feathers that covered his Thighs were
long and extended back beyond the legs
like those OF the hawk family. His
plumage is something like that OF the
dove. His Ideas OF doius things arc
almost exactly like those OF the brown
thrush. Cuckoos are especially useful
TO the farmers. Their food consists
mostly OF caterpillars. They are often
FOUND among trees in the gardens in
search OF their favorite food
The cardinal grosbcsk is another
beautiful bird. This bird visits US only
in the summer time. The cardinal
aroEbaak IL OF brilliant reddish color
lie is about eight inches long. The
color OF The male is q rich "a rdiual red
The wings and tail are darker than the
other part OF the body. The heak is
short and thick. and is also of a reddish
h.1 on he
throat is patch of solid black. The
female is marked like her mate, but
in ali cases her colors are duller.
Nature has no, only given these
birds beautiful covering. but a rich
mes. OF song surpassed by few other.
These qualities make this bird uni
versaI favori,c. Its visits are always
welcome. Redbirds love the forest
bat are often seen in orchards and
gardens. The redbirds are very shy
and are afraid OF the hawk. who liz
always on the lookout for the little
tered about on the ground where one
OF these bandits of the air had made
feast OF one Of these hapless red
birds la the winter the voice Of the
rcdbiTd - no louder than the cricket.
y redb!rd VIII not allow another red
bird To build near the place where he
and his mate have chosen for nest.
sweet song. but not so loud and clear
as that OF her mate. The eggs are
light market with reddish brown spots
The Young birds favor their mother
the first season. The Grosheak can
always he told from other redhirds by
the bright feathers on top OF his head.
The summer ,anager have songs. but
not sweet and clear the melody
OF the cardinal.
The gold winged woodpecker is 4
very handsome bird also In winter
and autumn they are found mostly
in the Southern and middle States.
This bird Is about twelve inches long.
The iprer par; OF the head and neck
is a blush gray. the back and wings
are a rich brown. across which runs a
narrow strip OF black. 4 large spot OF
pure white shows between the wings
and the long pointed black feathers
OF hts tail are scalloped and edged
with white. on the back and head
Is a crescent OF bright red and in the
hanging necklace. is another crescent
OF black The underparts OF the
breast are of a cream color over which
are scattered black spots about this
size OF a pea. The shafts Of The wings
and tail feathers and under the sur
face OF the wings and tail are bright
golden yellow. which gives TO this
bird its name. These birds stay with
lis all the year around. Their cheerful
wake up! wake up. is heard almost
any time in the neighborhood Of large
timber. They are expert climbers.
They build their homes in hollow
tree. They remind ono OF a group
OF happy children laughing and chat
terins because they can't help it.
think American birds arc very lin
tnresting.
MARIA EEAZLEY.