File:Birds of song and story (1901) (14725707106).jpg

Identifier: cu31924000168892 (find matches)
Title: Birds of song and story
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Grinnell, Elizabeth, 1851- Grinnell, Joseph, 1877-1939. joint author
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Mumford
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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hrush and the sparrow are forgotten. The tanager is discreet by nature, for it is as if he knowsthat by glimpses only is he best appreciated. Were he lessretiring, as bold in habit as in color, sitting on the roofs andfence-posts, swinging the nest pendant from boughs, like theoriole, he would be less fascinating. But the tanager is sel-dom more than half seen; he is detected for an instant, likea flash, and disappears. It is with the eye as with the hand. We would hold inthe grasp of our fingers what we covet to touch or own.And the eye would retain in its deep fortress, if only for a mo-ment, the tint it feasts on. More especially is this the caseif the thing we would hold or see is transitory by nature. So when we sit down on a half-decayed log bedeckedwith toadstools, and hear the note of a scarlet tanager over-head, we listen and are moveless. It is repeated,-and if weare unacquainted with the bird we may think him to theright of us. Actually he is on the left, being endowed with
Text Appearing After Image:
SUMMER TANAGER. The Tanager People 103 the gift of ventriloquism. By this gift or attainment thebeautiful creature eludes his human foes. For foes the tana-ger surely has, the mores the pity! Not content to adorethe bird as part and parcel of generous nature, there are thosewho would pay their homage to the wings only, set amongfeathers and plaited straw. Such lose the iine art of tender-ness. The face that would pale at sight of a brown mouseshines with pride beneath a remnant of red plumage literallydyed with the life-blood of their original owner. Angelina has a hat With wings on every side;Slaughter o the innocentsThose pretty wings supplied.Sign of barbarity,Sign o£ vulgarity—That winged hat. Well, let Angelinas hat pass for what it is worth to her.It is no more than the redbirds have had to submit to alltheir life history. There isnt a savage tribe but has madeuse of bright feathers for dress, either in skins or quills. Thedark-skinned native is dressed for church if he wear

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