1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



113 



bark, or in other retreats, can carry on these ope- 

 rations in winter, in procuring food, as -well as in 

 summer. Jays have a habit of collecting and 

 hoarding grain, nuts and acorns in hollow trees, 

 or between layers of bark, by which they are en- 

 abled to pass the winter comfortably. Crows, in 

 cold weather, visit the seacoast for food, and dur- 

 ing the late severe weather, great numbers of these 

 sagacious birds were seen winging their way from 

 the interior to the ocean for supplies, which this 

 great reservoir of food is ever ready to furnish 

 all animated nature. The splendid Pine Gros- 

 beak from Hudson's Bay, which sometimes visits 

 us in severe winters like the present, never loses 

 its daily food, by finding its nuts too hard to crack, 

 or the White Winged Cross Bill its dinner, by 

 finding a pine cone so close, that it cannot pick 

 it open with its crooked bill. The birds of prey, 

 including the Shrikes, sometimes find it difficult 

 to obtain a living in winter, and resort to low and 

 poor f:ire, which they would disdain to eat in sum- 

 mer. Like all rapacious animals when hungry, 

 they become bold, and exhibit great temerity, and 

 contrive by rapine and plunder to live through 

 the cold season. 



In reply to the question, hovv' do our birds ef- 

 fectually resist the extreme cold of our winters, 

 we would say by their being clad in new, clean 

 garments, without rents or seams, and in many 

 Instances provided with a covering for their legs 

 and feet, that require no weekly darning or a 

 patch. 



Reader, did you ever see a White Owl ? You 

 may see several in some winters, if you are abroad, 

 and your eyes are open to objects of nature. If 

 you have seen and examined this fine bird, we 

 think you must admit, that it possesses a perfect 

 winter garment ; you noticed that not a particle 

 of its body was to be seen, except the ends of its 

 clav.s and bill ; you may however have discovered 

 a little, thin spot under each vring ; this seeming 

 defect is obviated by the bird's pressing more 

 closely its pinions to its body. These bare spots 

 under the wings of all birds, are necessary. In 

 a summer's day, oppressed with heat, we strip off" 

 our clothes ; our bird cannot divest itself of its 

 warm coat, when suffering from heat, but it can 

 effectually cool itself by raising its wings, and 

 admitting the fenning breeze. Like the Owls, 

 nearly all the species of Grouse inhabifling cold 

 climates, are feathered on their legs and toes. 

 Still, it is a wonder with many, how our small 

 birds can keep warmth in their little bodies, dur- 

 ing a cold winter's night. But they are furnished 

 with a warm coat of feathers, which in some birds 

 are of great length ; as, for instance, the Chickadee, 

 which, when plucked, only discovers to us an atom 

 of ornithology, but its little heart beats more 

 rapidly, and its blood flows more quickly, than in 

 birds of larger organization. Many birds resort 

 at nightfall to swamps in the forest, and seek shel- 

 ter in an evergreen tree, where, nestling on its 

 branch with their heads under their wings, or bur- 

 ied in feathers on their breasts, they are rocked 

 to sleep by the sweet lullaby of the wind, mur- 

 muring through the pine, and thus spend the long 

 and dreary night. Quails, living together in fam- 

 ilies, upon the approach of night, provide a shel- 

 ter for themselves during a snow storm, by seek- 

 ing some rising ground swept by the wind, and 

 beneath a bush or bramble form a close circle, 



with their heads outwards, and. by their mutual 

 warmth, resist the effect of the cold. 



Thus we see a benevolent Creator has pro- 

 vided our winter birds with clothing sufficient 

 to enable them to withstand the most inclement 

 weather, and with instincts to enable them to 

 procure their food, and to prompt them to place 

 themselves in the best positions to secure the 

 greatest amount of comfort and safety. Those 

 that are gregarious in their habits, ai-e lively and 

 social, and there is no better exhibition of winter 

 pastime, than a flock of Snow Buntings in a snoAv- 

 storm. Skating and coasting by a bovy of boys 

 and girls make some approach to it ; the youth in 

 their sports are the most noisy, but the frequent 

 call, and low, suppressed, tender twitter of the 

 birds, evince the more quiet joy. But, notwith- 

 standing the careful provisions of nature, birds 

 perish in considerable numbers during a severe 

 winter. These are probably old birds, some of 

 whom may perha])R have lost their power of moult- 

 ing, and are compelled to wear their summer dress- 

 es, or young birds not in full plumage. Mr. Audu- 

 bon speaks of killing a female AVhite-headed Ea- 

 gle, which, judging from its worn and faded plu- 

 mage, he supposed had lost the power of casting 

 its feathers, in consequence of its age. 



In answer to the question, why our winter birds 

 do not seek a warmer climate, we vrould reply, 

 it involves the difficult subject of migration, and 

 would occupy more time and space than can now 

 be afforded. 



Danversport, Jan. 10, 1860. 



For the New England Farmsr. 



"BUTTER nsr ■WIN-TEB." 



Thus is headed an inquiry in your valued jour- 

 nal, Messrs. Editors, over date of November 27, 

 from a correspondent at New Bedford. Allow me 

 to aid him all in my power. From a most notable 

 housewife in this vicinity, I obtain this teaching. 

 After milking and straining, at once place the milk 

 obtained in a clean kettle, and scald it Avell over 

 the fire. Do not bring it to a boil, but simply scald 

 it gradually, but well. Place it away for skimming, 

 in a room of moderate temperature. When ready 

 to churn, warm it by setting the vessel that holds 

 it, (if earthen,) in hot water. Otherwise, bring 

 the cream to a point that holds no chill. Rinse 

 the churn in boiling water before using. Drain 

 out, and then "up and at it." In a short time 

 the result Avill be reached. I must remark this 

 process never has failed, from milkings not very 

 heavily oppressed with cream, the food of the cows 

 being ordinary meadow hay, with no other change 

 whatsoever. To obtain a bright or golden color, 

 (so difficult to be had in winter on any feed,) take 

 a few orange carrots, scrape them fine, immerse, 

 and soak in blood-warm water till the color be ful- 

 ly extracted. A portion of this, according to color 

 desired, may be put in the cream when churn- 

 ing. It is wholly harmless in character, and not 

 so repulsive to many, as "annotto," an article 

 doubtless well known. This process in wintei', 

 will secure the coming of butter, in less (at least 

 not over) 30 minutes' churning in a warm room, 

 and if coloring be used as designated, it wil) give 

 it of a pure June tint. Oak Hill. 



