THE OSPREY. 



An Illustrated. IVIagazine of Poptalar Ornithology. 



Puhlisbed IVIonthlv. 



Volume IV 



APRIL, 1900. 



NUMBKK 8. 



Original Articles. 



BIRDS OF THE ROAD.— IV. 

 Bv Paui, BakTSCH, Washing-ton, D. C. 



IN I.ENTEX TIME WHEN LEAVES WAX GKEEX. 



How slowly they have waxed this 3'ear; iisnalU' 

 thev are well greened by the middle of April, 

 but this has indeed been a slow season: Snow 

 at divers times np to the last of March! We see 

 the Swallow and the Snowbirds meet and even 

 the Gulls remain a little longer than they are 

 wont to do. 



Perhaps the most interesting- feature of the 

 past month was the snow storm on the 16-18, 

 which for the last time this season decked our 

 earth in snowy whiteness, and wrapped our trees 

 in heav\' robes of down; for we collected a 

 debt from the birds on these da^'s, which they 

 had contracted on the various severe spells dur- 

 ing- the cold winter, when they partook of the 

 food which we had tendered them. We asked 

 them to pose for, or rather before, our camera 

 and the)' consented, permitting" us to take a large 

 series of photos, which contained chieH^' Purple 

 Finches, though some, also showed Sn(jwbirds, 

 Song Sparrows and White-throats, and one even 

 contained a Foxj' among- the assemblage. We 

 are pleased to give the readers a view' of the 

 crowd in the accompan^'ing- illustration. 



Our cedars were a favored resort of all these 

 species — even a large flock of Robins paid a fly- 

 ing- visit to them Sunday' the 18th. They were 

 bright and cheery, feeding chiefly on the berries 

 dropped on the snow, though some preferred 

 picking- them. It was a prettj' sight to see the 

 bunch move about on the white surface; they 

 oft'ered quite a contrast to the Robin we see 

 pulling- an all too long- worm from the sod of our 

 lawn. We tendered them a few handsful of 

 chopped boiled beef, which must have been a 

 somewhat vmusual addition to their bill of fare, 

 thouj^h not an unwelcome one. 



Waxwing^s too called on us in these days of 

 cold and snow and laid claim to the black fruits 

 which our Srnilax had hung out for them last 

 fall. What a peaceful and sociable lot thej' are, 

 alwa3's pleased to be close friends. Having" had 

 their fill they repaired to the hig-her branches 

 of the tree which forms the Smilax's support and 

 huddled close together, to keep warm I suppose. 



I am not certain whether thej' know what the 

 word "spoon" of pioneer daj's means, but be- 

 lieve the)' do. For Waxwings when seated 

 shoulder to shoulder (seven on one small branch 

 this time) all point their heads in one direction 

 and apparently change when the word is passed. 

 I consider the Cedar Bird one of the most beau- 

 tiful of our birds in his simple arraj' of colors — 

 and wonder little that he has so small a reper- 

 toire. Nature evidently expended all the time 

 allotted to her in the production of his harmo- 

 nious g-arb. If the Waxwing lacks notes he 

 makes up for it in expression. His poses and 

 countenance are a study, the long crest adding 

 not a little to his many pleasing attitudes. His 

 doleful, long drawn note seems to harmonize 

 well with the cold surroundings of the present. 



One morning I awoke with a Cardinal's note 

 ringing faintly in nn' ear — listening, I again 

 heard that unmistakable call, which led me to 

 my window. Here he was, at my feeding- place, 

 the brilliant king in his flashing robes, with his 

 humble spouse, enjoying" with a host of Purple 

 Finches, what these had been unable to devour 

 the previous day. I am sorry the cold weather 

 did not last another week. We might have be- 

 come better acquainted, but I hope he will re- 

 member the occasion next winter and will return 

 to spend it with us. 



Here let me say to 3'ou, who are not wholly 

 hemmed in by walls of brick and mortar; to 3'ou, 

 who have the good fortune to possess in your sur- 

 roundings a few trees and shrubs; if you wish to 

 obtain real enjoj'ment invest in a few pounds of 

 hemp seed and spread this regularly to the birds. 

 Give them plenty of it when cold and snow 

 bring them beg-ging to 3'our door and I vouch 

 you will agree that your mone)' was well in- 

 vested, 3'our harvest one of a thousand fold. 

 Keep one spot for feeding, a place which you 

 can easily overlook from your window, and you 

 will be surprised to And how many bird callers 

 you will have, both as to individuals and species. 

 The birds soon learn to know the place and 

 the good news spreads rapidly. I was most 

 forcibly shown this one day last winter, when I 

 had mounted the high scafl'old of a neighbor's 



