File:Birds and nature (1902) (14564749009).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature121902chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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t seems likean expression of satisfaction over theresult of its efiforts. The drooping branches of severalkinds of trees and shrubs are selected bythe Green-crested Flycatchers as suitablesites for their unpretentious homes. Thenests are semipensil, being attached bythe rim to the fork of a small limb or totwo parallel limbs. They are shallowand so loosely constructed that frequent-ly the eggs may be seen from the under-side. As this Flycatcher breeds nearlythroughout its range, the materials usedin the construction of the nests variesgreatly. In southern states where Span- iish moss is common it is one of the chiefconstituehts of the nest. In more north-ern district, stems of plants, small rootsand fibrous materials are used. Theseare loosely woven with blades of grass,dry flowers and the catkins of the wil-low. Not infrequently the hangingcatkins, decayed fibres and the loose endsof stems and blades of grass give anuntidy appearance to the home of thisuseful and interesting bird. no
Text Appearing After Image:
GREEN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER. (Empidonax virescens). Life-size. COPYHiaHT 1902, BY A. W. MUMFOflO, CHICA60. CHARACTER IN BIRDS, In a delightful article called Char-acter in Birds, Mr. Torrey gives manyinstances of bird traits that show dis-tinct differences of nature in variousspecies, and which lead one to recallothers that have fallen under observation.Mr. Torrey does not mention, for in-stance, a peculiarity of the redeyed vireo,which is as marked as its persistent andrather tiresome note; that is, its almostintolerable curiosity and fussiness, quali-ties which it carries to such an extremethat they become absolutely comic. Ithink I have never seated myself towatch the nest of any bird, that a red-eyed vireo has not appeared on the sceneand scolded me; and the moment a birdutters a cry of alarm a redeyed vireo issure to appear with his fretful air of*Oh, dear, what is the matter now?ready and willing to take a hand in anyrows that may be going and quite sureto make more fuss than the r

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