3 Ce pnnred gies pee Aa ; THE. ORIOLE/ VOL. Ill AUGUST, 1915 NO. 2 Official Organ of the SOMERSET HILLS BIRD CLUB BERNARDSVILLE, N. J. THE ORIOLE — VOL. Il AUGUST, 1915 NO. 2 CONTENTS PAGE Cola Lae a ee ere by C. William Beebe 3 Some Notes From Morristown, N. J. by Maunsell S. Crosby........- 6 Wate, BUC Vay aoc ass oe cena to face 12 Birds of a Garden in Columbia, 8. C. by Belle Williams......... 12 Decoration Day Censuses... Det ee 17 A Glimpse of Egyptian Bird-hfe dy C. William Beebe......... 23 Ey re Re ne earn are 29 Proceedings of The Somerset Hills Bird Club...... 36 Members of The Somerset Hills Bird Club..........- $y Copyright 1915 By Somerset Hills Bird Club, Bernardsville, N. J. ae \ COLOR By C. William Beebe Color in nature began to have a real meaning for man when he took clay of various hues—red and brown and yellow—and with it, “drew delightful Mammoths on the borders of his cave.” From that time forth color occupied artists and mystified scien- tists. Theories innumerable arose, each pushed to its uttermost limits, then settling back into a more nor- mal place, having contributed its greater or less ker- nel of truth to knowledge. It was once held that color was for the delectation of man alone, or at most solely for the pleasing of the opposite sex among animals. But the gizzard of a chicken with its rainbow tints; the rich warm sepia of liver; the delicate green of the gall; these disquiet our faith in such a belief. There arose again a rever- sal of this; a thesis that color was meaningless, a mere byproduct of organic chemistry. Then warning col- ors came to the fore, and one was asked to see a danger signal in every flash of red or blue. Muimicry paved the way for protection, and a few years ago one of our foremost artists championed the cause of protec- tive coloration to the farthest extremes of the spec- trum. He gave us many new and interesting points of view, such as counter-shading, but his very enthu- siasm led him to extremes which at once reacted on the whole field. It is not my intention to enter the controversy which has been waged. Protective coloration exists, but it is as versatile, as changeable as the very tints which 3 clothe the feathers and scales and fur of its subjects. Any color or shade, however brilliant or sombre, may be protective or advertising within a few seconds of time. Motion is the great arbiter of this, and a hop- ping sparrow among dead leaves is more conspicuous than a quiescent tanager against a neutral back- ground. The meaning of color is a momentous question and one which will take many life-times of intensive obser- vation and study of wild creatures to solve. In many instances color and pattern are more ancient and stable than deeper seated characters, even those of muscle and bone. I wish to offer one point of view which seems to be new and which perhaps furnishes a single step in the right direction. This is to dismiss all man-made theories as to protective qualities, or con- cealing backgrounds and let the wild creatures them- selves provide the proof. Three instances will be enough to point my thesis. The female wood-duck is, as admitted by all, quite well protected by her sombre coat. But it has been claimed that the brilliant dress of the drake is also protective, obliterative in its ruptive patterns of sand, ripple and water-skimmer markings. Ripple marks imply motion, a condition under which no protective color can operate successfully. But the most con- vincing proof of error in this assumption lies in the fact that, at the time of helplessness, when the flight feathers are simultaneously shed, Nature, (to use a convenient personal noun) mistrusts the dead-au- tumn-leaf plus ripple-mark plumage and goes to a 4 great waste of strength and material by instituting a temporary eclipse plumage. Why should we not ac- cept this potent discrimination ? The neck of the peacock is blue like the hue of some _ skies, its tram as green as the green of jungle foliage, but when we study these birds in their haunts, we see that no reliance is placed on such comparisons. The peacock’s one desire is to see its approaching enemy first and to fly at once up to the most conspicuous bare branch in view. If the bird itself does not trust to sky and leaf, why attempt to explain the pigments thus? In studying pheasants in widely varying surround- ings, birds in which sexual coloration reaches the anti- theses of pigmentation, I was constantly impressed with the proofs which the birds gave me of the relative protective value of their garbs. Two conspicuous in- stances were the impeyans of the Himalayas and the white-tailed pheasants of Borneo. The young and females of these birds are clad in drabs and browns. The adults are brilliant. The ease of approach is nice- ly decided by the color of the individual. When a flock of impeyans is sighted, the iridescent cocks are off like a shot; the females may squat and linger until there is no doubt of their having been observed. A young white-tail which still belies his name by retain- ing the brown tail of the first year, will allow one to come much closer than a pheasant whch has acquired the conspicuous tail of the old birds, even though its body plumage be still wholly immature. Such habits are of course wholly instinctive and unquestionably the result of natural selection in past generations. But at S least they seem to indicate that delicate grades of pro- tection aré wielded by pattern and color, and that up to the limit of danger, the more protected individuals will trust to this concealment and conserve their ener- gies of flight. A vast field awaits the experimenter along these lines, for if we can prove that the sparrow hawk is color blind to red, the scarlet-coated tanager is as well protected from this danger as his leaf-green mate. Recently it has been shown that a dog has little or no color perception, although his almost miraculous scent discrimination fully compensates him in his particular walk of life. SOME NOTES FROM MORRISTOWN, N. J. By Maunsell Schieffelin Crosby The accompanying bird records must only be taken for what they are worth. ‘They were made be- tween the ages of fourteen and seventeen, while I was at school at Morristown, N. J. My observations were made very irregularly, as studies and games had to come first. A few early morning walks and Sunday afternoon strolls were the only occasions when I could really go afield, and then the ground covered was usu- ally restricted to a small part of the beautiful valley of the Whippany River, which flows very near the school. Somewhere in the woods along its banks my first pair of field glasses are undoubtedly still rusting, unless someone chanced by soon after I lost them. I missed them badly, for by screwing up and unscrew- 6 ing one of the lenses I could give a splendid imitation of the notes of the catbird, and often attracted them in this way. It was a splendid place for birds and I am sorry that at the time I was acquainted with so few species. I feel pretty sure, however, that I have not entered any dubious ones, as I have always made it a point to write only a description when I could not conscienti- ously give the exact name. I have weeded all such birds out of the list. As I was always away from the middle of June un- til the end of September, I have only a fragmentary list of the autumn departure of the various species and practically none at all of the arrival of those that come from the North,—football being at that time the all-absorbing topic. MORRISTOWN, N. J. 1901-1904 NESTS—(AI! contained full sets of eggs unless otherwise stated. ) Mar. 20. House Sparrow. Incomplete. Apr. 17. Bluebird 24. Red-shouldered Hawk. 25. Robin. 30. Flicker. May 1. Crow. 6. Green Heron. Not investigated. 15. Vesper Sparrow. 15. Field Sparrow. 18. Chat. Incomplete. 20. Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 20. Towhee. Incomplete. 22. Swamp Sparrow. 22. Chimney Swift. Not investigated. 22. Baltimore Oriole. Incomplete. 24. Catbird. June 1. Phoebe. Contained young. 1. Orchard Oriole. 1. Chipping Sparrow. 1. Brown Thrasher. Contained young. 2. Kingbird. 2. Yellow Warbler. 2. Redstart. Incomplete. 6. Purple Martin. 7. Red-headed Woodpecker. Contained young. 7. Warbling Vireo. 7. Wood Thrush. 7. Cedar Waxwing. Incomplete. 10. Rough-winged Swallow. Not investigated. 11. Song Sparrow. 12. Red-eyed Vireo. 12. House Wren. 23. Crested Flycatcher. PERMANENT RESIDENTS. Bobwhite, Marsh Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Barred Owl, Screech Owl, Hairy Wood- pecker, Downy Woodpecker, Flicker, Blue Jay, Crow, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadee, Bluebird. OCCASIONAL IN WINTER. Kingfisher. WINTER VISITANTS. Purple Finch. Jan. to Apr. 30. Tree Sparrow. Nov. to Apr. 14. Junco. Oct. 27 to May 6. Winter Wren. Nov. 3 to Jan. 28. Brown Creeper. Oct. 27 to Apr. 24. Golden-crowned Kinglet. Jan. to Apr. 22. 8 MIGRATIONS SPRING AUTUMN arr. dep. arr. dep. Meadowlark ...... Hie ase UIC a Sire eater ie Prete at Ane: NON eae Fox Sparrow ..... lars ae Nea (Sa su ont Sco) tues cel es cageetogeyt umpc AGmatekle ie. @ Nias Ay. eae. eects may erate hal Nov. 15... volver sorqanet: | INST Use pe ieee s oh ere Seah eT pant Declanee Cowbind 5... iano epee eon sre arene Mis renders eos ieiter ymsscogss ae Male Red-winged Black- piney Sats secre se ce Mair Se Gor eeepc Acie oe go sac come Raab eealehets Black Duck ...... 1 GP a eS cr ic eerie aRn eee natu Novy. 15 hoe beer st. cues I EAT UG hie: Seen enh sch en tey Rach dt ara Pam ta rein Oct. 19... CamlacdanGOOsey ain Wats 22 et acon ota ciai.raslcoran ieanrsene sein ee Hele vat ire Guillet wore elie. ne meds Ae pR eee (comsl shale speea tical ete RieldeSparrow 2... Apr Bsa sascha s vee, cet ete PSE kee ReCN, Chippimes Sparrow Apr, (Gees 2 0.h a. 6. se soos Nov. 3... IPieclloillleél Cneloss AMNews Go oo eyo, Wiens eogoseond agouoouet White-throated Sparrow ....... prs UZe is. May Wie Octy 16.2, Noy l0n Gnreaid IBIS Jalerrons eyo NSiae o Wleye Ibs sa dabis coo 65 Soe on eae 0 iiree Swallow, 52:-Apr. 13:..May 20...Sep. 28... Oct. 11. ~- elem Wormoein 5 . (Aye. Wee oWilany “Wess Sacococuscsencgc0e ic Yellow-bellied Sap- . SIOUGRET aes eee Aprile a cApin 22ers epee 29 tec er Ruby-crowned iKonlcleteeea sc: NOIa Ic o WEN On osu ous comet fem poe Bain Sivenllony s rem EO Aloo okie seo ce owe cob non a mds Mivrtle a arblerss - Ayre 2ene 2 Mica iel veo ete. «po Oc 2Oscs Louisiana Water Mh rS ie oe a5.85 53.55 JAN) Deeg SA neta vou eaaner ose acls Lap iar Oc ae re iat ai eee Peano SMVEMDD STORMONT o cxleOIe Bo oo occ 00s gucvacd sem oesn bad c INOWANGS Se cdo bio eeon AN ORe 2 De Ghee eee ep accuse eae esa Sone Mae Wes Perl S DALTOW: ec AEs sZ diy a nateia Mires she Givi is (on! eter wife een 26 Chitname vs Swiktias 4A pr? Aes fas el eis cea wee 3 Oct 125... Brame wallowes cis a VAprs Ai sees aves =e een ria ee ae bara Cathird 2 acd 6 LAIN ARN eR pea eet toe tice eta, Re gr a ote 48s oe House Wren ..... AOEN 2aCtoe, arte Revco alee me OC mOr it. Carolina Wren ....Apr. 24... Reported LOMIME elena a Cee Ree ec ee eens SPRING AUTUMN ETE IUNGNS arr. dep. arr. dep. Yellow Palm Warb- Vem agsceaetety Aprsc25 so. Miaivi, “Bisjaoi nist yee. oan Spotted “Sandpiper Ap rss2//e cea ac clang eiee ee lheasteWlycatchers Apr 27... Sioa oo he 20.) Redstart ae ee May (ioc) bali s works Sse oe eer Yellow-billed Cuckoo ee May 8 aoe a. hence inane ele oe Kane bird aa eeee May ww Biers ona taste qrakene ee ee Crested: Flycatcher May). 3-6) 2c) neine ae Purple: Martin <%,.: May. 8.00.5 ces nos eo Rose-breasted Grosbeak .005.... May. 800 ak aoa eee Wilnteseved War cous Miayias ea nei neue eee ae Oct. 20 rep Blue-headed Vireo sMiay: 8i0) 0, vot a3 heehee 6 oe Golden-winged NWiarr blr es May 3: “May 1432027350 2 See Blue-winged Warb- lersiviest saree ea May iB Sak ca ecicfhw She ec cae res Ge Magnolia Warbler. May (8... May 964000. 3.-, 0. see eee Wood Thrush ... Nilay oS omens Metin sale ok oy ome Oct. 6 Bobolink: =. .- May, 24 2S stirs cpalss bi ees eee Baltimore: Oriole.).2May) 400) 5. oe Yellow-throated Ware ose een Maye 4 oce at nk ek 6 en ee PRING AUTUMN MIGRATIONS. eee arr. dep. arr. dep. Moumning MD ove Asay ¢. 0% nec pe Hose We mi eae Pate ee Orchard Oniole®s Mayy Gu Geen hove eee ae eich een eine A ea ot Worm-eating Nan blercs 5. ate Nica Gis Boe cece Meh oe reg ier ts Mec ss wen ear aptae al Chestnut-sided Wier ler: egress ch Miya rs ates ba tinadanrans a6 iturin Runes alates Black-throated Blues Warbler ics Mays Gem sNiaye Sine 4 ene. ons sheen eees Canadian Warbler.May 6...May 22......... He nei eee a Sr oe Maryland Yellow- UWINEORNE Ig a5 o oaunree ian eA Gup aes. aie tuck gs coat eo eggs Hummingbird Veer ereerterrmm cts cea etcia Mata tanec alk Neyo ne Wie etivanc at eearseesscre Miranyopt Os aes mincetu. feigtan ary otic a nttane Oct Gee Blackburnian War- Were Secs taser: AN cay ial sg est Meaty sls sec ole wae Sg Sone ear Wet Une Yellow-breasted 3) CDE eee ee Srna Wea yarel Tost iar Nomar seeps o hmteys Caeturn aren Sema at) iedseved Vireo... May Ws oi a cee ee ee Oct. 20... Warbling Vireo ... May 14 Scarlet Tanager...May 16 SOD Oooo BD -5 ol O0 OC G40 o ooo OO OW Oo oom O60 OO D080: 90 60 00 00, O10 ON cee 08D 0 OO ONO Oo GeO Oo O1b oo Blackpoll Warbler. May 16...May 25... ......... Octet: inicicorB antinee csiMays WZ eter. 8 os. Wan fee wae a cr en ie Wood Pewee ..... AN icny colt Ss steers et teed cag Meee re ene a Pal eee Sep. 28... Mourning Warbler.May 25 ORO (0 UO O80 Ge0N0 CO! Onn IG OO OO Oho 1b oro 0 0 O80 Wear VY axcwamlo.ebinie: bode Len tee ae oe ae 1 Oct. 29... Naehibhawies siren eo oe eth Gee dol, Seps 28.2 Octo a5. ALSO— Red-headed Wood- DE CKer wes Wood (?) Duck . 11 BIRDS OF A GARDEN IN COLUMBIA, S. C. By Belle Williams In this beautiful old southern city, there is a garden which covers a square of four acres. The sides and back are inclosed by an old brick wall ten feet high. The front is shut in by an iron fence which rests on a brick foundation. On the inside the wall is draped with a profuse tan- gle of honey-suckle, woodbine, trumpet vine, wistaria and English ivy. The iron fence is bordered with an old hedge of box (Boxus semper virens). On the outside in front of the iron fence is a row of mock orange trees, (Prunus caroliniana), evergreens —covered in early spring with dainty little white blos- soms, beloved of bees; in winter, bearing dark purple berries which furnish a feast for many kinds of birds. Guarding the high old brick wall on the outside, like sentinels, stands a stately row of willow oaks and water oaks, a century old. The garden was planted in the long ago by an Eng- lish landscape gardener and tradition has it that the ivy came from Kenilworth. The flora is most interesting, comprising as it does, in addition to its rich native species, many rare foreign species. We find a rare East India pine; several handsome deodars; tall trees of sweet olive (Olea fragrens) ; a handsome bush of the Camellia japonica; a few plants of the Thea Camellia, or tea plant; oak leaf hydran- geas; syringas; two magnificent live oaks and two 12 BLUE JAY Order—PASSERES Family—Corvip& Genus—CyYANocITTA Species—CRISTATA National Association of Audubon Societies laurel oaks, one of each on each side of the mansion which sits toward the front of the garden in the middle of the square; two ivy-covered old osage orange trees; a Japanese plum which bears; several hollies (Ilex opaca) ; numerous trees of the Christmas berry (Ilex vomitoria) ; Japanese and California privets; a fine gingko; many different kinds of magnolia; dog- Ce ey — Nest and Eggs of Brown Thrasher woods; fig trees; grapes; pomegranates and all kinds of rose vines. This is only a small beginning of the list of trees and shrubs, containing, perhaps, the largest and most conspicuous ones. On the right of the mansion is a beautiful hemlock, about forty feet tall. 13 The numerous tall red cedars have nearly all died out. The rods and rods of walks are bordered with the stateliest, most old-fashioned box hedges, which have a delicious smell like mellow apples. Baby Cat-bird I had the privilege a few mornings in May, 1914, to observe the bird life. I found the cardinal, crested flycatcher, blue jay, brown thrasher, redstart, red- headed woodpecker, and catbird. The mockingbird was conspicuous by its absence. About the first of October of the same year I re- sumed my visits. The bird life was very different 14 from what it was in the spring. I saw two mocking- birds and heard snatches of song. I heard the pecu- liar frog-like note which these birds utter only in win- ter. The call of the catbird betrayed its presence. One day a Carolina wren burst into song. A male black-throated blue warbler made a short stop on his way south. The hummingbird dipped into a canna blossom. The ovenbird tarried for a few days. The yellow-bellied sapsucker drilled holes in the gingko tree. ‘The flickers were pleased to sit in the top of the tall pecan tree and call to each other. The red- headed woodpeckers were less in evidence than in the spring-time. A goldfish remained one day. ‘The wood pewee could generally be found in the same place. For two weeks, my visits to the garden were inter- rupted. When I returned on November 10, I was greeted by red-eyed towhees, ruby-crowned kinglets, and a flock of about thirty white-throated sparrows. These stayed all winter and the sparrows made the garden cheery with their sweet songs. The following birds made up the list of winter resi- dents: cardinals, blue jays, brown thrashers, red- headed woodpeckers, mockingbirds, red-eyed towhees, white-throated sparrows, and ruby-crowned kinglets, the first five being permanent residents.