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— Western Evening Grosbeak.

A FIRST BOOK

UPON THE

: Birds of Oregon »° Washington

A Pocket Guide and Pupil’s Assistant in a study of
most of the Land Birds and a few of the
Water Birds of these States.

BY

William Rogers Dord.

IQOI
WILLIAM ROGERS LORD,
346 Yamhill Street,
Portland, - Oregon.

aE: THE LIBRARY OF]
ay CONGRESS, [|
Two Corite Recetveo | :
| } JUN. 26 1901 |
“0 3: CopyriGHT ENTRY $f
| 25, /9O/)
. F ;
pete oa ee Copyright 1901, by William R. Lord.
: 4 AU rights reserved.
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The TrwitlEadson Co Pertiond Or.
2 Printers and Binders.

son seen

Tbis Book

IS DEDICATED TO ALL BIRD LOVERS IN THE STATES FOR
WHICH IT IS PREPARED, ESPECIALLY TO THE

‘RKnigbts and Ladies of the Birds”’ |

IN THE CITIES, TOWNS AND SCHOOLS, WHO
RECOGNIZE AND HAVE ACCEPTED THE TITLE, AND ALSO
TO ALL THOSE WHO, THROUGH ITS PAGES, SHALL
COME TO FIND IN THE BIRDS MINIS-

TERS OF BEAUTY AND JOY.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHEAP PER, I.

A WORD TO BEGINNERS AND TO TEACHERG........ 13

CHAPTER II.

THE BIRDS OF OREGON AND WASHINGTON......... 17

CHAPA HR Tit.

Piemrm IeMow THE BIRDS. -. 2 0ci br. oe oe cok chee does 22

CHAPTER IV.

How BIRDS ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK......... 25

CEEAP TER: NV.

Pimnonaeenrr. THE’ DIR DS... 72522 deen bh ews ee ee 28

CHAPTER VI.

PerwreenryPott PED I 0RDS .. s. c.k oo ok eee ee oc kas 168

CHAPTHR Vit.

How To DOMESTICATE AND TAME BIRDS........... 172

KEYS TO ASSIST IN FINDING THE BIRDS—
ease ener payee aie Pace SU et he a 183
CS DIES LE CY Rea eer ea UP aR 185

FAMILY GROUPINGS, WITH SCIENTIFIC NAMES..... 188

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

WESTERN EVENING GROSBEAK ............. Frontispiece
Perea rAPHICAT, BIRD... 06.0 ci ek ee es 3 Opposite 24
MWerctErm MEADOWLARK... .........- i... ee 30 |
AUDUBON’S a En ih eet eats eos es 64
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK................ embrace’ é
VARIED ae jin ea Cie OF oe er aen sarees eaten a a 128
Beret cs ORTOLE. 6 ol fa Lawl se is 160

MODELS FOR FIELD OBSERVATION.......... End of Book

INTRODUCTION.

When I came to Oregon in the spring of 1899
from the Northern Atlantic States, I was greatly
delighted at the strange and beautiful songs of
some of the birds which, from the morning ot
my arrival, greeted my ear. Afterward, as I set
about studying and naming these new songsters,
I encountered an unaccustomed difficulty.
There are numerous short, simple and helpful
books for Eastern North America, by the aid of
which a resident of that section may begin to
know the birds of his own locality. But I found,
upon inquiry, that there were none especially
fer this part of the United States. The only
helps were in the large scientific works of Ridg-
way, Coues, and others, covering the whole or
large parts of the United States—and these were
to be had only in a public library, and when in
hand. were not easy of use. I have, therefore,
made slow headway in the study of the Birds of
Oregon.

To save others the difficulties | have encoun-
tered, and to encourage many, | hope, to be-

come familiar with the beautiful in the form of
bird-hfe in this section of the country, I have
undertaken to supply at least a present demand,
and furnish something like a First Book upon
the birds of Oregon and Washington.

The number of birds included in this little book
is limited tothe purpose for which it is prepared, .
viz: to introduce one to all the common Land-
birds of this section, except the Game-birds,
and to a few of the Water-birds. The Game-
birds are omitted, because it is assumed that
they are well known by nearly everyone; and
most of the, Water-birds are not given, because
they. are not commonly seen, are limited to
the coast and waterways, are shy, and do not
often attract any one except hunters and ad-
vanced bird-students. A few more than one
hundred birds are described.

The book is also limited in that it seeks main-
ly to help one to become acquainted with the
birds by sight and song, leaving, for the most
part, a treatment of the habits of birds, their
nesting, etc., for later study.

In the making of this book, I am under ob
ligation to a number of friends and bird-lovers
whose information has been freely given and
whose criticism of my manuscript has saved me
from some errors. During the weeks of writing,

IO

a

I was fortunate enough to have as a constant ad-
viser and critic, Mr. A. W. Anthony, a recog-
nized authority on the birds of the Coast, from
Alaska to Central America. Also, Mr. Herman
Bohlman, of Portland, Oregon, has given me his
accurate observations of the more local bird-
life, and Mr. Ross Nicholas, of the same place,
has been as generous of his store of local bird
knowledge.

To Mr. T. Brook White, gratitude is due for
his labor, under difficulties, in photcgraphing
the birds, ‘‘half-tones’ of which appear among
the pages of the book.

I want also to acknowledge the help that
Mr. Charles A. Keeler’s book, “Bird Notes
Afield” (for California), has been to me in mak-
ing this more northern partial directory. I have
been aided by his excellent descriptive lst. Due
Gredit fas been given-him-=as often as | have
made use of his work.

Of course, “Ridgway’s Manual” has been al-
ways by my side for reference, while Mr. Chap-
man’s “Bird-Life” has served me on occasion,
as he will see, should he take the trouble to look
into these pages.

Thanks are due to friends for aid in manu-
script and proof reading, and in copving.

i

In preparing the book, | have had the en-
couragement and constant assistance of my
wife. Her deep sympathy with the subject and
her literary sense have rendered her services
too valuable not to have them recognized in this
place.

Siew as. a.

A WORD TO BEGINNERS AND TEACHERS.

A word to beginners, and also especially to
teachers in our schools, as to the kind of inter-
est in birds which should be primarily aroused
and cultivated.

I once heard a High School graduate read
an essay upon Browning’s ‘““How They Brought
the Good News from Ghent to Aix,” in which
that splendid, living and moving poem, after
being killed, was minutely dissected. ‘The es-
sayist knew just where Ghent and Aix were
and just the length of the ride; but of conscious-
ness of the beauty in and enthusiasm for the
human struggle so strongly set forth, there was
not a trace. Such interest in birds and flowers
we may awaken in others and be led into our-
selves, when, with the eagerness of a collector
of stamps or coins, it gets to be a morbid pas-
sion to catalogue our “finds,” or to enter a
rivalry as to who knows the most varieties or

can tell the most about the birds of our own and
other localities. Certainly all educaticn should
tend to ennoble character and furnish the
sources of the highest happiness. If this be the
end sought, then a sympathetic and aesthetic
interest 1s the thing we must seek to get and
give, in our pursuit of knowledge of birds.
Indeed, it is a pursuit fairly dangerous to our
own possible enjoyment, when we set out with
opera-glass and notebook to name and cata-
logue the birds, lest we shall be less satisfied
to listen with exquisite satisfaction to some su-
perb singer, than to get his description im our
notebooks. It is not a tithe as important that
we should know the name and habits of a bird
as that we should answer his ecstasy of song
with ecstasy of delight. Dr. Henry van Dyke
has given us a motto for the societies which
are opposing the heartless and harmful prac-
tice of using birds for millinery purposes. It
is: “A bird in the ‘bush is worth tenj7ie
hat:’ Should not every bird-student have at
the beginning of his notebook some sentiment
like this? ‘A bird in the heart is worth more
than a hundred in the notebook.’ In a word,
let us, in the study of birds, learn to take more
time to listen to the beauty of song and to look
at the beauty of form, of color and of move-

14

=

ment, than to add their names to our lists and
familiarize ourselves with their curious habits.

It’s little I can tell
About the birds in books ;
And yet I know them well, |
By their music and their looks:
When May comes down the lane,
Her airy lovers throng
To welcome her with song,
And follow in her train :
Each minstrel weaves his part
In that wild-flowery strain,
And I know them all again
By their echo in my heart.

—Henry van Dyke.

In this place something must be said about
the desirability of making collections of birds,
eggs and nests.

Let us admit that one such collection for pub-
lic use in a museum is necessary for each town
or city. Beyond this we may not go. But,
with John Burroughs and others, collecting is
distinctly discouraged in this little book for the
following reasons: ‘he true interest, as above
indicated, is a living and sympathetic one. And
a person imperils this when, for the sake of cab-
inet-classification, he takes the life of birds, or
robs them of their offspring, although the off-
spring is yet in the form of the egg. Such work,
sO far as necessary, should be left to_the few
pure scientists, who, if. their hearts are right,

15

ae re

a

will pursue their object with a deep sense of
painful necessity, and with the greatest discre-
tion.

It is notorious that bird-collectors are apt to
become perfectly ruthless in their slaughter of
birds and spoliation of nests — actually strip-
ping whole localities of every egg and nest of
certain species. This is the natural consequence
of substituting an artificial interest for a natural
and sympathetic one.

Our love of birds can never be shown by our
mounted collections any more than our love
of children caquld be shown in the same way.

Then, it is far better to study and identity
birds in the fields and woods than in a museum.
The Jatter is easier, it is true; but 1t 1s. teG easy
for the true bird-lover. the bird should be
alive. There is joy in bringing a living, restless
bird to our eye, and in noting his “markings”’
and “placing” him afte1ward by mear:s of book
or key, that cannot be gained when we stand
in the presence ofa labeled, hteless creatmre>
In these davs of abundant help from books and
fellow-students, many may not need to see a
collection at all. ‘ }

Again, if the interest in birds becomes exten-
sive and is taken up by school-children, as it
is hoped and expected it will be, and this false

16

a“

interest should be allowed to arise, ciearly there
will not be enough birds, eggs and nests to go
around. Of course, nests may be taken aiter
the breeding season is surely over; but even
‘this might awaken a passion for collection that
would lead to carelessness and undue haste.

irra Rad:

THE BIRDS OF OREGON AND WASHINGTON.

There are no birds that belong to Oregon
and Washington alone. All of the kinds found
here are to be seen up and down the Coast this
side of the Rocky Mountains, within certain ex-
tended limits. By the “Birds of Oregon and
Washington,” we mean the birds that live in
Mis Secuon a part, or the whole, of the year.
These differ largely from the birds east of the
Rocky Mountains. There are a great many
species which are altogether unlike the Eastern
birds; while some varieties so much resemble
their Eastern relatives that they seem, to an un-
trained eye, to be exactly the same. But in the
varieties which so nearly correspond, there is
a difference, for the most part, in size, in form,

17

in color and in song. . The birds on this Coast —
are probably, on the average, larger than the
same birds over the mountains, and, in ‘general,
the colors are darker. The difference in hue
may, perhaps, be accounted for by the fact that
there is less sunshine here. Some of the cor-
responding varieties do not sing quite as much
as do the Eastern birds. Again, birds of corre-
- sponding kinds are not generally so numerous
here as further east—though some varieties,
common to both sections, are more numerous
than in the Atlantic States. Song-birds are
characteristic of inhabited lands, and multiply in
proportion to human habitations in country dis-
tricts. They must have open country, shrubs,
hedges, deciduous trees of low and high growth,
and the protection of man. If the Pacific
States use diligent care, in a few years the song-
birds of this Coast will be abundant.

I say above that there are a great many birds
on this part of the Pacific Coast unlike those
on the Atlantic. In this book, I have described
or mentioned something more than one hun-
dred of the birds of this section. All but six or
eight are Land-birds, and the list covers all of
this class that are in any way common. Nearly
fifty species are peculiar to the Western side
of our Continent, if, indeed, not confined entire-

18

=

ly to this Coast, while half as many more differ
from the Eastern birds sufficiently to be de-
Seribed in-the scientific: manuals as “Western,”
or by some other qualifying adjective, leaving
only about thirty, out of the whole number,
identical with Eastern varieties.

The lists thus indicated are given at the end
of this chapter, under the headings, “Variety’’—
meaning a variety or species slightly different
from the Eastern birds—; “Peculiar,’—meaning
quite, or altogether different,—and “Identical,”
—meaning, of course, the same here and there.

One or two varieties may seem out of place
under the heading “Peculiar,” as, for example,
the Western Meadowlark; but, as this bird is
not known east of the Mississippi Valley, and
seems to me to differ here so greatly in song
fomtetie ene in that resion, | venture to put
Memtetais list. ©n the other hand, perhaps, the
two species of the White-crowned Sparrow—
the Gambel’s and the Intermediate—ought to
me on tie Peculiar’ list, so unlike are they to
the Eastern “White-crowned Sparrow” in qual-
ity of song, and especially in the habit of the
“Gambel’s” of singing at night. No doubt some
changes will be made in these lists by critical
readers, but the number of birds in each will,
I believe, remain substantially the same.

19

In the back of the book will be found a table
of the birds herein, given in family groups, and,
for the help of scientific students, with the sci-
entific names added. A study of the list in this
chepter and of the family groups will reveal
more specifically the differences in the birds up-
on the two sides of the Continent.

PECULIAR.

Rusty Song Sparrow.
Red-shafted Flicker.
Northwestern Flicker.
Violet-green Swallow.
Rufous Hummingbird.
Brewer’s Blackbird.
Oregon Towhee, or Che-
wink.
Vigors’s Wren.
Audubon’s Warbler.
Skylark.
Streaked Horned Lark.
Louisiana Tanager.
Bullock’s Oriole.
Russet-backed Thrush.
Olive-sided Flycatcher.
Traill’s Flycatcher.
Western Flycatcher.
Arkansas Kingbird.
Cassin’s Vireo.
Hutton’s Vireo.
Anthony’s Vireo.
Lazuli Bunting. .

20

Western Meadowlark.

Black-headed Grosbeak. _

Lutescent Warbler.

Macgillivray’s Warbler.

Black-throated Gray —
Warbler. ©

Band-tailed Pigeon.

Vaux's Swift.

Black Swift.

Oregon Chickadee.
Chestnut-backed Chick-
adee. |
Slender-billed Nuthatch.

Bush-Tit.

Varied Thrush, or Varied
Robin.

American Dipper, or
Water Ouzel.

Harris’s Woodpecker.

Gairdner’s Woodpecker.

Lewis’s Woodpecker.

Northwest Crow.

Steller’s Jay.

California Jay.
Clark’s Nutcracker.
Pinon Jay.
American Magpie.
Swainson’s Hawk.
Pygmy Owl.

Dusky-Horned Owl.

Glaucus-winged Gull.

Ring-billed Gull.

California Gull.

Western Slate-colored,
or Summer Gull.

VARIETY.

Western Robin.
Gambel’s White-crowned
Sparrow. |
Intermediate White-
crowned Sparrow.
Western Bluebird.
Western Chipping Spar-
row.
Oregon Vesper Sparrow.
Western Savanna Spar-
row.
Western Purple Martin.
California Purple Finch.
Parkman’s House Wren.
Western Winter Wren.
Tule Wren.
Western Yellow-throat.
Western Wood Pewee.

Long-tailed Chat.

Pileolated Warbler.

Western Nighthawk.

Western Golden-crowned
Kinglet.

Oregon Junco.

Western Evening Gros-
beak.

California Woodpecker.

Pileated. Woodpecker,
(Northern).

Oregon Jay.

Desert Sparrow-Hawk.

Western Red-tailed
Hawk.

Puget Sound Screech

Owl.

IDENTICAL.

English, or European
House Sparrow.

Pine Siskin.

American Gold-finch.

Cliff, or Eave Swallow.

White-billed, or Tree
Swallow.

Barn Swallow.

Bank Swallow.

Rough-winged Swallow.

4
|
4,

Red-winged Blackbird. . Red-breasted Sapsucker.

Myrtle Warbler. American Crow.
Warbling Vireo. Great Blue Heron.
Cedar Waxwing. Pigeon-Hawk.
Yellow, or Summer War- Sharp-shinned Hawk.

bler. Cooper’s Hawk.
Mourning Dove. Short-eared, or Marsh-
Red-breasted Nuthatch. Owl.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Bald Eagle.
American Pipit, or Tit- Golden Eagle.

lark. -American Osprey, or
Belted Kingfisher. Fish-Hawk.
American Crossbill. Herring Gull.
Redpoll.

CHAP TE a its

How To KNoOw THE BIRDS.

As the most attractive thing about a bird is
its song, our first care must be to learn to listen
to the various beautiful notes of all the different
birds that we may hear in any country place or
open city spot. |

To learn to really know bird-songs, is to hear
them without effort and by habit wherever we
may be and whatever we are doing. A bird-
lover will hear a score of different songs while
he talks with a friend, or réads¢a Boeketer ao
is one of the delights of one who has come into

Ze

=

sympathetic touch with bird-life that he can
respond to every sweet song without having his
attention diverted from his usual tasks. The

habit of closed ears and heart to this ministry of

bird-song is characteristic of most people. Some
of us have sat in a room in June, and have been
asked by friends whether there were any birds
about that particular spot, while, with the win-
dows open, not less than ten varieties of birds
were pouring their melodies into the unattend-
ing ears oi these people who have never been
accustomed to listen.

First, then, learn to listen! Then learn to
see!

Birds are beautiful on account of their color,
though in some kinds it sometimes seems dull
and even ugly. Beautiful are they, too, in shape
and in movement. Learn to love all these qual-
ities, if you would truly know all about the birds.
There are the nesting fashions that you will, by
and by, want to watch with sympathetic inter-
est and helpful attention—sometimes furnishing
material for the roofless cottage in the tree, as
you may. But in the beginning your attention
will most naturally and profitably be given to
the song and the appearance of the birds. It
is to help you in taking these first steps that

23

rae

9

this “First Book upon the Birds of er |
and Washington” is written.

How, then, shall you best learn to know birds
by their songs and their looks? You will tearn
to listen and learn to look by listening and look-
ing—not alone when you go out to find the
birds, but when you pass along your usual
walks, even in the streets of a city as large as
Portland or Seattle.

In the bird season, from March into July,
you need not go far to hear beautiful songs and _
see several varieties of birds. If you are bent
upon describing and learning the names of the
birds, go where the birds are, taking with you
a pair of sharp eyes, and better, even with these,
a pair of opera or field-glasses. And then go
slow!

You should often wait for the birds to come
to you, while you stand, or sit, near a dead tree,
or a tree with a dead top, in an open space. In
an hour, eight or ten varieties have been known
to visit such a tree for the bird-student. Let
your movements be quiet as you go about.
Raise your glasses slowly. A hasty motion will
frighten the object of your attention. You
should have a notebook with leaves made some-
thing after the pattern of the one in.the back
of this book, and put down the best description -

24

7 Fore head.

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7a "Scdes.

QY Tf Breast.
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JS Outer Tacl feather.

A flopographical Bird.

££ Undertail- Covers,

GZ | y Upper tai l-coverts.

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that you can of the several birds that you see;
then, by the aid of this book or another, find
the names of the birds whose size, color, etc.,
you. have thus noted. Do not undertake to
name too many at once. tet thoroughly ac-
quainted with the looks and the song (if the
birds have a song) of two or three varieties
before you anxiously try to place others. It is
easv to get confused at first.

The best time of day is, of course, the eatly
morning or the late afternoon hours.

CrP ER Ly.

How BIRDS ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK.

Note 1. The order in which the birds are
taken is mainly that of discovery and interest,
rather than the artificial one of ornithological
classification. The latter association is left for
later study.

After naming each variety of bird, there is
first given a “General Description,” which is in-
tended to answer to the first more superficial im-
pression which one receives of a bird, not hav-
ing had time to see in detail what it is like. A
more “Particular Description” follows, but one
not too particular or technical for the aid of

¢ 25

young people, or of those who lack the ability
to use easily scientific terms.

Note 2. By “length” of a bird we mean the
distance from end of bill to tip of tail, were the
bird dead and stretched out. The living bird is,
of course, not so long, and allowance must be
made. | |
In measuring birds by the eye, it is well to
take for our standards the Robin and the Eng-
lish Sparrow; and say, for example, ‘Two-thirds
the size of the Robin,” or “a little larger” or “a
little smaller than an English Sparrow,” etc.

Note 3. In order to assist beginners in the
identification of birds, there will be found at the
end of the book two “Keys,” one for size, and
one for color for male birds only; the females
must be recognized through their association
with the males.

I give here an example of the manner of us-
ing the Keys: Suppose you do not know the
Audubon’s Warbler, which is small, length
54. inches; soft gray above; with yellow
crown, yellow side-patches on breast; yellow
throat and yellow rump; breast, black and white
streaked. After seeing it and writing down a
description of the bird, to help your memory,
look at the “Size Key” and find the birds that
are “smaller than the English Sparrow,” for

26

you know that the bird must be in that list.
That list will include twenty-three names. Then
look in the Key for Color for “Birds Markedly
Yellow or Orange,” and you will find among
them only six of the twenty-three in the list on
size which you have just consulted. he bird
must be one of the six. Find in the Index, in.
turn, the names of these six birds; then refer
to the pages where descriptions of these
birds are given, and in a few minutes you will
have identified your bird.

Another example: Suppose it were Steller’s
Jay that you had found; you would look in the
Key for Size for “Birds much larger than the
Robin”; then turn to the Key for Color to the
list under “Blue and Bluish.” |

At the end of the book wili be found two
models for making a notebook for writing down
descriptions of birds. One, for a “General De-
scription,’ to be used when the bird has been
seen only in a general and superficial way; the
other, for a “Particular Description,’ and to be
used for more detailed observations. These
models are followed by a number of blank
leaves, upon which may be kept the growing list
of birds as they are learned. They may also be
useful for other permanent notes, such as notes
upon migrations, arrivals and departures; upon

27

the birds which we see in early or in mid-win-
ter. EEC. 3

CHAPTER “¥

How To NAME THE BIRDS.

Now let us try to name a few more than one
hundred varieties of ‘birds to be heard and seen
in some part of the territory for which this book |
is prepared.

THE WESTERN ROBIN.
General Description—

Upper parts: black head and gray back.
Under parts: rufous or reddish.
Length: 103 inches.

Found in open country and orchards.

“Everybody knows the Robin,” you will say.
“Why trouble to tell us anything about him?”
Do you really know much about him? Are you
sure you know his song? Not if you think all
Robins sing alike. They do not, any more than
all people who sing, sing alike. If you listen
to the several. Robins that you may hear upon
some fine morning, notice how their voices are
like human voices in that some are sweeter, far

28

=

sweeter, than others. The Robin belongs to
the Thrush family, and sometimes one gives us
what you may recognize for its peculiarly en-
chanting quality—a Thrush-song. The Robin
is a “common” bird, but he is like children—
not to be despised on that account. ‘The far-
mers sometimes hate him and kill him as an en-_
emy, being unwilling to allow him the compara-
tively small pay he asks for the unmeasured
good he does them in the quantities of harmful
worms he devours. A pair of Robins sometimes )
take two or three hundred cut-worms in a day
for themselves and their young.

After nesting time, Robins are rovers, and in

large flocks may he seen in every part of the
country.
Particular Description—Head and tail, blackish;
throat, white, streaked with black; eyelids, white;
back, gray; breast, rufous or reddish; underneath and
under tail-coverts white. The young have speckled
breasts.

Nearly all Robins are migratory; some spend
the winter south of Oregon, and some coming
from further north remain with us. A few may
be permanent residents. In early February
the northern migration begins, and an occa-
sional song may be heard. In March the Rob-
ins will welcome every morn and early riser.

29

THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK.
General Description—

Upper parts: brownish-gray.
Under parts: yellow and black.
Length, 10 inches and more.

Found in open fields.

If this part of our country had no bird except
the Meadowlark, it would be, in respect of bird-
song, blessed above any other land I know. Such
a rarely beautiful, endlessly varied and wonder-
fully incessant singer! No bird anywhere has
a fuller or richer note; none such variety of
songs, except, perhaps, the Mocking-bird and
the Long-tailed Chat; none like this bird
makes varied and joyous melody in summer and
in winter, too; in rain, in snow, in cold. Nota
day in the winter of 1900 and Igol, have the
Meadowlarks upon a hill near Portland failed to
voice the happiness, or bid depart the gloom, of
their human neighbors. No one knows the bird
until he has listened to the many different songs
that he sings while perched upon tree or fence,
or again upon a telegraph pole, or even upon
the ridgepole of a house; nor yet unless he has
caught a peculiar and most rapturous song
while the bird is on the wing—a song so unlike
those we are accustomed to that it seems not
to have been uttered by a Meadowlark at all.

30

lark.

)

Western Meadou

=

_ The variety of the songs of the Meadowlark
upon this Coast seems limitless, counting songs
in different localities. ‘Lhe birds in one locality
may not exceed twenty varieties of song, but a
few miles in any direction will add, probably,
Mem more, etc. | have -heard at -Forest
Grove, in Oregon, five new songs from the
same bird, in the course of twenty minutes, and
in the suburbs of Tacoma, as many others, in
the same time, from a Meadowlark there. The
song goes from a clear, flute-hke whistle,
through distinct and varied melodies, to a bril-
liant roulade—the latter, as I have before in-
dicated, being executed upon the wing.

Ernest Seton-Thompson says of the Meadow-
lage te iis “Birds of Manitoba,’ “In richness
of voice and modulation it equals or excels both
Wood Thrush and Nightingale, and in the
beauty of its articulation it has no superior in
the whole world of feathered choristers with
which I am acquainted.” This is high praise,
and yet I suspect that he could not have heard
the variety of song in that part of the continent
which the same bird (as classified by ornitholo-
gists) gives on this Coast. At all events, the
Meadowlarks of Minnesota, when I heard them,
though beautiful, as Mr. Seton-Thompson de-
scribes them, as far as they went, failed to at-

31

tract me by the variety of music that | instantly
noticed here.

But his estimation of the quality, modulation
and articulation of the song of the bird that he
heard, is not overdone, unless, perhaps, we
ought, in justice, to say of the bird there and
here that its only blemish as a singer is that
it usually ends its melody too abruptly. The
Wood Thrush, to which Mr. Seton-Thompson
refers, lets its final note melt into the air. Still,
at times and at a little distance, I have heard an
extraordinary singer among our Meadowlarks
give the efféct of the Hermit Thrush of the
Eastern States—that bird which John Bur-
roughs calls the most spiritual of singers.

The Eastern Meadowlark, though almost the
same as ours in color, size and form, has, in
comparison, a very thin, though sweet, voice
and a more unvaried song; it 1s never seen so
near human dwellings as is the Western Mead-
owlark.

This bird nests in the grass, and early in the
season. Its young are often on the wing by
May 25th.

It should be stated here that the Meadowlark,
though called a “Lark,” is, properly speaking,
not a Lark at all, but belongs to the Starling
family.

32

33

Western Meads wlavk Somos.

}

‘peg To
ee eee

d

7

Ann a

“

During the past year my wife has written
down a few of the songs of these birds, heard
from our window, and seven of them are here
given by way of suggestion. |
Particular Description—Head back and tail, brown-
ish-gray, streaked with lighter shade, with a pale line
down the top of head and another over the eye; all be-
low, yellow, with a black crescent upon the breast;
sides, gray, streaked with brown.

To be found always in farm-fields and in all
open places about towns and cities.

To a considerable extent, a permanent resi-
dent.

THE WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

General Description—

Head, with white line in center, with al-
ternate black and white lines; back,
yellowish-brown; breast, gray.

Length, 7 inches.

Found upon low trees and bushes in open places.
Nests upon the ground. :

Next to the Western Meadowlark, no doubt
most people will vote the White-crowned Spar-
row the most fascinating singer of our North-
western States. He can be easily named, be-
cause of the central white or whitish line on his
head, with alternate black and white lines on
either side of this distinguishing mark. In the

33

Atlantic States the White-crowned Sparrow is .
very rare—is seldom seen and seldom heard.
But in Oregon and Washington a species of this
bird is on nearly every bush; and all the spring
long, and most of the summer through, from
early morning till night—and even in the
night—can the exquisite notes of this gentle
and friendly bird-be heard. Often, through the
darkest nights, in the Virginia creeper or
honeysuckle around the porch or piazza, he ut-
ters his plaintive song—seeming to say, as one
sensitive observer has imagined it: ‘Sweet,
sweet, listen to me, won’t you?”

This. bird may be called “the = American
Nightingale,” for surely its night-song has all
the quiet melancholy that one’s imagination
would attribute to the notes of a bird in the
hours of darkness.

There are two slightly different kinds of this
Sparrow in our States. They are the Gambel’s
and the Intermediate White-crowned Sparrow.
The former is the common one; the latter 1s
rare, but found more frequently as we go
North. On Puget Sound more will be found
than in the Willamette Valley. The summer
habitat of the Intermediate (“Intermediate,” be-
tween the White-crowned Sparrow proper and
the Gambel’s) is mostly in Alaska; but a few

34

a

remain in our territory for nesting. Most of us
will take the Gambel’s Sparrow for granted, so
rarely will the Intermediate be seen. But
around Puget Sound and during § migration,
some will want to distinguish between these
birds. Their appearance is so slightly unlike
that one must look closely indeed to tell them
faeer iter hearing the songs of. both, 1
seems to me that in this respect the birds may
readily be distinguished. The usual Gambel’s
song is the one interpreted above into “Sweet, .
sweet, listen to me, won't your” The song of
the Intermediate is the same in quality and if
it were the same in form, would be identical.
But it is irregular, without distinct articulation,
and can be translated into no definite language.
The differences in plumage may be gathered
from the description of the two given in Ridg-
ways Manual. They seem to be these—the
white, ashy or buffy median-stripe on the crown
is, in the Intermediate, as broad, or broader,
than the other lateral stripes, while in the Gam-
bel’s the same stripe is narrower than the other
lateral stripes. Again, the back of the Gambel’s
is a more smoky brown than the back of the In-
termediate, and the breast a darker gray. But
the most decidedly definite distinguishing mark
is this: the inner edge of the wing of the Gam-

8.

bel’s Sparrow is pale yellow, while the edge of
the wing of the Intermediate is ashy. Both
have light ashy or buffy lores, which join the su-
perciliary stripe, instead of distinct black lores,
as in the White-crowned Sparrow proper. The
full particular description of the Gambel’s
White-crowned Sparrow is as follows: }

“Edge of wing, pale yellow; white, ashy or buffy
median crown-stripe, usually narrower than black or —
brown lateral stripes; adult back with smoky brown or
olive-brown, striped with dark sepia-brown or sooty
blackish; and chest, brownish-gray.”—Ridgway.

The White-crowned Sparrow of Oregon and
Washington, as well as the Meadowlark, sheuld
be known and appreciated by every one.

A few White-crowned Sparrows spend the
winter in these latitudes. Most of them pass
the colder months in California. -The return
migration begins in late March or early April,
and the songs are soon heard.

THE WESTERN BLUEBIRD.
General Description—

Upper parts: blue.
Under parts: chestnut. ’
Length, 7 inches.

Found about houses and in the open country.
What so gentle reminder that spring is at the
door as the Bluebird by your house in the coun-

36

“x

try or suburb, with his soft notes and refined
air, carrying with him the color of the sky? He
comes no stranger to your home, if in the pre-
vious spring and summer he has found provid-
ed a small house in which to brood two (some-
times three) families, according to his success.
If you wish to invite to the hospitality of your
home numerous pairs of these gentlemanly and
ladylike creatures, build for them suitable
houses. The song of the Western Bluebird is
not full, but is, like his manners, gentle and
sweet.

Particular Description—Male—All the upper parts,
sky-blue; throat, breast and sides, cinnamon-red; un-
derneath, white. In autumn, the blue is a rusty wash.

Femaie has duller colors.

The Bluebird may be seen occasionally in the
winter season, and his arrival from the South is
like that of the Bluebird of the East, an early
one, often in the first week of February.

THE RUSTY SONG SPARROW.

General Description—

Upper parts: rusty brown.

Under parts: breast, white, dashed with
long brown spots, with a larger
dusky spot in the center.

Length, 6 inches.

Found in hedges and low growths.

37

Every part of temperate North America has
a Song Sparrow of some variety. Oregon and
Washington have one that is distinguished for
his dark rusty color, except upon his breast,
which resembles that of the other members of
the Song Sparrow family in that it is grayish-
white in background, with frequent dark
brown spots, anda larger dash of the same
color in the center. .

This little bird is in great contrast with the
White-crowned Sparrow in a number of re-
spects. While the White-crowned Sparrow us-
ually sits quietly and moves somewhat sedately,
the Rusty Song Sparrow has a nervous, twitch-
ing movement (not unhke the Wren), with
something akin to a fretful air, with head feath-
ers somewhat erectile and tail elevated, indicat-
ing disturbance. Again, while the White-
crowned Sparrow sings inveterately, the Rusty
Song Sparrow is a little chary of exhibiting his
fine vocal powers. But, when he does sing, his
voice does credit to the Song Sparrow family—
the members of which everywhere are notably
sweet musicians. He is often found with us in
the winter time, and occasionally his song may
be heard on a sunny day.

These Sparrows may be found in hedges,
shrubs and trees of low growth. When they

38

sing, they mount to the top of some shoot tall-
er than the rest, and can be easily seen and
studied through the glass.

Particular Description—All above, rusty-brown; the
breast, as described above; underneath, grayish-white.
Partly a permanent, and partly a summer, res-
ident. 3

THE RED-SHAFTED FLICKER.

General Description—

Upper parts: brown, barred with black,
with white rump.

Under parts: light reddish-white, spotted
with black; under the wings, salmon-
red. A conspicuous black crescent
on breast.

Length, 12 to 13 inches.

Found everywhere, very often about houses.

It is necessary to give the next place to the
familiar, cheery, beautiful and altogether splen-
did ‘Woodpecker, that haunts town and
country alike, sometimes rapping upon houses
with his strong bill, entering them through open
windows, and even occasionally forcing his way
in through doors which he has made for him-
self if left undisturbed in his work. This bird
is familiarly known as “the Flicker.” He has
many other names in other parts of the country,

39

and is here sometimes called the “Yellowham-
mer,’ after his Eastern cousin—though the
name is misapplied, since the Flicker of this
Coast has red or salmon color in place of
the yellow which is characteristic of the East-
ern species. “Redhammer’’ would be the ap-
propriate name for this prying creature which
hammers so often and so vigorously against
tree or house. And as his Eastern cousin is —
sometimes called the “Yellow-shafted’ Wood-
pecker, we may call this the “Red-Shafted-
Woodpecker.”

Notice his loud call, salute or signal, from
some high perch: “Kee-yer, kee-yer.” In
spring and sometimes at other seasons, his
“Wick, wick, wick, wick,” rapidly repeated, may
be often heard; and his soft affectionate ““Whee-
hew, whee-hew, whee-hew” during courtship,
or in friendly company. This bird is beautiful
in color, in form, and in movement, whether
the movement be on the wing, in undulating
flight, or while searching the bark of a tree for
grubs or ants. It is a question how far our
objections to this splendid bird’s noise about,
and forcible entrance into, our houses might be
removed, if we came to love him as we do the
domestic pets, whose pother and destructive-

40

=

ness we put up with. The Flicker nests in holes
in trees, which he makes with his strong bill.
Particular Description—Male and female—Head and
neck, gray (Anthony says, “rarely with red crescent
across back of neck’); back, grayish-brown and
barred with black; rump, white; tail, black above and
salmon below; mustaches in the male, red; breast and
under parts, soiled white, or very pale vinaceous, spot-
ted with black; black crescent on breast.

The Flicker is a permanent resident.

THE NORTHWESTERN FLICKER.

There is a variety of the Flicker mere or less
common in our section, especially in its North-
ern part, which so nearly resembles the “Red-
shafted” that few persons will probably care to
distinguish it from the latter bird. It is known
as the “Northwestern” Flicker. No doubt, even
bird-students in certain localities have seen
scarcely any other, and have supposed it to be
the “Red-shafted”; and for the average student,
perhaps it is just as well not to try and make
a distinction. The distinction is found in gen-
eral in the darker colors of the “Northwest-

Ctl:

“Back, deeper brown (sometimes of a warm umber
tint); lower parts, deeper vinaceous; throat, deeper
ash-gray (sometimes almost lead color); top of head,
deeper brownish.’’—Ridgway.

AL

THE WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW.
General Description—

Upper parts: crown, rufous; back, slight-
ly reddish-brown. |

Under parts: light soft gray.

Length, 5 inches and more.

Found in open fields, often near houses.

This little Sparrow is the smallest of its fam-
ily. It has its own peculiarly quiet and fascin-
ating manners and habits. It has some of the
domestic proclivities of the corresponding East-
ern variety. The latter is found about back-
door yards and even upon door-steps, looking
for crumbs, and no bird has a more winsome
look or dainty habit. He should never be mis-
taken for the English or House Sparrow, which
greedily takes all crumbs meant for others. The —
“Chippy,” as he is more familiarly called, may
be heard uttering his characteristic song or call,
“Chip, chip, chip, chip, chip,” often and rapidly
repeated. It sounds, sometimes, like a mellow
chirring of a grasshopper. Occasionally, in the
darkest night, the song of the male bird will
ring out in the still air, in order, it is said, to re-
assure the little female upon her nesrv. ‘This
Sparrow is sometimes called the “Hair Bird,”
because he lines his nest with horsehair.

Particular Description — Crown, bright reddish-

42

brown; forehead, black; streak of gray over the eye;
back, brown, slightly reddish, feathers streaked with
black; breast, and underneath, soit, light gray.

Quite a common sttmmer resident. «a few of
the birds remain all winter.

THE OREGON VESPER SPARROW, OR OREGON
| BAY=WINGED BUNTING.
General Description—

Upper parts: brown, streaked with gray.

Under parts: whitish, streaked; outer tail-
feathers, white. :

Length, 6 inches.

Found in open pasture lands and by country way-
sides.

While you are looking for and watching the
Sparrows already named, you will see a Spar-
row fly out of the road, or along tne fence,
showing white outer tail-feathers—the one in-
fallible mark by which you may know a Vesper
from other members of his family. Only do not
mistake the Junco, or “Snow Bird,” for the Ves-
per Sparrow, as he has the same white taii-
markings. This Sparrow is common in the west-
ern parts of our States, is a sweet singer, utter-
ing a wilder and freer note than the Song Spar-
row, and is more generous of his song. The
song is difficult to describe, but cannot be mis-

43

taken after it has once been recognized. The
bird has received the distinguishing name of
Vesper Sparrow because, perhaps, it sings more
toward evening than do the other Sparrows.

Particular Description—-Male and female—Head and
back, brown, streaked with gray; shoulders, chestnut;
throat and breast, whitish, striped with dark brown,
and lower under parts, soiled white; outer tail-feath-
ers, partly white, apparently wholly white as the bird
flies.

Summer resident. Arrives about April 15th.

THE WESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW.

General Description—
Upper - parts: -pale grayish, >prown
streaked.
Under -parts: whitish, streaked with
brown; yellow line over eye.
Length, 5.5 inches.
Found by seaside, and in and around marshes.

This Western variety of tne Savanna Sparrow
of the East 1s common along the Coast and on
Puget Sound, and should be recognized by
those in whose locality he is a resident. Its
song is low and grasshopper-like: “Ptsip, ptsip,
ptsip; zee, e-e-e-e.” Its home, in the marshes
and lowlands, where other Sparrows are not us-

44

a

ually found, gives this bird an association of

special interest. |
It nests upon the ground in grassy places,

or in the sedge of the marsh.

Particular Description—Head, back and wings, pale

gtayish- brown; light gray line down middle of head;

line over eye, yellow; back, streaked with broad black

and narrower light grayish lines, strongly marked;
underneath, whitish, streaked with buffy.

Summer resident.

EUROPEAN HOUSE, OR ENGLISH, SPARROW.

General eee

Upper parts: dusty brown.
Under parts: dull grayish.
Length, 6 inches.

Found in towns and cities.

This bird must have a place in our list in or-
der that he may be recognized, and that we
may, as much as possible, discourage his dwell-
ing in our neighborhood. He is an imported
bird, as his name suggests, and has brought to
our native American birds only trouble, and to
our American people only regret.. It is not
easy to speak against any bird; but .this one
seems to compel all bird-lovers to except him
from their sympathetic attention. He has no

45

song that may be called such, mostly putting ©
forth a querulous sort of cry. He comes, like
the tramps and loafers, to the towns and cities,
there to fall upon and drive away all other feath-
ered dwellers, and he has power to multiply so
rapidly that a few now will become a legion in
two or three years. These birds have not be-
come numerous in Oregon and Washington
yet. And it is to be hoped that Bird Societies
will take the matter in hand and authorize in-
telligent, skillful and humane agents to reduce ~
and keep down their numbers. Such work is
not for boys, °who may mistake other Sparrows
for these pestiferous, quarrelsome and destruc-
tive birds; and in killing these, cultivate a taste
for killing birds in general, and also harden
hearts too apt to undergo this process in life.

To show with what rapidity these birds may
multiply, a bulletin issued by the United States
Agricultural Department states that one pair,
in ten years, may produce 275,716,983,698. This
calculation, of course, assumes that all eggs will
hatch and all progeny survive in the line. This
Sparrow is to be found in the spring, having
already pre-empted for its own use every bird-
house built for Bluebirds, Swallows and Wrens,
and forcing its nest into every covert, nook and
corner about buildings.

46

a“

Particular Description—Male—Ashy above, with
black and chestnut stripes on back and shoulders;
wings, chestnut, with white bars bordered by black
line; gray crown; middle of the throat and breast,
black; underneath, grayish-white. .

Female—Paler; wing-bars, indistinct; no black on
throat and breast.

Permanent resident, wherever found.

THE PINE SISKIN.

General Description—

Brindle-brown, with yellow bars’ on
wings.
Length, 5 inches.

Found in the spring about our roadsides, and upon
our evergreens, near and in open places, even in cities
and towns.

As soon as the first dandelions are blown,
and the green grass is flecked with their winged
seeds, you will see flocks of little grayish-brown
birds, not unlike Sparrows in their color, but
with touches of light yellow on wings, back and
tail, and sometimes a flush of yellow appearing
under the surface of the feathers—eagerly de-
vouring these fugitive morsels. They may be
seen, too, upon the evergreen trees of the neigh-
borhood, and again upon other trees, singing in
cnorus the softest, sweetest song imaginable.

47

The privilege of hearing this song is not given
‘to the people of the Atlantic Coast, for before
these birds there begin their song, they have
gone north into the pines of British America,
where they nest in the tree-tops, far from the
marauding hands of man. These Siskins, some-
times called “‘Pine Finches,” or “Pine Linnets,”
linger in this part of the country till the nesting-
season for other birds has quite begun; and
then, though most of them disappear to the
mountains and possibly to the forests of the-
North, some have learned to trust their eggs and
young to the neighboring trees.

The undulating flight of this bird should be
marked as like that of the Goldfinch, to which tr
is related. |

The Pine Siskin is mostly a transient.

THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.

General Description—

Yellow body; black wings, tail and crown.
Length, 5 inches.

Found anywhere in open country, especially about
weeds that have feathered seeds, and thistles.

This bird is more generally noticed than most
other birds in our locality, on account of his
striking color. Resembling, as he does, the

48

=~

Canary, he is often called the “Wild Canary.”
But not many know more than the appearance
of this bird of “gentle ways and sweet disposi-
tion.” Few know his sweet song, like that of
the Siskin (who is a cousin, as before intimat-
ed), and fewer know his undulating flight with
the sweet accompanying song, which seems to
rise and fall in pitch with his wave-like move-
- ment.

He begins to change his dress when the nest-
ing season is over, and.in winter appears in
darker and less noticeable garb—the male win-
ter dress being somewhat like the summer dress
of the female.

His home is where the thistle, dandelion, let-
tuce and sunflower bloom. Sunflowers in the
garden will invite his presence and secure a

iong stay with you.

Particular Description—Male—Head, back, breast
and lower under parts, bright yellow; cap, wings and
tail, black; white markings upon the latter two. In
his winter dress the bright yellow changes to a brown-
ish-olive; his black wings and tail retained.

Female—Both winter and summer, brownish-olive
above; :-dusky-yellow below.

Partly a summer, and partly a permanent, res-
ident.

49

THE SWALLOWS.

‘These are the birds that do not sing, but they
fly with a grace that fascinates one and com-
pels prolonged attention. The flight of any
bird is wonderful, and should never be over-
looked as a source of satisfaction to the heart
of a bird-lover. But the flight of the Swallow
has in it ail of the grace and poetry of motion ©
imaginable. Flying is marvelous enough; but
floating in air seems fairly miraculous to one
who, for the first time, really notices a Swallow
olide over a meadow or touch the bosom of a
lake, and for a distance make no motion of the
wings—except as they go with the body in its
easy turns. The Swallow is truly the bird of
the air, as the Sparrow is the bird of the ground,
and the Warbler, the bird of the trees.

Swallows eat and drink while on the wing.
One kind occasionally eats at rest. No one
ever saw a swallow chasing insects upon the
sand, or lifting his head toward heaven after
dipping his bill into a pool in the road or in a
spring. He alights only for rest and for sleep.
Nearly all the day, from sun to sun, he darts
and gyrates and glides over meadow and pool
—taking what he needs while in ever graceful
notion.

50

a

It is said that Swallows do not sing. Do
they not? Is not their exquisite twitter a song?
that twitter that is so friendly to each other and
so charming to man, that it gives the satisfac-
mon Of a song.

These birds are so peaceable among them-
selves, so fond of living together, that we are
attached to them. Some of them make their
nests in colonies, and are not jealous of room
or of favorable locations.

As much as the author of this book is pleased
with the “birds that sing,” he wishes to-record
that the Swallows have ministered to his happi-
ness not less.

He sympathizes with Jeffries, who says: “As
well suppose the trees without leaves as the
summer air without swallows. Ever since of old
time, the Greeks went round from house _ to
house in spring, singing the swallow song, these
birds have been looked upon as the friends of
man, and almost as the very givers of the sun-
shine. * = me The beautiful swallows,
be tender with them, for they symbol all that is
best in nature and all that is best in our hearts.”

There are six varieties of the Swallow_proper
more or less common in Oregon and Washing-
mee Piey are the Violet-green, Cliff or Eave,
White-bellied or Tree, Bank, Rough-winged,

51

and Barn Swallow—besides the Martin, which |
will be described also.

THE VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.

General Description—

Upper parts: a soft rich green (but not
lustrous). ;

Under parts: pure white.

Length, 5 inches.

Found about houses and out-buildings.

This bird belongs to the Pacific Coast; and.
a particularly beautiful bird it is, having a
beauty as rare as the peculiarity of its color. To
enjoy this, one needs to catch sight-of the sheen
of the plumage in a slanting vision, in just the
right light; for the beauty of the plumage of this
bird is, like many of the finest things in the
world, not striking, but exquisitely delicate.
The glossy bluish-black of other Swallows will
easily command your admiration, but this bird
is by far the most beautiful.

This delightful creature is preferably domestic,
choosing his nesting-place in and about human
dwellings, though to some extent still (and
formerly altogether, before human habitations
became numerous) rearing his family in holes
of trees in the woods. He welcomes a bird-
house, while he will enter through a knot-hole,

5?

| 2

or any opening in cornice or gable, to find a
secure home for his young. Mr. Ross Nicholas,
of Portland, Oregon, reports an example of the
tireless labor that these birds will put forth in
the construction of a nest. A pair having dis-
covered a way into the eaves of a house, found
a space of three feet below the opening, and,
with a courage and patience that ought to be

_the envy of man, proceeded to build up the nest,
straw by straw, until it stood level with the en-
trance. .

a

I have said that Swallows do not sing, but
this bird’s note is more than a twitter—more
like a soft song.

The Violet-green Swallow should never be
confused with the Eave Swallow and driven
away, lest mud nests be built against the sides
of the house. A distinguishing mark between
the two birds is the seemingly white rump,
when the “Violet-green” is on the wing. This
appearance is caused by the white from under-
neath extending so far around the sides of-the
rump; the latter is, in reality, a mingled color—

_bluish-green with rich plum-purple.

Particular Description—Effect of all above, a soft
rich green, but head and neck and sometimes back,
shaded with purple to a violet-green tint in-center of
- rump; white patches on sides of rump often give effect

De

of continuous white, when the bird is on the wing.
All below pure white. Mr. Charles A. Keeler thus
describes this Swallow: “Above, a soit, rich green,
changing to purplish-brown on the crown, and to vio-
let-purplish on the upper tail-coverts.” By “tail-co-
verts’ is meant the feathers above and below, which
lap over the tail from the body.

Only a summer resident, spending the winter
with the other Swallows in the tropics. Due in |
the locality of the Columbia River about April
Ist, sometimes a week earlier.

THE CLIFF, OR EAVE, SWALLOW.
General Description— : |
Upper parts: bluish-black.
Under parts: brown and white.
Length, 6 inches.

Formerly (like all the large Swallow fam-
ily), the Cliff or Eave Swallows lived far from
human dwellings. But they are now found
(like so many of their kind) about buildings, al-
though they still, to a considerable extent, make
their curious nests upon the sides of cliffs.
These mud nests are pocket-shaped, and are
literally glued to perpendicular surfaces. The
birds sometimes add mud house to mud house
until their homes can be counted by hundreds
on the side of-a cliff. These Swallows become

54

=

much attached to one locality, and, if allowed,
will return to it year after year.

They are beautiful, gentle and winsome; and
if one really learns to love them, he will not be-
grudge them a place on the side of the barn,
or even, sometimes, upon the side of the house.

To one who has eyes, the marvelous houses
built by these feathered architects wiil be more
artistic than certain “ginger-bread”’ work that
we so often see around cornices.

Between the Eave and the Violet-green Swal-
low we may never lack for entertainment and
objects of loving interest around our homes
in the summer months.

Farticular Description—Male and Female—Whitish
forehead; crown and back, steel lustrous blue; rump,
rusty or buffy; the throat, chestnut, with blackish
area; breast, light brown; lower under parts, white.

Summer resident. An early arrival. A few

come in March, ana the body in early April.

THE WHITE-BELLIED, OR TREE, SWALLOW.

General Description—

Upper parts: dark steel blue.
Under parts: pure white.
Length, 6 inches.
Found about hollow trees in the woods, and par-
ticularly in trees about sloughs.

ok)

This is the first Swallow to appear in the
spring, and may be seen in scattering numbers
early in March, and arrives in this latitude in
abundance before April Ist. In the East, he, too,
comes and asks to share man’s home with him,
welcoming (as the Violet-green Swallow does
here) a bird-house or an opening in the gable
or eaves. | 3

Like his cousins, his former home was en-
tirely in the wilds, and (as his name indicates)
in the trees of the forest. But here, as in the
Fast, we may at some time expect him often
to prefer to share our home, and let us in turn
share his beauty of appearance and movement,
and also his delight in life, so manifest by a con-
stant warbling-twitter while performing his be-
wildering, tireless evolutions on the wing.

This member of the family is not nearly so
numerous on this Coast as the Violei-green or
the Cliff Swallow; but it is common enough
about our sloughs to be easily identified.

No detailed description of the bird is possible
or needed, as it has just the two colors given
in the general description. Indeed, its scien-
tific name has in it the word “bi-color.” The
female is a little duller in color than the male.

Like other Swallows, it is found, when nest-
ing, near its home; but before and after, it cov-

56

ers the open country 1n its ee fight, search-
ing for insects.

A summer resident. The first of the Swallows
to appear in, and the last to disappear from
northern fatitudes in the East. Here it is re-
ported to be the first to leave.

Sometimes. when insect food is scarce, this
bird eats bayberries; but it is the only Swal-
low that ever eats anything but insects.

This is the only one of the family, too, that
spends the winter in the United States—the
others wintering in South America.

=

THE BARN SWALLOW.

General Description—
Upper parts: glittering steei-blue.
Under parts: chestnut-brown, with tail
deeply forked.
Geneth, 7 inches:

Found around barns and out-buildings while nest-

ing; and far afield while feeding, and after breeding
is Over.
_ It is to be regretted that as yet the Barn Swal-
low is not more common in the North Pacific
States. It is hoped that it will become a more
frequent and familiar summer resident in our
country barns as time goes on. At present it
is found only here and there.

57

Probably no bird is more associated with the
country boy’s life, in the East, than this arrow-
like but tame bird, that glides in and out of barn
doors and windows, ministering to the wants
of the brood of little ones in the mud nests stuck
to the beams or rafters overhead, where can be
heard all day the soft purr and sweet chatter
of old and young in their peaceful domestic life.

All Swallows are miracles upon the wing; but
no other of the family has the equipment for
speed and sudden turn that this one has—the
forked tail and a little stronger wing furnishing
him with the power for this excellence.

In coloring, this Swallow need not be
ashamed, for, in addition to the rich, lustrous
blue of its back, its chestnut breast glistens in
the sun like a polished surface.

Though the Swallows on the beams and raft-
ers do soil somewhat our barns and sheds, is
not the pleasure they give in their sweet fellow-
ship of home-making, and in their ministry of
beauty, ample reward?

Particular Description — Male — Forehead, rufous;
head and back, glistening steel-blue, shading to black;
throat, rufous; breast and under parts, brilliant buff
that glistens in the sun; an irregular collar of bluish-
black; tail, very deeply forked, with long, slender out-
er tail-feathers.

Summer resident.

58

[a

=

THE BANK SWALLOW.

General Description— _
Upper parts: brownish-gray, no metallic
coloring.
Under parts: white.
Length, 5 inches.

Found around river banks, and, like other Swal-
lows, wide rovers over field and marsh.

This is the smallest of the Swallows, and, like
the Cliff Swallow, it nests in colonies, choosing
for settlement, as a rule, sandy river banks, in
which with its little bill and small feet it bores
holes two or three feet deep—a thing seeming-
ly impossible to do with such tiny implements.
The holes are only far enough apart to avoid
coincidence, and at the end of each is the nest,
lined with grasses and rootlets.

These large communities of feathered neigh-
bors dwell most happily together, and habitu-
ally leave their homes with a “giggling twitter”
—one of the cheeriest notes along the river
banks. The homes are of frequent occurrence
along the Willamette and elsewhere in these
tates.

Particular Description—Male and female—Head, back
and tail, grayish-brown or clay-color; upper wings
and tail, darkest; breast, white with brownish band

across; underneath, white; tail, though rounded, more
nearly square than that of other Swallows, and ob-

59

scurely edged with white; a little tuft of feathers at
the base of the toes.

Summer resident.

THE ROUGH=WINGED SWALLOW.

General Description—

Not unlike the Bank Swallow.
Length, 5.5 inches.

Found in the same localities as Bank Swallows, and
as other Swallows when on the wing.

This is really another sort of Bank Swallow, -
nesting, as it does, in holes in river banks.

Its habits are quite identical with those of the
Bank Swallow. It is chiefly distinguished by
the peculiarity which gives it its name, viz.:
the outer edge of the first flight-feather has a
series of stiff hooks upon it. Its breast is also a
little grayish and without the band.

A summer resident. Arrives and departs
with the Bank Swallow.

THE WESTERN PURPLE MARTIN.

General Description—
Male—Glossy purplish-black above and
below.
Female—Bluish-black, less clear above;
whitish below.
Length, 8 inches.

Found about houses and hollow trees.

60

[3

This is one of the family of Swallows, and
yet is so individual in nearly all ways that we
must regard the bird a little apart from his rel-
atives. He is much larger than any of the Swal-
lows (the length of the Barn Swallow’s outer
tail feathers must not be taken into account).
The color of the male, strikingly beautiful, ts
altogether unlike any other Swallow. Then its
flight is higher, less swift, less free and exten-
sive. And it alone of all its kindred has a full,
rich voice, which all day long, while the bird
en-wie wie or at test, may be heard. like
“musical laughter rippling up from the throat.”

The Eastern variety (almost exactly like the
Western) has from time unknown preferred the
home made for it by man—the Indian, before
the white race appeared, having placed a hol- —
lowed gourd lined with bark in the crotch of his
fete petes, tO invite the Martin’s friendship.
But in the East no bird has suffered so much
from the English Sparrow as the Purple. Mar-
tin, through the pre-emption by the Sparrows
of the houses intended tor their betters.

iieis4o0 be resretted that the Purple. Martin
is not more numerous and more generally dis-
tributed in this section of the country: But .
they are quite numerous in special localities and
already are preferring to nest about houses

61

rather than in the hollow trees. They were seen
and heard by the writer at St. Helens on the
Columbia River in May, 1899, and in the spring
of 1901 were found nesting in and about the city
of Tacoma.

If we keep several bird-houses on our premises,
we may succeed in bringing a pair of these de-
light-giving creatures to pass each spring and
summer with us; for once hospitably — enter-
tained, they will return as regularly as the sea-

-

SONS.

Particular Description—Male—Rich glossy black,
with bluish and purple tints; duller black on the
wings and tail; wings rather longer than tail, which is
forked.

Female—As above.

Only a summer resident. Arrives in mid-
April.

THE RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD.

These States, like the East, have but one va-
riety of the Hummingbird out of 350 in Ameri-
ca. The rest are in the tropics. I say “but one.”
There is another variety known as the Calliope
Hummingbird, found very rarely, perhaps in the
mountains. The Rufous Hummingbird is dainty,

62

ms

like all of the family, beautiful and very abun-
dant. His appearance is the nearest to a sug-
gestion of a sprite that any bird gives us. So
far as he seems material, he carries with him the
appearance of a “winged gem,” or again of a
winged flower. So sensitive does our little bird
seem, that we could hardly expect it to enter
our climate until late June or early July, after
the cold rains have passed. We never can quite
outgrow, through familiarity, the sense of sur-
prise and even of amazement, when this little
breath of a bird flits before our eyes in March.
And yet that is what he does as often as March
comes round. He is ready for the honey in the
first flowers, and for the first aphides upon the
tender foliage. The hum of his wings, moving
too rapidly for our sight, will announce, at the
same time, his arrival and his readiness to feed
our eyes and hearts again with his ever-new ev1-
dence of “beauty, wonder and power.”

Particular Description—Male—Head, metallic green;
same color sometimes down back; back, lower tail-

coverts and breast, rufous; throat and ruff, or gorget,
coppery-red; below this, a white collar.

Female—Back, green instead of rufous; only a
trace of metallic feathers on breast.
Length, 3% inches.

Summer resident.

63

— |

BREWER’S BLACKBIRD.
General Description—

Black all over.
Length, 9 inches.

Found generally in the country and about large
open grounds in towns and cities.

This is the Blackbird of the Pacific Coast
from California northward. It is abundant;
and nearly always, except when nesting, is to |
be seen in flocks. The bird has marked peculi-
arities, in the very white eye and in the imperti-
nent challenge-note it utters to any one who hap-
pens to intrude upon its nesting-place or to
come upon it while it is eating. When nesting,
it will saucily and unexpectedly dash against a
man’s hat and pursue him for yards in the man’s
own enclosure, while yet the nest has not been
closely approached. But these peculiarities. add
interest and charm to the bird, in the eyes of the
bird-lover. |

His song is not strikingly beautiful, but has
its own special quality, which goes with the
bird-chorus to render enchanting a spring day.

No doubt this Blackbird does some damage to
a farmer’s crops for a time; and it may need
watching and frightening off till the time for
harm is past. But let the farmer remember that
for the most of the year these vigorous birds,

64

Audubon’s Warbler.

Ls

in pairs and in flocks, devour thousands of bush-
els of harmful insects and worms, and quanti-
ties of the seeds of weeds in our wide territory.
The multiplication of insect-life is the natural
result of destroying birds. They are worth many
times more to us for beauty, fellowship and use
than the price they ask in fruits and grains in a
brief season.

=

Particular Description—Male—Glistening greenish
iridescent-black.

Female—Brownish-black, no gloss.

Mostly a summer resident. A few remain the
year round.

THE RED=WINGED BLACKBIRD.

General Description—

Male—All black, except shoulder-patch
(which is scarlet).

Female—Streaked brownish and white.
Weneth, 8.5 inches; more or less.

Found in nesting-time about bogs and marshes.

The beauty of the “Red-wing” is recognized
by anyone who sees it; and his musical song
quite naturally suggested to Emerson the line,

“The red-wing flutes his O-ka-lee!”’

Yet, in spite of his beauty of color and sweet

song, to many farmers he is a detestable enemy.

65

When the farmer learns that seven-eighths of
the Red-wing’s food is made up of weed-seeds
or of insects injurious to agriculture, he will
perhaps be willing to share his crop with the
birds which have helped him to raise it.

Particular Description—Male—Coal-black; shoulders,

scarlet, bordered with a brownish-yellow band.
Female—As above.

Partly permanent resident.

THE OREGON TOWHEE, OR CHEWINK.

General Description—

Round body; large black head; sides of
breast, reddish-brown.
Length, 8 inches.

Found in bushes, and often upon the ground,
scratching in the leaves.

The boys hereabouts know this particular
kind of bird as the “Catbird,” because it has
an alarm-cry very much resembling a cat, but
not so distinctly resembling this animal as the
“Catbird” proper of the Eastern States.

The names “Towhee” and ‘“Chewink” are
given the common Eastern variety of this spe-
cies because his usual happy call seems to sound
like one ‘of these words. If the family were to
be named from. the characteristic call ar the

66

[2

Oregon variety, it would not receive its present
designation.

The Towhee is sometimes called fhe “Ground
Robin,” because the sides of his- breast so
closely resemble the Robin’s breast in color, and

- because he so persistently digs and delves under
the leaves and about the roots of bushes for the
grubs which are his principal food.

He is a very individual bird, and often seems
to go tumbling rather than hopping about in
the bushes, hiding in the deepest thickets from
your sight, but always keeping you within his
own vision.

His song is given from the highest bush in
the clump, or from the top of a low tree, and is
sometimes like the musical trill of a large in-
sect. He is distinguished for a very red eye.

=

Particular Description—Male—Black head, back, tail
and neck; wings, slightly spotted with white; breast,
white center, reddish-brown sides; underneath, white.

Female—Sooty above; sides of breast rather deeper
red.

Partly summer, and partly permanent, resi-
dent.
THE CALIFORNIA PURPLE FINCH.

General Description—
Male—Head and breast, ae ee red.
Length, 6 inches.

67

Found early in the season, in company with Gold-
finches, feeding upon dandelion and other feathered
seeds. Later, in orchards and gardens.

The Purple Finch is probably named, not
from. the color which we commonly recognize
by that designation, but from a peculiar red
shade which perhaps approaches in some birds
the ancient Tyrian purple. The male, which
takes all the color of the species, does not come
to his rich heritage till he is two years old;
meanwhile, closely resembling a Sparrow, he
might be taken for one. The beauty of the male
is not alone in the striking and unusual red
upon head and breast, but is also in the fine
and varied brown lines upon his back, and quite
as much in his perfect form. The female is far
inferior to her mate in respect of beauty.

This is one of the most beloved, and at the
same time one of the most hated, of birds. For,
while he comes to the bird-lover as an object of
beauty to the eye with his display of fine color,
and ajoyto the ear with his wealth of warbling
song, to the fruit-grower he comes as an enemy of
fruit buds. There is good reason to suppose, how-
ever, that the damage done by this bird is over-
estimated; while it is possible that what seems
to be harmful may be beneficial. Experiment
has shown that finer and larger measure, or

68

|.

more weight of fruit, is obtained where a part
(sometimes one-half) of the fruit set upon a tree
has been removed. Mr. A. W. Anthony—one
of the great authorities upon the birds of the
Pacific Coast—has given attention to this sub-
ject, has seen a partial experiment tried, and is
ee nie Iaster opinion. One year -the Purple
Finches were allowed to haye their own way in
a cherry orchard, with the result that the cherry
ifees were overloaded at harvest time.’ But
even if it is true that some damage is done by
this bird and others, the farmer and fruit-grower
must beware, for he may save a few cherries at
the cost of immeasurably greater damage from
insects and noxious weeds. |

~

This Finch is with us in numbers by the last
of March, and will soon after be heard pouring
forth his beautiful song from the top of the
highest trees in the neighborhood. His song, in
a general way, is a warble. Mr. Frank M. Chap-
mum says of the song of the Eastern Purple
Finch (not unlike our own): “His song is a
sweet, flowing warble, music as natural as the
rippling of the mountain brook.”

Particular Description—Male—Two years old, head,
throat and breast, bright wine-red; back, brown, with
a pinkish tinge; rump, more like head; underneath
and under tail-coverts, white.

69

Female—Above, olive-grayish, somewhat streaked;
breast, whitish, streaked with brown; underneath,
white.

Mostly a summer resident.

THE WRENS.

Perhaps no birds are more bewitching in their
make-up and manner than these little creatures’
that are very common in certain wide parts of
the North Pacific States. They are everywhere
within these limits. |

There are four varieties. Three of these lock,
to the superficial observer, so much alike that
care must be taken to distinguish them. ‘They
all have the same general form, and, in different
shades, the same color, brown. The body and
tail of each is barred or speckled with dusky
cross-marks.

PARKMAN’S HOUSE WREN.

General Description—

Upper parts: darkish brown.
Under parts: pale buffy.
Length, 5 inches and more.
Found about human dwellings and holes in fences
and trees. |

7O

|

It is hoped that every one knows “Little
Jennie Wren”, who in the spring is always look-
ing for a sheltered nook about the piazza, in an
out-building, or in a house built expressly for
herself. What fidgety airs, what twitching and
turning, what bobbing and bowing, what scold-
ing in their own peppery style while you are
near the sacred precincts of these little creatures!
For, though angelic singers, they have a temper
that even the larger birds fear. But what con-
trast in the bubbling song that the male will
pour forth, at intervals, all day long,—some-
times allowing no rest, when singing in response
to a rival. Mr. Chapman says of the correspond-
ing House Wren in the East, very nearly like
our own, that he has heard one sing, under such
conditions, ten songs a minute for two hours at-
a time.

If we do not have these little mountain-brooks
of song about our houses, it may be entirely our
own fault in not setting up for them a box
against the house, or even a box upon a pole,—
in each case making the entrance not larger than
a silver quarter, to keep out the English Spar-
row or the Swallow. |

Once the box is taken possession of, the birds
will return year after year to the same nesting-
place.

ms

Woe

Particular Description—Male and Female—All over,
a little darker than cinnamon-brown; wings and tail,
barred with dusky lines; “back and sides, more or less
waved with dusky cross-markings”; under parts, pale
buffy.

A summer resident. ‘ney may be expected

from the South about the middle of April.

VIGORS’S WREN.

General Description—

Very like the House Wren in general "ap-
pearance—the distinguishing mark
being a line of white over the eye.

Length, 5 inches and more.

Found in and out of thickets and hedges.

This Wren has the restless habit of the House
Wren, as already indicated. It nests in thickets
and hedges, and occasionally it, like the House
Wren, makes ‘a nest about a house. In March,
IQOI, a pair of these birds were nesting under
the roof of a low. piazza in Portland, “The
Vigors’s Wren has one of the most striking and
attractive songs given by the birds of the North-
west. It seems impossible that so small a bird
can be heard so far. His song is so unlike that
of the House Wren that it cannot be confused

-

with the latter, when once it has been distinctly -

heard. He may be heard across a valley, or far
up a glen on a still morning.

72

=

Particular Description—Above, almost a blackish-
brown; wings and sides, not so dark; below, grayish-
white; distinguishing mark, white line over eye.

Largely a permanent resident.

THE WESTERN WINTER WREN. .

General Description—

Upper parts: darker brown than either of
the other Wrens.

Under parts: pale brown; pale brown
stripe over the eye.

Length, only 4 inches.

This is the smallest and the wildest of the
Wrens. It lives in the woods about old stumps
and the roots of overturned trees, where it
nests. There he may be seen through the glass,
with his short tail erect, hastening to get out
of sight. But when you are no longer near,
he begins an exquisite song, which John Bur-
roughs describes, in his Eastern cousin, as “a
wild, sweet, rhythmical cadence that holds you
entranced.” His note of alarm is said to sound
something like “Chimp, chimp.’ You can tell
him by noting carefully his short tail, and com-
paring your observation with the following de-
scription:

Particular description—Above, like other Wrens,

73

more or less distinctly cross-barred, but darker and
less rusty; chin and throat, dull tawny.

Permanent resident:

TULE WREN.

This is the Western variety of the Eastern
Long-billed Marsh Wren. The long bill and the
marsh habitat will distinguish it from all the
other Wrens. This bird attaches its nest to
reeds, making it globular in form, with the en-
trance on the side.

Mr. J. H. Bowles, of Tacoma, Wash., is my
authority for saying that it is as common, about
some parts of Puget Sound at least, as any of
the members of the family named above.
Particular Description—Head, dark brown; back,
lighter brown, streaked with black and white in the

middle; “tail-coverts, upper and lower, usually dis-
tinctly barred with blackish.” Length, 5 inches.

Summer resident.

AUDUBON’S WARBLER.

General Description—
Upper parts: soft bluish-gray with yellow
spot on head and rump.
Under parts: yellow and white, streaked
with black.
Length, 5 to 6 inches.

74

‘

3 Found in evergreen trees, even in those near
houses in towns.

When a person is out the last of March,
near a bunch of evergreens, or about willows
bordering sloughs, he will hear a sweet, attrac-
tive song, and may soon see, moving about with
the restlessness of its family, one of the most
charming little birds on our Coast, and one that
belongs wholly to it Such a little bunch of
beauty, seen for the first time, will send a thrill
of joy through the beholder’s heart. The colors
in which he is arrayed are so bright and har-
monious, and his song is so sweet and clear, one
‘will ever afterward know him. His proper home
when nesting and all the season through, is in
the spruce and pine; and when in these trees you
can only catch sight of him as he appears ever
and anon on an outer branch and hangs for a
moment searching with his sharp eyes for his
Msece 100d: or when, for a moment, he darts
to a deciduous tree in the neighborhood, or to a
lower dead limb on the evergreen.

The bird is very abundant, and the people of
the Pacific Coast should glory in this, which is
perhaps, more than any other, characteristically
' their own beautiful Warbler.

_ There is a member of the Warbler family
common in the East (but rarer here), which we

79

might mistake for this one, should we some day

happen upon him. It is the Myrtle Warbler, the
distinguishing marks being that the latter has a
white throat instead of a yellow one, blackish
sides of the head, and not so much white on
the wings.

Particular Description—Head, back and wings, bluish-

gray, with yellow spot upon crown and rump—the yel-

low spot upon the crown paftly concealed; back,

streaked with black; white patch upon wings; yellow
throat; breast; white, streaked broadly with black,
with striking yellow patches on the sides of the
breast.

Audubon’s Warbler and the Myrtle Warbler
are both summer residents. It is probable, how-
ever, that the Audubon’s occasionally spends
the winter with us.

THE SKYLARK.

General Description—

Upper parts: light brownish, with slight

tawny tinge.
Under parts: not different from upper.
Length, 7 to 7.5 inches.

Found in the open meadows.

The Skylark is an imported bird, to be sure,
but is sufficiently numerous in some parts of
Oregon to attract attention and minister to the
joy of many people. No bird in the world has

76

‘

been so much the theme of poets, or so much
the object of enthusiastic admiration. Its fame
has gone out through all the world, and multt-
tudes of people who have never seen the bird
have delighted in it in imagifiation. Nearly
everyone who has read poetry at all knows,
more or less intimately, Shelley’s, and perhaps
Wordsworth’s, “Skylark”; and many can repeat
at least a part of James Hogg’s airy lines, be-
ginning—

“Bird of the wilderness,

Blithesome and cumberless.”

Whoever in Oregon has seen this bird soar,
and has heard him while soaring ever singing, -
can appreciate Shakespeare’s unequaled lines,
“Hark, hark, the Lark at Heaven’s gate sings,”
and has felt that the poet has not overdone the
ievegeme bird “is enchantme beyond the de:
scriptive powers of poetry or prose. We must
see and hear the Skylark for ourselves.

Behold a bird rising from the meadow, and
the instant it is on the wing beginning a flood
of exquisite song of rapid variation which does
mot cease, even for breathing, till, sometimes
after fifteen or twenty minutes, it drops again
to earth. Meanwhile, it is literally in the sky
and lost to sight if the eye should, even for an
instant, surrender its object. No bird on our

77

continent so nearly bursts with gladness. There
is one most thrilling utterance which ever and
anon it returns to, seeming to say, “O joy! O
joy! O joy!”

The location Of the Skylark is not at present
known beyond the fields in the eastern part of
the city of Portland. But readers of this book
will no doubt find it elsewhere, either now or
some time in the near future, as it multiplies
rapidly and will extend its summer habitat.

The best time to see and hear it is in the
morning or late afternoon, but it may be heard
at longer intervals at all times of the day. It is
a migrant here as in Europe, and leaves the
fields where it has nested, in September, return-
ing usually, so far as observed, about the second
week in February.

Particular Description—Brownish head and back, ev-
erywhere streaked slightly with black; breast, pale
brownish or tawny-buff; outer tail-feathers, white.

Summer resident.

THE STREAKED HORNED LARK.

General Description—

Upper parts: tawny-cinnamon, streaked
on back; tufts of black feathers over
the eyes of the male, like horns.

Under parts: yellow.

Length, 6.25 to 7.25 inches.

78

x

Found in the open fields and upon windy prairies.

There are several varieties of this Lark; but
one is peculiar to this section, and is called
“Streaked” because of the strong markings up-
on the back. These birds, like other Larks, are
characteristically lovers of the ground, where
they run and sit, scarcely ever resting upon any-
thing higher than a fence, and then only for a
little time. On account of their running habit
they are sometimes called on this Coast, “Road
Trotters.” When they do occasionally rise high-
er it is, ike the Skylark, to sing on the wing,
and their efforts in this direction may not be
despised. Their song is wild, glad and enter-
taining, though not loud or especially sweet.
Mr. A. W. Anthony is authority for the state-
Meneetilat taey sometimes sing as ° near
‘“Heaven’s gate” as the Skylark himself. They,
too, are “birds of the wilderness,” and no storm
or rain, however severe, can drive them from
the open field to cover.

Particular Description — Adult Male — Fore-part of
crown has black half-circle nearly from eye to eye,
with tufts extending back like horns; a black patch
under the eye; rest of crown, neck and rump, tawny-
cinnamon; back, dull olive or grayish-brown, very
much streaked with dusky; throat, pale yellow; black
patch on the breast; underneath, pale yellow.

Summer resident.

19

THE WESTERN YELLOW-THROAT.
General Description—

Upper parts: olive-brown and olive-:
green.

Under parts: yellow. Black mask on
forehead and sides of head.

Length, 4.75 to 5.85 inches.

Found in thickets on lowlands.

The Maryland Yellow-throat is famous in the
East for his beauty and song, and has a large
place in bird literature. Dr. Henry van Dyke ~
has paid him a beautiful tribute in a poem which
reads something like an echo of the bird’s fasci-
nating song. The Western variety of this bird,
like the Eastern, will in all probability be often
heard before he is seen, for he loves the thicket
from which, unseen, he may mock and delight
you with his oft-repeated ‘Wichity-wichity-
wichity.”” People interpret this song in many
Ways. Some say it is “Rapity-rapity,” and
others “Witch-e-wee-o,’ and so on. Mr. Bur-
roughs says he has heard birds whose notes
sounded like, “Which way, sir?’ And Mr. Chap-
man says he has heard some who seemed to
Saye. Wedit. aneee

The bird’s coloring is striking. His yellow
throat and jet black mask from bill to crown,
and well down on the sides of the head, covering

80

the eye, once seen, will never be mistaken or
forgotten. 7

No one of the Warbler family has as many
human devotees: and perhaps none deserves
them more. The Western Yellow-throat is not
a whit behind his Eastern counterpart in looks
or in song; in fact, in the former respect, he has
something of an advantage, his colors being
brighter and richer, while he is also a little
larger. His song has quite the same notes as
that of the Maryland Yellow-throat.

He comes to our latitude, from his winter
home in the South, early in the season, and may
be heard some years by the last week in March.
He should be sought in lots where there are
thick clumps of bushes, and in young growths
of deciduous trees. His nest will be found upon
or near the ground. Gin

Particular Description—Black mask, as above, bor-
_ dered by a band (usually broad) of white; crown and
neck, olive-brown; back, clear olive-green; rump,
more yellowish; throat and breast, bright yellow.

A summer resident.

THE LOUISIANA, OR WESTERN, TANAGER.

General Description—

Male—Head and neck, bright red; back,
wings and tail, black; rump and en-
tire lower part, bright yellow.

Length, 7 inches.

SI

|
i
|

Found about evergreen and other trees.

Some day about the last of May, when we are
watching an Audubon’s Warbler in an ever-
green, or perhaps passing a group of these
trees, we may hear a song like, and yet not like,
the Robin’s. If at first it seems to be quite the
same, a little closer attention will reveal a more
metallic note and a song more regularly and
rapidly repeated than that of our more familiar
friend. If our ears direct our eyes, we shall _
not look long before the author of this song will
appear in an Opening, and reveal to us a strik-
ing plumage of red, yellow and black, and a new
bird,—or at least one whose general and partic-
ular name we may not yet have learned. This
is a male of the only variety of the Tanager
family upon the Pacific Coast north of Mexico,
and, as these birds are always in pairs, you may
expect to find his mate near at hand.

The Tanager family is an immense and bril-
liantly-plumaged one. America (North and
South) alone has three hundred and fifty varie-
ties; but all the varieties except the one here and
the two in the East, live in the tropics. We
must, therefore, make the most of our only
Tanager, which is, however, both beautiful and
abundant.

$2

Particular Description—Male—Upper parts, as in
general description, except wings are crossed with
two yellow bars. .

Female—Olive-greenish above, pale yellow below;
two faint wing-bars. No black and no red on this
bird. .

Summer resident only.

THE RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH.

General Description—

Upper parts: from russet to olive-brown.
Under parts: light gray.
Length, 7 inches.

Found in young deciduous growth, and amongst
the trees and shrubs of large places in towns and
cities.

The Thrushes (those known specifically by
that name) are not so many in variety in Ore-
gon and Washington as in the East. The Rus-
set-backed Thrush, however, like some other va-
rieties of birds already mentioned, belongs ex-
clusively to this side of the American conti-
nent, It is a beautiful singer, as befits the fam-
ily, and is very abundant.

It resembles the Veery or Wilson’s Thrush of
the East in its call-note and its song, and is like
the Wood Thrush in its familiar way of ap-
proaching human dweliings and nesting upon
grounds even within our cities. It arrives late

83

a.

about the last of May. But once here, its call-
note, a short whistle, a sound pearl-like for
liquid roundness, may be heard from the lower
limbs of town trees; and some days later, to-
wards sunset, and long after, you will hear the
Thrush-songs from many quarters.

This bird sings at other times to be sure—as
in the early morning with the other birds—but
its song is mostly at night, and even late into
the night; sometimes after darkness has entirely
settled down, the sweet and yet loud notes of
this Thrush may be occasionally heard. As a
singer it ranks amongst our half dozen best, and
its arrival should be eagerly watched for, and its
song enjoyed for the five or six weeks that it
lasts.

In some parts of Oregon and Washington,
some may hear the even sweeter notes of the
rare Dwarf Hermit Thrush; but most peopl:
will not have the privilege of hearing the song
of any other member of this family than that of
the Russet-backed Thrush. ‘
Particular Description—Head, back, wings and tail.
sometimes more rtsset, sometimes more olive-brown;
a whitish ring encircles the eye; sides, olive-gray;

breast, pale buff and marked with small, triangular
brown spots; underneath, white.

Summer resident.

34

‘

Some reference to the probable presence of
a few of one or two species of imported Thrushes
in certain parts of Oregon, will be made in an-
other place. ,

THE BULLOCK’S ORIOLE.
General Description—

Male—Black head and back; large white
wing-patch; rest of body, bright
orange-yellow and orange-red.

Length, 8 inches.

Found in willow, elm and other shade trees.
Bird-lore is full of references to the Oriole.
Because of their bright colors, their attractive
song and unique nests, these birds have always
commanded more or less appreciation, even
from those who seldom notice birds in general.
The East has the advantage of us in respect
to Orioles, as it has in respect to Tanagers. The
Baltimore Oriole has wide fame, and its more
modest relative, the Orchard Oriole, is beloved
of all who know his song. Rare specimens of
the Bullock’s Oriole equal, perhaps, the Balti-
more Oriole in glory of color; but in song the
bird is always inferior to its Eastern cousin.
The Eastern Oriole’s song is a rich whistle.
while our Western bird utters a music 50
strangely remote from azything Oriole-like, that

85

oe |

one would never guess that it came from his
throat unless he caught him in the act—as I did
after three weeks’ guessing what new and
strange bird in the high shade trees sang not
too generously his ““Keu, keu-a-keu, keu, keu.”
The beauty of color, however, is great enough
to excite our admiration: and its song ts suffi-
ciently sweet to delight our ear; while its nest
(hung like a flexible basket, or even like a deep,
round satchel, from the swaying limb of some
tree) never fails to bring out the exclamation,
“What man could do that!”

This bird sings and nests high, and some day
a song in the tree-tops will please, and at the
same time puzzle you, unless you can see the
Western “Golden Robin” which utters it. But
careful observation will reveal the singer and

-

his curious nest.

Particular Description—Male—Head, upper part of
back and narrow throat patch, black; tail, black and
yellow; a large white wing-patch; rest of body or-
ange-yellow to orange-red. |

Summer resident.

THE FLYCATCHERS.

This is a peculiar and strongly marked fam-
ily, the different members of which resemble

86

=

each other sufficiently to seem almost to be
brothers and sisters from the same nest, varying
in size and other ways only as much as brothers
and sisters do in other than bird-families. They
not only look alike, but they act so much alike
that you may know, in a general way, the whole
family by seeing one member of it. 3

Their name indicates their habits, but not
their appearance. You will see these birds in
different sizes, and with slight variations in color
and form, sitting quietly upon some tree-top or
lower dead limb, hunched up as if sick, or en-
tirely relaxed in sleep. But woe to the fly that
should approach one of them, assuming this to
be the case, for, quick as a flash, the apparently
sleepy or sick bird darts at the insect, has it in
his mouth and stomach, and is back again upon
the very same perch, ready for the next unwary
fly or gnat that ventures in his neighborhood.

The Flycatchers all have, in general, upper
parts from olive to dark slate color, darker head
and tail, sometimes quite black, with more or
less grayish-white on breast. In form they are,
while sitting, awkward, and suggest a dwarf race.
having apparently—owing to a short neck—a
large head in proportion to the body; while the
bird is in repose the tail is dropped as low as
the Wren’s is held high, and the wings droop as

87

they do in a sick canary or chicken. They have
no song, only a call, which is, in all of the varie-
ties described in this book (with the exception of
an occasional note from the Pewee), rather stri-
dent, and quite in harmony with the whole man-
ner of the bird. |

They are a very interesting family. In the
East and in California one species (the Phoebe
bird) is domestic, and joins the Wrens, Blue-
birds and Swallows in building nests in and
about the homes of men.

THE WESTERN WOOD PEWEE.
General Description—

Upper parts: olive-brown; darker on
head, wings and tail.

Under parts: olive-gray, interrupted with
slight whitish central-line, from the
throat down.

Length, 6.5 inches.

Found in woods, also on trees and telegraph wires
about towns and cities. |

The Pewee is the most common of the Fly-
catcher family in the Willamette Valley, and
perhaps elsewhere. It seems impossible to a
person familiar with the Pewee of the East that
the one on the Pacific Coast can bear the same
name, since his usual cry or call is so entirely
different, and his habit of coming into cities and

88

sitting upon telegraph-wires so altogether un-
Meeetie astern variety. In the East,’ the
Pewee is found in the lonely woods, where its
ever-sad call may be heard, sounding literally
like “Pewee,” slowly and mournfully reiterated.
But here the customary call is a rather strident
sound, and not unlike the cry which a Night-
hawk makes while searching the upper air for
his insect food. Very occasionally the true
Pewee note is heard.

Dwellers in cities are fortunate, however, in
not having to go to the wocds to watch the
fly-catching habit of this little creature; and, in
learning his way, they learn the way of all the
family, See him dart from his perch! ‘Then
hear his bill snap as he seizes the unlucky insect,
and, without pausing an instant, makes the loop
back to the place that he has just left.
Particular Description—As-in general description
above, with this addition; white throat and underneath,
the latter tinged with yellow.

Summer resident.

THE OLIVE-=SIDED FLYCATCHER.

General Description

Very like the Western Wood Pewee. A
little larger.
enstiay «Inches.

Found in evergreen tree-tops.

89

This Flycatcher is common in this section,
but may not seem so to one who does not know
that this is a bird of the tops of tall evergreens,
where it nests and from whence it feeds.

This manner of life will enable us always to
recognize him, even should we not bring him.
near through our glass.

Mr. Herman Bohlman, of Portland, one of the
most accurate and thoroughly informed §stu-
dents of local ornithology, says of this bird: “He
can always be recognized by his exceedingly
loud call-note; which sounds like ‘wee-chew,’
the first syllable being long drawn out and
strongly accented.”

In color, the bird so nearly resembles the
Pewee that one must almost wait for the wings
to be spread to discover the distinguishing white
flank-tufts which are concealed by the wings
while the bird is at rest. Another difference is
in the white central-line down the breast, which
is more distinct in this member of the family.

TRAILL’S FLYCATCHER.

General Description—
Upper parts: olive.
Under parts: white and yellow.
Length, 6 inches.
This Flycatcher is probably not to be found in
every locality alike in this section, but is abundant

90

in some parts. Mr. Anthony is authority for this
statement.

It will be difficult for many of us to distin-
euish this bird from other Flycatchers. In or-
der to make the way as easy as possible I give
Ridgway's more technical

Particular Description—‘‘Above, olive, cis decid-
edly grayer on head; wing-bands, varying from dull,
brownish-gray to nearly white; lower parts, white,
tinged, more or less, with sulphur-yellow underneath,
and shaded with olive-grayish on sides of breast; un-
der wing-coverts, very pale buffy-yellow.”’

Summer resident.

THE WESTERN FLYCATCHER.

Particular Description—Head, back and rump, gray-
ish-olive; pale wing-bands; breast, dull yellowish; un-
derneath, more sulphur-yellow; a circle of dull yellow
about the eye.
Length, 52 to 6 inches.

Ridgway says that it nests in clefts of old logs or
stumps and that its nests are made of moss and are
bulky. Keeler says, “nests on mossy bank by stream.”

THE ARKANSAS KINGBIRD.

General Description—

Head, neck and breast, light ashy-gray;
tail, black; underneath, yellow.
Length, 8 to 9.5 inches.

Found here and there throughout these States.

gI

This is the more common giant Flycatcher of
these States, as well as one of the kings of birds.
Though a “King of the Birds,” he is not, as is
generally supposed, a tyrant king, unless he is
very unlike his Eastern counterpart, “The King-
bird.’ On the other hand, like the bulldog
among dogs (unless the bulldog has been spoiled
in training), the bird is just and tolerant. But not
even the predaceous crow dare face this defend-
er of his own and other birds’ eggs and young.
His agility on the wing is unequaled; and no
offender may hope to dodge his fierce thrusts ,
at body, head and eyes. |

The Kingbird of the East is not generally dis-
tributed in this section, but 1s comparatively rare:
except in the eastern parts, where it is common,
and about Puget Sound, where it is reported as
less rare than in the Willamette Valley. In the
Atlantic States, he is to be found at every turn,
and is sometimes called the “Bee Martin,” and
farmers often make the same fatal mistake re-
specting this bird that they do with respect to
others, and destroy him. The examination of
the stomachs of over two hundred Kingbirds by
Professor Beal, of the Agricultural Department.
at Washington, revealed the fact that only four-
teen of the total number had any bees at all in
them, and those were mostly drones; while sixty

92

YC.

per cent of the contents of these stomachs con-
sisted of injurious insects: Every protection
should be given to these benefactors of the farm-
er, and they will more and more come to live
and nest in our orchards.

These birds can be readily distinguished from
the cther members of their family by their size.
dey ace much. larger.

The following description is of the Aeace

Kangbird:
Particular Description—Head, neck and breast, as
above, light ashy-gray;. crown, a concealed scarlet
“patch; back, olive-gray; tail, black, with white web
of outer tail-feathers; underneath, yellow.

Summer resident.

THE KINGBIRD.

The Kingbird may be distinguished from the
Arkansas Kingbird by the absence of yellow
underneath—“‘wing-coverts edged or bordered
with pure white or gravish-white.”

THE VIREOS.

There is a numerous family in America of
little olivaceous-backed birds, that keep a sharp

93

me

eye for insects upon the outer surface of the
foliage of the trees. They are nearly all sweet,
cheery and persistent singers. Their nests are,
with those of the Bush-Tit and the Oriole, pen-
dent, pocket-like affairs, and the nests of the
different varieties of Vireos are so much alike
that we may not hope to tell “which is which,”
unless we catch the birds upon, or near by, these
most interesting homes.

Our two states seem to have only two of the
family which are common, Cassin’s. and the
Warblinge Vireo. There is one other here, less
common, known as Hutton’s, and another very
rare, bearing the name of Mr. A. W. Anthony—
Anthony's Vireo.

THE WARBLING VIREO.

General Description—

Upper parts: clear grayish-olive.

Under parts: whitish. The sides are yel-
lowish.

Length, 5 to 5.5 inches.

Found in tops of shade-trees in town, soon after
arrival. Then they disappear for nesting, and refurn
later.

This member of the Vireo family is distrib-
uted over nearly the whole of North America. I
have heard him sing in New England, in the

94

Southern Middle States and in Minnesota. And
here again “His continuous flowing warble with
an alto undertone” (Chapman), may be heard
late in May in the thick foliage of our shade-
trees; but he may not easily be seen, even with
a glass. His song will be heard there morning
and afternoon, though not toward evening. It
is said by some to resemble that of the Purple
~ Pinch. |

Particular Description — Head, brownish-gray; a
faint whitish line over eye; back, clear olive-gray;

wings, greenish-olive; breast, dull white; pale yellow-
ish sides.

Summer resident.

CASSIN’S VIREO.

General Description—
Upper parts: bluish head and grayish-

olive back.
Under parts: dull white with yellowish
sides.

Length, 5 to 5.6 inches.

Found in partly open country, in deciduous trees
of rather low growth.

Cassin’s Vireo is another bird that belongs
chiefly to the Pacific Coast. It is, like the birds
of other families already named belonging to
the Western part of the continent, a bird to re-

35

a
|
4,

= 7

joice in. His song is characteristically vireoish
—a kind of warble with a touch of the metallic
in it.

He may be distinguished from the warbling
Vireo by his lower perch, by his less flowing
song, and also by his markings (which are alto-
gether his own).

- Particular Description—As above, bluish head; a con-
spicuous white line about his eye, and two white wing-
bars. | |

Summer resident.

THE LAZULI BUNTING. |

General Description—
Upper parts: azure-blue.
Under parts: rufous and white.
Length, 5.5 inches.

Found in low growths of deciduous trees.

If it is a question of beauty of coloring, no
other bird may hope to surpass to human eyes
this little bit of heaven’s blue, with his soft,
tawny breast and clear white underparts.

He comes to us rather late in May from the
Southern land, where he spends his winters, and
may occasionally be seen about suburban houses
and orchards before he has found his nesting-
place. Once seen, he will always be recognized
and remembered. |

96

FREE + ee ee ~ — - — ‘ =

Black-headed Grosbeak.

a

His song is vivacious, varied, well articulated
and sweet. I have heard one say over and over,
“Here! here! why-e, don’t you come here?”

~The female carries no such wealth of color as
her companion and cannot answer him with his
free song.
Particular Description—Male—Head, neck and upper
parts, turquoise, or azure, blue; the back, darker and
duller; distinct white wing-bar, sometimes a second
fainter one; breast (sometimes sides), tawny; under-
neath, white.

Female—Duller grayish-brown on back, tinged
with bluish on rump; breast. pale buff.

Summer resident.

THE BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.

General Description—

Male—Upper parts: head and_ back,
black; neck, orange-buffy; wings
and tail, with white patches.

Under parts: orange-brown and yellow.

Length, 8 inches.

May often be seen singing upon the taller trees left
standing in the midst of younger growth. It nests in
low growth, sometimes near water.

Some say that the most beautiful singer
amongst the birds of the Eastern States is the
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. A member of the
same family, belonging exclusively to the West-

97

ern part of the Continent, holds something like a
corresponding position in this section. Though
it is less varied, his song has the same general
quality as that of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
The song is not unlike that of the Robin in its
general form; but there is a mellowness about
it, and running through it ‘‘a rich undertone,”
as a competent judge describes it, which should
charm every listener. When the writer first came
to this Coast, he mistook, for an instant, the
song of the local bird for that of the Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, owing to this mellow under-
LOG: ,

The male bird’s color is notable for its rich-
ness, being made up of alternate large patches
of black and orange or red-buff. The form and
carriage of the male is both attractive and com-
manding. His body looks graceful and longer
than it really is, as he sits upon his perch, sing-
ing his love-song, like a master-bird as well as
a master-musician. The accompanying picture
gives an excellent impression of the bird.

Particular Description—Male—Head, black, some-
times a line of light orange-brown in center of crown
and back of eye; collar, back of neck, cinnamon-color;
back, black mixed with light cinnamon, sometimes all
black; rump, cinnamon; wings and tail, black, varied
with white; breast, cinnamon; underneath, yellow,
also inside of wings.

98

Female—Olive-brown, instead of black; under
parts, whitish, streaked on sides; lining of wings, lem-
on-color.

Summer resident.

THE CEDAR WAXWING (Cherry Bird).
General Description—

A crested bird. General color, grayish-
brown, tinged with plum color.
Very weat- appearance . and qtiet
manner when perching.

Length, 7 inches.

Found all over settled parts of the country in small
flocks, except in nesting-season in June.

Combined exquisiteness of dress, gentleness
of disposition, politeness of manners, almost lisp-
ing song and whispered conversation distinguish
the Cedar Waxwing from all other birds. The
Bluebird has been previously described as gen-
tlemanly or ladylike, and so it is, in looks and
general manner. But the Waxwing outranks it
in these respects and in the others named.

With regard to his dress, some might call
the bird a “dandy,” so exquisitely neat and per-
fect is he. But a second thought will cause us
to regard his attire rather as a work of fine art:
tie periect crést, the vinaceous tint in the pre-
dominating soft gray-brown plumage, the vel-

L. of G. 6

vety black line across the eye and around the
forehead, the dainty red waxlike spots upon the
wings as if each one had been placed there from
without by the divine Master Artist Himself, the
finished yellow edge upon the _ tail,—together
give an impression of perfect quiet beauty that
is unique in our experience of birds.

As to manners, Nuttall describes their polite-.
ness to each other as they go about in flocks.
He says he has often seen them passing a worm
along the line from one to another and back
again before it was finally eaten.

Their song is a lisping ““Twee-twee-ze.” Their
communications while in social tete-a-tete upon
a tree are, as suggested, in a whisper evidently
intended only for each other’s ears.

Owing to their food habits they are, like
Robins, rovers when not nesting. They must
find cedarberries, canker-worms, wild or culti-
vated fruit; and they fare forth for these with a
range even wider than the Swallow’s, as night-
fall does not call them back to any fixed roost-
ing-place.

The bird’s fondness for cherries arouses the
hostility of some men. But again we ask, is it
right to destroy such a perfect “thing of beauty”
and such an enemy of the deadliest foe of shade
and fruit trees—the canker-worm—because the

I0O

bird does sometimes take a share of the fruit
that it helps to raise?

Particular Description—Male—Above, grayish-brown,
varying with plum-colored tints to ashy; black fore-
head; chin, black; breast, lighter than back; under-
neath, yellowish; under tail-coverts, white; yellow
ps -on tail.

Pemale—Duller plumage, smaller crest and. nar-
rower yellow band on tail.

Mostly a summer resident.

THE WARBLERS.

Two of this family (the Audubon’s Warbler
and the Western Yellow-throat) have already
been described, because they come so early to
our latitude, and so certain are they to be the
first to attract attention. There are others of
this family which we must recognize, some of
which are very abundant though arriving later
in our neighborhoods.

No one can tell just why the Warblers are
called Warblers; they do not many of them (and
they are a large family) warble in song more
than other birds, while some do not warble at
all. But they are alike in their habits. They

IOL

are the birds of the trees and the leaves. They
live among the leaves and feed upon the insects
which they gather from them. Except when up-
on a nest, or at night, they are ever in motion,
searching leaf after leaf for their food.

They are all small birds, all of them well
dressed, many of them exquisitely plumaged.
Besides the two mentioned, the following are
more or less common in Oregon and Washing-
ton, and may be quite easily identified: The
Yellow, Lutescent, Macgillivray’s, Black-throat-
ed Gray and Pileolated Warblers; also the Long-
tailed Chat. |

THE YELLOW, OR SUMMER, WARBLER.

General Description—

Upper parts: yellow and olive-green.
Under parts: light yellow.
Length, 4.75 to 5.2 inches.

Found in shade-trees, orchards and edges of woods.

This beautiful little bit of animated sunshine
makes glad the summer days everywhere
through temperate North America from ocean
to ocean, except where there are no deciduous
trees. It may be before the foliage is well de-
veloped that he will arrive from the tropics of
the Southern Continent. He is our most com-

102

mon Warbler, whose rather metallic and oft-re-
Meared- - Weee-chee, chee, cher-wee” may. be
heard from nearly every’shade tree in our cities,
as well as along the country roads and in the
orchards.

As abundant as he is, you may not at once
espy this persistent singer, as he loves the ob-
scurity of the thick leaves.

No one should mistake him for the Gold-
finch or “Wild Canary,” as is sometimes done,
for this bird has no black upon him, and his
habits and flight are entirely different.
Particular Description—Male—Brighter yellow on
head and neck; back, tinged with olive-green; wings
and tail, dusky olive-brown; breast and underneath,
bright yellow, streaked with brown.

Female—Like male, only duller and no streaks
below.

Summer resident.

THE LUTESCENT WARBLER.

General Description—

Upper parts: light olive-green.
Under parts: bright greenish-yellow.
Length, 5 inches.

Found in trees of thick foliage.

While listening to and searching for the Yel-
low Warbler, we shall hear another and oft-re-

103

peated song in the same trees; and if we are not
careful, when we see its author, we shall con-
fuse it with the female of the Yellow Warbler.
It is of nearly the same size as that bird,—a
little smaller. It is yellow, too, but of a darker
olive-greenish tint throughout, and his song is
not to be mistaken, once it is recognized. The
bird hides more persistently in the foliage than
the Yellow Warbler, and will be more difficult
to catch under the opera-glass. But he may _
be found visiting the leaves of apple or other
fruit trees, for fare for himself and young, and
may, then be particularly observed. . Arrives in
first part of April.

articular Description—As in general description, al-
so an “obscure crown-patch of orange-brown” (Keel-
er).

Female—Duller color.

Summer resident.

MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER.

General Description—

Head, dark grays! Back, olive-green;
black spot between eye and bill.
Length, 5.75 inches.

Found in bushes and thick low growth.

When looking for other birds some day, you
will find one that will strike vour attention im-

104

mediately because of the black spot referred to
in the general description. This will at once
identify him, and he will seem to you, probably,
less restless than the other Warblers you have
found. You may, at your leisure, learn his song
and habits.

Particular Description—As in general description, al-

so throat and upper part of breast, dark gray; below
this, bright yellow.

Summer resident.

BLACK=THROATED GRAY WARBLER.
General Description—

Black throat; black, white and gray all
over, except yellow spot in front of
eye. :

Leneth, 4.7 to 5.4 inches.

Found in evergreen tree-tops. _

Some time when youare under the evergreens,
you will notice some little restless creatures,
mostly high up in the spiny limbs. Your glass
will bring them to your recognition as the
Black-throated Gray Warblers. ‘This variety of
Warbler lives, feeds and nests in those high
places over. your head. This strange and far-
away habit will at the same time interest and
tease you, so beyond convenient range does it
take these tiny birds.. Hard enough would it be

105

to see them well, were their restless bodies near-
er the earth. But are we not always more curi-
ous about the creatures that are not near?

Particular Description—Head, black; yellow spot in
front of eye; back, bluish-gray streaked with black;
throat, black; breast and under parts, white; sides,
streaked with black. ; | 3

Female—Colors duller, and throat mixed somewhat
with white. ;

Summer resident.

THE LONG-TAILED CHAT. ~*~

General Description—

All above, olive-gray; long tail; breast,
bright yellow; under parts, white;
bill, rather long, and upper man-
dible, curved.

Length, 7.5 inches.

Found, usually, in and about thickets around
swamps and streams.

Some day this strange bird will reveal himself
to vou, not alone in his wild, varied and chat-
tering song, but in his really funny antics upon
the wing. . He is, of all the birds that we shall
know, “the funny bird.” He sings a rollicking,
imitative and frolicsome song, running through
how many keys and forms, only those know
who have heard him. Some have tried to write

106

=

down the medley of the Yellow-breasted Chat of
the East, which is very like our own in song and
habits. Mr. Burroughs has expressed it thus:
“Now he barks like a puppy, then quacks like a
duck, then rattles like a kingfisher, then squalls
like a fox, then caws like a crow, then mews like

a C2 C-r-r-r-r-r-whrr—that’s it—chee—-
quack, cluck, vyit-yit-yit—now. hit it-—tr-r-r—
when—caw—caw—cut, cut— tea-boy — who,

who—mew, mew.”’

His actions befit his song; often upon the
wing, a little way above the thicket, he will
tumble in air, dropping his legs, flapping his
wings, and all the time chattering his rollicking
song.

When you see him in the bushes, nis manner is
that of “a mischief.” He looks as if he might,
if he could trust himself to do it, tickle your
ear or play hide-the-handkerchief with you.

Our funny bird cannot be satisfied with the
day to sing in. Many times in the night, and
particularly upon moonlight nights, you may hear
his good spirits bubbling over in his varied song.
_ Though the Chat is classed with the Warblers,
one can hardly think of him as belonging to
this family.

Particular Description—Male—As in general descrip-
tion; also two white lines on face, one above the eye,

107

one below; eyelids, white; lores (spot between eye
and bill), black; under tail-coverts, white.
Female—Duller colors.

Summer resident.

THE PILEOLATED WARBLER.
General Description—

Upper parts: black cap and bright olive-
green back.

Under parts: bright yellow.

Length, 5 inches.

Found in swampy woods.

This Warbler is the Western variety of the
Eastern Wilson, or Black-capped Warbler, and
will not be found in Oregon, or in Southern
Washington, perhaps, except in migration. But ©
in Northern Washington, about Puget Sound,
he is not rare, nesting in these parts.

Particular Description—Forehead, bright yellow, in
males; center of crown, black; back, bright olive-
green; under parts, bright yellow.

Summer resident.

THE DOVE FAMILY.

There are two members of this family found
within the boundaries prescribed in this book,

108

x

the Mourning Dove and the PBand-tailed
Pigeon.

THE MOURNING DOVE, OR TURTLE DOVE.
General Description—

Upper parts: except head, soft olive-
brownish.

Under parts: vinaceous or plum color.
Long tail.

Length, 12.5 inches.

Found everywhere in farming and more or less
open country.

Everywhere, in temperate North America, in
the summer season, we may see and hear the
bird, which is truly named the “Mourning”
Dove. To many, the cooing is too sadly sug-
gestive to be agreeable, but to one who has
learned to associate this sound with love-mak-
ing, rather than with lament, it is one of the
sweet voices of Nature and could net well be
spared. The devotion of the Dove is proverbial
and is used to characterize extraordinary human
connubial love. These birds are loyal lovers, for
even when the nesting-season is over they do
not gather in flocks, as do other Pigeons, but
are often seen in pairs.

With respect to this bird, farmers make a
mistake, too. Because it picks up wheat upon
the surface of the field or even takes some (more

109

or less) after it is covered, the Dove is, in some
places, looked upon as an enemy. But no bird
does more in devouring noxious weed-seed than
this one. An examination of many crops of this
species by the Agricultural Department at
Washington showed the contents of the crop of
one Dove to be seven thousand mullein seeds.
When it is known that a Dove fills his crop
several times each day, the usefulness of this
bird may be imagined. | 2
The Mourning Dove is beautiful withal and

too innocent*and gentle in habit to make the
killing of it, for food, a sport.

Particular Description—Forehead, reddish-buff; head,
greenish-blue; rest of upper parts, as in general de-
scription, except sides of neck, iridescent, with black

spot underneath each ear; breast, vinaceous; under-
neath, buff; long pointed tail, outer feathers, white.

Summer resident.

THE BAND=TAILED PIGEON.

General Description—
Male—Upper parts: lead color, with pur-
plish tints on head and neck; bluish
on rump. 3
Under ..parts: purplish, varpiae (som
greenish-blue to bluish-green.
Length, 16 inches.
Found in the oaks, where it feeds on acorns, and
sometimes about farm fields.

IIo

as

The Band-tailed Pigeon corresponds to the
Wild Pigeon of the East, so famous for num-
bers before ruthless man nearly destroyed it, as
he has entirely destroyed the Buffalo.

Audubon and others report that the Wild
Pigeons of the East once darkened the sky for
hours,in their flight, and broke, with their
weight, the limbs of trees upon hundreds of
acres of forests. The bird is now comparatively
fe Phieireason for this. fearful,..cruel, and
wasteful destruction, was largely the habits of
the birds in living the year around in one im-
mense colony. It is said that the Band-tailed
Pigeons nest in something like small colonies,
remain together in moderate-sized flocks after
the nesting-season, are sometimes seen in num-
bers innumerable, and are often slaughtered by
the score. Let the people of the Northwest have

a-Cate. belore it 18. too late.

Particular Description—As above, in general descrip-
tion; with white collar on back of neck; tail, square,
with a black band one-third from the end.

Summer resident.

THE WESTERN NIGHTHAWK.

General Description—
| Mottled gray, with wide wings; on the
wing high in air, toward nightfall.
Length, 10 inches.
Found everywhere in the States.

LACE

Some of us associate with nightfall in our
boyhood two sounds from the sky which seemed
mysterious, and one of them sometimes per-
haps a little dreadful. One was the steadily
repeated nasal “Paent” (Chapman), and the
other the occasional sudden booming or whir-
ring sound which the Nighthawk, out of sight,
would send down to our ears. We may from —
this boyish experience understand how the In-
dians became superstitious respecting the latter
sound, and thought it was “the Shad Spirit
warning the shoals of shad, about to ascend the
rivers to spawn, of their impending fate.”

But later we came to know the useful and
beautiful bird that, in its splendid free flight
over country and city, uttered his friendly
though somewhat strident note, and ever and
anon—whether for sport, or for an insect, who
can tell?—would drop head-foremost from a
great height (sometimes several hundred feet),
holding wings and tail stiff and at an angle
that would produce the booming and jarring
sound referred to. This bird has many names
in the East—the Night Jar, the Bull Bat, Mos-
quito Hawk, and others.

Man’s blindness to his friends, the birds, is
again illustrated by the way in which some even

I1I2

now regard the Nighthawk as an enemy to poul-
try; |

~The Nighthawk is unfortunately named, for
he is not a Hawk at all; and, strictly speaking,
he never flies at night, only after sunset and
near nightfall, and sometimes into the dusk. His
bill and claws could not handle meat, neither is
his throat capable of swallowing it. He is wholly
an insectivorous bird.

During the bright parts of the day, he sits up-
on limbs of trees, or upon the roof of a house, or
even again, in the country, upon a rock, quite
motionless.

Nighthawks nest upon the ground in rocky
pastures and uplands. ‘They are related closely
to the Whippoorwill, which unhappily, is not
to be found upon this Coast..

The Western Nighthawk differs from the
Eastern in being a little lighter in color.

Particular Description—Head, broad; _ bill, small,
curved and pointed; upper parts, mottled, with light
grayish-buffy or yellow markings predominating;
lower parts—throat, white; upper breast, narrow bars
of buffy and black alternating; lower breast-bars,
wider.

Summer resident.

113

VAUX’S SWIFT.
General Description—

On the wing, appears to be black, with
short tail and long wings. It has a
rapid flight, and is to be seen on
cloudy days and near nightfall.

Length, a little more than 4 inches.

Found flying high over woods or houses, and nest-
ing in hollow trees.

No one will ever see this bird except on the
wing, unless he handles a dead one or some-
times does as Audubon once did at night, that
is, visit some tree which has been prepared for
investigation, and with a light look up to the
crowded tenement of these bat-like creatures
above. Audubon found, by count, nine thou-
sand of the Eastern species in one tree.

The Eastern variety of the Swift is very like
Vaux’s, and is popularly known as the “Chim-
ney Swallow,” because there these birds take
possession of chimneys unused in summer time
and proceed to glue their nests against the sides
of the chimney flues. The nests are made of
twigs snapped off trees while the birds are on
the wing. In the fireplace-rooms below, the
fluttering and twittering of these happy crea-
tures can often be heard.

Though called Swallows, they are very unlike

II4

the Swallow in every respect, except that they
feed in the air and have weak feet. They can-
not perch, but rest and sleep hanging on the side
of the tree or chimney, propped by the stiff
spines at the end of their tatl-feathers, using
these as do some of the Woodpeckers when the
itten Cline to a tree-trunk. ‘The:.stretch of
their wings is something amazing compared
with their length,—the distance from tip to tip
being more than twelve inches, while from tip
of bill to end of tail-feathers, when stretched out,
they measure only a little more than four inches.
This extraordinary wing enables them to per-
form miracles of flight. It is said they some-
times cover a thousand miles in twenty-four
hours.

The Swift on the wing suggests by his gen-
eral appearance the Bat. As he flies he utters a
single note rapidly.

Particular Description—General coloration, dusky-
grayish; throat, pale grayish; rump and upper tail-
coverts, lighter than the back.

Summer resident.

THE BLACK SWIFT.

Tins Swit is darker than the Vaux’s, and
much larger,—its length being seven inches and
more. It is a bird of splendid flight and lofty

TI5

habitat. Mr. Anthony states that it nests in
crevices of the highest cliffs in high mountains,
and is sometimes called “the Cloud Bird,” on
account of its lofty flight and dwelling-place.

Its form is different from that of the Vaux’s
Swift. The spines at the end of the tail do not
extend beyond the web of the feathers.

Many years ago, this Swift was reported as
abundant and nesting in the cliffs along the
Klamath River, in southern Oregon, or north--
ern California. It is known in the West Indies,
and <Mr. J. “H.. Bowles reports: it) en Pucet
Sound. Ridgway gives its American habitat as
from Colorado to British Columbia. It may be
found here and there throughout our section.
Description—“Uniform dusky or blackish, becoming

more sooty-grayish on head and neck; the forehead
more hoary.’ —Ridgway.

Summer resident.

THE CHICKADEES.

Any one who knows the little animated bunch
of feathers that, with his cheery manner and
happy song, may be seen in the winter time,
scouring the limbs of our fruit-trees for the

116

~

eggs which will later, unless destroyed, be-
come canker-worms and other pests of the orch-
ards, is the friend of one bird, at least,—the
Chickadee.

His dress befits his manner, and, taking him
altogether, one might be justified for once in
using the phrase, “a love of a bird.”

In the colder regions of the Eastern States,
nothing gives more cheer to a frigid winter
morning, with the mercury at 20 degrees below
zero, than this happy little creature, singing out
into the cold air his oft-repeated “Chick-a-dee—
dee-dee,” while he moves from limb to limb.

May he often find that, in gratitude for his
merry song and his helpfulness in the orchard,
some human friend has tied a small piece of
beef-suet upon a tree to add a little variety to
his menu. With a little leading and care, this
tempting provision, placed upon a board at the
window, will bring the Chickadees, also the
Nuthatches, to close fellowship with you.

There are two varieties of the Chickadee in
our section, the Oregon and the Chestnut-
backed. They are enough alike in their looks
and habits to deceive any one who does not see
them near to or through a glass. But the Chest-
nut color is sufficiently clear to mark the dis-
tinction, once it is seen. The “Chickadee” call is

117

not so clear in the Chestnut-backed as in the Ore-
gon, and neither gives so distinct an articulation
to this word, that gave these birds their name,
as does the Eastern Black-capped Chickadee.

The two varieties do not mingle much, but
each, after nesting, loves the company of its own
kind, and as we have seen elsewhere, that of the
Nuthatches as well.

THE OREGON CHICKADEE.

Particular Description—Head, neck, throat and upper ~™

breast, black; back and tail, gray; a V-shaped white
section with the point at the bill, extends back to the
shoulder; lower breast, white; underneath, buttfy.
Length, 4.5 to 5.25 inches.

Permanent resident.

THE CHESTNUT=BACKED CHICKADEE.

rarticular Description—The same as the Oregon
Chickadee, except head, brownish-black instead of
black; back and sides, chestnut; underneath, light
gray. Length, 4.5 to 5 inches.

Permanent resident.

THE NUTHATCHES.

What are these birds, in whose company the
Chickadees and the Kinglets rove in winter

118

time? The Nuthatches are creepers, and have
long bills which are a great advantage in prob-
mem the crevices of: the bark for the in-
sects that the Chickadees and Kinglets, with
their short bills, cannot reach. The Nuthatch
has slightly elongated toe-nails, which may ac-
count for the great ease with which it runs up
or down tree-trunks. They are called Hatches
or Hackers because some of the species use their
bills to hack or crack nuts which they have pre-
viously hidden in crevices.

Edith M. Thomas has written a poem, “To the
Nuthatch,” which so perfectly describes this bird
of the tree-trunk, that it is inserted here:

- “Shrewd little haunter of woods all gray
Whom I meet on my walk of a winter day—
You’re busy inspecting each cranny and hole
In the ragged bark of yon hickory pole;

You intent on your task, and I on the law
Of your wonderful head and gymnastic claw!

The weodpecker well may despair of this feat—
Only the fly with you can compete!

So much is clear; but I fain would know

How you can so reckless and fearless go,

Head upward, head downward, all one to you,
Zenith and nadir the same in your view ?”?

There are two varieties of the Nuthatch in our
States—the Red-breasted, and the less common
Slender-billed Nuthatch.

IIg

THE RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.

General Description—
Upper parts: black and brownish.
Under parts: rufous, or light rusty red:
Length, 4 to 4.5 inches.

Found on trunks and large limbs of trees, both
evergreens and deciduous.

This little creature, creeping swiftly along
the under side of a limb as a fly runs along the
ceiling, uttering his ‘“Tai-tai-tait’” (Blanchan),
is truly about as curious a specimen of bird-life -
as we shall find among Land-birds. His long,
sharp bill has such incessant use that it is a
wonder it does not wear down and become
short.

Particular Description—Male—Head and _ neck,
black; black stripe passing through eye to shoulder,
and white stripe over eye; back and upper wing-co-
verts, lead color; tail, black, barred with white near
the end, tipped with pale brown; below, pale reddish-
brown.

Female—Top of head, gray.

Permanent resident.

THE SLENDER-BILLED NUTHATCH.

General Description—

Upper parts: gray.
Under parts: white.
Length, 5.5 inches.

Found on tree trunks, etc.

I20

ms

This Nuthatch is not equally common in all
parts of our States, but is not infrequently found
—perhaps more frequently—in the eastern parts
of this section. It is the Western species of the
Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch.

The name Slender-billed describes one main
characteristic of the bird. Its habits are sub-
stantially the same as those of the Red-breasted
Nuthatch.

Particular Description—Male—Top of head and neck,

black ; back, slate color; wings, dark slate; white
breast and under parts.

Permanent resident.

THE KINGLETS.

In winter or in early spring, one looking for
birds will often come across some little crea-
tures with charming dress and ways, whose |
names and unrevealed beauties one should
mace, Waste to know. They are the small-
est Or birds alter the Hummingbirds and
Sviater Wrens. in winter they are often in
the good company of the Chickadees, and some-
mimes, Om tie Nuthatches—as if relatives, in a

2k

way. And a happy family they are, without jeal-
ousy or even occasional contention.

The Golden-crowned and the Ruby-crowned
Kinglets answer the Chickadee’s ‘‘Chick-a-dee,
dee, dee” with their own peculiarly bright “Ti,
ti” or “Zei, zei,” and in March may be heard
their exquisite songs. iy

THE WESTERN GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.

General Description—

-

Upper parts: decidedly olivaceous.

Under parts: “strong buffy tinge,” and
a golden crown.

Length, 3.15 to 4.50 inches. ~

Found in trees, often in evergreens.

The Western Golden-crowned Kingiet differs
from the Eastern only in having somewhat
brighter colors. Its song is just the same and
its habits identical. Like the Chickadee, zero
weather has no effect upon its cheerful spirit. It
is as restless as the Chickadees and the Nut-
hatches that it keeps company with. It hangs
upon the smallest twigs searching for insects.

In the East, they do not hear the -Golden-
crowned Kinglet’s song, or see its nest, except
in the northern parts of the Northern States and
in the Alleghany mountains, whither it goes in
May. The Western species undoubtedly nests

i222

in parts of our States, though 1 its nests are not
yet reported.

Mr. Brewster describes the song of the bird as
beginning with a succession of five or six fine
trills, high-pitched, somewhat faltering notes,
and ending with a short, rapid, rather explosive
warble. The song is out of proportion to the ~
mae size. If is.an attractive little singer; but
does not equal its relative the Ruby-crowned
Kinglet, in this important respect.

Particular Description—Male—Head, neck, back and
rump, bright olive; wings and tail, slightly dusky,
Margined with olive-green; breast and under parts, .
brownish-buffy; center of crown, intense orange, bor-
dered with bright yellow, enclosed by black line; white

line over the eye.
Female—Similar, but center of crown, fea: yel-
low, and grayish underneath.

Permanent resident.

THE RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET.

General Description—

Upper parts: generally the same in color
as, but a little duller than, the Gold-
en-crowned Kinglet.

Under parts: light yellowish-gray; ver-
milion-red crown, usually con-

~ cealed.

Pens m, 275 to 4.6. 1mches.

Found generally distributed.

123

The habits of this bird are nearly identical
with those of the Golden-crowned Kinglet, but
he is a superior singer. His song is a marvel
of beauty and strength; he is always generous
with it, even in winter pouring his sweet notes
upon the cold air, perhaps in memory of past, or
in contemplation of future, love and home.

Dr. Coues (one of America’s great bird-stu-
dents) remarks, concerning the phenomenal
strength of the song of this little bird: ‘“The_
sound-producing organ is not larger than a pin-
head, and the muscles that move it are almost
microscopic shreds of flesh, yet its song may be
heard two hundred yards”; and “the Kinglet’s
exquisite vocalization defies description.”
Particular Description—Male—Head, neck and back,
grayish-olive; crown-spot, bright “scarlet-vermilion,”’
usually concealed, no enclosing colors; a fine white
ring around the eye; two whitish wing-bars; breast

and underneath, yellowish-gray.
Female—Similar, but without vermilion crest.

Partly a permanent resident.

THE BUSH-TIT.

General Description—

Upper parts: brownish-gray.
Under parts: light smoky-brown.
Length, 4.5 inches.

124

Found upon oak trees and also upon the limbs and
twigs of young deciduous growth.

Not unlike the Chickadees in general form, or
unlike the Kinglets in habits, are the little Bush-
Tits which may be seen in small flocks in win-
ter time, hanging from the twigs of young
growth, and searching, like their relatives, for
what are to them dainty bits of insect hfe. Their
“cute” ways and gentle, though lively demeanor,
attract attention and invite study.

This is one of the three varieties of birds that
build a pouch-like nest. That of the Bush-Tits
is much larger than would seem neediul for these
little mites, or possible for tnem to construct.
The nest is usually only five or six feet from
the ground, in low growth, but has been seen
much higher in evergreens.

Particular Description—Head, rather sooty; back,

deep brownish-gray; lower parts, as above, but deep
smoky along the sides.

Permanent resident.

WINTER BIRDS.

There are few varieties of birds that are win-
ter residents, and these are amongst the most

rs

125

beautiful, familiar and entertaining of any of the
feathered creatures that come to us. Four of
these winter birds are the Junco (“Snow Bird”),
the Varied Thrush, the Western Evening Gros-
beak and the Titlark. ‘There are others, like the

_Kinglets and the Chickadees, described in other

places, which are more in evidence in winter
time.

THE OREGON JUNCO.
General Description—

Male—Upper parts: black head and

neck; back and tail, dark gray.
Under parts: light gray and white.
Length, 5.75 to 6.75 inches.

Found everywhere in western part of these States.

This is the most familiar and entertaining of
the winter birds. Nearly every child knows the
“Snow Bird,” who comes about our suburban,
and sometimes our city, homes to catch the scat-
tered crumbs and the bird-seed which thought-
ful human friends have provided. How neat and
admirable their dress! The male with his black,
cowl-like head, and the female in her modes’.
Quaker-like garb, and both with an exquisite
flesh-colored bill—the daintiest.bill of any bird
we see in these parts.

126

The little creature is often rendered quite tame
by attention and careful feeding. He may be-
come very much at home with us by the right
treatment, by letting him associate his crumbs
or bird-seed with our bestowal, and with some
soit and oft-repeated whistle. He will soon feed
at your feet, and even from your hand. His
song is a sweet trill.

Particular Description—Male—Head and the whole
neck, black; back and upper tail-feathers, dark gray; .

breast, grayish-white; underneath and outer tail-
feathers, white.

Female—With head, back, etc., dull slate-gray;
otherwise like the male, but colors duller.

A permanent resident, but very retired during
nesting and summer time.

THE VARIED THRUSH.
General Description— |

Upper parts: slaty (like the Robin), with

yellowish stripes upon the wings.
Under parts: orange-yellow breast.
Length, 9.5 inches.

Found all over the western valleys of the two
States.

This bird—which comes to us in the autumn
from Alaska, where it nests—is sometimes called

127

the Alaskan Robin. Its general appearance is
Robin-like, and therefore it is also called the
“Varied Robin.” It differs mainly in having
yellow markings. It is a beautiful bird in its
variegated coloring. ‘The orange shade upon
the breast is much brighter in some oi the birds
than in others, and gives a momentary effect of
the gorgeous coloring of the Oriole’s breast.

These birds are wild and retiring upon their
arrival in this section, but before the winter 1s
over they are seen not far from, and sometimes
very near, houses. The . writer saw one on
March 19, 1901, picking around the back-door
step of a house in suburban Portland.

Some of these Thrushes linger into April, but
then they are off to their secluded nesting-home
twelve hundred miles north. John Burroughs,
in his report of his visit to Alaska with the “Har-
riman Expedition,” speaks of their nests and of
their sweet song, with which they never favor
this locality.

Particular Description—Head and _ tail blackish-
brown; back and wings, slaty; orange-rufous stripe,
back of eyes; three of the same color upon each wing;

throat, breast and sides, orange-rufous; black cres-
cent on tive ubreast:

Winter resident.

128

ato ST

Varied Thrush.

de ek

~

THE WESTERN EVENING GROSBEAK.
General Description—

Cid. sold, nearly. -all.over- large white
patches on wings; very large bill.
Length, 8 inches.

- Found about towns and country places some win-
bes. |

This 1s the most beautiful winter bird in our
section, and one of the most beautiful birds that
we have at any time of the year. The Grosbeak
comes from unknown homes in the northern
British forests, or perhaps far up in the unex-
plored regions of the Sierras, or from the Coast
Range. No one has ever found their nesting-
place, and only one nest, and that apparently
accidental, has ever been seen so far as reported.
They leave their summer feeding-ground, when
severe winters drive them to the open country of
western Oregon and Washington, here to thrive
upon abundant food which they find in maple
Eeee Seeds, etc. Ihe huge size of the bill indi-
cates the use which these birds make of them in
cracking pine cones.

Though nesting so far from the habitation of
man, they are wondrously tame, as they appear
in flocks in our City Parks, and upon our lawns.
So friendly already, it is easy to win further their
confidence, and induce them to eat out of the

129

hand. A lady of Oregon City in the winter of
1898-99 succeeded in bringing numbers of these
beautiful birds to sit upon her arms, hands and
lap. The writer has two pictures of this win-
some woman with the Grosbeaks thus confiding-
ly resting upon her person. And in this winter
of 1900-01 some of the same birds have re-
turned after the two years’ absence,—the identi-
fication being established by certain unmistak-
able marks,.like the blindness of one in one eye,
and the misshapen leg of another.

The explanation of the fearlessness of these
birds is found in the fact that they are not fa-
miliar enough with the bird-stoning and killing
propensities of human beings to keep at a sate
distance. Every wild and fearful bird is a sad
comment upon the savage treatment bird-life
has received at the hands of man. And every
such familiar intercourse as that between this
bird-lover in Oregon City and the birds indi-
cates what, if we will, may be the future relation
between us and these angels of song and beauty.

The Evening Grosbeak has no song proper
while with us, but has such a musical conver-
sational note that we long some day to come
upon the quiet family in their summer homes;
where, if their love-song is one half as sweet

130

as the songs of other Grosbeaks, we know it
must be sweet indeed.

These birds must be very numerous, as re-
ports from different parts of these States show
that, in large flocks, they cover a wide terri-
mOry.

Particular Description—Male—Crown, black; neck,
sides of head, throat, breast and underneath, rich olive-
yellow or old gold; color darker on back, shading
lighter yellow to tail-coverts; white patch on wings; -
yellow line on forehead, extending over each eye;

black upper tail-coverts and tail, and outer wing-parts;
light yellow under tail-coverts.

Female—Prevailing color, buffy or yellowish-brown
instead of old-gold, with small! white spots on wings.

Winter resident.

THE AMERICAN PIPIT OR TITLARK.

General Description—

Upper parts: grayish-brown. .

Under parts: buffy, streaked on the
breast; outer tail-feathers, white.

Length, 6 to 7 inches.

Found in flocks in winter upon bottom lands and
fields that have been overflowed.

When one is passing some low lands in win-
ter, and sees a large flock of sparrow-like birds
rise with irregular flight, calling ‘“dee-dee, dee-

131

9)

dee,’ and sometimes returning to the spot from
which they were flushed, he may be sure he
has found the American Pipit or Titlark,—also
called the Brown or Red Lark. It is with us in
abundance in winter time, but goes in summer
(like the Evening Grosbeak) to northern parts
or to the mountains, above the timber line, to
nest upon the ground. ‘The bird is called a
Lark because it lives upon the open ground,
where it prefers to run rather than to rise and
fly; and when flushed it is only for a moment on
the wing, and then not far from its beloved
earth. It is so named, also, because when it
does take a spontaneous flight higher than the
enforced one, it sings on the wing. It is said to
be “expert in catching a small variety of insect
or fly which frequents the lowlands.”

But the Titlark belongs to the Wagtai fam-
ily because while on the ground he teeters and —
twitches and wags his tail in a comical fashion
characteristic of the family.

Particular Description—Head, back, wings and tail,
grayish-brown; tail and wings, more dusky; a pale
buffy line above the eye; throat, breast and under-
neath, buffy, with breast and sides streaked with dusky.

A winter resident. Perhaps some nest in these

parts, as they have been seen here in July.

£22

THE AMERICAN CROSSBILL AND THE
REDPOLL.

There are two Winter birds, not in the pre-
vious list, which are not common but which may
be discovered by some one who would like to
identify them. They are the American Crossbill
and the Redpoll. |

The first-named, with his crossed bill, when
once seen, will scarcely need further description.
It is enough to add that his color is generally
reddish, and his size about six inches. His
crossed bill is exactly fitted to cut open pine
cones, the contents of which constitute his chief
food.

The Redpoll is smaller, its general color
streaked and dusky, with white and brownish
eround; the rump and breast are rose-red in the
male, and, as the name- indicates, he has a
crimson crown.

These birds both nest in the north, or in un-
known places in the mountains, and are seen
only in winter.

THE BELTED KINGFISHER.
General Description—
Upper parts: bluish-gray.
Under parts: white, with a bluish-gray
breast-band.
Length, 13 inches.

133

Found along rivers and creeks, and upon the shores
of lakes and ponds.

No -more beautiful bird in color lives by our
streams and shores than the Kingfisher. His
form seems a little dwarfish, with his big head
and short legs, but he has a noble, fine flight,
and great swiftness and skill in his fishing, which

saves him from the charge of being awkward.

His running, rattling, and somewhat hard cry,
as he takes his flight, all must know, who know
the bird at all.

We need: to admire him more on account of
his splendid color, and to know him better on
account of his habits. We should watch him
as he catches, and see with what great difficulty
he sometimes swallows, his fish. We must
swear, too, that we will protect him against the
monopoly assumed by man of the fishes in our
streams. The Kingfisher was by these rivers be-
fore man arrived. And he has his inalienable
and divine rights, even if he makes serious havoc
with the fish in the rivers. But the Kingfishers
are not numerous enough or voracious enough
to rob man of his privilege, even if they do
maintain their right to eat their only natural
food. These birds make their nests in river-
banks, as does the Bank Swallow.

134

4 2

Particular Description—Male—Head, large and
crested; bill, long and strong; white spot in front of
eye; chin, throat and band around neck, white; back,
wings and tail, gray-blue; a bluish band across the
chest.
Female—Rufous on breast and on sides.

Permanent resident.

AMERICAN DIPPER OR ‘*“WATER OUZEL.”’

Description—Bill, long and slender; tail, very short;
head and neck, brownish-gray; back, wings and tail,
slaty; lower parts, whitish. In winter the plumage is
mottled, the feathers edged with white. Length, 8
inches. Found by mountain streams and waterfalls.
Bird-lovers, in coming to the Western side of
the Continent, count as one of their privileges
the seeing of the “Water Ouzel.” It is truly a
“queer” bird, and if one did not know its habits
and should some day see him plunge into a swift
mountain-stream and disappear, he mighi sup-
pose he had witnessed a case of desperate bird-
suicide. But did he know this odd creature’s
ways, he would look for it to come up and land
upon a rock at some point quite well below its
eee ai pimnce. Fhe fact is, our’. “Water
Ouzel” does this sometimes for mere sport, and
sometimes to gather food upon the bottom. It
would not be so queer—indeed it would be quite

135

natural—if he were a species of duck with web-
feet, but he more resembles the Snipe. He is
a bird of the rushing current and the dashing
cascade. Behind the latter in a large oven-
shaped nest, the eggs are laid and the young
reared in the sound of their home element and
while breathing the spray.

We all ought to know the thrice fascinating
ways of this bird, which belongs exclusively to
our side of the Continent.

Permanent resident.

-

THE WOODPECKERS.

The Woodpeckers are, perhaps, without ex-
ception, beautiful birds, and fit periectly their
environment in the woods. They often save
ereat forests, which song-birds do-not live in,
from oppressive loneliness by their tapping up-
cn some tree or by their cheerful call. The
Flicker lives near hurnan habitations, and, as
we have seen, seeks human fellowship. Some
other Woodpeckers visit the more open country
and occasionally excite our curiosity by their
less familiar presence.

136

| —

4s family in these States, there are five,
besides the Flicker, which are sufficiently com-
mon ior us to learn to recognize them, when
we come upon them in the woods or when they
visit us. They are the Harris’s, the Gairdner’s,
the Lewis’s, the Pileated and the California.

One wishing to know all about this family olf
birds should read the recent book by Fanny
iaormy EBckstorm, “The Woodpeckers,” No
other book upon the subject is at the same
time so thorough and so entertaining. —

HARRIS’S WOODPECKER.
General Description—

Upper parts: black, with long white stripe
down the back.

Under parts: smoky-gray or light smoky-
brown.

Length, 9 to 10 inches.

Found in edges of clearings, burned timber patches,
oak trees and orchards. |

This Woodpecker, with the Gairdner’s, which
is described below, may often be seen in autumn
in the dogwood trees, eating the berries. He
is learning to visit the orchards and fruit trees
around our suburban homes. And no better
friend to the fruit-grower can be imagined.

137

Every borer, and all eggs and larvae which are
harmful to the tree, are cleared up by this dili-
gent and systematic bird, as he moves around
the trunk, searching every crevice.

Particular Description—Head, black, with scarlet

patch on the head of the male; white line down back
and rump; sides of back, black; few white wing-spots;

Ss

tail, black in center; outer tail-feathers, white; all.

lower parts, brownish-gray.

Permanent resident.

GAIRDNER’S WOODPECKER.

General Description—

Almost the same as the Harris’s, only
much smaller; black above and
smoky-gray below.

Length, 6 to 7 inches.

Found in burned timber patches, edges of woods
and orchards.

Habits almost identical with the MHarris’s
Woodpecker. He is of the same service in
orchards.

Particular Description—Head, with red markings for
male, black; back and tail, black; wide white line

down the back and rump; lower parts, more smoky
than the Harris’s, and more white spots on the wings.

Permanent resident.

138

LEWIS’S WOODPECKER.
General Description— :

Upper parts: lustrous greenish-black, ex-
cept fore-part of head.

Under parts: below upper breast, crim-
son. ;

Length, 11 inches.

Found in heavy timber, also in oak trees. An oc-
casional visitor in the neighborhood of towns.

This is the famous Woodpecker of the West-
ern part of our Continent, bearing as it does
the name of the distinguished explorer, Lewis,
of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It is also
ereatly distinguished for its altogether unique
color. No other Woodpecker is both greenish-
black and crimson. Dr. Elliott Coues says:
“No other species of our country shows such a
metallic iridescence, or such intense crimson,
and in none is the plumage so curiously modi-
fied into a bristly character.”’

The bird tooks as dark as a Blackbird on the
wing. Its flight is more like that of birds be-
longing to other than the Woodpecker family,
betag direct and even, not undulating. It also,
like ordinary birds, alights upon boughs. It
taps on tree trunks infrequently. In the forest
it lives, feeds and nests high up on the dead top
of soine tree, or in the more open oak wood.

139

In Oregon, it is more often found in de-
ciduous trees. One of its peculiarities is that
is has the habit of the Flycatcher family, in of-
ten flying from the tree-top to catch, on the
wing, some approaching insect.

This bird, formerly altogether of the deep
woods, is, like other birds, changing his habits
with the advent of man, and is not infrequently
seen now in the neighborhood of towns and
country homes.

-

Particular Description—Fore-part of head, including
cheek, crimson; collar, back of neck, gray; . back,
wings, tail and thighs, metallic greenish-black; upper
breast, like collar, gray; lower breast and underneath,
crimson.

Summer resident.

THE NORTHERN PILEATED WOODPECKER.

General Description—

Body, blackish or dusky slate; crest (and
_ head in male), bright red; white
patches on the wings.
Length, 18 inches.

Found in evergreen forests and occasionally in oth-
er heavy timber.

Mrs. Eckstorm assumes that our bird is a
subspecies, and calls it the Northern Pileated
Woodpecker. All over North America, to a

140

greater or less extent, is found this splendid
member of the Woodpecker family. In some
parts of our section, especially around Puget
Sound, perhaps, he is more common than one
or two of the varieties already described.

The bird is of immense size, with a red crest
which adds to his striking appearance. His
size and crest will immediately distinguish him
from all the other members of his family.
Particular Description—Body, in general, dusky slate;
crest and head in male, bright red; throat, white; two
stripes on side of head, and one on side of neck, white;
malar (jaw) stripe, red; wing-patches, white—show
most white when flying. |

Female—Malar stripe and head, brownish-gray.

Permanent resident.

THE CALIFORNIA WOODPECKER.

In southern Oregon, this member of the
large Woodpecker family is not uncommon,
though it is not found elsewhere in our section
except, here and there, one or two that may be
out of the ordinary limits.

Description—Forehead, white; top of head, a crim-
son patch, smaller on female; back, generally black
with bluish luster; rump, white; upper breast, mostly
glossy black; lower breast, streaked with white;
sides, streaked with black; underneath, white. Length,
9 inches.

I4I

This Woodpecker is related to the Red-head-
-ed Woodpecker of the Eastern States.
Partly a permanent resident.

RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.
General Description—

Head, neck and chest, uniform red, or
with white markings and black
chest - patch showing indistinctly
through the plumage. (Ridgway.)

Length, 8.5 inches. ¥

Found in maple, dogwood and orchard trees.

A pity it is that, after a thorough peienaiaic
investigation of its habits, this beautful
bird must be condemned. For a long time, it
was supposed that sap-sucking was injurious
to trees and the bird was condemned on account
of the habit his name indicates. Meanwhile,
there were those who denied the fact and af-
firmed that the bird was wrongly named. At
the present time, however, there is little doubt
that this species of Woodpecker is truly a sap-
sucker, but perhaps not to any great extent. If
he were, it would not now be on this account
that he would ke pronounced an enemy, because
taking sap in large quantities, as is done in
making maple sugar, does not injure the trees.
But the harm which the bird does is twofold:

142

First, he cuts into and eats the inner bark of
trees, and, secondly, in making holes for sap, he
does it in regular order to-day and if later he
drills new holes, he does it with reference to the
last work done by his kind, and gradually de-
_stroys the channels through which the life sub-
stance of the tree flows. He may gradually
girdle a tree, always making holes near together
in a straight line, and then, perhaps, girdle it
again. Each time that a hole is made, the
healed wound marks an obstructed passage for
the sap.

If the fruit-grower must protect himself
against the Sapsucker, it is of the greatest im-
portance that he should be able to distinguish
_ the only Sapsucker that we have in this section
from those Woodpeckers which are, as has
been pointed out, indispensable to the health of
the orchards. The red head and breast with the
yellow underneath, will give us the infallible
marks of this enemy of orchards. All of the
Sapsucker varieties have yellow underneath.

Permanent resident.

THE CROW.

Length, 18 inches.
Found everywhere.

143

Everybody knows the Crow, and he needs
no description. |

No bird that flies is more sagacious, and on
occasion “‘witty’ in the older sense of the term.
He knows how to take advantage of every op-
portunity for his own profit, without the risk
of gun or trap. He can count at least three, so
that the third gunner may not hope that this
wary bird will approach his hiding-place be-
cause two of the sporting party have gone
away. An observing farmer’s boy in Oregon
relates how. quickly the Crows discovered that
a dog following the plow would kill and bury
field-mice. The knowing birds would proceed
at once to dig up these bits for their own hun-
gry stomachs.

It is hard to decide just what to do with the
Crow. He is not only extremely interesting
on account of his sagacity, but he is also a beau-
tiful bird, with his black iridescent plumage and
clean, strong body and bearing, and his “Caw,
Caw,’ On a winter’s day has.a:-chaimitean: phe
Nature or bird-lover. He is even more than
this. He is one of the best friends o1 tie tar—
mer in destroying mice, also beetles and other
injurious insects. If it were only the tempo-
rary harm that he does to crops and young chic-
kens, he would have so large a balance to his

144

credit that no intelligent agriculturist could ai-
ford to destroy him. But his great, and per-
haps his unpardonable, sin is that he destroys
so many eggs and young of the smaller song
and insectivorous birds that, if his tribe is nu-
merous in any locality, a considerable reduction
of it is undoubtedly necessary. But in all of this
family who live in spite of us, or by our consent,
let us keep ever an intelligent interest, and min-
gle our admiration with our reprobation.

These States have two varieties of the Crow,
the American, common to the East and the
Wrst; and the Northwest, peculiar to this terri-
tory. The Northwest Crow is somewhat small-
er than the American Crow, and more uniform in
size—length, 16 to 17 inches—while its plum-
age is less glossy. The American measures
nomtetg- 10 21 inches. The-habits of the two
species are quite alike.

The Crow nests high, in a rude nest made of
sticks, with little of comfort for her young.

Permanent resident.

STELLER’S JAY.
General Description—

A crested bird. Fore-part of body, dark,
black, or brownish-black, the rear
part bluish. 3

Length, 12.5 inches.

145

Found in evergreen timber and in all sorts of trees
and bushes about the timber.

Almost every one knows this noisy and, in
the western section of our States, this every-
where-present Jay. He tis fine looking and also
interesting in spite of his meddlesome, maraud-
ing, and, we must own, cowardly habits. We
could not afford to exterminate him. He woula
be a aistinct loss to cur bird-family, but, like
the crow, although with less courage, he will
steal birds’ eggs and will take the young when-
ever he can.do it without bringing upon himself
an attack from the outraged bird community,
upon which he is preying. |

While not blaming him for acting out his na-
ture, for which he is not responsible, we must
regretfully, and, as painlessly as possible, pre-
vent his becoming too abundant. His crest
and color will make a particular description ot
him unnecessary.

Permanent resident.

THE CALIFORNIA JAY.

General Description—
Upper parts: head, wings and tail, blue.
Middle of back, grayish-brown.

Under parts: whitish, bordered with blu-
ish.

Length, 12 inches.

146

Found in deciduous trees.

The California Jay is very common in the
State whose name .it bears, and is also more
or less common here. The bird is fouid in com-
Banies, as is the Steller’s Jay, also. here ‘and ©
there singly or in pairs.
Particular Description—As .in general description,

with this added—a white line over the eye.

Permanent resident.

THE OREGON JAY, ‘‘* TALLOW BIRD,’’ OR
‘¢ WHISKY JACK.’’
General Description—
Upper parts: grayish-brown.
Under parts: white or grayish-white, with
a whitish collar.
eneth, 15 inches:

Found generally around mountains, but sometimes
in the timber on lower ground.

Every one who has camped in the timber
about the mountains of Oregon or Washington
imews the lallow Bird’ or “Whisky Jack.”
Pietakes at once to human society; from the
first- will share man’s table with him, and unless
shut out will make havoc of the larder. These
birds are sociable among themselves, as well
as with human beings.

147

The Oregon Jay is the Western representa-
tive of the Canada Jay of the East.
Particular Description—Forehead and nasal tufts,
white, sometimes brownish; sooty-black hood, bor-
dered on the back with a whitish collar; back, wings

and tail, bluish-gray with white streak in back; below,
white, turning to dusky underneath. 3

Permanent resident.

CLARK’S NUTCRACKER, OR ‘‘CLARK’S CROW.’?’

General Description—
Upper parts: gray; wings broken by a
large white patch.
Under parts: gray.
Length, 13 inches.

Found in and about mountains, mostly in the east-
ern part of this section.

“Clark’s Crow,” sometimes called the “Ore-
gon Crow,” is one of the striking and famous
birds of the Northwest. He is called a Crow,
and yet in his noisy habit he seems more like

a Jay.

Any one who visits the mountains will make
the acquaintance of this interesting bird, always
to be found in large flocks. Mr. Anthony re-
lates that about the ‘Sierras m- Galiocunm,
Clark’s Nutcracker and the Pinon Jay are to
be found in flocks of thousands each. Both of

148

these are not only social among themselves, but
they are easily induced to familiar intercourse
with men who camp in the woods where they

dwell.

Particular Description—Bill, long and slender; head,
white on fore-part, gray on the rest, and on the back,
breast, sides and underneath; wings, glossy black,
with large white patch; tail, white except two middle
feathers, which are black.

Permanent resident.

THE PINON JAY.

This bird is also a resident of the mountain-
ous parts of our States and has the general hab-
ieeoe cae Nutcracker. Length, 11 inches:
Panedemlar Mescription—Bill, long and sharp; body,
grayish-blue, becoming blue on head and wings; tail

and sides, more blue than black; throat, bright blue
streaked with whitish.

THE AMERICAN MAGPIE.

This singular bird is not, like the English
pine or ihe same name, to be seen ordinarily
near human dwellings. When found in smal!
Hees) ia tie western part of these States, he
is more shy, but in the eastern part, where he
is abundant in places, he is not afraid of man.

149

Description—Head, back and breast, smoky black;
shoulders and underneath, white; wings and tail, iri-
descent purple; tail, long and tapering; bili, black.
Length, 18 inches.

In California, in the interior valleys of the
State, a Yellow-billed Magpie is found. It is
very nearly the same in appearance as the one
above described, with the exception of its bill.
It 1s possible that a few of these may. be seen
in southern Oregon.

Permanent resident.

THE GREAT BLUE HERON.

Description—Bill, long and sharp; very short tail;

forehead and crown, white; black streaks on either’ —

side of crown, running back they join down the neck;
back and wings, blue-gray; throat, white; breast, black
and somewhat mottled.

Length, 45 inches.

Found in marshes and along rivers and by lakes.

I cannot do better than to transcribe what
Mr. Frank M. Chapman has said about this
splendid bird and the murderous assault upon
him by hunters:

“The presence: of a stately Great Bite ti eron
or ‘Crane’ adds an element to tie tameseape
which no work of man can equal. Its grace of
form and motion, emphasized by its large size,

150.

fa constant delight to the eye; it is a symbol
of the wild in Nature; one never tires of watch-
ing it. What punishment, then, is severe enough
for the man who robs his fellows of so pure a
Pemmece Ol enjoyment: A rifle ball turns this
noble creature into a useless mass of flesh and
feathers. The loss is irreparable. Still, we have
no law to prevent it. Herons are said to devour
large numbers of small fish. But is not the la-
borer worthy of his hire? Are the fish more
madame than. this;-one ofthe grandest _ oi
birds?”

Tite omy excuse. offered on this Coast, for
this savage destruction of a noble bird is that
he acts as a game sentinel. He gives the sig-
nal to ducks, when the hunter is approaching.
Suppose he does sometimes do this, is his sa-
gacity not a cause for the greater admiration of
him? Let this magnificent creature adorn our
waterways and add to the beauty of our evening
sky by his splendid flight.

A permanent resident.

HAWKS AND OWLS.

There are two species of birds that are vic-
tims of prejudice and indiscriminating ignor-'

I5I

il
hi

ance.’ They have been treated like snakes, and
have been killed at sight by nearly everybody
who could use a gun. They are the Hawks and
the Owls.

In respect of these, as of some of the other
birds described in this book, their enemy, man,
has reaped the fruit of his own ignorance and
folly in two important regards. He has done
what he could to destroy objects of great beauty
and interest, and, secondly, he has killed off
some of the greatest benefactors to the agricul-
tural interests of the ccuntry. The food supply
of nearly all our Hawks and Owls consists of
mice, insects and reptiles, and not of chickens,
or even of birds. In the Past, ) som wo
of the common varieties of Hawks live upon
birds and poultry. Dr. Fisher of the Agricu!-
tural Department at Washington has examined
hundreds of stomachs of Hawks and Owls, with
results like the following: Of the 220 stomachs
of the Red-shouldered Hawk of the East,
which is usually called the “Chicken” or “Hen-
Hawk,” only three contained the remains cf
poultry. Of the-rest, twelve contained the re-
mains of birds; 102, mice; 40, other tmanimals-
20, reptiles; 30, frogs; 02, imSectsy may memacrs:
CLC:

152

So, on this Northwestern Coast of the Conti-
nent, of the very common Hawks only one—the
Sharp-shinned—is always. an enemy of birds
and poultry. Cooper’s Hawk, the other bird of
fee sae habit, ts not so.common. The resi.
which will be described are comparatively harm-
Bess, atid all are of great service. A good rule
mes 1 tollow, 11 we cannot. tell. the kind of
Hawk at sight, is not to kill a Hawk.till we see

him attacking the poultry-yard.

And as for the Owls, they also are compara-
tively harmless. The farmers of Pennsylvanta
had, in the following way, a demonstration of
their folly in the destruction of Hawks and
Owls. Supposing that these birds fed princi-
pally or altogether upon poultry, they secured
from the Legislature a law setting a price upon
every Hawk and Owl killed in the State. After
a few years the farms, at least in certain sec-
tions of the State, became so infested with mice
that the yearly loss in grain was sufficient to
alarm the growers. It was then that a wise
man, who knew the relations between mice and
Hawks and Owls, gave the fact to the farmers.
Petestived in the repeal of the law; and with
the increase in these hitherto blindly feared
birds, the mice scourge disappeared.

aK} : :

Dr. E. Hart Merriam, Ornithologist and
Mammalogist of the United States Department
of Agriculture, has estimated that Pennsylva-
nia lost by this folly four and a half millions of
dollars in one year and a half.

Oregon and Washington have q:1ite a num-
ber of the varieties of the Hawk. Only a few
are common; some are very rare. [The more
common ones are the Desert Sparrow-Hawk,
the Pigeon, the Red-tailed and the Swainson’s
Hawks.

THE DESERT SPARROW-HAWK.

Small size.
Length, 9 to 11 inches.

The Sparrow-Hawk is scarcely a Sparrow-
Hawk or bird Hawk at all, so far as his habits
are concerned, and Dr. Fisher reports that, af-
ter examining 320 stomachs of this bird, he
found no poultry. Mice and grasshoppers
were found to be the principal food. |
Particular Description—Top of head, bluish; crown,
with or without rufous patch; black “mustaches” on
sides of cheek, always conspicuous; back, brown
(reddish-brown in female), barred with black; tail,
reddish-brown, white tip; wings, bluish-gray, usually
spotted with black; under parts, white to varying
shades of buff and rufous with black spots.

More or less migratory in winter.

154

THE PIGEON-HAWK.
Another small Hawk.
Length, 10 to 11 inches.

It can be easily distinguished from the Des-
ert Sparrow-Hawk by noticing that the prevail-
ing color in the upper parts is bluish-gray and
not brown or reddish-brown.

3 Particular Description—Male—Head and back, bluish-
gray, marked with fine black lines; tail,.slaty, with
three broad bands of black, and white tip; under parts,
white, somewhat buffy on breast and streaked with
dark brown lines.

THE WESTERN RED-TAILED HAWK.
| Aelaree Hawk; length; 21 to 24 inches:
This bird is one of the most valuable allies
of the farmer. In some places he may occasion-
ally get a taste of poultry; but do not kill him
till he ventures into the poultry-yard. He will
probably not trouble you.

Particular Description—Varying from “uniform dark,
sooty-brown, through every conceivable intermediate
plumage.” (Ridgway). Above, grayish-brown or black-
ish-brown mottled with rusty; below, varying from
white or buff, more or less streaked with brown dusky
markings, to dark blackish-brown. The distinctive
mark is the bright reddish-brown tail, edged with buff

or whitish, and with one or more blackish bars.”
(Keeler).

Permanent resident.

SW AINSON’S HAWK.
Rather large Hawk; length, 20 to 22 inches.

Probably altogether harmless in respect to
poultry. Its principal food in the proper season
is grasshoppers. Uniform grayish-brown above;
forehead and throat, white; patch of rufous on
the breast of the male, and of grayish-brown
upon the breast of the female.

But this Hawk inclines to melanism, as it
is called in ornithology—that is, to a decidedly
dark coloring. Specimens of both sexes are
found of a uniform sooty brown. The upper
tail-coverts are barred with white. This Hawk
must not be confused with the Marsh-Hawk,
which can be recognized even at a great dis-
tance by a conspicuous white rump. The white
forehead marks the Swainson’s Hawk.

THE SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.
Rather small: length, t1*to tame ses

This is the hawk that prefers birds and broil-
ers to mice, grasshoppers or snakes. He is too
small ever to touch hens. It is difficult for
one who has not observed birds to distinguish
the Sharp-shinned from the Pigeon-Hawk, or
even from the Sparrow-Hawk. There is, how-
ever, a characteristic common to both this

156

Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk, by which one may
become at first suspicious and watchful—each
has a slender form, being long in proportion to
size of body.

Particular Description—Male—Upper parts, bluish-
gray; top of head, darker; tail, crossed by several
blackish bands, narrowly tipped with white. Lower
parts, pure white, crossed with light rufous bars and
spots. | <

Female—Colors duller. Lower parts, not. pure
white.

Permanent resident.

COOPER’S HAWK.

Larger bird than Sharp-shinned; length, 14 to 17
inches. Distinguished in color by having top of head
black, sides of head more or less washed with bluish-
gray, sides of breast, bluish-gray also. The tail of this
bird is very rounded,—a clear distinguishing mark.

Permanent resident.

THE OWLS.

There are four varieties of Owls more or less
common in Oregon and Washington. The
Screech Owl (Puget Sound), the Short-eared

157

Owl, the Pygmy Owl and the Dusky Horned
Owl.

THE SCREECH-OWL.

The name hardly indicates the character of
the vocal expression of this bird, which, in
slightly modified form, covers nearly all of North
America. His voice is more like a “tremulous
wail” and has been the terror of the superstitious
for generations, while it is not seldom mistaken
for a human cry of despair by those who do not
know its source. It is not always a welcome
sound, even when the source is known and
there is no superstitious awe in the heart of the
listener. But to the Nature-lover the weird call
of the Screech-Owl is a part of Nature’s music,
kindles his imagination and touches his heart
with satisfaction.

Mr. Chapman reports that 4357 ees,
after examining the stomachs of 225 of the
Screech-Owl proper, found that ten contained
insects, QI of the remaining 125 contained mice,
and poultry was found in only one stomach.

There are, perhaps, two varieties of this Owl
in this section, the Puget Sound and the Kenni-
cott’s,—the former, however is the common one.
And if the latter, which is a species characteris-
tic of Alaska, is found within these borders, it

158

would be in northwestern Washington and pre-
sumably rare. |

The Screech-Owl may be recognized by the
“tremulous wail’ referred to, and by its appear-
ance,—partly from its long ear-tufts and partly
from its moderate size. |

The description given here is of the Puget
Sound Owl.

Particular Description—Mottled and streaked; head
and back, brown and tawny, streaked with black; two
lines on edges cf back, creamy white; whitish all around
the bill; lower breast, mottled, ground mostly white,
some tawny and all streaked with black.

Nocturnal habits.

Length, 9 inches.

Permanent resident.

THE SHORT=EARED, OR MARSH OWL.

General Des¢ription—
Upper parts: black, buff and reddish.
Under parts: white and brownish-black.
Length, 15.51 inches.

Found in and about marshy places.

Oise is-one bird, at least, of the Owl family
that does not prefer the woods to the open coun-
try, though he is sometimes found in the trees.
He lives and nests in the marshes, and can be
seen at nightfall, flying over the marsh, looking
for meadow mice, which are shown from scien-

159

—— @

tific investigation to make up the bulk of its
food.

There are reports of this bird’s habits while
rearing its young, that indicate a diet of small
birds. It would be well to thoroughly test the
matter on this Coast before accepting this state-
ment as a general fact. Dr. Fisher found, on
examination of 101 stomachs of this species of
owl, that no less than 77 contained the remains
of mice.

The bird nests upon the ground.

-

Particular Description—As in General Description.
Ear tufts, hardly seen; throat, white; breast immedi-
ately below chin, quite thickly streaked with dark
brown, with streaks growing fewer and larger below,
approaching the feet. Eyes, yellow. Nocturnal habits. .

Permanent resident.

THE PYGMY OWL.

General Description—

Upper parts: dark brown, shading into
reddish, marked with small white
spots.

Under parts: white, streaked with black.

Length, 7 inches. .

Found in the woods.

This little Owl is peculiar in other respects
besides his size. He is a day and not a night
bird, but, being very wary of men, keeps out

160

‘bitlock’s Oriole.

=

of sight. On that account ne does not seem to
be very abundant, while yet he may be so. That
the Owl is numerous in some parts of this sec-
tion is well known, for example in Lincoln
County, Oregon. He is peculiar, also, in regard
B10 41S call. Dr. Cooper, one of the earliest au-
thorities upon the birds of this Coast, declares
that, “His notes are subdued and clear like the
sound of a flute.’ All the other owls-have un-
musical voices.

The habits of this little bird are altogether
harmless in respect of bird or poultry. Its prin-
cipal food, so, far as investigation has shown,
consists of insects. He belongs to this side of
the Continent, from Colorado to the Coast.

a

Particular Description—As in generai description, also
“top of head dotted with whitish; sides of breast,
brownish, more or less distinctly spotted with paler;
tail-bands, always white. ’—Ridgway.

Permanent resident.

THE DUSKY HORNED OWL.
Length, 24 inches.
People who have been in the timber of Ore-
-gon and Washington will have seen a very large
Owl, with high ear-tufts (which give him his
name), a dark face and a white collar. ied
This Owl is quite common in the heavy tim-

161

\

ber, and is a splendid specimen of the family.
His hoot is characteristic, and well suits the sun-
less solitude of the forests.

Description—All over, mottled and barred brown, usu-
ally some tawny, black and white; but general effect
dark; the face, usually sooty-brownish, slightly mixed
with grayish-white. :

THE EAGLES.

These birds do not need a particular descrip-
tion. They are well known, and recognized
wherever they are seen.

The Golden Eagle is confined, perhaps, to
the eastern parts of our section, while the Bald
Eagle may be seen anywhere in the territory. —

People of these States should be warned, how-
ever, not to kill at sight every Eagle that can
be reached with a gun or rifle. Unless the birds
are doing us positive damage, they should be
preserved on account of the admiration which
they theoretically command as the “Bird of
Freedom.” . In .the. East, the: Pagies me pra-
tected by stringent laws.

The Bald Eagle has head, neck and tail white, and the
rest of the body dark grayish, or dark brown. The
general color of the Golden Eagle is brownish-black,
and the bird is given the name. “Golden” from the
ruddy-brown feathers on the back of its neck. Average

162

length of eacn, about three feet; the female being a
little larger.

Permanent resident.

THE AMERICAN OSPREY, OR FISH=-HAWK,

The Osprey is seen on both sides of the Con-
tinent. On tne Atlantic Coast, especially in New
England and upon Long Island, it has been the
one bird which the fishermen and farmers have
singularly respected and guarded. In my own
boyhood, a pair nested in a grove of large oaks
back of my home on an island not far from New
York City. It was believed that the same pair
had been there for two generations or more.
Whether an observation of scientific accuracy
would verify the current story, I do not know,
but these birds were said to arrive and depart
On certain fixed calendar days each year. It
was supposed that upon a certain day toward
the end of March they came back, from what.
shores and seas [ used to wonder and dream
about, but never knew. Their nest was built
in the top of an oak, and was made ot sticks of
dead wood and seaweed. Some of the sticks
were of considerable size. Every year new ma-
terial was added to the former site, till the nest
became a huge mass against the sky. Mean-
while, the tree-top was dying; and after a few

163

years the winter winds would throw it. with its
enormous load, to the ground. A cart would
hardly hold all the material of the several years’
accumulation. |

‘The name Fish-Hawk indicates the habits of
the bird. It flies over the water, and, seeing
the fish near the surface, drops suddenly with
great speed, and fastens its talons into its finny
prey—which is devoured at leisure from some
tree, or fed to offspring. The talons once
fastened in the fish cannot always be withdrawn.
It is reported that sometimes the bird misjudges
the size of its quarry, and, not being able to re-—
lease itself, is drawn under the surface and is
drowned. I have often seen the Hawk struggle.
for some time before rising from the water.

The bird is a fine and noble creature in bear-
ing, either at rest or on the wing. With its
white head and neck it suggests the Bald
Eagle, and is sometimes mistaken for it by the
novice. The bird is harmless and adds beauty
to our inlets, bays and lakes, and should be
carefully guarded. 7

Description—
Head and neck, white; back, dark brown.

Breast and underneath, white. Female has
breast somewhat spotted with
brown.

Length, 22 inches.

164

Found on the coast, also on lakes and rivers.

Summer resident.

THE GULLS.

This book would lack something if it did not
at least name some of the most common of
those sea-birds which are so much in evidence
at certain times of the year upon the sea shore or
on our rivers, inland lakes and even about the
docks of our commercial cities.

Five varieties of this family are to be seen

regularly at certain seasons in these States. -

They are the Herring Gull, the Glaucus-winged,
the Ring-billed, the California and the Western
Slate-colored, or Summer Gull.

The first four are winter birds and nest in the
summer in the Arctic or sub-Arctic regions.
They may be found all together about our har-
bors and upon our piers, and are so much alike
that they cannot be easily distinguished. Two,
however, are larger than the other two, namely,
the Herring and the Glaucus-winged. But, on
the other hand, one of the other two varieties,
the Ring-billed, has the same “mantle” as the
Herring Gull. (The back and folded wings of a

165

Gull, taken together, are call the “mantle”.) The
two smaller ones, the Ring-billed and the Cali-
fornia, are almost the same, the latter being a
slight modification of the former.

By studying through a glass the distinctions
below, as given by Dr. Elliott Coues, we may
learn to tell our friendly winter visitors apart
and to get a more intimate knowledge of our
Summer Gull. |

THE HERRING GULL.

This bird is common to both the Paetfic~ and.
Atlantic Coasts, in the winter season.

Description—Mantle, pale dull blue; in winter, head .
and hind neck, streaked with dusky; primaries (outer
wing-feathers), black; bill, yellow with red spot; feet,
flesh color. Length, 22 to 27 inches.

Winter resident.

THE GLAUCUS=-WINGED GULL.

This is probably the most common of all the
Gulls in our harbors.

Description—FE,xactly the same bill and feet as Her-
ring Gull; mantle, average Gull blue; in winter, head
and neck, clouded with dusky, not streaked as in the
Herring Gull; primaries, color of mantles to very tips,
marked with definite small white spots; first primary,

166

with a large white sub-apical spot... Same size and
shape as the Herring Gull. Length, 22 to <7 inches.

Winter resident.

THE RING-BILLED GULL.

The name indicates a distinction in this bird

which, however, it shares to some extent with
the California Gull. The ring on the bill will
enable us to distinguish it from the Herring and
the Glaucus-winged.
Description—Mantle, pale dull blue; bill, greenish-yel-
low, enriched with a black band near the end; the band
usually complete but sometimes defective; the tip and
most of the cutting edges of the bill, yellow; in high
condition, the angle of the mouth and a small spot be-
side the black, red; feet, oliveaceous, obscured with
dusky or bluish and partly yellow; webs, bright
chrome. Length, 18 to 20 inches.

Winter resident.

THE CALIFORNIA GULL.

Description—Nearly the saine as the Ring-billed; a lit-
tle larger, 22 inches; black band on bill more perfect;
the white spot on the first primary enlarged to occupy
the whole end of feather for more than two inches.
‘Lhis is the distinguishing mark.

THE WESTERN SLATE=COLORED, OR SUMMER,
| GULL.

This is the only permanent resident among
our Gulls, nesting in summer time on the islands

167

along the Pacific Coast. It is rather smaller than
the Herring Gull and has the darkest mantle of ©
any of the species named. It has been and still
is, in some parts, tame and friendly, in spite of
its abuse by boys. Sometimes it has been seen
perching on houses with pigeons. Dr. Cooper
says it is the most abundant and characteristic
of the Pacific Coast Gulls. 3

Description—Rather smaller than the Herring Gull;
bill, larger in proportion; mantle, deep lead color;
secondaries and tertiaries, very broadly—for one inch
or more—tipped with white; four outer primaries,
black; outer quill, with about two inches of its ter-
minal portion, white; remainder of the plumage, snow-
white; bill, deep chrome or wax-yellow, the broad part
of mandible marked by a bright spot of red; feet, yel-
low.

Permanent resident.

CHAPTER Vit

UPON IMPORTED SONG BIRDS.

In 1889 and again in 1892, some of the Ger-
man-American citizens of Portland, with char-
acteristic poetic taste and love of Nature, and
out of affectionate remembrance of associations
in the Fatherland, secured the importation of
several varieties of their native song-birds.

168

The Skylark, as we have seen, is one of these,
and it alone has repaid and will increasingly, in
all time to come, repay the cost and the trouble
incurred in settling the stranger-songsters upon
the Pacific Coast.

The birds introduced and released in the vi-
cinity of Portland included two varieties of
Thrushes, one variety of Goldfinch, one of the
Starling family, Nightingales, Crossbills, and
others.

Of these, only the Skylark and Starling are
sufficiently in evidence to make it possible for
me to bear personal witness to their presence.
And I find that no one of the careful and con-
stant observers in and about Portland, who are
making ornithology a study, has seen any other
than the above-mentioned birds.

Our German friends, however, who are, of
course, more interested, report the presence of
the European Goldfinch in the groves and orch-
ards about Portland; also of the Song Thrush
in certain gulches and the Black Thrush in the
neighberhood.

The Skylark has been fully treated under its
name in its proper place in this book. “The
Starling,” unlike any of the Starling family in
this country, lives and nests in buildings and not
in trees,—and in buildings in cities, moreover,

169

which seems quite strange to us. It is, how-
ever, only a proof of what change in the habits
of birds is wrought by civilization. It is difficult
to say what our own birds may do in the future,
when Americans have won back the confidence
of our now truly “wild” birds. In this spring
of 1901 the Starlings may be seen around the
top of the tower on the Perkins Hotel in Port-
land, nesting in the gilded ornaments on either
end, and also about the Blagen Block, First and
Couch streets, nesting in perpendicular holes
just over each of the two ornamental heads on
the west face of the structure.

The careless observer would take these Star-
lings for “just Blackbirds” (as indeed they are,
for all Blackbirds are of the Starling family).
But they are a new Blackbird in our country,
and must be recognized as such. Their song is
finer than that of our own Starlings. The prin-
cipal distinction in this European Starling in
summer time is its yellow bill, which even the
indifferent will notice when once their attention
ts called to“it.

THE STARLING.

The difference between the summer and the
winter plumage in these European Blackbirds
is very marked. In the spring it is quite black,

170

and in the winter decidedly mottled. The differ-
ence 1s indicated in the following

Description—Adult—Summer plumage, both sexes
alike; head, neck, breast and underneath, iridescent

black; wings and under tail-coverts, spotted buff and
mottled; tail, rather short and brownish; bill, yellow.

Winter plumage: Male—Black, spotted with white
all over. Female—Dark brownish, spotted liberally
with buffy; bill, black.

If those who have this book should come
across either of the Thrushes or the Goldfinch,
the following descriptions will help them to
identify the birds. It is not impossible that some
of the foreign varieties released about Portland
may be found far from that point.

THE SONG THRUSH.

Description—Head, back, wings and tail, darkish
brown; throat, breast and sides, whitish, well spotted
with brown. Female—Lighter in upper parts. Length,
82 inches. This Thrush resembles the Wood Thrush of
the Eastern States.

THE BLACK THRUSH.

Description—Male—Black all over, like Blackbird, but
with whitish bill. Female—Sooty above; throat, mot-
tled white and brown; breast, light and dark brown.
Length, 11 inches.

Ft

THE EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH.

Description—A circle of red around bill, extending up
to crown and under throat; lores, black, and black
around eye, white collar around neck; back, brown;
wings and tail, black; breast, buffy brown; underneath,
whitish. Female—Lower breast, whitish. Length,
about 5 inches. :

CHAPTER Ait:

How TO DOMESTICATE AND TAME BIRDS.

Everybody enjoys the familiar presence of
“wild” birds. Even persons who have never
thought much of these winged creatures are
pleased when the Wrens or Bluebirds force
themselves into notice by nesting in the letter-
box at the gate, or pre-empting a cranny under
the piazza roof.

People do not realize that, with a very httle
trouble, they might have a hundred bird neigh-
bors in summer, where now there are none, or
only a pair or two, who have come uninvited and
unprovided for. Every home in the country or
near our cities, and very many in the towns, and
even in the cities themselves, might have, with
each coming of spring, a score of feathered

172

friends returning from a far-away southern
wintering.

Nothing so civilizes and humanizes children
as this care and interest. In Worcester, Mass.,
in one district where the care and protection of
birds have been taught to and inspired in the
children of a public school, vandalism has ceased
among the boys. They are busy providing bird-
boxes, watching for nests in the trees, guarding
the fledglings against cats, etc., and their hearts
. have softened meanwhile. Were it only a meas-
ure for taming and civilizing boys, the taming of
birds would be worth while.

But what a ministry of delight do these angels
of song and grace bring to old and young, when
once we have taken them under our care! “Let
but a bird—that being so free and uncontrolled,
which with one stroke of the wing puts space
between you and himself—let him but be willing
to draw near and conclude a friendship with you,
and lo, how your heart is moved.’—Mme.
Michelet. |

As remarked in another place in this book,
song-birds seek the company, the protection and
the friendship of man. And when these are
given, the birds sing and fly with a freedom,
confidence, and even affection that are impossi-
ble while they live near us in fear and suspicion.

173

John Burroughs says of the English birds which
are thus loved and cared for, “They sing with
more confidence and copiousness, and as if they,
too, had been touched by civilization.” He also
says, “Wood birds here (America) are house
and garden birds there” (England).

With reference to nest-building, there are two
sorts of birds anxious to live with and near us. |
In the first place, those that want to share our
home or our outbuildings, or who look for some
box provided hard by our door. The other
sort are the birds which, if encouraged and pro-
tected, would seek our vines, shrubs and trees
for their nesting.

What can we do to bring these little creatures
to our homes?

There are seven varieties of birds that search
out places for nesting under piazza roofs, in
boxes, about the eaves and cornices of our
houses, or in our barns: the Violet-Green Swal-
low, the Eave-Swallow, the Barn Swallow, the
Martin, the Bluebird, the Pcrkman’s House
Wren, and the Vigors’s Wren.

As stated elsewhere in this book, the Violet-
green Swallow is not to be confused with the
Eave Swallow that seeks in companies to build
mud nests against the house; the former asks for
a box in which to rear its young. Even now,

174

as | am writting this chapter, a pair of these
birds of exquisite color, perfect grace of move-
ment, and even, | find, of sweet song, are flying
in front of the second-story window where I sit,
and, pausing on the wing in front of me, seem
pathetically begging me to furnish them a home,
promising me full measure of delight if I will
but grant their evident prayer.

Ornamental boxes for the Violet-green Swal-
low may be made, painted the color of the house
and put up under the eaves; or ruder boxes (all
the better if the boards are weather-beaten) may
be placed against the sides of out-buildings,
under eaves, and beyond the reach of cats. Or
again, these birds may come to a cluster oi
houses set upon a pole in the yard. It would
be better, however, to reserve the nests upon the
pole for the Bluebirds and the Martins.

I have given a hint elsewhere about allowing
the Eave Swallows to set their mud nests against
our buildings. ‘True bird-lovers will do all they

can to invite such neighborliness; and the use of

a little insect powder will not only make impos-
sible all annoyance, but will also help to keep
the little birds clean and happy.

As to the Barn Swallow, if a hole is left in the
gable of our barns, or a window is always left
open, there is no reason why this beautiful bird

175

should not take up his residence in our barns to
the same extent on the Pacific as on the Atlantic
Coast.

The Purple Martin and the Bluebird are both
fond of a box on the gable end of a house or
barn, and of the bird-house upon a pole already
referred to.

The Wrens can be given their opportunity
in a corner under the roof of porch or piazza,
and about our out-buildings.

As to Bird Houses.—They should be nee
six inches square at the base, and eight inches
high, with the hole within two inches of the top.
Birds like the secrecy of the deep box. The -
Wren-boxes should be somewhat smaller, and .
the hole should not be larger than a quarter of
a dollar, thus excluding other birds, particularly
the English Sparrow.

Several boxes may be placed upon one pole
by means of arms. I have seen boxes roofed
with fir-bark,—the rounding line of the bark
sometimes leaving space enough between it and
the box to allow the smaller birds to enter.

In order to secure the boxes to the birds for
which they are built, the English Sparrow should
be disposed of as kindly as possible—but- dis-
posed of he must be. The father of the family
may best undertake this serious business.

176

Some tin nailed around the pole which holds
the bird-houses will prevent cats a ues
to the nests.

As to inducing birds to nest in our vines and
trees,—the vines, shrubs and trees being given,
_—the main thing ts protection from enemies and
annoyance. Cats, jays and crows must be kept
from trespassing. 3

Few of us have any proper ideas of how to
train and keep a pussy. Cats can be trained so
as to be quite as respectful to birds as to young
chickens, if the same, or a little greater, trouble
is taken. Most cats grow up perfectly obedient
to natural instincts, and with no sense of obe-
dience to human beings. Few persons probably
take the trouble to educate the family kitten.
But all may, with a little effort, subject the cat
to a course of discipline every year which will
be wholesome for the cat, and will save the lives
of scores of birds, old and young.

An unrestrained cat is as senseless in bird-
time as an unrestrained horse or cow would be
amongst growing crops. In these days of cheap
poultry wire, a commodious cage may easily be
made, in which pussy should pass her nights,
and such part of the days, during the nesting-
season, as she cannot be watched. If well fed,
the cat will not be unhappy, and she will be a

177

more civilized member of the family for such
temporary and kindly restraint. Wild, vaga-
bond cats should be mercifully put cut of life,
and neighbors’ cats must be made unwelcome.

Birds soon learn that we are their friends.
They have been often reported as coming to the
windows of their human sympathizers for assist-
ance in time of distress. |

A dish of water, two inches in depth, and
often changed, is important for their comfort,
especially in dry weather. And in drought, dur-
ing nesting-time, when insects and fruits are
difficult to find, food may be provided, at least
in part. In ordinary seasons, however, it is-
kinder to let the birds find their own provision |
for themselves and their young, lest they should
lose their independence and suffer when they are
alone and we can no longer feed them.

This rule, of course, is not to be observed in
winter-time, as | have indicated in other places
in this book, showing how, in that season, we
may help and tame the Junco, the Chickadee,
the Evening Grosbeak, and others.

A word now about cultivating, with the birds,
an intimacy that will bring them to our feet and
possiblv to our heads and hands. Celia Thaxter,
in “An Island Garden,” tells us how the birds
‘sed to rest on her person. In the following

178

extract, she is writing especially of the Hum-
mingbirds:

“T shall never forget the surprise of joy that
filled me when one for the first time alighted on
my sleeve and rested, as much at home as if I
were a stick or a harmless twig. Sparrows and
Nuthatches had often alighted on my head as [
stood musing over my flowers, perfectly still,
but to have this tiny spark of brilliant life come
to anchor, as it were, on anything so earthly as
my arm was indeed a nine days’ wonder. Now,
it has grown to be an old story, but it is never
any less delightful.”

This confidence was born of the experience of
the birds with this gentle woman. Any one,
by putting food down in a certain place, in small
quantities at a time, accompanying the act with
some soft and musical whistle, or low, soft, win-
ning call, will soon be associated, in the mind of
the bird, with the gift; and if he stands quietly
and from time to time nearer to the birds, he
will, ere long, have them at his feet and perhaps
eating out of his hand. |

The story of a young Cedar Waxwing in
Worcester, Mass., will give a hint as to what
may be done in all our homes. Overloaded with
cherries, he was taken into a bird-lover’s home
to be kept from the cats till he recovered from

179

his cherry-spree. Gentle treatment made the
bird a member of the family in a few hours, not
in a cage, but free to go and come. In two
pictures which I have of him, he is sitting upon
a child’s hand with as perfect confidence as that
with which the child would sit upon its mother’s
lap. If the fledglings of all sorts, that drop to the
ground around our homes, were taken in and
treated considerately, they would come back in
the next spring’s migration, much more sus-
ceptible to our winning arts, bringing with them
familiar memories of our former kindness.

Dr. Hodge, of Clark University, who thus
tamed the Waxwing, gives us the suggestion of
a way to-save these young birds the agony of
fear which they usually endure when, out of
kindness, taken into temporary captivity. Put
the birds in a suitable cage, provided with a
little food and water, if they can feed them-
selves. If they can feed themselves, wait until
the food is gone, but if they cannot, begin -at
once, to feed them, using a stick which should
be long enough not to frighten them by your
too close presence at the cage. Upon the end
of the stick, place the most tempting food and
slowly put it before them; after even a time or
two, you may hold the stick near the feeding-
end and soon your hand may carry the food, and

180

before you are quite ready for it, the cage being
opened, the bird will go to meet you. There is
a charge that Dr. Hodge gives which must be
strictly observed if we are to keep the confi-
dence of the birds thus tamed. They must not
be handled; neither at first, nor even after they
sit upon our arms or rest upon our shoulders.
Dr. Hodge relates that the Waxwing, even after
a long period of familiarity, could not endure
this demonstration, except once or twice, when
very cold. Our human disposition to seize every
moving and wild thing, not harmful, must be re-
strained. The cage, of course, should be abol-
ished as soon as the bird comes freely to us,
that he may come and go, through open windows
and doors, as he will. It will be interesting to
those who read this chapter to know that the
Waxwing became a bird-missionary in all of the
public schools of Worcester, Mass., visiting each
in turn, and, by his free presence, pleading that
such treatment as he had received, might be
given to all birds by all children. As a result,
Worcester is perhaps the banner city in the
United States in the protection and rearing of
wild birds.

One of the charming things in the rearing of
wild birds about our homes is their looked-for
return inthe spring. The same birds will re-

I8r

turn to our bird-houses and trees, from year to
year, unless something should befall them in
their winter home or during migration.

‘‘No longer now the winged habitants,
That in the woods their sweet lives sing away,
Flee from the form of man; but gather round,
And preen their sunny feathers on the hands
Which little children stretch in friendly sport’
Towards these dreadless partners of their play.”’

— Shelley.

SIZE KEY.

Group 1—Birds smaller than the English Sparrow (or

apparently so).

Western Chipping Spar-
row.

Parkman’s House Wren.

Western Winter Wren.

Tule Wren.

Western Yellow-throat.

Pileolated Warbler.

Rufous Hummingbird.

Vigors’s Wren.

Audubon’s Warbler.

Lutescent Warbler.

Pine Siskin.

American Goldfinch.

Myrtle Warbler.

Yellow Warbler.

Warbling Vireo.

Cassin’s Vireo.-

Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Western Golden-crowned
Kinglet. |

Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Black-throated Gray
Warbler.

Oregon Chickadee.

Chestnut-backed Chick-
adce:

Slender-billed Nuthatch.

Bush-Tit.

European Goldfinch.

Redpoll.

Group 2—Birds about the size of the English Sparrow

(or apparently so).

Gambel’s White-crowned
Sparrow.

Intermediate White-
crowned Sparrow.

Oregon Vesper Sparrow.

Western Savanna Spar-
row.

California Purple Finch.

Western Wood Pewee.

Oregon Junco.

Rusty Song Sparrow.
Traill’s Flycatcher.
Western Flycatcher.
Lazuli Bunting.
Macgillivray’s Warbler.
Titlark, or American
“Prpit.

American Crossbill.

Group 3—Birds larger than the English Sparrow and
smaller than the Robin (or apparently so)

Western Bluebird. Blackheaded Grosbeak.

Western Purple Martin. All the Swallows, (ap-

Long-tailed Chat. parently.)

Western Evening Gros- Red-winged Blackbird.
beak. Cedar Waxwing, or Ce-

Violet-green Swallow, darbird.

(apparently. ) Pygmy Owl.
Oregon Towhee, or Che- Red-breasted Sapsucker.
wink. Vaux’s Swift, (anparent-

Skylark. ly.) =

Streaked Horned Lark. Black Swift, (apparent-

Louisiana Tanager. ly.) |

Bullock’s Oriole. Water Ouzel, or Ameri-

Russet-backed Thrush. can Dipper.
~Olive-sided Flycatcher. Gairdner’s Woodpecker.

Arkansas Kingbird. Starling. (Imported.)

The Kingbird. Song Thrush.

Group 4—Birds about the size of the Robin (or appar-

ently so).

Meadowlark. Puget Scund Screech-

California Woodpecker. Owl.

Desert Sparrow-Hawk. Harris's Woodpecker.

Brewer's Blackbird. Black Thrush.

Mourning Dove. Varied Thrush, or Varied

Robin. ,

Group 5—Birds larger than the Robin.

Western Nighthawk. Red-shaited Flicker.
Oregon fay. 5 Belted Kingfisher.
Northwestern Flicker. Pigeon-Hawk.

184

Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Band-tailed Pigeon.
Lewis’s Woodpecker.

California Jay.
Pinon Jay.

Group 6—Birds much larger than the Robin.

Pileated Woodpecker.
Great Blue Heron.
American Crow.
Cooper’s Hawk.
Western Red-tailed
Hawk.
Northwest Crow.
Clark’s Nutcracker.
American Magpie.
_Swainson’s Hawk. -
Dusky Horned Owl.
Glaucus-winged Gull.

Ring-billed Gull.

California Gull.

Western Slate-colored
Gull. ~

Short-earéd, or Marsh
Owl.

Bald. Eagle:

Golden Eagle.

American Osprey, or
Fish-Hawk.

Herring Gull.

Steller’s Jay.

COLOR KEY.*

BLUE AND BLUISH.

Lazah. Bunting. (2).
Western Bluebird. (3).
Belted Kingfisher. (5).
Mourning Dove. (5).
California Jay. (5).
Oréson Jay. (5):

Pinon- jay. (5).

Great Blue Heron. (6).
Band-tailed Pigeon. (6).
Steller’s Jay. (6).

All of the Gulls. (6).

* The birds in this Color Key are arranged according to size,
the numbers at the right showing to which group in the Size Key

they belong.

185

——

MARKEDLY RED OF ANY SHADE.

Rufous Hummingbird.
pe Se

Goldfinch. (Imported).
(I).

Redpoll. (1).

California Purple Finch.
fay

American Crossbill. (2).

Louisiana Tanager. (3).

Bullock’s Oriole. (3).

Red-breasted Sapsucker.
(3).

Western Robin. (4).

California Woodpecker.
(4).

Red-shafted Flicker. (5).

Northwestern Flicker.

(5).

MARKEDLY YELLOW OR ORANGE.

Western Yellow-throat.
(1).

Audubon’s Warbler. (1).

Pileolated Warbler. (1).

Lutescent Warbler. (1).

Yellow, or Summer War-
bler. (1).

American Goldfinch. (1).

Western Evening Gros-
beak. (3).

Long-tailed Chat. (3).

Western Meadowlark.
(4).

Varied Thrush, or Varied
Robin. (4).

MARKEDLY BLACK.

Black-throated Gray
Warbler. (1).

Western Purple Martin.
(3).

Oregon Towhee, or Che-
wink. (3).

Red-winged Blackbird.
(3).

Northwest Crow. (6).

Black-headed Grosbeak.
(3).

Starling. (Imported.) (3).

Vaux’s Swift. (3).

Black Swift. (3).

Black Thrush. (Import-
ed.) tay

Brewer’s Blackbird. (4).

American Crow. (6).

BLACK AND WHITE.

Gairdner’s Woodpecker. Harris's Woodpecker. (4).

(3). Clark’s Nutcracker. (6).
ae Woodpecker. American Magpie. (6).
4). |

DuSKY, GRAY, OR SLATY.

Audubon’s Warbler. (1). | Oregon Junco. (2).
Myrtle Warbler. (1). Western Wood Pewee.
Bush-Tit. (1). Cas

é Traill’s Flycatcher. (2).
Red-breasted Nuthatch. Wisc car Biv citcher: Gy.

(1).
Slenter-billed Nuthatch. oo es

(1). wate wougel (2):
Macgillivray’s Warbler. Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Nos Boge (3).

REDDISH-BROWN, DARK BROWN, OR BROWNISH- |

BLACK. |

Chestnut-backed Chick- Almost all of the Hawks. |

adee. (I). (As or G6):
Rusty Song Sparrow.(2). Almost all of the Owls.
Russet-backed Thrush. (A Ser. 6) : |

(3). Western Nighthawk. (5). |
Song Thrush. (Import- American Osprey, or

ed.) (3). Fish-hawk. (6). |
Cedar Waxwing. (3). Bald Eagle. (6). |
Pygmy Owl. (3). Golden Eagle. (6).

MARKEDLY DaRK. |

Oregon Chickadee. (1). Cliff, or Fave Swallow.
Barn Swallow. (3). (ay

187

|

Tree, or White-bellied Bank Swallow. (3).

Swallow. (3). Lewis’s Woodpecker. (5).
Rough-winged Swallow. Pileated Woodpecker. (6).
(3).
GREEN, OLIVE OR OLIVE-GRAY.
All of the Vireos. (1). Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Western Golden-crowned (i353 :
Kinglet. (1). Violet-green Swallow.(3).

BROWN, BROWNISH, OR SPARROWISH GRAY.

Pine Siskin. (1). Western Savanna Spar-
Western Chipping Spar- row. (2).
cow. (7). English, or European
The Wrens. (1). House Sparrow. (2).
Gambel’s White-crowned ‘Titlark, or American
Sparrow. (2). Pipits (2):
Intermediate White- Streaked Horned Lark.
crowned Sparrow. (2). (3).

Oregon Vesper Sparrow. Skylark. (Imported.) (3).
(2).

FAMILIES.

BIRDS GROUPED ACCORDING TO FAMILIES, WITH SCI-
ENTIFIC NAMES.

BLACKBIRD, ORIOLE AND STARLING FAMILY.
I. (1Icteridae.)

Brewer's Blackbird. (Scolecophagus cyanocephalus).
Wagl. |

188

Red-winged Blackbird. (Agelaius phoeniceus). Linn,

Western Meadowlark. (Sturnella magna neglecta).
Aud.

Bullock’s Oriole. (Icterus Bullocki). Swains.

CROW, JAY AND MAGPIE FAMILY.
(Corvidae.)
American Crow. (Corvus Americanus). Rae
Northwest Crow. (Corvus caurinus). Baird.
California Jay. (Aphelocoma californica). Vig.
Oregon Jay. (Perisoreus obscurus). Ridgw.
Pinon Jay. (Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus). Wied.
steller’s Jay. (Cyanocitta stelleri). Gmel.
American Magpie. (Pica pica hudsonica). Sab.
Wieries Nateratker, or Clark’s Crow. ~ CPicicorvus
columbianus). Wils.

DIPPER FAMILY.
(Cinclidae.) .
Water Ouzel, or American Dipper. (Cinclus mexican-
us). Swains.

DOVE AND PIGEON FAMILY.
(Columbidae. )
Mourning Dove, or Turtle Dove. (Zenaidura mac-
roura). Linn.
Band-tailed Pigeon. (Columbia fasciata). Say.

FALCON FAMILY, INCLUDING HAWKS AND
EAGLES.

(Falconidae.)
Bald Eagle. (Haliaeetus Cucocephalus). Linn.
Golden Eagle. (Aquila chrysaetos). Linn.
Cooper’s Hawk. (Accipiter cooperii). Bonap.

189

Desert Sparrow-Hawk. (Falco sparverius deserticol-
us). Mearns. |

Fish-Hawk, or American Osprey. (Pandion haliaetus
carolinensis). Gmel.

Marsh-Hawk. (Circus hudsonius). Linn.

Pigeon-Hawk. (Falco columbarius). Linn.

Sharp-shinned Hawk. (Accipiter velox). Wils.

Swainson’s Hawk. (Buteo swainsoni). (Bonap).

Western Red-tailed Hawk. (Buteo borealis calurus)..
Cass.

FINCH, OR SPARROW FAMILY.
(Fringillidae.) ’

Black-headed Grosbeak. (Habia melanocephala).
Swains.

Western Evening Grosbeak. (Coccothraustes vesper-
tinus montanus). Ridew. -

California Purple Finch. (Carpodacus purpureus cali-
fornicus). Baird.

Pine Siskin. (Spinus pinus.) Linn.

American Goldfinch. (Spinus Tristis). Linn.

Uregon Junco. (Junco hyemalis oregonus). Towns.

Lazuli Bunting. (Passerina amoena). Say. ;

American Crossbill. (Loxia curvirosta minor). Brehm.

Redpoll. (Acanthis Jinaria). Linn.

English, or European House Sparrow. (Passer do-
mesticus). Linn.

Intermediate White-crowned Sparrow. (Zonotrichia
leucophrys intermedia). Ridgw.

Gambel’s White-crowned Sparrow. (Zonotrichia leu-
cophrys gambeli). Nutt.

Oregon Vesper Sparrow. (Poocaetes gramineus at-
finis.) Miller.

190

Western Savanna Sparrow. (Ammodramus sandwich-
ensis alaudinus). Bonap.

Towhee, or Chewink. (Pipilo maculatus oregonus).
Bell. 3

Western Chipping Sparrow. (Spizella socialis ariz-
onae). Coues.

Rusty Song Sparrow. (Melospiza fasciata. guttata).
Nutt.

GOATSUCKER FAMILY.
(Caprimulgidae.) .

Western Nighthawk. (Chordeiles virginianus henryi).

(Cass. )

GULL AND TERN FAMILY.
(Laridae.)
California Gull.. (Larus californicus). Lawr.
Glaucus-winged Gull. (Larus glaucescens). Manm.
Herring Gull. (Larus argentalus). Brunn.
Ring-billed Gull. (Larus delawarensis). Ord.
Summer, or Western Slate-colored Gull. (Larus oc-
cidentalis). Aud.

HERON AND BITTERN FAMILY.
(Ardeidae.)
Great Blue Heron. (Ardea herodias). Linn.

HUMMINGBIRD FAMILY.
(Trochilidae. )

Rufous Hummingbird. (Trochilus rufus). Gmel.

KINGFISHER FAMILY.
(Alcedinidae.)
Belted Kingfisher. (Ceryle alcyon). Linn.

IQI

KINGLET AND GNATCATCHER FAMILY.
(Sy lviidae.)
Western Golden-Crowned Kinglet. (Regulus satrapa).
Licht.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet. (Regulus calendula). Linn.

LARK FAMILY.
(Alaudidae.)
Streaked Herned Lark. (Otocoris alpestris). Linn.
Skylark. (Alauda arvensis.) Linn.

OWL FAMILY.
(Bubonidae. )
Pygmy Owl. (Glaucidium gnoma). Wagl.
Puget Sound Screech-Owl. (Megascops asio saturatus).
Brewster. }
Dusky Horned Owl. (Bubo virginianus saturatus).
Ridgw.
Short-eared, or Marsh Owl. (Asio accipitrinus). Pall.

SWALLOW FAMILY
(Hirundinidae.)

Bank Swallow. (Clivicola riparia). Linn.

Barn Swallow. (Hirundo erythrogaster). Bodd.

Cliff, or Eave Swallow. (Petrochelidon lunifrons).
Say.

Rough-winged Swallow. (Stelgidopteryx serripennis).
Aud.

Tree, or White-bellied Swallow. (Tachycineta bicolor).
Vieill.

Violet-green Swallow. (Tachycineta thalassina).
Swains. ;

Western Purple Martin. (Progne subis_ hesperia).
Brewst.

192

SWIFT FAMILY
(Micropodidae.)
Black Swift. (Cypseloides niger). Gmel.
Vaux’s Swift. (Chaetura vauxii). Towns.

TANAGER FAMILY.
-(Tanagridae.)

Louisiana, or Western Tanager... (Piranga ludovici-
ana). Wils. |

THR Set FANCY.
(Turdidae.)
Western Bluebird. (Sialia mexicana occidentalis.)
Towns.
Western Robin. (Merula migratoria propinqua).
Ridgw. 3
Russet-backed Thrush. (Turdus ustulatus). Nutt.
Varied Thrush, or Varied Robin. (Hesperocichla
naevia). Gmel.

TITMOUSH AND NUTHATCH FAMILY.
(Paridae.)
Oregon Chickadee. (Parus atricapillus occidentalis).
Baird.
Chestnut-breasted Chickadee. (Parus refescens).
Towns.
Red-breasted Nuthatch. (Sitta canadensis). Linn.
ender-onled Nuthatch. (Sitta carolinensis). Cass.
Bush-Tit. (Psaltriparus minimus). Towns.

PY RANE PLYCATCHHR HAMILY.
(Tyrannidae.)
Olive-sided Flycatcher. (Contopus berealis). Swains.
Traill’s Flycatcher. (Empidonax trailli). Aud.

193

so tae

———————

Western Flycatcher. (Empidonax difficilis). Baird.

Western Wood Pewee. (Contopus richardsonii).
Swains.

The Kingbird. (Tyrannus tyrannus). Linn.

Arkansas, or Western Kingbird. (Tyrannus verticalis).
Say. :

WAGTAIL. OR PEPIT PAMiILY
(Motacillidae. )

American Pipit, or Titlark. (Anthus pensilvanicus).
ath:

a

WAXWING FAMILY.
(Ampelidae.)

Cedar Waxwing, or Cedarbird. (Ampelis cedrorum).
Vieill.

WOODPECKER FAMILY.
(Picidae.) -

Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes cafer). Gmel.

Northwestern Flicker. (Colaptes cafer saturatior).
Ridgw.

Red-breasted Sapsucker. (Sphyrapicus ruber). Gmel.

California Woodpecker. (Melanerpes formicivorus
bairdi). Ridgw.

Gairdner’s Woodpecker. (Dryobates pubescens g ir 1-
nerii). Aud.

Harris’s Woodpecker. (Dryobates villosus harrisii).
Aud. |

Lewis’s Woodpecker. (Melanerpes torquatos). Wil-
son. 3

Pileated Woodpecker. (Ceophloeus pileatus). Linn.

194

WOOD WARBLER FAMILY.
(Mniotiltidae.)

Audubon’s Warbler. (Dendroica auduboni). Towns.

Black-throated Gray Warbler. (Dendroica nigres-
cens). Towns.

Lutescent Warbler. (Helminthophila celata lutes-

| cens). Ridgw. é

Macgillivray’s Warbler. (Geothlypis macgillivrayi).
Aud.

Myrtle Warbler. (Dendroica coronata).: Linn.

Pileolated Warbler. (Sylvania pusilla pileolata).
Pail.

Yellow, or Summer Warbler. (Dendroica aestiva).
Gmel.

Western Yellow-throat. (Geothlypis trichus occident-
alis.) Brewst.

Long-tailed Chat. (Icteria virens longicauda). Lawr,

WREN AND THRASHER FAMILY.
(Troglodytidae.)
Parkman’s, or Western House Wren. (Troglodytes
aedon parkmanii). Aud.
Tule Wren. (Cistothorus palustris paludicola). Baird.
Vigors’s Wren. (Thryomanes bewickii spilurus). Vig.
Western Winter Wren. (Anorthura hiemalis pacifica).
Baird.

VIREO FAMILY.
(Vireonidae.)

Cassin s Vireo (Vireo solitarius cassinii). Xantus.
Warbling Vireo. (Vireo gilvus). Vieill.

195

INDEX.
; ee : Page
Steeiatmerewel S865 a Se daa eee 64
Peete Red winged 5. ss... e lk eee 65
Pee NOCSPCT I: 3.25). sds elas ec bal vee a es 36
RMI EU 5c oe se ees oy Pet ales so ge yen Ne o's ova)
nee oie, oe cds wi ig te ak a Oe 124
Meeateige, ot Cedar Waxwing: .<.... beans. 99
ener PALE G 6 on. oe ede ee es ove oe was 106
mewn recon, or lowhees. .0....e. 60.0.0. 0: 66
ies We ee ee eR L16
Mrmeaiaee CO lestnut-backed... sso. ee 118
MMR TOTES ON. oie csc be ee ses os Ok Seek 118
Wee eenee GacriCam. "8. slo dk en 133
CREST LSS a Pa ne ern ae 143
remem Naaa TAC AT. 5.8 te So ig ss ewig ea wt op Lats TA5
Cie ian s or Clarks Nutcracker... 020.0 25... 148
Were neWeSL. 22. 2. ro. fale eo Sk Phe oes ac. TA5
ty he hos Sie Be 108
Mee Wlewans or Turtle. ..0.. 6:02. 2.5.... /100
Mieees saiecrican, or Water Ouzel .. 20 224k. £35
preter we ee i Pa 162
ee re ee ee ee ee es 162
amet ee aintormia. Purple 2.2600... 0. 02 oh eek: 67
Perera pinwWwesteti <2. 665. Jt ol ee oe knee abe AI
Pi@tecoemececitaited ..... ok ite eee 30
Piette ete te a CN SE hae 86
ieee Olive-Sided oi... so lsd or ee has 89
lee a Se eee ce iwc ek AR go
mipeareer Vester 2 6 5 oe ee: QI

Goldfinch, American’ <>0. 5 2 eee 48
Goldfinch, European (Imported) .....) 9. Megeete: 172
Grosbeak; Black-headed. * v.22 seo ee ee 07
Grosbeak; Western Evening... 2 ees 12G
Gulls, The #0500 0. eave (2. ees 165
Gull, -California..:.0..¢. 0 3. ee 107
Gull, Glaucus-winged : 02.0... eee 166
Gull, Herring <2. 6.2. 4... Ae 166.
Gull}: Ring-billed | 2... 2. See 167
Gull, Western, Slate-colored, or? Sunimmepeasoe te 167
Hawks: and-Owls .3 oc. : 2233 ee I51
Hawk, Cooper’s (2. . 2.4... 157
Hawk, Desert-Sparrow ...... its My Re RN ESA
Hawk, Fish, or American Osren con alge ieee: one 163
baw Marsh. 00 97s. jee eee Lato 150
Hawk, Pigeon —...27... 0.40 3 Ae eee ee 155
Hawk, .Sharp-shinned:>: : :si.2: 32 2 eee 150 .
Hawk; Swainson’s -7 5: 002 sone 2 Ae eee 156
Hawk, Western Red-tailed . /.c),.2) sae Side eh 155
Heron; Great Blue ..:...0:..:,.332 23 150
Hiatmming bird, Rufous. .o>.3. 72. dee eee 62
Jay, ‘California .. 22.0.2 2.4 eee 146
Jay; Oregon vse. see. Pk. ee ee
Jay; Pinon 2... socs. yo Sk eee . 149
Jay; Stellet’s.. e020 ee 724 2TA5
Junco, Oregon: . 00). sis. kie ee 126
Kinebird,; ‘The: 2.0.28. ue eee loo eee 93
Kingbird, Arkansas, or Wester <3.0 eee QI
Kingfisher, Belted... 00.2. 32:k ee Ieee ee 133
Kine lets~ Tie: is ..c 26a ee pie La hee eG [21
Kinglet, Western Golden-crowned..%..... J.02 12 4122
Kinglet, Ruby-crowned. 7.4 . 2s ee 123

Lark, Sky. (Umported) 0%... 76

Page
epee teaked Hormed . oe aie hes Wea 78
ME tia 0 = Os cS Se hk Bp es ow 96
Mieeamic American «co... 2.3. 8.036: Cre eee ase Fae 149 ~
Mena. wv estermm Purples: 80006. te ea 2 60
Meee ce NVESECEN. 00s as Fy cede a he eo te 30
eeteeaany de: WV CSECEN 23 ioe nso 8 des Sia eed ea eS ook III
Materacker. Clark's, or Clark's Crow. .... 20... ..148
ite weed ae. Oe i se ee we eae vs ie 118
Beticcen. he i-breasted =. 2-1. ie 120
Machates Slender-billed 0... 003. 00.5.4. ee Stee 120
Mie oe etOClk 62 ee eS ik A feeger ee 85
@epeey suserican, or PishaHawk. O40 Le ess ee 163
Paes Water,or American Dipper... 02.2.0. 135
gle. THe se nN igs See Eee tle 2 157
Meme ieley-t Orned— 2... a ee ce 161
emetic: Sound, Screech 4.45. eee es. 158
LT LEAT 7S A ae ee eS 160
ioe oueri-eared. er Marsit. 752. 4. poo eee. 159
Pewee, Western Wood... 0.03... a heres sare eee, ar 88
Bere ee eae pale 6... 0s ho el he Pw ES 110
Rameeemerican. or. lithatkio. ce ei oe he 131
eRPRIeIRI ne e e yea ee 133
memerey atted, or Varied “llrtish. 2... fe. e ek 127
ep SPCR ho cncy cod doa ol alo eck ag oes ee 28
mamoniomer Ined-preasted .. .o.'s cack eben eS 142
ee RM eM Te ah kk al Sauce | ee BM ee ae 47
imeem maApOrted) 1 yen sho look Peds eb sees 76

sparrow, English, or Kuropean Howse:......:.... 45
Sparrow, Gambel’s White-crowned................ 33
Sparrow, Intermediate White-crowned............ 33

eeetow, -Oreoson -VeSpefi.n).... 0.650 0cbo oes ek eke 43
Priemonne RUSE Y SOUS. 08.0 OSS eT eb oe 37
Beene Vester (| hippite, 27. 6. he 6 on. 0 ee 42

_ eeeE—eeEeEESEeaaQ@&,

Sparrow, Western ‘Savanna... case eee 4A
Starlite, European (Imported) s7:.4. 2 ose) eee 170
Swallows, The. 2.08 .0..5 0 ee 50
Swaliow, Bank 0.0.2. 0.5 2 ee 59
Swallow, Bart :.2.. i 2280. 2, Re 57
Swallow; Cliff, or Have; o:¢. 3... ee 54
Swallow, Rough-winged ~! hee ee Se aee eae 60
Swaltfow, ‘Tree, or White-bellied. ; 2.22 29 seen =e
Swallow, Violet-green ... . 4. 2.4k eee ee iy
Swit Black. 67. i007 ee a=
Swit Vauxs woe. eb ie eee Ce

Tanager; Lousiana, or Westerns) .1 2» eee

‘Lhrdsh, Black { Tniported): = _ 22a ey By: 17
‘Phrash, Russet-backed ..: <0) J) ee 83
Thrush, Sone: (imported) <: | 2 eee PP oa “71
Thrush, Varied, or Varied Robin:. 4+. 2 eens
Tit; -Bush* wo. en el eee 124
Titlark,..or American Pipit./...%. ieee ee
Towhee, Oregon, or: Chewink: -).. 221.2) eee 66
Viteos, The =. <0. 00. 4 ee ee 93

Vireo, Anthony's 22.0200... S04 ee eee

Wireo: Cassin’s 2.2.02 gestae as 05
Vireo, Hutton’ss. ....c3s55%% Ss 62 2 ee eee 04
Vireo, > Warbling 205 5....2. (52k ee 94
Warblers. The. ..0.0...5. 05 eee IOI
Warbler, Audittbon’s: 0... 2..5 ..2ye eee 74
Warbler; Black-throated, Gray.-:2 7 eee 105
Warbler, lzutescent .\). oo sid 2 eee 103
Warbler; Maceillivray’s 2... &. 2 a5 eee eee 104
Warbler, Myrtle ....000.0..0 0.) 2 ee 75
Warbler,.Pileolated .......4.%.222 22 108
Warbler, Yellow; or Summier. 7.02 25 2 eee 102
Waxwing, Cedar, or Cedarbitd: 12.22 eee 99

Page
Western Vellow-throat’.... 2.22: Peete tc She ioe Gates Ve So
Weert irds “The... ree See. ere ae Bo eae 125
Bieeencelcers: “Phe (2)... cose. pine teres 136
Spnereicen CC aliroriia =<... hoes eb ne Oe eS I4I
Bewmepecmce (Gairditer s =. ooo. a elie ke ee 138
amma emicehe el ats Soc ook oc Soe ire ee ie we 137.
Bumemsecicr lewis S 2605-0 Ste nahh. s ee 139
Wieodpecker, Pileated .......; ees ee a aR 140
eines eS kn Ve kak os ee ne Sat ete iat SN. 70
Ween, Parkman's,or Western House... 2..0.....:- 90
Meet AL ING ~ ys. Se re eat ee Wiad iN pepe Peg Be 7A
GM OOS Sa se ee ea eo eee eR 72
Pireemeestern Winter. oo oi. ee es ee 73

eae rion) VV eStern >. ee ens a ee So

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION.

Forehead
Crown

Eyemarks

Neck

Back

Wings

Rump

Upper tatl-coverts

Bill

Throat

Breast

Sides

Underneath

Under tatl-coverts

Tail

‘

eae a ea

; iat

00011164