Endurance Test Part 24

The Sapsucker has a scarlet cap; its back is black and yellow, tail black; it feeds largely on tree juices.

Red-headed Woodp.e.c.k.e.r. Head, neck, throat and princ.i.p.al parts red; back black and white; nests generally in a dead tree.

The Flicker. The top of the head gray; red band across back of the neck; back brownish with black bars; they are frequently called "high-holes."

THE PIGEONS AND DOVES.

The pa.s.senger pigeon is now practically extinct. Captain Bendire, writing twenty years ago, says: "It looks now as if their total extermination might be accomplished within the present century. The only thing which r.e.t.a.r.ds their complete extinction is that it no longer pays to net these birds, they being too scarce for this now, at least in the more settled portions of the country, and also, perhaps, that from constant and unremitting prosecution on their breeding-grounds they have changed their habits somewhat, the majority no longer breeding in colonies, but scattering all over the country and breeding in isolated pairs." They used to be seen in enormous flocks, which, as they migrated, really hid the sun, destroyed forests miles wide, breaking down branches with their weight and wasting the crops far and wide. This bird moves with extraordinary speed and goes enormous distances. Many have been killed in New York State with their crops full of rice that they must have eaten in Georgia. That means that they flew three hundred miles in six hours. In 1813, Audubon says the air was literally filled with pigeons, and the midday sun darkened as in an eclipse, and the flocks flew over him in countless numbers for three whole days.

The Mourning Dove is similar to the Pa.s.senger Pigeon, but not as large.

GROUSE.

The Grouse are as a rule ground birds and trust to their ability to hide to escape detection, their color being such as to make them difficult to detect against a background of dead leaves. The Ruffed Grouse can easily be detected by the drumming sound which it makes. This drumming begins gradually and gradually dies away. The sound is made by the male bird beating its wings in the air. The young birds run about like small chickens. They feed on insects, berries and seeds.

QUAIL.

Who has not heard the quail call across the fields "bobwhite, poor bobwhite"? They like the fields of corn in the fall; in the winter they journey to the deep woods; like the grouse, they rely upon their coloration for protection and will only take flight as a last resort.

THE PLOVERS.

In habit they are like the snipes; but their tails are shorter and thicker. The Golden Plover may be found in marshes and sand-flats; they can run very rapidly; they may be seen as the tide goes out feeding on sand-flats or sand-bars. After running a few yards they stop suddenly and seem to take their bearings. It is well known by its plaintive cry and the stratagems it employs to decoy intruders away from its nest, or rather eggs.

The Killdeer is so called on account of the cry which it utters; it resembles "kill-dee, kill-dee." It is found usually in flocks and nests on the ground in a hollow.

THE CRANES

frequent marshes and are fond of frogs, field mice, snakes, etc. They have a loud cry. When in flight the neck is not bent like the Heron's.

They nest on the ground.

THE HERONS AND BITTERNS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HERON.]

The Herons nest in flocks; the bitterns are not as sociable. The latter inhabit gra.s.sy marshes, while Herons like the sh.o.r.es of lakes and rivers. The Herons fly with their neck bent in between their shoulders.

The American Bittern lives in large gra.s.sy meadows; it makes a peculiar booming sound which can be heard for a long distance. The Great White Heron is found along the Gulf of Mexico and in Florida. The Great Blue Heron is found further north; its nest is usually in tall trees and is made up of sticks and twigs. The Egrets belong to this family.

THE SPOONBILLS.

The Roseate Spoonbill is found only in the very Southern parts of the United States and in small quant.i.ties; their bill is large and flat, shaped at the end like a large spoon.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE SPOONBILLS.]

THE IBISES.

The Ibises find their food on mud-flats along the sh.o.r.es of lakes and rivers. It consists of frogs, small fish, etc.

THE SNIPES AND SANDPIPERS.

The birds are also found near the water; they have long bills which they force into the mud in search of their food.

The Wilson Snipe nests in meadows and swamps. It builds its nest on the ground and is a game bird popular with the sportsman. The Snipe in its habits much resembles the Woodc.o.c.k; its flight is very singular, rendering it a difficult mark.

THE AMERICAN WOODc.o.c.k.

The presence of Woodc.o.c.k can always be determined by the holes which they make in the earth in search of worms; these are known as woodc.o.c.k borings. When the bird is found near its nest or young birds it will feign an injury and will endeavor in this way to lead you away from them. The Woodc.o.c.k frequents dense thickets during the day and at night it leaves for swamps and meadows in search of worms and insects.

AVOCETS AND STILTS.

Called "The Wading Snipe"; they wade in shallow water and can swim when necessary. The bill of this bird is curved like that of the Curlew, but the curve is upward instead of downward.

THE RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS.

The Rails live in marshes. The Gallinules live on marshy banks of rivers, lakes, etc. The Coots are still more aquatic, and are very noisy; all of this family lay their eggs on the ground.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FLAMINGOES.]

THE FLAMINGOES.

The Flamingoes formerly visited Southern Florida every winter. Now their appearance is rare. The singularly shaped beak of this splendid bird is peculiarly adapted to its long and flexible neck. When the bird wishes to feed it merely stoops its head into the water; the upper mandible is then lowest and is well fitted to receive the nutritive substances which are entangled in a filter placed on the edges of the beak.

The color of its plumage is a deep brilliant scarlet, except the quill feathers, which are black. When a number of these birds stand ranged in a line, according to their custom, they present the appearance of a small and well-drilled body of soldiers.

THE SWANS.

Wild Swans are now rare birds in the United States. They feed as they swim by putting their long necks and heads under the water. They swim with great rapidity.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SWAN.]

GEESE.

Watch the skies in the spring and when you see a V-shaped flock of birds flying northward, the wild geese are flying. It is said that the apex of the V is always an old gander. They feed on vegetable matter, both in the water and on sh.o.r.e.