File:Birds and nature (1905) (14569109477).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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uitecovers eastern North America north ofthe valleys of the Potomac and OhioRivers, is not a strictly migratory bird,though it passes somewhat south of itsbreedirig range during the winter. Ithas a roving disposition and, to a cer-tain extent, is erratic in its appearancein many localities. Like the other mem-bers of the family of nuthatches and tit-mice, the Chickadee is a climber, but itdiffers from the woodpeckers and creep-ers in that it climbs downward with asmuch ease as it does upward. It is abusy bird, always hunting for its prey.Hopping upward, downward or side-ways upon the trunk or branches of atree, or hanging upon a twig headdownward, it diligently and closely scansevery crevice in the bark, and theunder sides of the leaves. The servicesof few, if of any other birds, are morevaluable to man in his warfare againstthe ravages of injurious insects. Thesediminutive birds hunt for the hiddenlarvae and ci^i^s of insects and eat large .«, ^ .».> .^^ ^ ,»>i->.K—aniw
Text Appearing After Image:
FROM COL. CHI. ACAD. SCIENCES 45 CHICKADEE. (Parus atricapillus).About Life-size. COPYRIGHT 1900, BY A. W. MUMFORD, CHICAGO quantities of them. The investigationsof Professor Forbes show that in anorchard which is infested with thedestructive canker-worm, these larvaeform fully seventy-five per cent of theChickadees food. It not only destroysthe canker-worm but also its eggs whichare laid in patches and are glued to thesurface of the bark. One entomologisthas calculated that a Chickadee willdestrov over five thousand of these esrsfsin a day. It also eats many other in-sects, and when such food is not obtain-able it will feed upon seeds and glean-ings from our door-yards. The nests of the Chickadees areplaced either in a hole excavated bythemselves, a natural hole or one whichhas been deserted by woodpeckers. Thenesting holes are usually in the trunksof trees and seldom higher than fif-teen feet above the ground. When theyexcavate the holes themselves, treesmore or less decayed are usu

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