bird neighbors-第45节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ation。
Longfellow has rendered into verse the German legend of the crossbill； which tells that as the Saviour hung upon the cross； a little bird tried to pull out the nails that pierced His hands and feet； thus twisting its beak and staining its feathers with the blood。
At first glance the birds would seem to be hampered by their crossed beaks in getting at the seeds in the pine cones a superficial criticism when the thoroughness and admirable dexterity of their work are better understood。
Various seeds of fruits； berries； and the buds of trees enlarge their bill of fare。 They are said to be inordinately fond of salt。 Mr。 Romeyn B。 Hough tells of a certain old ice…cream freezer that attracted flocks of crossbills one winter； as a salt…lick attracts deer。 Whether the traditional salt that may have stuck to the bird's tail is responsible for its tameness is not related； but it is certain the crossbills； like most bird visitors from the far north； are remarkably gentle； friendly little birds。 As they swing about the pine trees； parrot…fashion； with the help of their bill； calling out kimp； kimp； that sounds like the snapping of the pine cones on a sunny day； it often seems easily possible to catch them with the hand。
There is another species of crossbill； called the White…winged （Loxia leucoptera）； that differs from the preceding chiefly in having two white bands across its wings and in being more rare。
THE REDPOLL （Acanthis linaria） Finch family
Called also： REDPOLL LINNET； LITTLE SNOWBIRD； LESSER REDPOLL； ＇COMMON REDPOLL； AOU 1998＇
Length 5。25 to 5。5 inches。 About an inch shorter than the English sparrow。 Male A rich crimson wash on head； neck； breast； and lower back； that is sometimes only a pink when we see the bird in midwinter。 Grayish…brown； sparrowy feathers show underneath the red wash。 Dusky wings and tail； the feathers more or less edged with whitish。 Soiled white underneath； the sides with dusky streaks。 Bill sharply pointed。 Female More dingy than male； sides more heavily streaked； and having crimson only on the crown。 Range An arctic bird that descends irregularly into the Northern United States。 Migrations An irregular winter visitor。
〃Ere long； amid the cold and powdery snow； as it were a fruit of the season； will come twittering a flock of delicate crimson…tinged birds； lesser redpolls； to sport and feed on the buds just ripe for them on the sunny side of a wood； shaking down the powdery snow there in their cheerful feeding； as if it were high midsummer to them。〃 Thoreau's beautiful description of these tiny winter visitors； which should be read entire； shows the man in one of his most sympathetic； exalted moods； and it is the best brief characterization of the redpoll that we have。
When the arctic cold becomes too cruel for even the snow…birds and crossbills to withstand； flocks of the sociable little redpolls flying southward are the merest specks in the sullen； gray sky； when they can be seen at all。 So high do they keep that often they must pass above our heads without our knowing it。 First we see a quantity of tiny dots； like a shake of pepper； in the cloud above； then the specks grow larger and larger； and finally the birds seem to drop from the sky upon some tall tree that they completely cover a veritable cloudburst of birds。 Without pausing to rest after the long journey； down they flutter into the weedy pastures with much cheerful twittering； to feed upon whatever seeds may be protruding through the snow。 Every action of a flock seems to be concerted； as if some rigid disciplinarian had drilled them； and yet no leader can be distinguished in the merry company。 When one flies； all fly； where one feeds； all feed； and by some subtle telepathy all rise at the identical instant from their feeding ground and cheerfully twitter in concert where they all alight at once。 They are more easily disturbed than the goldfinches； that are often seen feeding with them in the lowlands； nevertheless； they quite often venture into our gardens and orchards； even in suburbs penetrated by the trolley…car。
Usually in winter we hear only their lisping call…note； but if the birds linger late enough in the spring； when their 〃fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love；〃 a gleeful； canary…like song comes from the naked branches； and we may know by it that the flock will soon disappear for their nesting grounds in the northern forests。
The Greater Redpoll （Acanthis linaria rostrata） may be distinguished from the foregoing species by its slightly larger size； darker upper parts； and shorter； stouter bill。 But the notes； habits； and general appearance of both redpolls are so nearly identical that the birds are usually mistaken for each other。
PURPLE FINCH （Carpodacus purpureus） Finch family
Called also： PURPLE LINNET
Length 6 to 6。25 inches。 About the same size as the English sparrow。 Male Until two years old； sparrow…like in appearance like the female； but with olive…yellow on chin and lower back。 Afterwards entire body suffused with a bright raspberry…red； deepest on head； lower back； and breast； and other parts only faintly washed with this color。 More brown on back； and wings and tail； which are dusky； have some reddish brown feathers。 Underneath grayish white。 Bill heavy。 Tail forked。 Female Grayish olive brown above； whitish below； finely Streaked everywhere with very dark brown； like a sparrow。 Sides of breast have arrow…shaped marks。 Wings and tail darkest。 Range North America； from Columbia River eastward to Atlantic and from Mexico northward to Manitoba。 Most common in Middle States and New England。 Winters south of Pennsylvania。 Migrations March。 November。 Common summer resident。 Rarely individuals winter at the north。
In this 〃much be…sparrowed country〃 of ours familiarity is apt to breed contempt for any bird that looks sparrowy； in which case one of the most delicious songsters we have might easily be overlooked。 It is not until the purple finch reaches maturity in his second year that his plumage takes on the raspberry…red tints that some ornithologists named purple。 Oriental purple is our magenta； it is true； but not a raspberry shade。 Before maturity； but for the yellow on his lower back and throat； he and his mate alike suggest a song…sparrow； and it is important to note their particularly heavy； rounded bills； with the tufts of feathers at the base； and their forked tails； to name them correctly。 But the identification of the purple finch； after all； depends quite as much upon his song as his color。 In March； when flocks of these birds come north； he has begun to sing a little； by the beginning of May he is desperately in love； and sudden； joyous peals of music from the elm or evergreen trees on the lawn enliven the garden。 How could his little brown lady…love fail to be impressed with a suitor so gayly dressed； so tender and solicitous； so deliciously sweet…voiced？ With fuller； richer song than the warbling vireo's； which Nuttall has said it resembles； a perfect ecstasy of love； pours incessantly from his throat during the early summer days。 There is a suggestion of the robins love…song in his； but its copiousness； variety； and rapidity give it a character all its own。
In some old； neglected hedge or low tree about the countryplace a flat； grassy nest； lined with horsehair； contains four or five green eggs in June； and the old birds are devotion itself to each other； and soon to their young； sparrowy brood。
But when parental duties are over； the finches leave our lawns and gardens to join flocks of their own kind in more remote orchards or woods； their favorite haunts。 Their subdued warble may be heard during October and later； as if the birds were humming to themselves。
Much is said of their fondness for fruit blossoms and tree buds； but the truth is that noxious insects and seeds of grain constitute their food in summer； the berries of evergreens in winter。 To a bird so gay of color； charming of voice； social； and trustful of disposition； surely a few blossoms might be spared without grudging。
THE AMERICAN ROBIN （Merula migratoria） Thrush family
Called also： RED…BREASTED OR MIGRATORY THRUSH； ROBIN…REDBREAST
Length 10 inches。 Male Dull brownish olive…gray above。 Head black； tail brownish black； with exterior feathers white at inner tip。 Wings dark brownish。 Throat streaked with black and white。 White eyelids。 Entire breast bright rusty red； whitish below the tail。 Female Duller and with paler breast； resembling the male in autumn。 Range North America； from Mexico to arctic regions。 Migrations March。 October or November。 Often resident throughout the year。
It seems almost superfluous to write a line of description about a bird that is as familiar as a chicken； yet how can this nearest of our bird neighbors be passed without a reference？ Probably he was the very first bird we learned to call by name。
The early English colonists； who had doubtless been brought up； like the rest of us； on 〃The Babes in the Wood；〃 named the bird after the only heroes in that melancholy tale； but in reality the American robin is a much larger bird than the English robin…redbreast and less brilliantly colore
