File:Birds and nature (1907) (14750478605).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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r warblers. The malessing frequently from their perch on thetopmost twig of a spruce tree, thus mis-leading one as to the whereabouts of thefemale and nest. The song resemblessomewhat that of the black and whitewarbler, but is rather less wiry. It can-not to be represented on paper. The tongue of this bird is worthy ofspecial notice. It is cleft at the tip, andis provided with somewhat of a fringe.This character is not peculiar to this spe-cies, but is found in some honey creep-ers and in at least one foreign family ofbirds, thus suggesting, at least, the rela-tionship of the warblers as a group. Itmight be asked, what is the significanceof this character as regards feeding-habits? Apparently nothing, since thefeeding-habits and food do not differfrom those of other warblers not havingthe cleft tongue as greatly as the tonguesthemselves differ in structure. It is ap-parently aberrant character developedsomewhat at random among groupsnearly related, or perhaps a remnant ofstructure. 64
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231 CAPE MAY WAKHLEK (Dondroica tijjrina). Lite size. COPVRIOHT 1900, BY * MUMFORO, CHICAGO THE HOUSE WRER All the children, it seems tome, are familiar with the habitsof Johnny and Jenny Wren;and many of them, especiallysuch as have had some experi-ence with country life, couldthemselves tell a story of thesemites of birds. Mr. F. Saunderstells one: ^Perhaps you maythink the Wren is so small abird he cannot sing much of asong, but he can. The way wefirst began to notice him was byseeing our pet cat jumping aboutthe yard, dodging first one wayand then another, then dartingup a tree; looking surprised,and disappointingly jumpingdown again. Tussy had found a new play-mate, for the little Wren evi-dently thought it great fun tofly down just in front of her anddart away before she couldreach him, leading her from onespot to another, hovering aboveher head, chattering to her allthe time, and at last flying upfar out of her reach. This herepeated day after day, for sometime, seeming to enjo

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