bird neighbors-第2章

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he　characteristics　and　traits　of　each　clan　are　clearly　emphasized。　By　these　several　aids　it　is　believed　the　merest　novice　will　be　able　to　quickly　identify　any　bird　neighbor　that　is　neither　local　nor　rare。

To　the　uninitiated　or　uninterested　observer；　all　small；　dull…colored　birds　are　〃common　sparrows。〃　The　closer　scrutiny　of　the　trained　eye　quickly　differentiates；　and　picks　out　not　only　the　Song；　the　Canada；　and　the　Fox　Sparrows；　but　finds　a　dozen　other　familiar　friends　where　one　who　〃has　eyes　and　sees　not〃　does　not　even　suspect　their　presence。　Ruskin　says：　〃The　more　I　think　of　it；　I　find　this　conclusion　more　impressed　upon　me；　that　the　greatest　thing　a　human　soul　ever　does　in　this　world　is　to　SEE　something。　Hundreds　of　people　can　talk　for　one　who　can　think；　but　thousands　can　think　for　one　who　can　see。　To　see　clearly　is　poetry；　prophecy；　and　religion　　all　in　one。〃

While　the　author　is　indebted　to　all　the　time…honored　standard　authorities；　and　to　many　ornithologists　of　the　present　day　　too　many　for　individual　mention　　it　is　to　Mr。　John　Burroughs　her　deepest　debt　is　due。　To　this　clear…visioned　prophet；　who　has　opened　the　blind　eyes　of　thousands　to　the　delights　that　Nature　holds　within　our　easy　reach；　she　would　gratefully　acknowledge　many　obligations；　first　of　all；　for　the　plan　on　which　〃Bird　Neighbors〃　is　arranged；　next；　for　his　patient　kindness　in　reading　and　annotating　the　manuscript　of　the　book；　and；　not　least；　for　the　inspiration　of　his　perennially　charming　writings　that　are　so　largely　responsible　for　the　ready…made　audience　now　awaiting　writers　on　out…of…door　topics。　

The　author　takes　this　opportunity　to　express　her　appreciation　of　the　work　the　National　Association　of　Audubon　Societies　has　done　and　is　doing　to　prevent　the　slaughter　of　birds　in　all　parts　of　the　United　States；　to　develop　bird　sanctuaries　and　inaugurate　protective　legislation。　Indeed　to　it；　more　than　to　all　other　agencies　combined；　is　due　the　credit　of　eliminating　so　much　of　the　Prussianlike　cruelty　toward　birds　that　once　characterized　American　treatment　of　them；　from　the　rising　generation。　　NELTJE　BLANCHAN


I。　BIRD　FAMILIES

THEIR　CHARACTERISTICS　AND　THE　REPRESENTATIVES　OF　EACH　FAMILY　　　INCLUDED　IN　〃BIRD　NEIGHBORS'

Order　Coccyges：　CUCKOOS　AND　KINGFISHERS

Family　Cuculidae：　CUCKOOS

Long；　pigeon…shaped　birds；　whose　backs　are　grayish　brown　with　a　bronze　lustre　and　whose　under　parts　are　whitish。　Bill　long　and　curved。　Tail　long；　raised　and　drooped　slowly　while　the　bird　is　perching。　Two　toes　point　forward　and　two　backward。　Call…note　loud　and　like　a　tree…toad's　rattle。　Song　lacking。　Birds　of　low　trees　and　undergrowth；　where　they　also　nest；　partial　to　neighborhood　of　streams；　or　wherever　the　tent　caterpillar　is　abundant。　Habits　rather　solitary；　silent；　and　eccentric。　Migratory。　　　Yellow…billed　Cuckoo。　　　Black…billed　Cuckoo。

Family　Alcedinidae：　KINGFISHERS

Large；　top…heavy　birds　of　streams　and　ponds。　Usually　seen　perching　over　the　water　looking　for　fish。　Head　crested；　upper　parts　slate…blue；　underneath　white；　and　belted　with　blue　or　rusty。　Bill　large　and　heavy。　Middle　and　outer　toes　joined　for　half　their　length。　Call…note　loud　and　prolonged；　like　a　policeman's　rattle。　Solitary　birds；　little　inclined　to　rove　from　a　chosen　locality。　Migratory。　　　Belted　Kingfisher。

Order　Pici：　WOODPECKERS

Family　Picidae：　WOODPECKERS

Medium…sized　and　small　birds；　usually　with　plumage　black　and　white；　and　always　with　some　red　feathers　about　the　head。　（The　flicker　is　brownish　and　yellow　instead　of　black　and　white。）　Stocky；　high…shouldered　build；　bill　strong　and　long　for　drilling　holes　in　bark　of　trees。　Tail　feathers　pointed　and　stiffened　to　serve　as　a　prop。　Two　toes　before　and　two　behind　for　clinging。　Usually　seen　clinging　erect　on　tree…trunks；　rarely；　if　ever；　head　downward；　like　the　nuthatches；　titmice；　etc。　Woodpeckers　feed　as　they　creep　around　the　trunks　and　branches。　Habits　rather　phlegmatic。　The　flicker　has　better　developed　vocal　powers　than　other　birds　of　this　class；　whose　rolling　tattoo；　beaten　with　their　bills　against　the　tree…trunks；　must　answer　for　their　love…song。　Nest　in　hollowed…out　trees。　　　Red…headed　Woodpecker。　　　Hairy　Woodpecker。　　　Downy　Woodpecker。　　　Yellow…bellied　Woodpecker。　　　Flicker。

Order　Macrochires：　GOATSUCKERS；　SWIFTS；　AND　HUMMING…BIRDS

Family　Caprimulgidae：　NIGHTHAWKS；　WHIPPOORWILLS；　ETC。

Medium…sized；　mottled　brownish；　gray；　black；　and　white　birds　of　heavy　build。　Short；　thick　head；　gaping；　large　mouth；　very　small　bill；　with　bristles　at　base。　Take　insect　food　on　the　wing。　Feet　small　and　weak；　wings　long　and　powerful。　These　birds　rest　lengthwise　on　their　perch　while　sleeping　through　the　brightest　daylight　hours；　or　on　the　ground；　where　they　nest。　　　Nighthawk。　　　Whippoorwill。

Family　Micropolidae：　SWIFTS

Sooty；　dusky　birds　seen　on　the　wing；　never　resting　except　in　chimneys　of　houses；　or　hollow　trees；　where　they　nest。　Tips　of　tail　feathers　with　sharp　spines；　used　as　props。　They　show　their　kinship　with　the　goatsuckers　in　their　nocturnal　as　well　as　diurnal　habits；　their　small　bills　and　large　mouths　for　catching　insects　on　the　wing；　and　their　weak　feet。　Gregarious；　especially　at　the　nesting　season。　　　Chimney　Swift。

Family　Trochilidae：　HUMMING…BIRDS

Very　small　birds　with　green　plumage　（iridescent　red　or　orange　breast　in　males）；　long；　needle…shaped　bill　for　extracting　insects　and　nectar　from　deep…cupped　flowers；　and　exceedingly　rapid；　darting　flight。　Small　feet。　　　Ruby…throated　Humming…bird。

Order　Passeres：　PERCHING　BIRDS

Family　Tyrannidae：　FLYCATCHERS

Small　and　medium…sized　dull；　dark…olive；　or　gray　birds；　with　big　heads　that　are　sometimes　crested。　Bills　hooked　at　end；　and　with　bristles　at　base。　Harsh　or　plaintive　voices。　Wings　longer　than　tail；　both　wings　and　tails　usually　drooped　and　vibrating　when　the　birds　are　perching。　Habits　moody　and　silent　when　perching　on　a　conspicuous　limb；　telegraph　wire；　dead　tree；　or　fence　rail　and　waiting　for　insects　to　fly　within　range。　Sudden；　nervous；　spasmodic　sallies　in　midair　to　seize　insects　on　the　wing。　Usually　they　return　to　their　identical　perch　or　lookout。　Pugnacious　and　fearless。　Excellent　nest　builders　and　devoted　mates。　　　Kingbird。　　　Phoebe。　　　Wood　Pewee。　　　Acadian　Flycatcher。　　　Great　Crested　Flycatcher。　　　Least　Flycatcher。　　　Olive…sided　Flycatcher。　　　Yellow…bellied　Flycatcher。　　　Say's　Flycatcher。

Family　Alaudidae：　LARKS

The　only　true　larks　to　be　found　in　this　country　are　the　two　species　given　below。　They　are　the　kin　of　the　European　skylark；　of　which　several　unsuccessful　attempts　to　introduce　the　bird　have　been　made　in　this　country。　These　two　larks　must　not　be　confused　with　the　meadow　larks　and　titlarks；　which　belong　to　the　blackbird　and　pipit　families　respectively。　The　horned　larks　are　birds　of　the　ground；　and　are　seen　in　the　United　States　only　in　the　autumn　and　winter。　In　the　nesting　season　at　the　North　their　voices　are　most　musical。　Plumage　grayish　and　brown；　in　color　harmony　with　their　habitats。　Usually　found　in　flocks；　the　first　species　on　or　near　the　shore。　　　Horned　Lark。　　　Prairie　Horned　Lark。

Family　Corvidae：　CROWS　AND　JAYS

The　crows　are　large　black　birds；　walkers；　with　stout　feet　adapted　for　the　purpose。　Fond　of　shifting　their　residence　at　different　seasons　rather　than　strictly　migratory；　for；　except　at　the　northern　limit　of　range；　they　remain　resident　all　the　year。　Gregarious。　Sexes　alike。　Omnivorous　feeders；　being　partly　carnivorous；　as　are　also　the　jays。　Both　crows　and　jays　inhabit　wooded　country。　Their　voices　are　harsh　and　clamorous；　and　their　habits　are　boisterous　and　bold；　particularly　the　jays。　Devoted　mates；　unpleasant　neighbors。　　　Common　Crow。　　　Fish　Crow。　　　Northern　Raven。　　　Blue　Jay。　　　Canada　Jay。

Family　Icteridae：　BLACKBIRDS；　ORIOLES；　ETC。

Plumage　black　or　a　brilliant　color　combined　with　black。　（The　meadow　lark　a　sole　exception。）　Sexes　unlike。　These　birds　form　a　connecting　link　between　the　crows　and　the　finches。　The　blackbirds　have　strong　feet　for　use　upon　the　ground；　where　they　generally　feed；　while　the　orioles　are　birds　of　the　trees。　They　are　both　seed　and　insect　eaters。　The　bills　of　the　bobolink　and　cowbird　are　short　and　conical；　for　they　are　conspicuous　seed　eaters。　Bills　of　the　others　long　and　conical；　adapted　for　insectivorou