|Inhabiting the vast continents lying to the eastward of our own, exists
a family of birds popularly known as Stone-chats. Though mainly denizens
of the Old World, yet they are not without their representatives in
the New. To this group belongs the genus Sialia, notwithstanding the
possession of structural peculiarities which ally it to the Thrushes.
Of aves claiming such affinity, none is better known than the above
species.
Throughout the eastern faunal area of North America, from Georgia and
Louisiana to the 48th parallel of north latitude, and westward to the
highlands of the Mississippi, our genial, sky-blue friend abounds,
in varying numbers, and rears its triple brood. Along the Atlantic
seaboard, it never ventures as far north as it does in the interior,
being rarely observed beyond the Penobscot River, although Verrill met
with it in abundance in Western Maine. Six hundred miles out at sea, in
the delightful climate of the Bermudas, it finds a permanent residence,
and is also to be seen in Spanish Cuba, but only on rare occasions.
Among the lofty ridges and open table-lands of the Rockies, it never
occurs, but gives place to an apparently hardier species, the Arctic
Bluebird of naturalists; while west of this vast mountain barrier,
another form prevails.
So strongly attached to the natal spot do these birds become, that it is
with profound feelings of regret that they leave it. It is only when the
rigors and snows of our northern winters have denied them a living,
and thus rendered a longer sojourn impossible, that they take their
departure for the South. Here they while away the dreary hours as best
they can, until the returning footsteps of Sol have announced the glad
tidings that the hallowed, time-honored haunts of the north will soon
once more appear in beautiful habiliments of green. Excepting such as
spend their entire lives in semi-tropical abodes, there is manifest
an intense longing to be gone, which must necessarily detract from the
happiness of their migratory brethren. This emotion often grows to such
strength, that even in the mild, sunny weather of February, with which
earth sometimes indulges her children, the brown, scored and pitted face
of Nature is often rejoiced with their delightful presence. Amid the
desolation which everywhere abounds, they dart upon the vision like
the first gleam of sunshine after a day of dark and rainy weather. The
bright, ruddy glow that burns upon the breast, as if in cruel mockery
of earth's coldness, and the rich depth of coloring of the back,
before whose vivid azure the very heavens seem to pale, are in striking
contrast to objects around, and thrill the soul of man with gladness as
the wearers of these charming hues are the bearers of glad intelligence,
for they come to remind us that laughing field and babbling runnel have
not entirely deserted us, but will return to enliven the prospect when a
few more days have rung their changes on the endless cycle of time.
But while a few home-sick individuals thus come among us, ere the
backbone of winter has been broken, to renew old friendships, and point
to bonnier times, it is not until the first sunny days of March have
made their appearance, that the tide of emigration is said to set in
with earnestness. Coming from no great distance, they are not long on
the journey, and in a few days are pretty well established in the old
habitats. At first they are seen in open fields, or loitering about the
outskirts of woods. In rural situations they are not slow in working
their way into old orchards, and the yards adjoining human habitations.
But wherever they take up their quarters, they are sure to make
themselves friends. Few species are more encouraged to build about our
domains, and none are in greater repute. While the Robin and Orioles do
immense service in the destruction of thousands of obnoxious insects,
they frequently offset this good character by the mischief which they
commit upon our fruit-trees while in blossom. Not so with the Bluebird.
He disdains such meanness, and labors solely for man's interests.
Arrived in our midst, he does not foolishly waste his time in riotous
living, and worse than bacchanalian riot, but goes directly to the
work which has called him North. Consequently, from many a field and
forest-border may be heard the soft, plaintive notes of the male. These
notes are singularly pleasing and touching, and are well calculated to
arouse a feeling of sympathy in the bosom of the most inhuman of men. At
this period, which marks the incipient stages of courting, he is heard
to the best advantage, although occasionally through the summer, and
in the fall when preparing to leave us, he is known to descant somewhat
similar strains, but with less of pathos and effort. The following
syllabic language is as accurate a representation of the song as it
is possible to express it by human vocal characters: _tür-r-r-r-wâ,
tïir-wüh-tür-r-r-wû, tür-r-r-h' wêêt_. While engaged in its rendition
from the topmost bough of a cedar, or the uppermost rail of a fence,
his attitude shows such complete absorption in the subject, and such
obliviousness to place and surroundings, as to awaken the profoundest
wonder. The approach of footsteps is unheeded, and many a time we have
made our way to within a few paces of one of these famous minstrels,
without producing momentary surprise, or the least disarrangement of
the harmony. All the while the concert is going on, the female is in the
immediate vicinity, silent and motionless, and apparently drinking in
its full import. But after a little the music ceases. The performer now
leaves his post, flies towards the listening and solitary auditor, hangs
on quivering wings suspended before her, and thus having made obsequious
obeisance, alights a short distance away to ascertain the effects of
all these efforts to please. Again and again, at regular intervals, the
performance is repeated, and at last the female succumbs to the magnetic
influence, and becomes a bride. All this is accomplished in less than a
week from the time of arrival, long before most other small birds have
thought of conjugal responsibilities.
By the tenth of March the happy couple are ready to go house-hunting. The
female assumes the direction, and it is not long before they are suited.
Their usual nesting-place is some cranny in a dead tree, or the vacant
hole of a departed Woodpecker. The snapping off of a time-honored limb
has often opened the way for a snug retreat. Almost any nook or cavity
will answer in a pinch. Birds have been known to build in a deep fissure
between the branches of a tree, in a broken tin water-spout under the
eaves of a building, between the blind and sash of an almost forsaken
window, in the stolen home of some eave swallow, in boxes and gourds, or
occasionally in the forked branch of an apple-tree.
When a garden or orchard is chosen, objections are sometimes made
by other species, and frequent encounters are recorded between the
Bluebirds and such Wrens, Martins and Sparrows as deem themselves to
have been badly treated by the former. In these affrays, contrary to
expectation, the Bluebird is usually victorious, being more than a
match for the smallest of our Woodpeckers, and even lording it over such
professional fighters as the English Sparrow. But his pluckiest and most
inveterate enemy is the House Wren. This tiny buccaneer will often
visit the Bluebird's snug house, while the mistress is absent, and after
raking out the materials, remain in possession. Any attempt, however,
at interference when the family is within, is treated as an insult,
and summarily avenged Generally Madam Bluebird and her husband are such
gentle, quiet bodies that they never think of molesting their neighbors.
As in well-regulated human communities, there are individuals who are
not above such meanness. A case in point came under our observation some
five or six years ago. A pair of Great-crested Flycatchers, finding an
empty tomato-can secured to the top of a post, had made it their home
and treasure-house. Shortly afterwards a pair of Bluebirds came upon
the scene, and coveting the cosy quarters, sought to expel the rightful
owners. The Flycatchers resisted, and the property-owner, desirous of
ending the disturbance, shot the female Bluebird. The male immediately
flew away, but to return in the course of a half-hour with two
females. The contest was renewed, and victory decided in his favor.
The Flycatchers, however, did not retire until they had thrown out the
nesting-materials, a portion of which they afterwards carried away to
use elsewhere. After the defeat the Bluebird selected a partner from his
allies, and the unfortunate female gracefully retired. The proprietor,
perceiving a strong predilection upon the part of the Bluebirds for the
can, determined to annoy them awhile, and fastened a lath across the
entrance, and watched the result. The birds set to work, and the piece
was dislodged. They built their nest, deposited their eggs, and raised
their broods, which they fed upon two species of turnip butterfly, and
the wingless bodies of Spilosoma, a moth destructive to the grape.
Into their domicile the birds convey a good deal of grass, which they
cover with a soft layer of hair, feathers and wool. While the male
assists at this labor, the arrangement of details involved in the
preparation of the furniture, falls to the lot of his partner. While she
is thus busy, he relieves the tedium of the task by a song, and a few
caresses. In the Northern States the nest is finished and the first
eggs deposited by the 10th of April; in the South much earlier. Why the
Bluebird selects cavities as nesting places, does not readily appear.
Being an early breeder, such situations best secure warmth and shelter
for the young. In primitive times hollow trees were doubtless occupied
more generally than at present by all birds, just as now they are
constantly used as hospitia by our winter residents during disagreeable
weather. The Bluebird learned to build in cavities by first using such
places for shelter during cold, vernal storms, and perceiving their
comfort, has come to regard them as appropriate quarters for nesting.
Thus what was merely accidental to their ancestors, has now become
intuitive and habitual to the race. Protection against rapacious birds
is also secured, which would not be gained if the bright plumage of the
female were exposed in an open nest.
As no dampness is to be dried, laying follows closely upon the
completion of the nest, and continues for a period of five clays, one
egg being laid daily. They are usually of a sky-blue color, spotless,
and have an actual measurement of .82 by .61 inches. Mr. Ingersoll once
found in Loraine County, Ohio, a nest of five eggs, all of which were
pure lustrous white, like those of a Woodpecker. Similar instances
have come to our knowledge since the above was recorded. In the work
of incubation, the male occasionally relieves his partner, but when not
thus engaged, lie is very attentive, and often cheers the monotony of
her task by a soft, agreeable warble. He is also now very jealous. Not
a bird is permitted to trespass upon his premises. If surprised upon
the nest, the female makes no effort to escape as long as untouched; but
waits until you have withdrawn to a safe distance before flying from the
hole. When hatched, the young are watched over with the greatest care,
and fed alternately by each parent. Their food consists of flies,
earthworms, young of beetles, moths, butterflies, etc. When able to
shift for themselves, they are entrusted to the care of the male, while
the female busies herself in preparing for the second brood. The old
nest is renovated and refurnished, and she again sits, depending upon
her affectionate and trustful mate for the support of both herself and
the brood which, as it sometimes happens, are not fairly out of the way
when the second family of young are ushered into existence. As many as
three broods are occasionally raised, when the season has been long and
favorable.
Young males of the year are easily distinguished. They are dull brown on
the head and back, and have the lesser coverts streaked with white.
The throat and fore part of the breast are marked with similar stripes,
while the rest of the coloration, with the exception of the brownish
edges of the tertial wing-feathers, is somewhat similar to that of the
adult. The entire upper parts, including tail and wings, of the latter,
are of a continuous and azure-blue color. The cheeks are of the same
hue, but duller. The under parts, the abdomen, anal region (and under
tail-coverts, which are white, excluded), are reddish-brown. The bill
and feet are black, and the same may be said of the shafts of the quills
and tail-feathers. From her partner, the female differs in being less
blue, and in having a brownish cast upon the head and back. In size,
they hardly vary. Their length is six and three-fourths inches, wing
four, tail two and nine-tenths.
[Illustration: 276]