. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds . ood supply i^ WfU^^^i^^augmented by the many insects that,like mos(juitoes, pass the earlier partof their lives in water, and emergelater to fly about within range ofthe Phoebes quick and accurateeye. Perched ona dead twig, amullein stalk, apost, or somesimilar vantagep o i n t, P h oe b escans the sur-rounding space with eager eye, marking each insect thatcomes within her f
. Useful birds and their protection. Containing brief descriptions of the more common and useful species of Massachusetts, with accounts of their food habits, and a chapter on the means of attracting and protecting birds . ood supply i^ WfU^^^i^^augmented by the many insects that,like mos(juitoes, pass the earlier partof their lives in water, and emergelater to fly about within range ofthe Phoebes quick and accurateeye. Perched ona dead twig, amullein stalk, apost, or somesimilar vantagep o i n t, P h oe b escans the sur-rounding space with eager eye, marking each insect thatcomes within her field of vision ; and when her eye rests onone she covets, be it beetle, moth, or fly, she quickly leavesher perch and innnolates the victim. This Flycatcher, unlike the Wood Pewee, hawks a])Outhabitually near the ground, though it often takes a higherperch and flight. While sitting it often jets the tail, throw-ing it up even higher than it is represented in the cut; butusually the tail is held low. The Phoebe utters a loud cliij^,and it has a variety of softer tones ; ]iut the note most com-nujiily heard maybe given p^cebe, jj/zeeir/^,?;?/, — the first Fig. 93. —Iliwbe, one-half natural size. 234 USEFUL Fig. 94. — Mcitli of tlie spring cankerworm; ((,male; h, female; c, d, e, structural details. Aviry note of each i) longest, and heavily accented ; thelast short, and with a falling inflection. In the early springthis bird occasionally fiutters about in a circle or rises highin air, repeating its notes very rapidly, with variations, asif attem})ting a flight-song. The Phcebe, like the Wood Pewee, is able, becauseof some peculiarity ofits sight, to pursue andcatch insects in the duskof luorninof or evenins^.Its note is among thefirst to be heard on asummers morning, andmay even mingle with the last notes of the Owl or those ofthe Whip-poor-wnll. I have heard it shortly after characteristic makes the Phabe extremely useful, as itis thus able to c
Size: 2602px × 961px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherb, booksubjectbirds
