bird neighbors-第15节

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merous　popular　names　by　which　the　Canada　jays　are　known　are　admirably　accounted　for　by　Mr。　Hardy　in　a　bulletin　issued　by　the　Smithsonian　Institution。

〃They　will　enter　the　tents；　and　often　alight　on　the　bow　of　a　canoe；　where　the　paddle　at　every　stroke　comes　within　eighteen　inches　of　them。　I　know　nothing　which　can　be　eaten　that　they　will　not　take；　and　I　had　one　steal　all　my　candles；　pulling　them　out　endwise；　one　by　one；　from　a　piece　of　birch　bark　in　which　they　were　rolled；　and　another　peck　a　large　hole　in　a　keg　of　castile　soap。　A　duck　which　I　had　picked　and　laid　down　for　a　few　minutes；　had　the　entire　breast　eaten　out　by　one　or　more　of　these　birds。　I　have　seen　one　alight　in　the　middle　of　my　canoe　and　peck　away　at　the　carcass　of　a　beaver　I　had　skinned。　They　often　spoil　deer　saddles　by　pecking　into　them　near　the　kidneys。　They　do　great　damage　to　the　trappers　by　stealing　the　bait　from　traps　set　for　martens　and　minks　and　by　eating　trapped　game。　They　will　sit　quietly　and　see　you　build　a　log　trap　and　bait　it；　and　then；　almost　before　your　back　is　turned；　you　hear　their　hateful　ca…ca…ca！　as　they　glide　down　and　peer　into　it。　They　will　work　steadily；　carrying　off　meat　and　hiding　it。　I　have　thrown　out　pieces；　and　watched　one　to　see　how　much　he　would　carry　off。　He　flew　across　a　wide　stream；　and　in　a　short　time　looked　as　bloody　as　a　butcher　from　carrying　large　pieces；　but　his　patience　held　out　longer　than　mine。　I　think　one　would　work　as　long　as　Mark　Twain's　California　jay　did　trying　to　fill　a　miner's　cabin　with　acorns　through　a　knot…hole　in　the　root。　They　are　fond　of　the　berries　of　the　mountain　ash；　and；　in　fact；　few　things　come　amiss；　I　believe　they　do　not　possess　a　single　good　quality　except　industry。〃

One　virtue　not　mentioned　by　Mr。　Hardy　is　their　prudent　saving　from　the　summer　surplus　to　keep　the　winter　storeroom　well　supplied　like　a　squirrel's。　Such　thrift　is　the　more　necessary　when　a　clamorous；　hungry　family　of　young　jays　must　be　reared　while　the　thermometer　is　often　as　low　as　thirty　degrees　below　zero　at　the　end　of　March。　How　eggs　are　ever　hatched　at　all　in　a　temperature　calculated　to　freeze　any　sitting　bird　stiff；　is　one　of　the　mysteries　of　the　woods。　And　yet　four　or　five　fluffy　little　jays；　that　look　as　if　they　were　dressed　in　gray　fur；　emerge　from　the　eggs　before　the　spring　sunshine　has　unbound　the　icy　rivers　or　melted　the　snowdrifts　piled　high　around　the　evergreens。


CATBIRD　（Galcoscoptes　carolinensis　）　Mocking…bird　family

Called　also：　BLACK…CAPPED　THRUSH；　＇GRAY　CATBIRD；　AOU　1998＇

Length　　9　inches。　An　inch　shorter　than　the　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Dark　slate　above；　below　somewhat　paler；　top　of　　　head　black。　Distinct　chestnut　patch　under　the　tail；　which　is　　　black；　feet　and　bill　black　also。　Wings　short；　more　than　two　　　inches　shorter　than　the　tail。　Range　　British　provinces　to　Mexico；　west　to　Rocky　Mountains；　　　to　Pacific　coast。　Winters　in　Southern　States；　Central　　　America；　and　Cuba。　Migrations　　May。　November。　Common　summer　resident；

Our　familiar　catbird；　of　all　the　feathered　tribe；　presents　the　most　contrary　characteristics；　and　is　therefore　held　in　varied　estimation　　loved；　admired；　ridiculed；　abused。　He　is　the　veriest　〃Dr。　Jekyll　and　Mr。　Hyde〃　of　birds。　Exquisitely　proportioned；　with　finely　poised　black　head　and　satin…gray　coat；　which　he　bathes　most　carefully　and　prunes　and　prinks　by　the　hour；　he　appears　from　his　toilet　a　Beau　Brummell；　an　aristocratic…looking；　even　dandified　neighbor。　Suddenly；　as　if　shot；　he　drops　head　and　tail　and　assumes　the　most　hang…dog　air；　without　the　least　sign　of　self…respect；　then　crouches　and　lengthens　into　a　roll；　head　forward　and　tail　straightened；　till　he　looks　like　a　little；　short　gray　snake；　lank　and　limp。　Anon；　with　a　jerk　and　a　sprint；　every　muscle　tense；　tail　erect；　eyes　snapping；　he　darts　into　the　air　intent　upon　some　well…planned　mischief。　It　is　impossible　to　describe　his　various　attitudes　or　moods。　In　song　and　call　he　presents　the　same　opposite　characteristics。　How　such　a　bird；　exquisite　in　style；　can　demean　himself　to　utter　such　harsh；　altogether　hateful　catcalls　and　squawks　as　have　given　the　bird　his　common　name；　is　a　wonder　when　in　the　next　moment　his　throat　swells　and　beginning　phut…phut…coquillicot；　he　gives　forth　a　long　glorious　song；　only　second　to　that　of　the　wood　thrush　in　melody。　He　is　a　jester；　a　caricaturist；　a　mocking…bird。

The　catbird's　nest　is　like　a　veritable　scrap…basket；　loosely　woven　of　coarse　twigs；　bits　of　newspaper；　scraps；　and　rags；　till　this　rough　exterior　is　softly　lined　and　made　fit　to　receive　the　four　to　six　pretty　dark　green…blue　eggs　to　be　laid　therein。

As　a　fruit　thief　harsh　epithets　are　showered　upon　the　friendly；　confiding　little　creature　at　our　doors；　but　surely　his　depredations　may　be　pardoned；　for　he　is　industrious　at　all　times　and　unusually　adroit　in　catching　insects；　especially　in　the　moth　stage。


THE　MOCKING…BIRD　（Mimus　polyglottus）　Mocking…bird　family

＇Called　also：　NORTHERN　MOCKINGBIRD；　AOU　1998＇

Length　　9　to　10　inches。　About　the　size　of　the　robin。　Male　and　Female　　Gray　above；　wings　and　wedge…shaped；　tail　　　brownish；　upper　wing　feathers　tipped　with　white；　outer　tail　　　quills　white；　conspicuous　in　flight；　chin　white；　underneath　　　light　gray；　shading　to　whitish。　Range　　Peculiar　to　torrid　and　temperate　zones　of　two　Americas。　Migrations　　No　fixed　migrations：　usually　resident　where　seen。

North　of　Delaware　this　commonest　of　Southern　birds　is　all　too　rarely　seen　outside　of　cages；　yet　even　in　midwinter　it　is　not　unknown　in　Central　Park；　New　York。　This　is　the　angel　that　it　is　said　the　catbird　was　before　he　fell　from　grace。　Slim；　neat；　graceful；　imitative；　amusing；　with　a　rich；　tender　song　that　only　the　thrush　can　hope　to　rival；　and　with　an　instinctive　preference　for　the　society　of　man；　it　is　little　wonder　he　is　a　favorite；　caged　or　free。　He　is　a　most　devoted　parent；　too；　when　the　four　or　six　speckled　green　eggs　have　produced　as　many　mouths　to　be　supplied　with　insects　and　berries。

In　the　Connecticut　Valley；　where　many　mocking…birds'　nests　have　been　found；　year　after　year；　they　are　all　seen　near　the　ground；　and　without　exception　are　loosely；　poorly　constructed　affairs　of　leaves；　feathers；　grass；　and　even　rags。

With　all　his　virtues；　it　must　be　added；　however；　that　this　charming　bird　is　a　sad　tease。　'There　is　no　sound；　whether　made　by　bird　or　beast　about　him；　that　he　cannot　imitate　so　clearly　as　to　deceive　every　one　but　himself。　Very　rarely　can　you　find　a　mocking…bird　without　intelligence　and　mischief　enough　to　appreciate　his　ventriloquism。　In　Sidney　Lanier's　college　note…book　was　found　written　this　reflection：　〃A　poet　is　the　mocking…bird　of　the　spiritual　universe。　In　him　are　collected　all　the　individual　songs　of　all　individual　natures。〃　Later　in　life；　with　the　same　thought　in　mind；　he　referred　to　the　bird　as　〃yon　slim　Shakespeare　on　the　tree。〃　His　exquisite　stanzas；　〃To　Our　Mocking…bird；〃　exalt　the　singer　with　the　immortals：

　　　〃Trillets　of　humor；　　shrewdest　whistle　　wit　　　　　　　Contralto　cadences　of　grave　desire；　　　　　Such　as　from　off　the　passionate　Indian　pyre　　　　　Drift　down　through　sandal…odored　flames　that　split　　　　　About　the　slim　young　widow；　who　doth　sit　　　　　And　sing　above；　　midnights　of　tone　entire；　　　　　　　Tissues　of　moonlight；　shot　with　songs　of　fire；　　　　　　Bright　drops　of　tune；　from　oceans　infinite　　　　　Of　melody；　sipped　off　the　thin…edged　wave　　　　　And　trickling　down　the　beak；　　discourses　brave　　　　　Of　serious　matter　that　no　man　may　guess；　　　　　　　Good…fellow　greetings；　cries　of　light　distress　　　　　　　All　these　but　now　within　the　house　we　heard：　　　　　O　Death；　wast　thou　too　deaf　to　hear　the　bird？　　　　　。　。　。　。　。　　　　〃Nay；　Bird；　my　grief　gainsays　the　Lord's　best　right。　　　　　The　Lord　was　fain；　at　some　late　festal　time；　　　　　That　Keats　should　set　all　heaven's　woods　in　rhyme；　　　　　And　Thou　in　bird…notes。　Lo；　this　tearful　night　　　　　Methinks　I　see　thee；　fresh　from　Death's　despite；　　　　　Perched　in　a　palm…grove；　wild　with　pantomime　　　　　O'er　blissful　companies　couched　in　shady　thyme。　　　　　Methinks　I　hear　thy　silver　whistlings　bright　　　　　Meet　with　the　mighty　discourse　of　the　wise；　　　　　　　'Till　broad　Beethoven；　deaf　no　more；　and　Keats；　　　　　'Midst　of　much　talk；　uplift　their　smiling　eyes　　　　　And　mark　the　music　of　thy　wood…conceits；　　　　　And　half…way　pause　on　some　large　courteous　word；　　　　　And　call　thee　'Brother；'　O　thou　heavenly　Bird！〃


JUNCO　（Junco　hyemalis）　Finch　family

Called　also：　SNOWBIRD；　SLATE…COLORED　SNOWBIRD；　＇DARK…EYED　JUNCO；　　　AOU　1998＇

Length　　5。5　to　6。5　inches。　About　the　size　of　the　English　　　sparrow。　Male　　Upper　parts　slate…colored；　darkest　on　head　and　neck；　　　which　are　sometimes　almost　black　and　marked　like　a　cowl。　Gray　　　on　breast；　like　a　vest。　Underneath　white。　Several　outer　tall　　　feathers　white；　conspicuous　in　flight。　Female　　Lighter　gray；　inclining　to　brown。　Range　　North　America。　Not　common　in　warm　latitudes。　Breeds　in　　　the　Catskills　and　northern　New　England。　Migrations　　September。　April。　Winter　resident。

〃Leaden　skies　above；　snow　below；〃　is　Mr。　Parkhurst's　suggestive　description　of　this　rather　timid　little　neighbor；　that　is　only　starved　into　familiarity。　When　the　snow　has　buried　seed　and　berries；　a　flock　of　juncos；　mingling　sociably　with　the　sparrows　and　chickadees　about　the　kitchen　door；　will　pick　up　scraps　of　food　with　an