File:Birds and nature (1905) (14568889489).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature11905chic (find matches)
Title: Birds and nature
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Birds Natural history
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Mumford, Publisher
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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t were not for the birds, humanbeings would perish from the face ofthe earth. Perhaps, continued the Maple,musingly, we have a deeper feeling forthe birds than any other trees. Did youknow that we have certain markings inour wood which resemble a birds eye,and therefore is called Birds eye Ma-ple ? This wood is very valuable owing tothe beautiful markings; then there is theCurly Maple, also very valuable. Nowthese markings appear in all membersof our family, but there is no outwardindication by which it can be told, andonly experienced woodmen can detectthem in the living tree; this they do bysome peculiarity of the bark. The Maple ceased, and although itsgraceful branches swayed in the risingwind, and although Mabel listened longand earnestly she could hear nothingbut the wind, which seemed to touchher with a chill hand, so, rising, shesaid: Good night, dear Tree, howmuch I would like to attend this grandball! But as I am not invited to remain,I had better go home. FvELYN Singer. 210
Text Appearing After Image:
THE HIGHTHAWK. (Chordeiles virginianus.) In the high, pale heaven he flies and calls;Then swift, oh, swift,On sounding wingThat hums like a string,To the quiet glades where the gnat clouds driftAnd the night moths flicker, he falls.Then hark, the Nighthawk! —Charles G. D. Roberts, The Nighthawk. It is to be regretted that the nameNighthawk has been given to this birdof our illustration, for it is misleadingand the latter part of the name is cer-tainly a misnomer. It is not a hawk inany sense of the term unless its longwings may seem to resemble those of ahawk. It is a perfectly harmless andinoffensive bird, feeding upon insectswhich it catches while on the wing.The Nighthawks are not strictly noc-turnal birds for they fly in the twilightas well, and are not averse to hunt-ing on the wing during the more somberdays. Possibly the name Nighthawkmay be sanctioned, as applied to. thosebirds, if we take into consideration onlytheir long pointed wangs and theirmethod of flying which is qui

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