The ides of March see the woodcock back in its northern home, and in early
April it prepares for nesting. The question of the nest itself is a very
simple matter, being only a cavity, formed by the pressure of the mother's
body, among the moss and dead leaves. The formalities of courtship are,
however, quite another thing, and the execution of interesting aerial
dances entails much effort and time.
It is in the dusk of evening that the male woodcock begins his
song,--plaintive notes uttered at regular intervals, and sounding like
_peent!_ _peent!_ Then without warning he launches himself on a sharply
ascending spiral, his wings whistling through the gloom. Higher and higher
he goes, balances a moment, and finally descends abruptly, with zigzag
rushes, wings and voice both aiding each other in producing the sounds, to
which, let us suppose, his prospective mate listens with ecstasy. It is a
weird performance, repeated again and again during the same evening.
So pronounced and loud is the whistling of the wings that we wonder how it
can be produced by ordinary feathers. The three outer primaries of the
wing, which in most birds are usually like the others, in the woodcock are
very stiff, and the vanes are so narrow that when the wing is spread there
is a wide space between each one. When the wing beats the air rapidly, the
wind rushes through these feather slits,--and we have the accompaniment of
the love-song explained.
The feather-covered arms and hands of birds are full of interest; and
after studying the wing of a chicken which has been plucked for the table,
we shall realise how wonderful a transformation has taken place through
the millions of years past. Only three stubby fingers are left and these
are stiff and almost immovable, but the rest of the forearm is very like
that of our own arm.
See how many facts we can accumulate about wings, by giving special
attention to them, when watching birds fly across the sky. How easy it is
to identify the steady beats of a crow, or the more rapid strokes of a
duck; how distinctive is the frequent looping flight of a goldfinch, or
the longer, more direct swings of a woodpecker!
Hardly any two birds have wings exactly similar in shape, every wing being
exquisitely adapted to its owner's needs. The gull soars or flaps slowly
on his long, narrow, tireless pinions, while the quail rises suddenly
before us on short, rounded wings, which carry it like a rocket for a
short distance, when it settles quickly to earth again. The gull would
fare ill were it compelled to traverse the ocean with such brief spurts of
speed, while, on the other hand, the last bob-white would shortly vanish,
could it escape from fox or weasel only with the slow flight of a gull.
How splendidly the sickle wings of a swift enable it to turn and twist,
bat-like, in its pursuit of insects!
You may be able to identify any bird near your home, you may know its nest
and eggs, its song and its young; but begin at the beginning again and
watch their wings and their feet and their bills and you will find that
there are new and wonderful truths at your very doorstep. Try bringing
home from your walk a list of bill-uses or feet-functions. Remember that a
familiar object, looked at from a new point of view, will take to itself
unthought-of significance.
Whither midst falling dew,
While glow the heavens with the last steps of day,
Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue
Thy solitary way?
William Cullen Bryant.