File:Birds and nature (1907) (14748173744).jpg

Identifier: birdsnature51907chic (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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est of Hornets that Has Been Jugged Vespa, the yellow-jacket, generally buildsin the ground where a decayed log or stumphas left the conditions suitable for an ex-cavation. One species is partial to homesabove ground, the branch of a young pinebeing a favorite location. Such nests, how-ever, are liable to be rifled by the ants;at least, I have found many deserted nestsin which the larvae were being eaten bythe ants. Hornets sometimes prey upon acolony of yellow-jackets with telling effect,catching and carrying many of them off tofeed their own 5^oung. Before the seasonis over a yellow-jackets nest, started bya single female, may contain severalthousand black-and-yellow-banded wasps.Their nests are often destroyed by skunksand foxes, who dig out the colonies at nightand eat both old and young. It is a seriousmatter for a plowman, sometimes a mereboy, to turn up a nest of mad yellow-jackets, which, by attacking the team, maycause a runaway. They cling to the horses(Continued on page 32)
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^5 Birds & Nature Magazine 23 The Song Sparrow By ELIZABETH H. WILKINS WHILE men are speculating onthe truth of the statement, thatwealth lessens, rather thanincreases, human happiness,the ecstatic notes of the song sparrow areoffering ample proof that, in the bird-worldat least, happiness is not dependent uponfine feathers or luxurious quarters. Dur-ing the cheerless winter days, althoughhis dusky little form is indistinct among thedead leaves of the frozen thicket, this bravebird sends a thrill of joy through everyheart, as his song, clear and rapturous, risesabove the hoarse moan of the wintry wind,and mingles with the swirling snowflakes. It is not unusual to find a song sparrownow and then in mid-winter, as far northas Massachusetts. But this season nodeep snow^s have cut oflf his food supply,consequently he and his fellows have so-journed with contentment, the entire win-ter, in the New England and MiddleStates. His stout bill has enabled him tofind many a tasty morsel benea

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