bird neighbors-第19节

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gh；　orders　are　hurried　off　to　the　seedsmen；　a　fever　to　be　out　of　doors　seizes　one：　spring　is　here。　Snowstorms　may　yet　whiten　fields　and　gardens；　high　winds　may　howl　about　the　trees　and　chimneys；　but　the　little　blue　heralds　persistently　proclaim　from　the　orchard　and　garden　that　the　spring　procession　has　begun　to　move。Tru…al…ly；　tru…al…ly；　they　sweetly　assert　to　our　incredulous　ears。

The　bluebird　is　not　always　a　migrant；　except　in　the　more　northern　portions　of　the　country。　Some　representatives　there　are　always　with　us；　but　the　great　majority　winter　south　and　drop　out　of　the　spring　procession　on　its　way　northward；　the　males　a　little　ahead　of　their　mates；　which　show　housewifely　instincts　immediately　after　their　arrival。　A　pair　of　these　rather　undemonstrative　　matter…of…fact　lovers　go　about　looking　for　some　deserted　woodpecker's　hole　in　the　orchard；　peering　into　cavities　in　the　fence…rails；　or　into　the　bird…houses　that；　once　set　up　in　the　　old…fashioned　gardens　for　their　special　benefit；　are　now　appropriated　too　often　by　the　ubiquitous　sparrow。　Wrens　they　can　readily　dispossess　of　an　attractive　tenement；　and　do。　With　a　temper　as　heavenly　as　the　color　of　their　feathers；　the　bluebird's　sense　of　justice　is　not　always　so　adorable。　But　sparrows　unnerve　them　into　cowardice。　The　comparatively　infrequent　nesting　of　the　bluebirds　about　our　homes　at　the　present　time　is　one　of　the　most　deplorable　results　of　unrestricted　sparrow　immigration。　Formerly　they　were　the　commonest　of　bird　neighbors。

Nest…building　is　not　a　favorite　occupation　with　the　bluebirds；　that　are　conspicuously　domestic　none　the　less。　Two；　and　even　three；　broods　in　a　season　fully　occupy　their　time。　As　in　most　cases；　the　mother…bird　does　more　than　her　share　of　the　work。　The　male　looks　with　wondering　admiration　at　the　housewifely　activity；　applauds　her　with　song；　feeds　her　as　she　sits　brooding　over　the　nestful　of　pale　greenish…blue　eggs；　but　his　adoration　of　her　virtues　does　not　lead　him　into　emulation。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Shifting　his　light　load　of　song；　　　　　　　　　　From　post　to　post　along　the　cheerless　fence；〃

Lowell　observed　that　he　carried　his　duties　quite　as　lightly。

When　the　young　birds　first　emerge　from　the　shell　they　are　almost　black；　they　come　into　their　splendid　heritage　of　color　by　degrees；　lest　their　young　heads　might　be　turned。　It　is　only　as　they　spread　their　tiny　wings　for　their　first　flight　from　the　nest　that　we　can　see　a　few　blue　feathers。

With　the　first　cool　days　of　autumn　the　bluebirds　collect　in　flocks；　often　associating　with　orioles　and　kingbirds　in　sheltered；　sunny　places　where　insects　are　still　plentiful。　Their　steady；　undulating　flight　now　becomes　erratic　as　they　take　food　on　the　wing　　a　habit　that　they　may　have　learned　by　association　with　the　kingbirds；　for　they　have　also　adopted　the　habit　of　perching　upon　some　conspicuous　lookout　and　then　suddenly　launching　out　into　the　air　for　a　passing　fly　and　returning　to　their　perch。　Long　after　their　associates　have　gone　southward；　they　linger　like　the　last　leaves　on　the　tree。　It　is　indeed　〃good…bye　to　summer〃　when　the　bluebirds　withdraw　their　touch　of　brightness　from　the　dreary　November　landscape。

The　bluebirds　from　Canada　and　the　northern　portions　of　New　England　and　New　York　migrate　into　Virginia　and　the　Carolinas；　the　birds　from　the　Middle　States　move　down　into　the　Gulf　States　to　pass　the　winter。　It　was　there　that　countless　numbers　were　cut　off　by　the　severe　winter　of　1894…95；　which　was　so　severe　in　that　section。


INDIGO　BUNTING　（Passerina　cyanea）　Finch　family

Called　also：　INDIGO　BIRD

Length　　5　to　6　inches。　Smaller　than　the　English　sparrow；　or　the　　　size　of　a　canary。　Male　　In　certain　lights　rich　blue；　deepest　on　head。　In　another　　　light　the　blue　feathers　show　verdigris　tints。　Wings；　tail；　and　　　lower　back　with　brownish　wash；　most　prominent　in　autumn　　　plumage。　Quills　of　wings　and　tail　deep　blue；　margined　with　　　light。　Female　　Plain　sienna…brown　above。　Yellowish　on　breast　and　　　shading　to　white　underneath；　and　indistinctly　streaked。　Wings　　　and　tail　darkest；　sometimes　with　slight　tinge　of　blue　in　outer　　　webs　and　on　shoulders。　Range　　North　America；　from　Hudson　Bay　to　Panama。　Most　common　in　　　eastern　part　of　United　States。　Winters　in　Central　America　and　　　Mexico。　Migrations　　May。　September。　Summer　resident。

The　〃glowing　indigo〃　of　this　tropical…looking　visitor　that　so　delighted　Thoreau　in　the　Walden　woods；　often　seems　only　the　more　intense　by　comparison　with　the　blue　sky；　against　which　it　stands　out　in　relief　as　the　bird　perches　singing　in　a　tree…top。　What　has　this　gaily　dressed；　dapper　little　cavalier　in　common　with　his　dingy　sparrow　cousins　that　haunt　the　ground　and　delight　in　　dust…baths；　leaving　their　feathers　no　whit　more　dingy　than　they　were　before；　and　in　temper；　as　in　plumage；　suggesting　more　of　earth　than　of　heaven？　Apparently　he　has　nothing；　and　yet　the　small　brown　bird　in　the　roadside　thicket；　which　you　have　misnamed　a　sparrow；　not　noticing　the　glint　of　blue　in　her　shoulders　and　tail；　is　his　mate。　Besides　the　structural　resemblances；　which　are；　of　course；　the　only　ones　considered　by　ornithologists　in　classifying　birds；　the　indigo　buntings　have　several　sparrowlike　traits。　They　feed　upon　the　ground；　mainly　upon　seeds　of　grasses　and　herbs；　with　a　few　insects　interspersed　to　give　relish　　to　the　grain；　they　build　grassy　nests　in　low　bushes　or　tall；　rank　grass；　and　their　flight　is　short　and　labored。　Borders　of　woods；　roadside　thickets；　and　even　garden　shrubbery；　with　open　pasture　lots　for　foraging　grounds　near　by；　are　favorite　haunts　of　these　birds；　that　return　again　and　again　to　some　preferred　spot。　But　however　close　to　our　homes　they　build　theirs；　our　presence　never　ceases　to　be　regarded　by　them　with　anything　but　suspicion；　not　to　say　alarm。　Their　metallic　cheep；　cheep；　warns　you　to　keep　away　from　the　little　blue…white　eggs；　hidden　away　securely　in　the　bushes；　and　the　nervous　tail　twitchings　and　jerkings　are　pathetic　to　see。　Happily　for　the　safety　of　their　nest；　the　brooding　mother　has　no　tell…tale　feathers　to　attract　the　eye。　Dense　foliage　no　more　conceals　the　male　bird's　brilliant　coat　than　it　can　the　tanager's　or　oriole's。

With　no　attempt　at　concealment；　which　he　doubtless　understands　would　be　quite　impossible；　he　chooses　some　high；　conspicuous　perch　to　which　he　mounts　by　easy　stages；　singing　as　he　goes；　and　there　begins　a　loud　and　rapid　strain　that　promises　much；　but　growing　weaker　and　weaker；　ends　as　if　the　bird　were　either　out　of　breath　or　too；　weak　to　finish。　Then　suddenly　he　begins　the　same　song　over　again；　and　keeps　up　this　continuous　performance　for　nearly　half　an　hour。　The　noonday　heat　of　an　August　day　that　silences　nearly　every　other　voice；　seems　to　give　to　the　indigo　bird's　only　fresh　animation　and　timbre。


THE　BELTED　KINGFISHER　（Ceryle　alcyon）　Kingfisher　family

Called　also：　THE　HALCYON

Length　　12　to　13　inches。　About　one…fourth　as　large　again　as　the　　　robin。　Male　　Upper　part　grayish　blue；　with　prominent　crest　on　head　　　reaching　to　the　nape。　A　white　spot　in　front　of　the　eye。　Bill　　　longer　than　the　head；　which　is　large　and　heavy。　Wings　and　the　　　short　tail　minutely　speckled　and　marked　with　broken　bands　of　　　white。　Chin；　band　around　throat；　and　underneath　white。　Two　　　bluish　bands　across　the　breast　and　a　bluish　wash　on　sides。　Female　　Female　and　immature　specimens　have　rufous　bands　where　　　The　adult　male's　are　blue。　Plumage　of　both　birds　oily。　Range　　North　America；　except　where　the　Texan　kingfisher　　　replaces　it　in　a　limited　area　in　the　Southwest。　Common　from　　　Labrador　to　Florida；　east　and　west。　Winters　chiefly　from　　　Virginia　southward　to　South　America。　Migrations　　March。　December。　Common　summer　resident。　Usually　a　　　winter　resident　also。

If　the　kingfisher　is　not　so　neighborly　as　we　could　wish；　or　as　he　used　to　be；　it　is　not　because　he　has　grown　less　friendly；　but　because　the　streams　near　our　homes　are　fished　out。　Fish　he　must　and　will　have；　and　to　get　them　nowadays　it　is　too　often　necessary　to　follow　the　stream　back　through　secluded　woods　to　the　quiet　waters　of　its　source：　a　clear；　cool　pond　or　lake　whose　scaly　inmates　have　not　yet　learned　wisdom　at　the　point　of　the　sportsman's　fly。

In　such　quiet　haunts　the　kingfisher　is　easily　the　most　conspicuous　object　in　sight；　where　he　perches　on　some　dead　or　projecting　branch　over　the　water；　intently　watching　for　a　dinner　that　is　all　unsuspectingly　swimming　below。　Suddenly　the　bird　drops　　dives；　there　is　a　splash；　a　struggle；　and　then　the　〃lone　fisherman〃　returns　triumphant　to　his　perch；　holding　a　shining　fish　in　his　beak。　If　the　fish　is　small　it　is　swallowed　at　once；　but　if　it　is　large　and　bony　it　must　first　be　killed　against　the　branch。　A　few　sharp　knocks；　and　the　struggles　of　the　fish　are　over；　but　the　kingfisher's　have　only　begun。　How　he　gags　and　writhes；　swallows　his　dinner；　and　then；　regretting　his　haste；　brings　it　up　again　to　try　another　wider　avenue　down　his　throat　I　The　many　abortive　efforts　he　makes　to　land　his　dinner　safely　below　in　his　stomach；　his　grim　contortions　as　the　fishbones　scratch　his　throat…lining　on　their　way　down　and　up　again；　force　a　smile　in　spite　of　the　bird's　evident　distress。　It　is　small　wonder　he　supplements　his　fish　diet　with　various　kinds　of　the　larger　insects；　shrimps；　and　fresh…water　mollusks。