. Bird neighbors. An introductory acquaintance with one hundred and fifty birds commonly found in the gardens, meadows, and woods about our homes; . indeed absolutely catbird and the mocking-bird are rare mimics; but while thechat is not their equal in this respect, it has a large repertoire ofweird, uncanny cries all its own—a power of throwing its voice,like a human ventriloquist, into unexpected corners of the thicketor meadow. In addition to its extraordinary vocal feats, it canturn somersaults and do other clown-like stunts as well as anyvariety actor on the Bowery stage. Only
. Bird neighbors. An introductory acquaintance with one hundred and fifty birds commonly found in the gardens, meadows, and woods about our homes; . indeed absolutely catbird and the mocking-bird are rare mimics; but while thechat is not their equal in this respect, it has a large repertoire ofweird, uncanny cries all its own—a power of throwing its voice,like a human ventriloquist, into unexpected corners of the thicketor meadow. In addition to its extraordinary vocal feats, it canturn somersaults and do other clown-like stunts as well as anyvariety actor on the Bowery stage. Only by creeping cautiously towards the roadside tangle,where this rollicking polyglot is entertaining himself and hismate, brooding over her speckled eggs in a bulky nest set in amost inaccessible briery part of the thicket, can you hope to hearhim rattle through his variety performance. Walk boldly ornoisily past his retreat, and there is silence there and nothingmore. But two very bright eyes peer out at you through theundergrowth, where the trim, elegant-looking bird watches youwith quizzical suspicion until you quietly seat yourself and 206. YELLOW-BREASTED CHATV^ Life-size. Conspicuonsly Yellow and Orange assume silent indifference. Whew, wbew ! he begins, and thenimmediately, with evident intent to amuse, he rattles off an inde-scribable, eccentric medley until your ears are tired bill uplifted, tail drooping, wings fluttering at his side,he cuts an absurd figure enough, but not so comical as when herises into the air, trailing his legs behind him stork-fashion. Thissurely is the clown among birds. But zany though he is, he isas capable of devotion to his Columbine as Punchinello, and re-mains faithfully mated year^after year. However much of a teaseand a deceiver he may be to the passer-by along the roadside, inthe privacy of the domestic circle he shows truly lovable traits. He has the habit of singing in his unmusical way on moon-light nights. Probably his
Size: 1405px × 1778px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1900
