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Some

Bird

Friends

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Some Bird Friends

BY HKNRY F'. PULLEN

Birds, Birds, vc arc beautiful thinps "

An intimate introduction to
a few of the common birds
of Western Canada. Con-
taining twenty illustrations
from original photographs,

BOOKSELLERS AND

STATIONERS
VICTORIA. BC

Published by the Free
Lance Publishing Com-
pany, Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada.

Printed and compiled at
the Oak Bay Print Shop,
Victoria, British Colum-
bia, Canada.

To You

Who love the Rreat open spaces,
Who respond to the call of the pine woods,
Who believe in the kinship of all created things.
And who have a particular affection for our feathered friends,
This booklet is dedicated.

Mobel Slues

"The more I see of some pwple the more I like birds." That is a
parody on something which somebody said somewhere once upon a
time. As a matter of fact, birds are much better than men. They
are neater, cleaner, more beautiful, more moral, less vindictive, more
cheerful, less inclined to K^'ssip or backbite. The only fault of the
bird is that he does not use his wonderful powers of flight to dominate
the world and bring about a period of birci rule. What a preening of
plumage there would be among the man tribe if the birds set the
pace! There would bv. a great destruction of inartistic homes, of ugly
suits of clothes, of imitativ^n hats; and a sloughing off of harsh, unholy
voices.

Birds live model lives. Were it not for their human enemies,
many of them would be almost secure from injury. They have set a
pace in transportation which we, with all our ingenuity and boasted
suF)eriority, have been unable even to imitate.

Watch the gull flying alongside the ship with scarce a motion of
those graceful wings, propelling itself faster than the ten thousand
horse-power engine drivi'' ; the vessel. Here is superiority indeed!

In the creation of the world and the evolution of the human race
there was a moment when the fate of man hung in the balance. Had
lie develoi^ed along the line of the winged creatures instead of being
content to grovel, what a lightsome race we should have been to-day.

Think of the joy of moving rapidly through space at will. What a
small place the world would be, and how educated we should become
if we could at will rise from the ground, and, without filling the gas
tank, or adjusting the carburetor, wing our way across the sea to an-
other land; or visit the Doukhobors and watch them coax riches from
the sun and soil.

Our forefathers missed their opportunity, and because of their sin
we must walk or irritate the magneto. We cannot become birds, but
we may at least learn to appreciate our feathered friends. It is use-
less to envy them, but we can treat them as becomes their superior
station in life. Cruelty to these highly favored creatures is unthink-
able. They are not the Lords of Creation, but they are the [perfection
of the life to which we can never hope to attain. Let us humble our-
selves when we see a finch revelling in thistle-down. He has the
advantage of us. Let us remember that we are only men, and that
this little creature lives a more perfect life, and is better in every re-
spect than we.

--The I'Vet' Lance

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SOME BIRD FRIENDS

Introbuctory

The common birds of British C()lunil)i.'i arc chiefly those which fre-
quent the cities and towns, the villages and the isolated farms. Few
birds live away by themselves, but there are exceptions, and one of
the notable exceptions is the guillemot. 'Ihese birds are seon almost
everywhere in the isolated inland waters, but seldom in the harbors
and bays which aie frequented by shipping. The gulls, on the other
hand, while they go off to some lonely island during the nesting sea-
son, return to the harbor with the approach of autumn, and in the
winter become very tame.

Of the land birds, the flickers live in the deep woods, but they are
also found on the lawns and in the trees of the garden, making them-
selves quite at home among men. The crows find their chief food
along the beaches, but they have discovered that the presence of man
has brought variety of fo(xl supplies, and the result has been that
many crows have almost deserted the shore and gone to live in the
parks and farm fields. Practically all the birds seem to prefer the
haunts of men to the wilderness, for food is there in greater abun-
dance.

The great majority of Western birds are insect eaters. Even those
that are especially formed b^- • ature to live on seeds enjoy a variety
of diet, and seldom refuse a nieal of animal food. The propensities of
some of the commoner birds to steal fruit from the farm.er is some-
times annoying, but only in isolated instances is it found that the
birds do more harm than good. There are always individual birds
whose tastes are depraved, and these tastes get them into trouble; but
on the whole the bird life of the country is beneficial, and for that rea-
son the birds should not only be protected, but their presence should
be invited.

There are many residents in the West who are very fond of the
birds, and to them it is sufficient to have them without inquiring too
closely as to their habits, or the possible injury they may do. For
the sake of the birds, however, it is wise to protect them from
calumny, and to do this it is necessary to study their habits and to
familiarize {people with them.

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

Eht MtsUtn lobin

The best known of all the wild birds in this country is the robin.
It lives in the fields and gardens; it adds charm to our lawns, and it
dines at the expense of our enemies, the worms and insects. Kvery
one who knows anything of the birds, knows the robin, in fact some
children have been known to classify the bird life of the country, as
crows, robins, and dickey-birds.

The Western robin is a sub-species of the American robin of the
Kast, differing from it in not having white markings on its tail.

Both in general appearance and hcbits, the robin resembles the
thrush of Kngland, especially the song thrush. The color of its breast,
however, differentiates it from its European cousin, and its voice is not
as tunesome. nor is its song as continuous. Both are, however, friends
of man, preferring to live and nest in the neighborhood of human
habitation, rather than in the deep woods or the open fields.
Now and then the robin finds an enemy, usually among the fruit

and berry growers; but it pre-
fers the rowan berry to the
cherry, and nearly all the wild
berries suit its taste in turn.

The robin's nest is plastered
with mud, and then lined with
hay, or a suitable substitute.
The eggs are clear blue, and are
usually four in number, although
clutches of three and five are
not uncommon.

The nest is usually located in
the fork of a tree or shrub, any-
where from six to twenty feet
from the ground ; but now and
then odd sites are chosen.

A year or two ago, one pair of
birds thought they would like
to build their nest in the corner
of Mr. Hugo Beaven's porch at
Oak Bay. They carried a lot
of small sticks, and tried to
lodge them on a slight projec-
RoBiN THAT WON OUT THROUGH SHEER tion, but they all fell to the
PERSISTENCE floof. After somc hours of fruit-

less labor the birds gave it up,
and tried a similar corner in the back porch. There, too, they failed.
Apparently they had set their minds on a corner under the shelter of
that roof; for, once more they tried the front porch, but with no more
success than at first. This time Mr. Beaven came to their rescue.
Taking a small box, he nailed it to the wall, in the place where the
birds wanted to build ; but left the heads of the nails sticking out into
the box. The birds at once seized upon the situation. They filled
the box with sticks, well above the point where the heads of the nails
protruded, and then they commenced their nest, the one that is pic-

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

turcci in the accompanyinp; illustration.

It was not easy to take the photograph, for the red walls absorbed
the lik'ht, and the nest was on the shady side 'of the house. At first
the bird nioved when the shutter was opened, thus making a blur;
but by giving a long exposure, it was found that a perfect linage ^was
securec'.

Amang the jFlirkers

A combination between a shriek and a squawk, is the cry that
usually announces the presence of the flicker.

"Why is it called a flicker?", inquired a very young naturalist.
And the answer was, " Because It flicks". In the same way il is a
v.'oodpecker, because it pecks wood. A good many jx'ople seem to
imagine, that this bird lives by pecking wood, but in that they are
mistaken. The flicker spends much of its time on the ground, looking
for food. While some of its food, it takes from rotting wood, the
greater part of it, espec-
ially in the summer, is
taken from the ground.
Ants in particular, are
much appreciated by
this long-billed connois-
seur, and there are lots
of ants on the Pacific
Coast, therefore all the
woodpeckers thrive, and
especialljf the flicker.

The Northwestern
flicker, which is the
common flicker of the
British Columbia coast
region, differs from the
Northern flicker and
high-holder or yellow-
hammer of the East, in
having a bright red, tri-
angular marking, run-
ning back from the bill,
below the cheek, instead
of a black mark. Also
the under parts of the
wings and tail are red,
instead of yellow, and
there is a white patch
on the rump, which is
particularly noticeable
when the bird is flying.
All the flickers have the
clear black crescent on
the breast. The North-
ern flicker is like the

A SECTION OF WILLOW TREE HAS BEEN
REMOVED, SHOWING FLICKERS NEST

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

Eastern bird in having yellow beneath the wings and tail, black
cheek marks, and a red band around the back of the neck.

Some interesting birds are sometimes found which seem *o be
crosses between the Northwestern and Northern flickers. Combina-
tions of red and yellow occur, which seems to indicate that the
breeds are often crossed. Yellow feathers are seen among the red, or
red feathers among the yellow, all of which is scientifically wrong,
unless caused by intermarriage between the red-tailed and yellow-
tailed kinds.

No one seems to know just why the flicker pecks holes in certain
wood. Some people will tell you that it is to secure food, but that is
doubtful in many cases. It is not an uncommon thing for a flicker
to attack the side of a new house, pecking holes in the siding, and
doing considerable damage. I
knew one case where a hole was
pecked in this way. The owner
shot the bird ; but the next morn-
ing another had taken its place,
industriously tapping away at
the side of the new house. The
chips flew and the holes increas-
ed in size ; nd the owner became
irate. Once more he went out
with the gun, and the offender
fell dead. Now he thought all
his bird troubles were over, but
the following morning a third
bird was busy at the same point.

Another case of a bird attack-
ing the side oi a house was
treated differently. The owner
pointed out the hole to me, but
" Do not disturb the bird," said
he, " I would not interfere with
it, if it pecked the house down."

So far as I have been able to
gather, that is the only offence
against mankind that the flicker
ever commits, and the cases
are isolated. As a rule he is
perfectly harmless except to the insect life of the neighborhood.

Often the flickers become quite t^me, and now and then
tameness is the cause of their destruction. One morning early
was a great shrieking outside my window. Sensing disaster to my
friends. I jumped out of bed and dashed outside in my night-dress,
only to see the old black cat making off with a big flicker in his mouth.
Stop him I could not, nor would he drop the bird.

The flicker nests in a hole in a tree; the nest usually being at least
eighteen inches below the entrance. The hole is dug out by the par-
ent birds, a chip at a time, and the nest has a few loose chips at the
bottom.

When the young birds are strong enough, they scramble up the

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A YOUNG FLICKER

their
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SOME BIRD FRIENDS

entrance tunnel, one at a time, and receive the feed that thepcirtnts
bring, and if the food is not there on time, a great r.oi^e ensues.
Naturally the strongest birds get the most food, but as there is
always plenty during the summer months r.cne of tl'.e m.em.bersof
the large fam.ily go short.

It has been suggested tnat the reason the loggers speak of their
food as "grub" is because the flickers feed their young on grubs, and
naturally the loggers are in close touch with the llickcrs, bothspeiid-
ing most of their time in the woods.

The eggs, eight or ten in number, are pure white, no protective
coloration being necessary in the cavernous nest. The nest in the
photograph was in a punky willow, about lifteen feel from the ground.
In order to secure the illustration it was necessMy to rieslroy the
nest. The top of the tree was sawn off and carried lo tl:e ground
bsfore the section was taken out, enabling the writer to take the
photograph.

(0ur yrienb the €roui

The crow is one of the cleverest of all birds. To the ordinary
observer he is just a black rascal, that frecjuents the parks and beach-
es, leading a useless and brainless life, To the bird-lover, however,
he is much more than this. He is the embodiment of cunning and
cleverness, and he is quite up to the average in the matter of useful-
ness. A few of his species have criminal propensities, but that is
rather a sign of development than otherwise. Now and then the

A CROWS NEST

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

authorities become exceedingly virtuous, and condemn him to death;
but he seldom suffers the penalty. As a rule he thrives well, and is
looked upon with favor.

It would be foolish to attempt to describe the glossy black plum-
age of this bird. His voice is more interesting, and less well known,
the various calls and inflections, all having a definite meaning. Mr.
Thompson Seton has described these calls in his book "Wild Animals
I Have Known," and anyone interested should read the story of
"Silverspot".

The crows nest in April and May, usually choosing a site suitable
for a community. Here and there, however, isolated nests may be
found far from any neighbors of their kind. In the neighborhood of
Victoria, most of the crows raise their families on Chatham and
Discovery Islands. Several nests are oiivn found in one tree, and
within the area of an acre several hundred crow homes are located.
Here they return year after year, using the old nests as a foundation
for the new ones, simply making necessary repairs and linirg the
inside with new cedar bark and sheep's wool. The reason the wool is
used is because sheep are kept on the islands by the Indians, and
the birds have found Ihal this is a very suitable fining for the nests.

The four or five eggs are dull green, covered with dark spots s:)
thickly that the eggs have a dark appearance. There are, however,
many shades and degrees of markings, so that it is impossible to
describe them for every case.

Sometimes the nests are located not far from the ground, in the
the small yew trees that line
the shore, and sometimes they
may be in the topmost fork of
the highest Douglas fir. I
have known crows to nest in
low bushes; one in particular
that I remember being on
Bare Island, in the Gulf of
Georgia.

It was on Bare Island that I
was once photographing gulls
on their nests. I had built a
hide and was waiting the re-
turn of the bird as usual. In
this particular case the gull
was rather suspicious, and half
an hour passed before it decid-
ed that it was safe to return.
It perched on a hillock near

by and walked in the direction of the nest, and a minute later would
have baen seated on the eggs. Just at that moment, however, a crow
passed by. He at once sersed danger, and gave his danger call-
L.aw cavv. 1 he gull was warned and flew away, refusing to return
again that afternoon. F!:vidently the crew was cleverer than the gull
and the latter kn:w it. and trusted his sagacity.

Everyone has hea^d bow the crows recognize a gun. When a man
IS carrying a gun, they keep at a respectful distance, while if the

A PET CROW

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

weapon is left behind, they become at- once more trustful. They also
can tell the difference between a gun and a walking-stick.

Some years ago a young crow was captured on one of the gulf is-
lands, and raised by hand. So interesting was it that it socn became
the family pet. Taking precedence of the cat and dog in the attentions
of th^ family, it soon became like a spoiled child. It was teased a
good deal, and responded by becoming impudent. It soon learned
that a gun was dangerous, and it resented any member of the family
using it. Let the boy take down the gun and point it in the direction
of the crow, and the latter would make a dash for the offender, peck-
ing and striking with its wings until the weapon was put aside.

I have known a good many crows that have been raised in semi-
captivity, and I cannot think of any more interesting pets. Dr.
Calvert's children once raised two that they took from a nest in the
Uplands. They v/ere always allowed their liberty, but were fed and
petted to such an extent that they continued tame long after they
had reached maturity. They were mischievous sometimes; but on
the whole gave little trouble. Whenever they were hungry, which
happened at least every hour, they would come down from the oak
tree and squawk for food until satisfied. Such favorites were they
that they were seldom neglected. After some months they acquired
the habit of going away, at first for a few hours, and later staying
away for a day or two at a time. They were now learning the scav-
engering habits of their kind, picking up clams from the beaches, and
looking for scraps of any kind. Not having learned to fear every-
thing and to to be wary, they naturally fell victims to their trustful-
ness. One was shot when raiding a neighbor's garden, and the other
went away, never to return.

One pair of young birds raised by my own family were the victim^
of imtoward circumstances. Scarcely had they learned to feed them-
selves, when we went away on a long trip, leaving the birds with a
friend who promised to take care of them. On our return, one was
dead, and we found that the other had been kept confined in a small
cage. We took him home and gave him the freedom of a large aviary,
and the luxury of a bath. At once he fluttered into the shallow pan,
and played there until thoroughly wet. It took him a long time to
dry his feathers, but the next day he did the same thing, and that
time his plumage never dried. He died the victim of his love for
cleanliness.

Mht litrb that Sfnp on its Nest

The most original of birds, so far as the coast district is concerned,
is the vireo. It is the only bird that sings on its nest, and it is the
only bird that suspends its nest beneath the bough of a tree or shrub.
Then, too, it is one of the few birds that has a slight hook on the
end of its bill, resembling in that respect the birds of prey. This
hook is not so pronouced as in the shrike, but yet all the vireos have
it.

The vireo is not well known except to ornithologists, and yet the
bird is fairly common, especially at the south end of Vancouver Island.

8

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

WARBLING VIREO ON NEST

It is a little larger than the flycatcher, grey in color, with a suspicion
of green. It might well be a cress between the flycatcher and the
shrike, although it is nothing like as large or as bloodthirsty as the
latter. The hooked bill is probably useful in catching the larger flies
and insects, for this bird is an insect-eater like all its near relatives.

The nest is always suspended in the fork of a small bough. There
the parent bird sits, hidden by its inconspicuous color, and singing
from time to time a delightfully full, clear song, unhappily all too
short, but exceedingly pleasing to the ear.

Like most other birds it adapts itself to the oncoming civilization.
Some years ago I found a nest in the Oak Bay district adjoining the
city of Victoria; and mixed with the grass and lichens were the torn
transfer slips of the electric railway, the words " Oak Bay " being
clearly decipherable from the outside of the nest.

The picture of the bird on her nest was taken near Swan Lake.
The bough was that of the osoberry, and it was swaying in the wind,
the bird apparently enjoying the movement. As the bough was be-
n'iath tall firs the light was poor and time had to be given to expose
the enough to ensure a successful negative. The camera was set up,
and half a doz?n plates exposed, only one being of any value. That
one was taken just as the bough paused before turning at the end of
its swav.

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

Che Hummtngbirb

ICvory one knows Ihe huinmin,u:l)ircl. As soon as spring breaks, il
may be heard humming cheerlully around the wikl currant trees,
from the blossom of which ii .tjalhers tiny insects, catching them with
its lonu slender bill, the while it balances iisrlf on its uliltcrinu wini^s.
Later il may be seen win.uin.u around the honeysuckles and nastur-
tiums lakin^f a drink here and a lin\' white spider there.

The opinion seems to be very .general ihat the hummintibird lives
on honey. Many of us have accepted the tradition without ciuestion;
but careful invesd.uators have shown us that we were wron.u. and that
the bird lives almost wholly on the minute creatures that inhabit the
interior of the llovver cups in the reuion of the nectar vessels. No
trace of honey is found in the stomachs, but il would be too do.umatic
to say that the bird never lakes honey. We know, however, that it
will sip from small water vessels hun.u near the (lower, and wil return
to these ajiain and a^ain. Probably also in a similar way the bird
takes water from the cups of the flowers, especial!., in thi- early
morninj^; when they are laden wiih dew.

The rufous-backed or red-backed hunmin.ubird is tliC con.m(.n
variety on the North Pacific Coast. It is a ,uem of color in life, and
even after death the plumage retains much of its beauty.
The nest is the smallest imaginable. It is always placed on the

lop of a bouuh.
never wedged in a
fork. The exter-
ior is usually cov-
ered with lichens
which g i V e t h e
nest somewhat the
appearance of a
knob or natural
excrescence, such
as is sometimes
found on the fir.
The two cream \
eggs are marvels
of daintiness, but
when they hatch
the young birds
soon tni 'he nesi
and almost spill
over.
One nest I found several years ago, on a low bough of a fir tree
not more than two feet from the ground. It was an ideal place for
photographing, but the light was poor and the results were not as
good as could have been wis' ed. When stubby feathers were begin-
ning to take the place of wool on the young birds, one of them disap-
peared, where or how, I never knew. The young birds may have
fought, and one pushed the other out, but more probabh' the}.' were
frightened and one jumped out.

^

'-^

wk

w \

^0 J'rz^-m

YOUNG HUMMINGBIRD IN NEST

10

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

The hummingbirds fight among themselves a good deal. Very
commo.i'y ihey may be seen chasing each other, especially if one
comes near the nest of the other.

Cats are among the worst enemies the hummingbirds have. When
the birds are feeding from the flowers near the ground, the cats lie m
wait and spring upon them before they are aware of the danger. I
have seen several killed in this way. Two I have taken from the
cat's mouth after they had been caught, the one to fly away, appar-
ently unhurt, and the other too late to be saved.

Like most of the migratory birds the hummers gather in flocks
before leaving for the southland. In the autumn they may some-
times be seen in large numbers disporting themselves amidst a bed
of late flowers. At that time they seem to agree much better than
earlier in the season.

(^he )iarblers

Of the birds that are really summer birds, and that never remain
through the winter, the warblers are among the most numerous and
most picturesque. They are nearly all decorated, more or less, with
yellow, like most canaries, and in fact, they are often spoken of as
wild canaries. Except in color and size they are not related to the

YELLOW WARBLER ON NEST, THREE FEET FROM GROUND

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

U

. Very
y if one

When

ats lie in
iKer. I
rom the
, appar-

n flocks
ly some-
it a bed
ter than

• remain
ous and
;ss, with
en of as
d to the

'^^

canaries, for their food and habits are wholly different. While the
canaries live almost wholly on seeds, the warblers live alloKelher on
insects and other minute animal forms. Because of this, they slay
here only during the summer season when insect life is i)lenliful.
The first touch of autumn sends them living southward to the lands
of perpetual sunshine, where they remain until the following spring.

The two commonest warblers are the Alaska Yellow and the Lu-
tescent. In appearance these birds are much alike, except that the
yellow of the Lutescent variety is of a greenish shade, and the other
more nearly of the brightest canary hue. Both have soft musical
notes, but their song is seldom recognized because of their retiring
disposition.

The Alaska Yellow warbler nests near the top of the vSpirea or sim-
ilar bush, from two to fifteen feet from the ground. The eggs
are of a creamy color, partly covered with brown spots. The Lutes-
cent variety nests on or near the ground, usually beneath small
bushes or litter; and the spots on the eggs are of a redder color than
the other.

I have found the parent birds of either variety very tame during
the nesting season, but as with other birds, all depends on the indi-
vidual. On a number of occasions I have tried to photograph them,
but owing to difficulties with the light, have seldom succeeded in
securing good negatives.

The risk these birds take in the inhabited districts seems very
great; for I have known hundreds of nests that have been destroyed,
sometimes soon after the eggs were laid, but often when the birds
had become partly fledged.

The young of the Lutescent warbler often leave the nest early.
This seems necessary as a means of self protection. The location of
the nest makes it particularly accessible to snakes and other enemies.
The result is that the little ones, long before they are covered with
feathers, can run well, and will often make their escape from impend-
ing danger. By scattering as they leave the nest, there is always a
chance for some of the brood to get away safely. It is a case of the
survival of the fittest; the running powers being developed by
selection. Those that cannot run are killed.

ihe jiusfcal Mxtns

The wrens are among the finest songsters that the Pacific Coast
breeds. To see the tiny creatures with their heads turned upwards
and bills open, trilling out a gladsome tune, is enough to make a
human envious of the light hearted birds. Even in winter the west-
ern winter wren sings on sunny days, and that almost as blithely as
in the summer.

There are or two three species of House wren, all of which nest in
some hole or shelter; there is a Tule wren; and last but not least
important, there is the Western Winter wren. The House wrens are
larger than the others and are more common in the settled districts.
They have the tilted tails and brown spotted appearance, which at
once indicates the family to which they belong. They build large

12

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

nests which they line out with feathers, and the creamy esKs are typi-
cal of the birds that hide their nests beyond the reach of prying eyes.
Often they use the woodpecker's hole or a natural hollow for a site.

ONE OF THE HAUNTS OF THE WESTERN WINTER WREN

The arm of a scarecrow does not look inviting to us, but that was
the place chosen by one pair of Parkman's wrens in which to make
their summer home. They carried in a lot of hay and lined it
throughout. Inside of this they stuffed feathers, large on the outside
but downy in the middle, and there they deposited their six pearly
eggs. They commenced to sit, but about that time they were disturb-
ed. A nature student went rumaging around and noticed the nest.
He called to his aid the lady of the house adjoining and she
with a scissors slit the sleeve until the eggs were exposed to view.
After a photograph had been taken the sleeve was carefully sewn up,
and the ordinary observer would not have known the difference.
The wrens were not so ignorant. They found that their home had
been disturbed, and they decided that it was not safe to continue to
sit on the eggs. They went off to seek a new site, and the eggs were
never hatched.

The Western Winter wren builds its nest in an upturned root or
mossy nook in the deep woods, usually near a watercourse, and often
in the dampest spot possible. Far from the madding crowd it lives,
and makes music. During the coldest days of winter it may be seen,
usually around a tiny streamlet, hopping about in the bushes, search-
ing always for the minute animal forms on which it lives. The bird

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

13

is almost as curious as liic squirrel. When any out' slops lo ohMrvt-
it, lillle is (lone lo indicate that the intruder is noticed, luit liie bird
hides in the thicket or behind a lo.u. popping out now and then to
observe, but always seeming to be searchinu lor food.

Kven in the far off solitudes there is scnulinies excitinnnt, One
day as I was passing alonji; a woodland palh. I heard a cry of distress
coming from some birds. I ran in (he direction of the roi-e. and
soon discovered a snake that had seized a sounK wren andwasiryinu
to swallow it. The parents were ulterinji the cries as they Hew down
at the reptile, but with no effect. I made a da^h for it. but ihe
crackling of bushes startled the snake and it let .uo ihi' bird and es-
caped. Its victim was rescued too late, for it died almost immedi-
ately.

Those who do not know the western winter wren should make its
acquaintance. It may be found an\ where in the coast region, in the
valleys and on the hillsides. ICven in the far north its voice is often
heard hundreds of miles from the habitations of men.

She lustji ^ong Sparrnui

The Rusty son^^ sparrow is darker in jilumaKe, and more of an
artist than the VVhile Crown. Its son.u; is more continuous and more
melodious than that of its cousin. It differs from the S'(!oty viricly
only in that its plumaue is not (|uite so dark.

During' the winter this bird comes south to the n^ion of the forty-
ninth parallel, where it remains, unless the weather becomes unus-
ually cold. It is more sec-
retive and timid than the
White Crown, and usually
prefers tf) live at a short
distance from human hab-
itations. At times, how-
ever, when food becomes
scarce, it is seen in our
garden, glidinK away as
we approach, never uoin.ti
far, but hiding often in the
smallest bush until dan-
ger is past.

In taking the photo-
graph of the bird on the
nest seen in the accom-
panying illustration, I set
up the camera on the tri-
pod while the bird was away after being disturber. Thinking she
would be very wild, I afHixed a string to the exposure trigger, ana
retired a short distance to await her return. It was not long before
her soft warning cry was heard, and then before I knew it, she had
discovered and inspected me as I hid behind a bush. Apparently
she was satisfied, for she returned to her nest and a picture was
taken. In order to make sure I set the camera again, and before I
had retired my little friend pushed her way through the reeds and was

THE RUSTY SONG SPARROWS NEST

14

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

WHITE CROWN SPARROW

I

BIRD VISITORS

Bird visitors come to my garden gay,

Nor wear out their welcome though 1(

All drest

In their best

They sing and they nest,

They care not a jot for any behest,

But they come when they will

Enjoy life to the fill

And never a fear of incurring a bill.

And yet my bird visitors live under h

From the wren with his song, to the c

Dame Nature just calls to them softi]

A miracle surely —away they all go.

I

YOUNG WARBLERS

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

15

BIRD VISITORS
le to my garden gay,

* '

7" ■"

^^^Mb£

'4''

" .

if^

11;

■

V ^

1\

^ ,

V

w

^m

^

■"St-

9

S^f

'f

:^:

s

;'

w

'•,■

V

\

*^

r

h

.J

ife

>.

• •■>

i.

jt

L-j^

. di i^i

ir welcome though long th&y may stay.

LUTESCENT WARBLER ON NEST

ey nest,

iot for any behest,

hen they will

fill

of incurring a bill.

visitors live under law,

rith his song, to the crow with his "Caw."

t calls to them softly, when lo!
away they all go.

\

NEST OF WHITE-CROWN SPARROW

16

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

on the nest, vsitting patiently there while I took as many photographs
as I wanted.

Some birds are much tamer than others. I have known sparrows
to allow me to touch them on the nest without being disturbed,
while others would leave the moment they heard a footstep. It is
all a matter of individuality. Like human beings they differ among
themselves, some being much braver than others.

([\it Mhfte-Crauineb Sparrow

The house sparrow that scavengers around in our streets, now quar-
relling with a neighbor, now chirping with a rather coarse voice such
as becomes such a life, is not a native; but there is another sparrow
that is common here, that is an altogether different sort of bird. I
refer to the White-crowned sparrow.

The White-crown is probably the best known of all the western
sparrows, although the Chipping sparrow is almost as common. The
three white stripes running from front to back on the top of its head
gives it its name. But it has other names. There are a number of
different species of this bird, but the differences are so slight that
they are hardly worth mentioning. They represent more a difference
in habitat than anything else.

This bird has a clear musical
voice, but it uses only two or three
notes, and its song is short. When
heard at midnight, however, it is
particularly pleasant to the ear,
and weird too, coming out of the
silences like the voice of a spirit.
There is indeed something almost
uncanny about all the native spar-
rows. They hide so quickly amid
the bushes, trained thereto in their
endeavor to keep out of the way
of the birds of prey that are so
numerous everywhere.

The white-crown builds a nest
of grass, usually in a bush not far
from the ground ; but often I have
found them right on the ground,
and again some have been a foot or two beyond my reach. The
eggs, four or five in number are dull green, and covered with brown
spots that give them a brownish appearance.

This bird is largely insectivorous, but it also feeds on the seeds of
the dandelion. This is an acquired taste; for I am told that before
the advent of the white man there were no dandelions in 1 his country.

Closely related to the finches, the native sparrows are all seed-eat-
ers at time.i, but insects seem to form their favorite food.

WHITE-CROWNS NEST IN OLD CAN

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

17

A layal Scauenger

It is the power, the freedom, the purity, and the innocence of
of the seagull that impresses the observer. There is also a quiet dig-
nity about the bird which seems to stamp him an aristocrat of the
oldest of families. With what artistic curves and dignified swoops
he follows a ship, and even though he disgraces himself now and then
by getting into a family brawl when the cook empties a box of refuse
into the sea, it is generally allowed that this is simply a little failing
which has to be winked at. After squawking and fluttering among a

GULL, PANTING IN THE HEAT OF THE NOONDAY SUN

heap of relatives in the wake of the ship until all the refuse has been
swallowed, or more properly bolted, the big glaucous-winged fellow
comes flying after the vessel with the most dignified of expressions,
and the powerful sweeps of his pinions soon send him alongside once
more.

To look at the gull, no one would suspect him of being a scaven-
ger. His plumage is so spotless. The white of his breast is as the
purest snow intensified by the contrast with the lead colored back
and wing tips. There is not a suspicion of his being bedraggled or
tainted by his occupation. Probably his occupation may not have
been really scavenging until the coming of the big ships to the coast.
At anyrate he can fish for himself when it becomes necessary, and
he can live on shell fish, which he cracks open by the same expedient
that the crow uses. Taking a bivalve in his bill he swoops upward to

18

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

a height of anywhere from twenty to one hundred feet, lets it fall on
the pebbles beneath, and then descends to feed on it, if the shell is
broken. If it is not broken he repeats the operation.

There are a number of different varieties of gulls frequenting the
Pacific Coast, but only one variety nests along the coast of British
Columbia. Many of them go inland to the swamps and small lakes
of the interior. The Glaucous-winged gull makes its summer home
on the small islands that surround Vancouver Island. One or two of
these islands on the West Coast are well known, and in the Gulf of
Georgia there are several. The nearest to civilization is Bare Island,
a rocky islet not far from Sidney, and less than twenty miles from
Victoria. There several thousand adult birds raise their young every
year; and there, as at other points, the Indians raid the nests and
use the eggs for food. A number of other birds such as guillemots,
puffins, cormorants, and oyster catchers also nest there; but in smal-
ler numbers than the gull.

If you visit Bare Island during the nesting season, you will notice
many of the big. white-looking birds sitting on the rocks as you ap-
proach. Before you get near enough to debark they will rise into
the air with shrill screams, and this will be continued until you have
landed and obscured yourself from sight. At intervals of the day
and night this screaming is repeated, and often when I have been on
the island I have thought that some boat must be approaching, but
investigation proved this not to be the case. Even at midnight the
alarm is sometimes given, and then all the gulls from one end of the
island to the other set up a great screeching, which at night sounds
more striking than during the day.

Accompanied by a youthful naturalist I spent nearly a week there
photographing gulls, guillemots, and other birds. We had a number
of opportunities to secure specimens of the eggs of cormorants, puf-
fins, and beautifully marked varieties of the eggs of gull or guillemot ;
but if I suggested taking any of them, my young naturalist at once
expostulated, sometimes with the remark, '* Well, you know what I
think about it." The result was that we did not take an egg, al-
though we found hundreds, probably thousands.

The nests are mad< of weeds on the ledges of the rocks or on the
bare ground, but the increased dangers of recent years have induced
some of them to build their nests beneath the bushes. Two or three
eggs are laid, greenish cream-colored, covered more or less thickly
with spots of dark, rich brown. They are about the size of a very
large hen's egg; immense eggs considering the size of the bird.

The young birds are the most curious little creatures. They are
somewhat the same color as the eggs. Their upper parts are mottled,
and when they crouch in a niche of the rocks or on the brown sun-
burnt grass, they are almost invisible. As soon as they are hatched
they will wander off, especially if in any way disturbed, in which case
they can run very fast. Sometimes one little bird, having hatched
bafore tha others, wanders off leaving the mother sitting upon the oth-
er eggs. It is almost impossible to induce the young birds to pose
for a photograph. Even if a hut is built near a nest of young the
chances are that by the time the photographer is hidden the birds
will be marching off across country, travelling perhaps fifty yards be-

50Af£ BIRD FRIENDS

19

YOUNG GULLS

When the nests are built on the ledges of the overhanging cliffs,
the young birds often fall on the rocks below and are killed. They
will take any risks in order to get away from an enemy. If brought
to bay they sometimes vomit up large chunks of fish. This may be
part of their defense, for a marauding bird of prey usually prefers
fish to young gull.

I have never seen the old birds feeding their young, and have of-
ten wondered if they ever do it during the day. I am inclined to
think they are fed early in the morning and late in the evening.

When the sun is blazing, the rocks and the sitting birds become
intensely hot. Then the mother takes deep breaths, sitting for hours
with the mouth wide open, the larynx also widely enough extended
to stick the finger in, and the sides of the bird expanding and con-
tracting. Her panting can be clearly heard some yards away. On
several occasions I have failed to secure such pictures as I wanted,
simply because the bird's mouth being wide open disfigured her so
much.

Throughout the winter the Glaucous-winged gull with many other
varieties frequent the harbors along the British Columbia shore, feed-
ing chiefly on the refuse thrown overboard from the coasting vessels.
Sometimes they are attracted in almost countless numbers to the
harbors where the herrings are running. This is especially noticeable
at Nanaimo, where there are a great many herring salteries. They
perch on the rigging of the ships plying back and forth, and become
so tame at times, that they will take food from the hands of those a-
board.

The winter plumage of the gull is not as white and clear as that
worn in the nesting season. Like other birds they put on the best

10

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

clothes during the love-making period.

All gulls are protected by law fr( m gunners, and it is very seldom
that they are injured, for they are looked upon as of royal blood, and
indeed their dignity warrants the presumption.

PIGEON GUILLEMOTS

€ht fl^tm (iiufllemot at Home

Few people imagine that there is such a marked dissimilarity in the
temperament of the different varieties of sea birds. The gull is very
majestic, with no sense of humor or spirit of fun. Whether the bird
is soaring in the air or s 7/imming in the water, it is always the same.
It is ever on its dignity. The guillemot, on the other hand, is just
the opposite. When seen flying close to the surface of the water it
moves with spirit, and often seems to be racing. When in its real
home, however, during the nesting season, is where it really enjoys it-
self.

About a thousand guillemots make their summer homes on Bare
Island. There they spend several months, during which period they
raise their families, and incidently have a most enjoyable time.
There are a great many gulls on the island as well as the guillemots,
but, v/hile they live very near together, they do not associate in the
true sense of the word. The gulls look on at the pranks of the smal-
ler birds, but they never take part.

The guillemots are about the size of pigeons, which they very much
resemble in appearance. Their wings are, however, much shorter
than pigeons', and their red feet are webbed. Owing to the fact that
their wings are so short, they have to move them very fast. Still,

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

21

they fly well, and rise from the water with ease. They also dive and
swim well, getting their food from the water. In color they are
black, with white markings on the wings. They have very short tail
feathers, but in place of this they spread their feet behind them when
flying, using them as a rudder, in the same way in which most birds
CO their tails.

During some days on the islai^d my chum and I spent hours watch-
mg the birds in their games and securing many photographs. "Tag"
seems to be their favorite game. Usually the game is played by two
birds, although sometimes three or four take part.

Picture lo yourself hundreds of the birds sitting on the rocks along
the rugged shore of the little island. Some are almost asleep, others
Lire talking to each other with the peculiar hissing voice of theirs,
v/hile yet others are trying lo crowd their neighbors ofl" the rocks.

One stands erect and gives its wings a flap, as if to challenge anoih-
er to a race. At once he is away, and the other after him. The
challenger drops into the sea at a distance of from one to two Hun-
dred yards from shore. The pursuer may follow, diving after him.
and perhaps giving him a nip either in the air or in the water. Then
they return to the rocks, and the game is taken up by some others.

GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL AT NEST. BARE ISLAND

The fun continues throughout the morning hours. Sometimes a
bird catches a small fish as it dives beneath the water. It then flies
with it to the shore, as if challenging some other to take it away.

22

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

Almost invariably there is a fhase, the pursuer sometimes following
the other beneath the water, and at other times waiting for the div-
er to come to the surface again. Perfect good-humor seems to pre-
vail throughout, the games being apparently tests of skill in flying
and diving.

The guillemots lay their eggs in a crevice in the rocks, sometimes
a long way from the surface, and at others quite exposed, although
the latter seems to be rather an exception to the rule. It is not dif-
ficult to catch the parent birds on their nests, but in doing so it is de-
sirable to exercise great care, as they defend themselves fiercely with
their bills. Even the little birds a day or two old know how to use
their bills with effect.

The young birds are black, woolly, little creatures, with a white
speck on the top of their bills. When taken from the nest they
crouch low, and when their nests are invaded try to scramble into
the innermost recesses among the rocks. The parent birds do not
seem to go near them during the day; at least, I have nevei seen them
fed. The lad and I watched them for nearly a week at a stretch
without observing any feeding. It is suggested that both these birds
and the gulls feed their young by night, but of this I have no ocular
evidence. That they commence flying very early in the morning
-before three o'clock-is sure, for when camping on the island we
heard them flying over our tent before that time every morning.

Often the nests of the gulls and guillemots are in close proximity,
the former being m the open, while the latter are beneath the loose
rock, perhaps a few feet away. I managed to photograph one of the
guillemots on her nest when in a position of this kind. There >yas a
small entrance hole a foot or two from the eggs, but by removing a
loose stone I was able to point the camera right into the nest where
the mother was sitting. She did not move, although I gave an expo-
sure of over a minute. One such photograph is ample pay for
hours or even days of hard work. It is the nature photographer's
reward

While we usually speak of the nest of a guillemot, there is in reali-
ty no nest. The eggs are laid on the earth or rock, as the case may
be, usually on soft earth. There is no attempt whatever to form a
nest. In one or two cases I fancied that the small stones had been
gathered to make a suitable bed on which the eggs might rest, much
as in the case of the oyster-catcher, but of this I could not be sure,
as the pebbles or stones might have been placed there by some other
means.

The eggs, two in number,have a creamy-white ground, but are
spotted and blotched in a most picturesque manner. They appear
as if they had beeen painted at one or two operations. First there is
a spotting of light brown, which looks as if it were made from a thin
solution. Over this may be one or two other blotchings of rich
browns, varying almost to black. They are about the size of small
hens' eggs, like many other seabirds' eggs, very large for the birds
that lay them.

When sitting on the rocks the guillemots make one of the prettiest
pictures I have seen. They are fairly tame, although it is difficult to

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

23

obtain satisfactory
photographs without
building hides near
the rocks which they
frequent. This was
how the photograph
used in the accom-
panying illustration
was taken.

Guillemots nest at
a great many points
around Vancouver Is-
land usually on high,
rocky islets, and in
company with gulls,
puffins and cormvor-
ants. They are a
little-known bird, as
they do not frequent
the harbors during
the winter. To those
who are interested in

ornithology, however, ^^^"^ °^ house wren in sleeve of scarecrow
mey are a most interesting study.

(Burnt Itrbs

The only native game birds that are at all common in British Col-
umbia are the grouse. There are two varieties, the larger being the
Blue or Mountain Grouse, and the smaller the Willow Grouse. As its
name implies the Willow Grouse frequents the swamps and low places
but in the winter the Blue Grouse moves well up the mountain sides
where it has an endless supply of food in the fir and pine needles.

In the spring both of these birds may be heard as you wander
through the woods. The Willow Grouse stands on a log and drums
with its wings, perhaps reinforcing the sound with its voice. It is
its love song. With care it is easy to watch the operation. At Co-
mox one spring afternoon I was wandering in the woods with Mr.
J.B. Bennett, at that time principal of the public school. We heard
the whirring drum of the grouse not far distant, and, being desirous
of investigating, crept slowly and carefully in the direction from
which the sound came. Soon the drumming was repeated and it was
louder than before. We were evidently getting near. Twenty paces
farther we saw the bird sitting on a fallen log, and as we watched, it
raised itself slowly, moved its v.ings up and down, slowly at first but
gradually increasing the speed until they could hardly be seen, and
the resultant hum was certainly curious. Time after time we saw it
perform this curious amic. Perhaps the call was answered, but if it
was we did not hear. At last we approached so near that the bird

24

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

notict'fl us and Ik-w away.

Last spring was the first occasion on which I ever saw the Blue
(irouse drumming, or, more properly, hooting.

.\t that time of year it is almost impossible to go
without hearing the odd sound, but to find the bird is
Ihin.u. We were at (ioldslream near the Niagara canycm
the hill for some distance above Malahat road, we sat on

to the woods
quite another
Climbing
I log and

listened to two grouse answering one another. One was on either
side of us and not far away. The call coming from the south seemed
the louder so I walked in that direction, peering everywhere for a
sight of the author. Before long the sound seemed to come from the
opposite direction, but I did not at once realize that I had passed the
bird by. Returning to my companion I now thought to scan the
limbs of the overhanging hr trees, jusi as I was about to give up
the search I caught sight of the big blue-grey chap sitting on a limb
fifty feet from the ground and close to the trunk of the tree.

Taking out my field glasses I watched him as he called again and
again in answer to his mate. Almost iiefore the sound of the other
bird's voice had died awa> my bird raised himself slightly, then
drawing in his head and exnanding his breast feathers he gave the
hollow hoot about eight times and settled back to listen for the re-
ply.

This was his way of making music for the world. At anyrate the
call was music to his mate, for the answer carne again and again and
the big fellow had all the time an air of content, of lordliness, of pos-
session — such dignity as became a bird of his proportions. Here
in the big forest he sang his weird song which seemed to have in it
somewhat of the moaning of the wind among the trees, somewhat of
vastness, but withal there was the spirit of joy and content such as
comes only in the springtime of the year.

The California Quail that are so common at the Coast were im-
ported into Vancouver Island in the sixties by Major Gillingham, a
retired army officer who was a very keen student and lover of wild
life. He kept them at Esquimalt in cages during the first winter,
and when released they at once made themselves at home. Others
have been introduced since, until today they are more numerous than
any other game bird on the Island. In the neighborhood of the cit-
ies they are protected from gunners but they fall easy victims to the
trapper. There are two varieties, the Valley Quail, and the Moun-
tain Quail, the former being the most commonly found here.

Quail, like grouse, nest on the ground, laying from ten to twenty-
five eggs. The young leave the nest as soon as hatched, and crouch
and keep still on being given the signal to do so by the parent bird.
It is quite common to find a nest full of shells from which the young
have emerged, their position in the nest showing quite clearly that
they had not been disturbed since the hatching took place.

The Ring-necked Pheasant, common everywhere on Vancouver Is-
land and the lower mainland of British Columbia was introduced in-
to this country from China. It thrives well, but needs protection,
as the size of the bird makes it so attractive to sportsmen. In some
districts the pheasants are very tame, especially during the close
season. In general habits they resemble very closely the domestic

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

25

fowl and will thrive in captivity, if Riven proper food and care.

A TYPICAL GROUSE'S NEST

Opinions vary as to the usefulness of the game birds and also as
to the amount of damage they do to farmers, if any. Some claim
that they are very destructive while others say that the pests they
destroy much more than make up for any small toll they might
take. Examination of the crops of birds, both here and in Great
Britain, seems to indicate that they are very useful, and that they
seldom eat anything that is of value to the farmer. The native
grouse in particular live almost wholly on such things as may be
found in a crab swamp or on a hillside of the densest woods.

26

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

Iht Skylark

Several attempts have been made to import English songbirds^ in-
to this country but without success except in the case of the Sky-
lark. This bird is particularly hardy. It thrives even in small
ca.nes, if ^iven the proper food, and sin^s in the spring as it sits on a
grassy turf.

The climate of British Columbia seems particularly suited to this
songster. It has become quite accustomed to western life; and it
lives and sings for the enjoyment of the select few who go to the
fields to hear it.

The Skylark nests on the ground. It divides its time between sit-
ting or running on the green sward and soaring in the air, some-
times almost in the clouds. It is a brown, unpretentious bird, not
quite as large as the Meadow Lark, but its voice, coming from the
great spaces overhccid, fills its world with music.

The Larks on the south end of Vancouver Island do not seem to
migrate. They live in the same fields winter and summer. They
sing at intervals throughout the year, but it is in the spring that
they are at their best. It is quite a common thing to hear three,
four, or half a dozen singing at the same time, far above the world,
mere specks to the eyes, but to the ears, full-toned, joyous.

These birds were imported by the Natural History Society on two
different occasions, and each importation was successful. They are
spreading slowly and it is thought have become firmly established.

Dtrbs of the Suiam;r

There is not much life in the heart of the British Columbia woods.
Now and then a squirrel will chirp and scold, and a woodpecker may
be heard tapping on a dead tree trunk. Even the deer and the
bear and the panther prefer the open glades or river valleys.
The tell-tale newly fallen snow discloses little of the wild life, for
there is little to disclose. The deep woods are deserted. The open
swamps, however, are totally different. Let me tell of a visit to one
of these :

It was a partly drained area, close to a village, with the high road
passing it, and :i was only seven or eight miles from the city of Vic-
toria. Two friends took adv^tage of our motor car going that way
to get a lift on a mountain climbing expedition. They remained in
the swamp long enough only to pluck a few botanical specimens, and
then hied them away to the hills. We remained for several hours,
and only the persistent call of other duties made us drag ourselves
away from the enchanting spot.

Why did we like the swamp? Our friends the birds were there,
and we enjoyed being near them. They, however, did not like us
much, for they did not recognize us as friends.

We found much to interest us among the spirea bushes, in the wil-
low trees, and among the other rank growths of the soft, spongy, low

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

27

land. We came very near to causing a tragedy, but happily we also
were able to avert it. Mother love in the bird world was every-
where apparent, and much of cleverness, of ingenuity, and of adapt-
ability to circumstances was evident on every hand.

Take the case of the Rail that made her nest and laid ten beautiful
eggs on the ground, well hidden by grass which covered all sign of
the home life of the birds. There were plenty of other suitable tufts
and fine places for concealment. There were long, rank growths and
bushy thickets. This particular pair of birds chose instead a level,
open vista with the grass just high enough to cover them, but with
the one advantage that the boggy ground gave way at that point, be-
ing little more than a weedy covering over a slimy bog. The care-
ful planning of the human mind could not have chosen better.

This swamp was the home of many Coot in days gone by, but of
late they have not appreciated the draining of the bog which has
been going on, and many have left. A few remained, however, for
there were still places where their nests might float on the water a-
mid the thickets, giving the young the advantage of being able to
slip into the protecting element when very small, thus avoiding their
principal enemies, the snakes and hawks.

The presiding genius of the place, however, is the Redwing. This
bird gives the warning of danger to all others, for its call is most
insistent and persistent. No sooner did we appear on th^ banks of
the swamp than a pair of these birds took notice of us and commenc-
ed their jarring cries. As we advanced they flew around us and
hovered overhead. With signs as plain as words they told us that
they were intensely interested in that swamp, and before we left we
found that there were eggs, tiny hatchlings, and also youthful flap-
pers that were trying, too young, to explore the fastnesses of the
outer world. The eggs, three in number, blue and spotted, were in
a nest in a willow tree as high as I could reach. The tiny young-
sters were scarce three feet from the ground at the base of a willow
bush and surrounded by swamp grass, the nest itself made of grass,
cleverly woven to the willow stems. The other nest we did not find
but we found one of the venturesome birds.

The j^oung Blackbird was not black but striped with brown, and
the woolly tufts of the nestling still clung to it. We spied it cling-
ing to the spirea bushes. After photographing we wanted a closer
inspection. To avoid this the little chap flew down amid the bushes
and hid on the ground. There we left it, and were packing up the
camera when sudddenly a great noise of screeching from the little
one and of calling and fluttering from the parent birds drew us back
to the spot, where we were just in time to rescue our little friend
from the jaws of a powerful snake. The reptile had seized the bird
by one wing, and was commencing to swallow it. Already the wing
had disappeared and in a minute the whole body would {have been
gone.

I seized the snake by the tail and lifted it from the ground, and
the boy tried to extricate the bird from the cruel jaws. Even yet
the snake would not let go, so I again placed :t on the ground and
struck it with my heel. Then the jaws relaxed, and the boy was
able to pull the poor little feathered victim away, frightened almost

28

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

to death, but otherwise quite unhurt.

"Shall I kill the snake?" I inquired of the boy, as we prepared to
go on our way again.

"No, do not hurt it," was the reply. That is the way they live.
Why should we kill it?"

She ©regon (ilauihee

Anywhere on the Coast in the neighborhood of cities the Tow-
hee or Cheewink may be seen; but it is seldom that a very definite
view can be obtained. No sooner does a visitor appear than the
bird dives for cover among old brush, dead sticks, or thick bushes.
He is a bird of the underbrush «here he skulks along with the na-
tive sparrows. It seems as if the greatest enemies of the insect eat-
ing birds in this country must be the hawks and owls, for so many
of the harmless varieties stick close to the brush, probably for pro-
tection.

The Towhee is considerably smaller then the robin. It has red
sides, dark upper parts, but
with white spots on the wings
and white tips to the tail feath-
ers. Its voice when in trouble
resembles somewhat the "me-
aw" of a cat and this call gives ,
it the name of Catbird.

The nesting site of the Tow-
hee is on the ground, usually
beneath bushes or at the edge
of a clump. The eggs are grey-
ish, spotted with brown, and
are not easily distinguished
from the surrounding foliage.

This bird winters in British
Columbia in sheltered spots al-
though it is probable that there
is a more or less general south-
ward movement, the birds from
Northern B.C. for instance
wmtering in Southern B.C. and
those nesting on Vancouver Is-
land going across the Straits to
the State of Washington for
the winter.

Insects provide most of the
food for the Towhee, but this diet is varied by an admixture of weed
seeds. The bird is perfectly harmless and is seldom molested ex-
cept by the ignorant. If it takes a fancy to a locality it does not
seem to mind the presence of human intruders, but it seldom exposes
itself unecessarily. It is often seen in the company of other birds
such as the sparrow and the wren, but seldom in the company of its
fellows.

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

29

id to
live.

low-
inite
1 the
shes.
I na-

eat-
nany

pro-

; red

weed
ex-
; not
30ses
Dirds
f its

Slhe House Sparroui

The introduction of the House Sparrow to this continent is gener-
ally looked upon by bird lovers as a great misfortune. The bird is
so aggressive and so prolific that nothing can stop its over-running
the bird world. Its voice is not pleasant; its habits are not looked
upon with favor; and, worst of all, it drives out the other birds
which formerly frequented the neighborhoods where it has taken
possession. Undoubtedly the sparrow has been found guilty, but
that is as far as we can go. It still continues the Biblical injunction
to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and it does so
with such good effect that it has to have a regular migration to get
rid of the surplus population,

Personally I love the little chap. He may lack all the virtues
which make a bird loveable to the ordinary mortal, but his courage
and audacity appeal to me very strongly. His adaptability to
changing circumstances, and his Bohemian mode of life, stamp him
a Philistine of the bird world.

The House Sparrow is typically Anglo-Saxon. He has pushed his

way into almost every quarter of the inhabited globe. He holds his

own, fights his way, keeps his head erect, and does not seem to care

a honk who is around or what enemies he is likely to meet. He is

liable to keep this up until he secures world-dominion.

Have you ever noted the fine appearance of the cock-sparrow?
His black cravat distinguishes
him from his mate. His bill is
heavy and strong, admirably
suited for seed eating. In Eng-
land he is fond of taking the
wheat from the ear in the fields.
Here he finds plenty of food
without doing that. The
world-conquest on which he
has set out is not a musical
business, so he has a voice that
becomes a fighter. Perhaps in
ages to come when the world is
subdued and he begins to live
a life of ease, his voice will
change and he will fill the world

with music. At present bis mount baker

chirp is decidedly harsh, but
he can be taught to sing.

Even those who profess to detest the English Sparrow must bow-
down to him as king of the bird world. Hail to the conqueror!

30

SOME BIRD FRIENDS

She Balue af With ^tuby

Anything which takes the mind away from the sordid grind of
business or professional duties is of value. Anything which tends
to develop the fine artistic taste, the powers of observation, and the
musical sense, all in one, is a hobby much to be desired. That is
what bird study does, and more. It takes people out into the fresh
air, gives them vigor, and cultivates within them a feeling of kinship
with the wild life of the woods and fields. In the quest for birds will
be found many other beautiful and enjoyable things. Compared
with other branches of natural history bird study is easy. It is
within the reach of all, and there is scarcely any time of year when
it is out of season.

It is possible that from a perusal of this booklet someone may be-
come interested in bird life. If so, any small effort of mine in pre-
paring material and writing and printing will have been amply re-
paid. As I write this final page I realize more than ever before how
inadequate are my efforts. Dozens of interesting pictures had to be
left out because of the cost of making the engravings r . .iraber of
intimate bird friends have been neglected because ri.. u < .ciial was
not nearly complete. At some future time I hope to publish anoth-
er booklet dealing with these; and perhaps some day I may be able
to combine them into one volume with the other photographs added.

-o.So-

Etx the HJittler Mvtn

Thy voice and beauty record hath,
Not in the human written word,
But in the wild unbeaten path.
In Nature's book, O little bird.

Nt'wton F Pullen