x oe lA = A: a at tates i ne a on ee i Horeca i is fer bet Lani. FSGS Se i eae LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGY LIBRARY SSX 7 ft fiukud/ Peasgh CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Laboratory of Ornithology 459 Sapsucker Woeds Road Cornell University Ithaca, New York 1485 ! Cornell University The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022557361 THE BOOK OF BIRDS COMMON BIRDS OF TOWN AND COUNTRY AND AMERICAN GAME BIRDS BY HENRY W. HENSHAW FORMERLY CHIEF UNITED STATES BIOLOGICAL SURVEY ILLUSTRATED IN NATuRAL Cotors witH 250 Painrincs BY LOUIS AGASSIZ FUERTES Wirn Cuapters on “ENCOURAGING Birps AROUND THE Home,” sy F. H. Kennarp; “THE Mysteries oF BIRD MicratTion,” py WELLS W. Cooke, aNnp “How Birps Can TAKE THEIR Own Portraits,” BY GEORGE SHIRAS, 3RD, AND 45 ILLUSTRATIONS AND 13 CHartTs IN BLacK AND WHITE. PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY WASHINGTON, D. C. U.S.A. Copyright by the | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, and 1921 Washington Press of Judd & Detweiler, Inc. 1921 OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS N THIS VOLUME are presented the principal articles and the most beautiful color illustrations of man’s feathered friends which have been published in the National Geographic Magazine during the last six years. The text and pictures comprise one of the most valua- ble and fascinatingly interesting contributions to popular science the National Geographic Society has devised, and the most comprehen- sive and charming handbook of avian lore that has ever been offered at a moderate price. The 250 illustrations in color of the Common Birds of Town and Country, of our Warblers and American Game Birds, are repro- ductions of the matchless pictures from the brush of the distin- guished artist-naturalist, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, while the descriptive text by Henry W. Henshaw, formerly Chief of the U. S. Biological Survey, sets forth concisely, entertainingly, yet with scientific accu- racy, the distinguishing characteristics of each species of bird, its peculiar habits, and its favorite habitat. Dr. Henshaw has pointed out the need for the preservation of bird life, and how the farmer without his feathered insect-destroyers would face constant disaster to his crops. Few wonders of the natural world are as compelling in interest as is the display of that mysterious impulse which is followed season after season by the birds which migrate from their winter homes to their nesting places in the spring, and then make the return journey in the fall, guided no one knows how—an absorbing study for both layman and scientist. The article by the late Wells W. Cooke, “Our Greatest Travelers: Birds that Fly from Pole to Pole, etc.,” gives a most comprehensive and engaging digest of these mysterious migra- tions, and the text is elucidated by a series of illumimating maps and charts. Frederick H. Kennard’s article, “Encouraging Birds Around the Home,” accompanied by numerous illustrations in black and white, tells with the bird-lover’s enthusiasm how every reader. be he III IV OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS proprietor of a great estate or the owner of a window-sill, can make the acquaintance and win the confidence of birds, adding them to his circle of appreciative friends and charming visitors. George Shiras, 3rd, the inventor of flashlight photography of wild animals and of methods of making animals and birds take their own portraits, gives some useful hints on the latter subject. Utility, beauty, and art are served alike when man befriends the birds. GILBERT GROSVENOR, Director and Editor. a * fe < ae Y ¢ ... % \ ¥ Photograph by Howard H. Cleaves THE EXCITEMENT OF TOUCHING THE ECCENTRIC WOODCOCK ON THE BACK CONTENTS Page Common Birds of Town and Country. Hrnry W. HENSHAW........... Sok oe eee 7 Friends of Our Forests—The Warblers. HENRY W. HENSHAW............00000005 74 World Record for Feathered Friends. GILBERT GROSVENOR.......... 0.0 e eee eee ee 98 How Birds Can Take Their Own Portraits. GEORGE SHIRAS, 3RD.........-. ee ee eee 101 American Game Birds. Henry W. HENSHAW....... ivtle asboesa mass ae. oe weap 105 Index to American Game Birds.............0e.e ee eee tush Siti alsea bide ee eae Rata aod rear 158 Encouraging Birds Around the Home. Freperick H. KENNARD................2645 160 Our Greatest Travelers—Bird Migrations. WerLtis W. CooKE....... ss Bassferee araeeasein ss 181 INDEX TO COMMON BIRDS OF TOWN AND COUNTRY For For For For picture description picture description see page see page see page see page Blackbird, Brewer’s...........- 25 24 Flicker, Red-shafted........... 56 57 Blackbird, Crow............0055 17 16 Flycatcher, Black; Phainopepla. 35 B34 Blackbird, Red-winged......... 60 61 : Blackbird, Yellow-headed....... 46 47 Game Birds Index............. =: 158 Bluebitd: seesscaesaeesseeee sou 9 g Goldfinch, American........... 37 36 BLUE ay sscssosi oceaes euans ae 25 24 Goldfinch, Arkansas............ 37 36 Seba aeS acer jacsqnanomnans 58 59 Grosbeak, Black-headed........ 15 14 Bobybiiter «asin paca ueeeteny als 54 55 Grosbeak, Blue...............- 23 22 Buntise WaiG).¢1