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.