THE FASTEST FLYERS
Canada Goose
Wild Ducks
Herring Gull
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CANADA GOOSE
Of the millions of migrants that stream across the sky every spring
and autumn, none attract so much attention as the wild geese. How
their mellow _honk, honk_ thrills one when the birds pass like ships
in the night! Such big, strong, rapid flyers have little to fear in
travelling by daylight too, but gunners have taught them the wisdom of
keeping up so high that they look like mere specks. It must be a very
dull child without imagination, who is not stirred by the flight of
birds that are launched on a journey of at least two thousand miles.
Don't you wish you were as familiar with the map as these migrants
must be? Usually geese travel in a wedge-shaped flock, headed by some
old, experienced leader; but sometimes, with their long necks
outstretched, they follow one another in Indian file and shoot across
the clouds as straight as an arrow.
Geese spend much more time on land than ducks do. If you will study
the habits of the common barnyard goose you will learn many of the
ways of its wild relations that nest too far north to be watched by
"every child." Canada geese that have been wounded by {268} sportsmen
in the fall, can be kept on a farm perfectly contented all winter; but
when the honking flocks return from the south in March or April, they
rarely resist "the call of the wild," and away they go toward their
kin and freedom.
WILD DUCKS
Birds that spend their summers for the most part north of the United
States and travel past us faster than the fastest automobile racer or
locomotive--and an hundred miles an hour is not an uncommon speed for
ducks to fly--need have little to fear, you might suppose. But so
mercilessly are they hunted whenever they stop to rest, that few birds
are more timid.
River and pond ducks, that have the most delicious flavour because
they feed on wild rice, celery and other dainty fare, frequent
sluggish streams and shallow ponds. There they tip up their bodies in
a funny way to probe about the muddy bottoms, their heads stuck down
under water, their tails and flat, webbed feet in the air directly
above them, just as you have seen barnyard ducks stand on their heads.
They like to dabble along the shores, too, and draw out roots, worms,
seeds and tiny shellfish imbedded in the banks.
[Illustration]
Black-crowned night heron rising from a morass
[Illustration]
Canada geese
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Of course they get a good deal of mud in their mouths, but fortunately
their broad, flat bills have strainers on the sides, and merely by
shutting them tight, the mud and water are forced out of the gutters.
After nightfall they seem especially active and noisy.
In every slough where mallards, blue- and green-winged teal, widgeons,
black duck and pintails settle down to rest in autumn, gunners wait
concealed in the sedges. Decoying the sociable birds by means of
painted wooden images of ducks floating on the water near the blind,
they commence the slaughter at daybreak. But ducks are of all targets
the most difficult, perhaps, for the tyro to hit. On the slightest
alarm they bound from the water on whistling wings and are off at a
speed that only the most expert shot overtakes. No self-respecting
sportsman would touch the little wood duck--the most beautiful member
of its family group. It is as choicely coloured and marked as the
Chinese mandarin duck, and a possible possession for every one who has
a country place with woods and water on it. Unlike its relatives, the
wood duck nests in hollow trees and carries its babies to the water in
its mouth as a cat carries its kittens.
The large group of sea and bay ducks, contains the canvas-back,
red-head and other vegetarian ducks, dear to the sportsman and
epicure. These birds may, perhaps, be familiar {270} to "every child"
as they hang by the necks in butcher-shop windows, but rarely in life.
Enormous flocks once descended upon the Chesapeake Bay region. To
Virginia and Maryland, therefore, hastened all the gunners in the East
until the canvas-back, at least, is even more rare in the sportsman's
paradise than it is on the gourmand's plate. Every kind of duck is now
served up as canvas-back. Some sea ducks, however, which are fish
eaters, have flesh too tough, rank, and oily for the table. They dive
for their food, often to a great depth, pursuing and catching fish
under water like the saw-billed mergansers or shelldrakes which form a
distinct group. The surf scoters, or black coots, so abundant off the
Atlantic coast in winter, dive constantly to feed on mussels, clams or
scallops. Naturally such athletic birds are very tough.
With the exception of the wood duck, all ducks nest on the ground.
Twigs, leaves and grasses form the rude cradle for the eggs, and, as a
final touch of devotion, the mother bird plucks feathers from her own
soft breast for the eggs to lie in. When there is any work to be done
the selfish, dandified drakes go off by themselves, leaving the entire
care of raising the family to their mates. Then they moult and
sometimes lose so many feathers they are unable to fly. But by the
time the ducklings are {271} well grown and strong of wing, the drake
joins the family, one flock joins another, and the ducks begin their
long journey southward. But very few children, even in Canada, can
ever hope to know them in their inaccessible swampy homes.
HERRING GULL
_Called also: Winter Gull_
"Every child" who has crossed the ocean or even a New York ferry in
winter, knows the big, pearly-gray and white gulls that come from
northern nesting grounds in November, just before the ice locks their
larder, to spend the winter about our open waterways. On the great
lakes and the larger rivers and harbours along our coast, you may see
the scattered flocks sailing about serenely on broad, strong wings,
gliding and skimming and darting with a poetry of motion few birds can
equal. There are at least three things one never tires of watching:
the blaze of a wood fire, the breaking of waves on a beach, and the
flight of a flock of gulls.
Not many years ago gulls became alarmingly scarce. Why? Because silly
girls and women, to follow fashion, trimmed their hats with gull's
wings until hundreds of thousands of these {272} birds and their
exquisite little cousins, the terns or sea-swallows, had been
slaughtered. Then some people said the massacre must stop and happily
the law now says so too. Paid keepers patrol some of the islands where
gulls and terns nest, which is the reason why you may see ashy-brown
young gulls in almost every flock. When they mature, a deep-pearl
mantle covers their backs and wings, and their breasts, heads and
tails become snowy white. Their colouring now suggests fogs and
white-capped waves. Why protect birds that are not fit for food and
that kill no mice nor insects in the farmer's fields? is often asked.
A wise man once said "the beautiful is as useful as the useful," but
the picturesque gulls are not preserved merely to enliven marine
pictures and to please the eye of travellers. They fill the valuable
office of scavengers of the sea. Lobsters and crabs, among many other
creatures under the ocean, gulls, terns and petrels, among many
creatures over it, do for the water what the turkey buzzard does for
the land--rid it of enormous quantities of refuse. When one watches
hundreds of gulls following the garbage scows out of New York harbour,
or sailing in the wake of an ocean liner a thousand miles or more away
from land, to pick up the refuse thrown overboard from the ship's
kitchen, one realises the excellence of Dame Nature's housecleaning.
[Illustration]
The feather-lined nest of a wild duck.
[Illustration]
Sea gulls in the wake of a garbage scow cleansing New York harbour of
floating refuse.
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Gulls are greedy creatures. No sooner will one member of a flock swoop
down upon a morsel of food, than a horde of hungry companions, in hot
pursuit, chase after him to try to frighten him into dropping his
dinner. With a harsh, laughing cry, _akak, kak, akak, kak, kak,_ they
wheel and float about a feeding ground for hours at a time.
And they fly incredibly far and fast. A flock that has followed an
ocean greyhound all day will settle down to sleep at night "bedded" on
the rolling water like ducks while "rocked in the cradle of the deep."
After a rest that may last till dawn, they rise refreshed, fly in the
direction of the vanished steamer and actually overtake it with
apparent ease in time to pick up the scraps from the breakfast table.
Reliable sailors say the same birds follow a ship from our shores all
the way across the Atlantic.
INDEX
Accenter, 58.
Bellbird, 12.
Bittern, 40, 263.
American, 261.
Booming, 261, 262.
Blackbird, 149.
Crow, 148.
Red-winged, 40, 111, 141, 142, 143, 166, 263.
Rusty, 143.
Swamp, 141.
Thrush, 143.
Bluebird, iii, vi, 9, 10, 11, 12, 29, 36, 97, 104, 128, 145, 166, 191, 231.
Blue Jay, 23, 24, 79, 83, 84, 128, 134, 153, 156, 157, 163, 198, 217,
227, 232.
Bobolink, 137, 138, 139, 140, 150, 190, 238, 256.
Bob-white, 144, 218, 237, 238, 239, 240, 242.
Bog-bird, 252.
Bog-sucker, 252.
Bonnet-bird, 82.
Bull-bat, 177.
Bunting, 130.
Bay-winged, 113.
Indigo, 128, 131, 169.
Snow, 124.
Butcherbird, 79, 80.
Buzzard, 214.
Turkey, 213, 272.
Canary, 115, 128.
Wild, 53, 124, 125.
Canvas-back, 270.
Cardinal, 23, 38, 48, 72, 83, 87, 133, 134.
Catbird, 15, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49. 72, 163.
Cedarbird, 82, 84, 85, 86.
Chat, Yellow-breasted, 47, 55, 63, 64, 74, 128.
Chebec, 161, 170, 171.
Cherry-bird, 82.
Chewink, 129, 130, 132.
Chickadee, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 130, 189, 191, 193, 238.
Chimneyswift, 180.
Chippy, 116, 117, 118.
Winter, 119.
Chuckle-head, 258.
Chuck-will's-widow, 177.
Clape, 199.
Coot, 221.
Black, 270.
Cowbird, 56, 57, 63, 74, 139, 140, 141, 149, 150, 177, 180, 207.
Creeper, Brown, 26, 58.
Crow, iv, 24, 63, 149.
American, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 163, 230.
Carrion, 214.
Rain, 205.
Cuckoo, 207, 210, 236, 260.
Black-billed, 205.
Yellow-billed, v, 43, 205, 206.
Darter, Big Blue, 219.
Little Blue, 219.
Devil Downhead, 25.
Dove, 236, 237, 260.
Carolina, 235.
Mourning, 235.
Duck, v, 63, 221, 271, 273.
Black, 269.
Canvas-back, 269.
Chinese mandarin, 269.
Red-headed, 269.
Wild, 268.
Wood, 269, 270.
Eagle, 80, 221, 222, 224.
Bald, 220, 225.
Golden, 222.
Falcon, Rusty-crowned, 223.
Finch, 108.
Grass, 113.
Purple, 126, 127, 131.
Firebird, 146, 193.
Flicker, 144, 189, 193, 198, 199, 200, 201, 242,
Flycatcher, 46, 66, 80, 140, 161, 162, 196, 198.
Crested, 82, 161, 165, 166, 169, 191.
Dusky, 166, 170.
Least, 161, 170, 171.
Goatsucker, 179.
Goldfinch, v, 53, 85.
American, 124, 125, 126, 127, 139.
Goose, 221.
Canada, 267.
Goshawk, 215, 220,
Grackle, 143, 150, 166.
Bronzed, 148.
Purple, 148.
Grosbeak, 108.
Blue, 128.
Cardinal, 133.
Pine, 29.
Red-breasted, 131.
Rose-breasted, 114, 131, 132, 133. 134.
Grouse, 192, 238, 241, 242.
Ruffed, 237, 238, 240, 242.
Gull, 221, 225, 272, 273.
Herring, 271.
Winter, 271.
Halcyon, 208.
Hang-nest, 146.
Hawk, iv, 24, 80, 162, 163, 221, 222, 224, 226, 227, 230, 239.
American Sparrow, 191, 223.
Chicken, 215, 218, 219.
Cooper's, 215, 219.
Fish, 208, 224, 225.
Hen, 215, 216, 218.
Killy, 223.
Marsh, 229.
Mosquito, 177.
Mouse, 223.
Partridge, 220.
Red, 218.
Red-shouldered, 215, 216, 217, 218, 220.
Red-tailed, 218, 220.
Sharp-shinned, 215, 219.
Winter, 215.
Hen-hawk, Blue, 220.
Hen, Indian, 261.
Marsh, 255.
Heron, 257, 258, 259, 261.
Black-crowned Night, 260, 261,
Freckled, 261.
Great Blue, 256.
Little Green, 258, 259.
High-hole, 199.
Hummingbird, vi, 29, 170, 176, 190, 201, 236.
Ruby-throated, 183, 184, 185, 186.
Indigo-bird, 128.
Jay, Canada, 157, 158.
Jenny Wren, 236.
Joree, 129.
Junco, 120, 122, 123, 124.
Kingbird, v, 80, 145, 161, 163, 164, 165, 223.
Kingfisher, 40, 63, 83, 102, 128, 210, 262.
Belted, 208.
Kinglet, 21, 29, 189.
Golden-crowned, 28.
Ruby-crowned, 28, 29.
Lark, Old-field, 143.
Lettuce-bird, 124.
Linnet, 126.
Logger-head, 79, 81, 82.
Mallard, 269.
Martin, 104.
Bee, 163.
Purple, 95, 96, 97, 98.
Sand, 101.
Mavis, 41,
Maybird, 137.
Meadowlark, 113, 143, 144, 145, 150, 178, 199, 242.
Meatbird, 157,
Merganser, 270.
Mockingbird, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 79.
French, 41.
Yellow, 65.
Moose-bird, 157.
Nighthawk, 93, 176, 177, 179, 182.
Nightingale, 49.
Virginia, 133.
Nightjar, 177.
Nuthatch, 21, 26, 28, 29, 58, 189, 191.
Red-breasted, 26, 28.
White-breasted, 25, 27.
Oriole, vi, 88, 140, 148, 206.
Baltimore, 65, 72, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150.
Golden, 146.
Orchard, 145, 146, 147.
Ortolan, 137.
Osprey, 221, 224, 225.
Oven-bird, 42, 54, 58, 59, 61, 66, 122, 128, 177.
Owl, 191, 215, 224, 225, 226, 227, 231.
Barn, 227, 228.
Barred, 230.
Hoot, 230.
Long-eared, 229.
Marsh, 229.
Meadow, 229.
Monkey-faced, 227.
Screech, 230, 232.
Short-eared, 229.
Ox-eye, 251.
Partridge, 237, 240.
Peabody-bird, 120.
Peep, 251.
Peto-bird, 23.
Petrel, 272.
Pewee, 129, 130, 235, 238.
Bridge, 166.
Water, 166.
Wood, 161,169,170,171.
Phalarope, 251.
Pheasant, 237.
Phoebe, 130, 161, 166, 167, 168, 170, 236, 238.
Pigeon, 201, 236.
Wild, 235.
Pintail, 269.
Plover, 251.
Black-breasted, 247.
Golden, 247.
Killdeer, 247, 248.
Piping, 247.
Ring-necked, 248, 249, 251.
Semipalmated, 248.
Wilson's, 247.
Poke, 258, 261.
Quail, 237, 238, 240.
Qua-bird, 260.
Quawk, 260.
Rail, 40, 111, 254, 255, 262.
Carolina, 256.
Red-bird, Black-winged, 86.
Crested, 133.
Redstart, 65, 66, 147.
Reedbird, 137, 138.
Ricebird, 137, 138.
Robin, iii, vi, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 46, 79, 83, 86, 87,
107, 117, 131, 134, 143, 145, 175, 197, 200, 205, 223, 232, 247, 255.
Golden, 146.
Ground, 129, 130.
Redbreast, 5, 130.
Wood, 12.
Sandpiper, 249, 250.
Least, 249, 251.
Semipalmated, 251.
Spotted, 251.
Sapsucker, 195, 196, 198.
Yellow-bellied, 194.
Scoter, Surf, 270.
Sea-swallow, 272.
Shelldrakes, 270.
Shrike, 80, 81, 198, 223.
Northern, 79, 81, 82.
Silk-tail, 82.
Skylark, 137.
Snipe, 251, 253.
Big-headed, 252.
Blind, 252.
Mud, 252.
Wall-eyed, 252.
Whistling, 252.
Wilson's, 252, 254.
Wood, 252.
Snow-bird, Slate-coloured, 123.
Snowflake, 124.
Sora, 256.
Sparrow, 5, 10, 35, 36, 42, 61, 66, 70, 80, 83, 86,
104, 107, 127, 128, 132, 138, 140, 183, 242, 251.
Canada, 120.
Chipping, iii, 20, 112, 116, 117, 119, 130.
Door-step, 116.
English, 24, 27, 33, 53, 59, 64, 81, 97, 108, 110,111, 114, 115,
116, 119, 121, 130, 161, 163, 192, 197, 248.
Field, 112, 114, 119, 130.
Fox, 122, 123.
Hair, 116.
Song, 39, 109, 110,111, 112, 113, 127, 130.
Swamp, 111, 112.
Tree, 119, 120.
Vesper, 113, 114.
White-crowned, 121.
White-throated, 120, 121, 122, 130.
Stake-driver, 261.
Starling, Meadow, 143.
Stint, 251.
Swallow, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 108, 176, 182, 183.
Bank, 101, 102, 210.
Barn, 98, 99, 100, 101.
Chimney, 180.
Eave or Cliff, 100, 101, 104.
Rough-winged, 102.
Sand, 101,
Tree, 103, 104, 191.
White-breasted, 103.
Swift, 97, 176, 180, 181, 182, 183.
Chimney, 93, 96, 190.
Tanager, Scarlet, 48, 86, 87, 88, 89, 131, 139.
Summer, 89.
Teacher, 58, 59, 60.
Teal, Blue-winged, 269.
Green-winged, 269.
Teeter, 251.
Teeter-snipe, 251.
Teeter-tail, 251.
Tern, 272.
Thistlebird, 124.
Thrasher, Brown, 15, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 49, 112.
Thrush, 42, 43, 55, 122, 140, 153.
Brown, 41.
Golden-crowned, 58.
Ground, 41, 44.
Hermit, 12.
Long, 41.
Migratory, 5.
Red, 41.
Red-breasted, 5.
Song, 12.
Wilson's, 12, 14.
Wood, 12, 13, 14, 15.
Tilt-up, 251.
Timber Doodle, 252.
Tip-up, 251.
Titmouse, 21, 24, 25, 134, 189, 191.
Black-capped, 19.
Crested, 23, 38.
Tufted, 23, 26, 82.
Tomtit, Crested, 23.
Towhee, 112, 122, 129, 130, 131, 238.
Tree Mouse, 25.
Turkey, 214.
Turnstone, 251.
Veery, 14, 15.
Vireo, 69, 70, 82, 95, 114, 140, 145, 162, 171.
Red-eyed, v, 71, 72, 74, 75, 129, 169.
Warbling, 74, 75.
White-eyed, v, 72, 73, 74.
Yellow-throated, 74.
Vulture, 214.
Black, 214.
Turkey, 213.
Warbler, 28, 54, 55, 59, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 95, 162.
Black and White Creeping, 57, 58, 189.
Blackburnian, 66.
Black-masked, Ground, 61.
Yellow, v, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 62, 63, 125, 140.
Waxwing, 23.
Cedar, 82, 83, 85, 126, 145.
Whip-poor-will, 93, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 182, 238.
Whiskey Jack, 157.
Widgeon, 269.
Wren, iii, 19, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 43, 45, 49, 104, 167, 191.
Carolina, 37, 38.
House, 33, 97.
Marsh, 39, 40, 41, 111.
Winter, 37.
Woodcock, 128, 252, 253, 254.
Woodpecker, iv, 22, 24, 26, 28, 57, 73, 140, 166,
181, 189, 190, 192, 194, 195, 198, 224, 227, 230, 232, 241, 252.
Downy, 57, 189, 191, 192, 193, 198.
Golden-winged, 199.
Hairy, 191, 192, 193, 198.
Red-headed, 197, 198, 199.
Yellow-bird, Black-winged, 124.
Summer, 53.
Yellowhammer, 199.
Yellow-throat, Maryland, 54, 61, 111.
Yucker, 199.
End of Project Gutenberg's Birds Every Child Should Know, by Neltje Blanchan