414 



Bird - Lore 



specially ornamental character or else aflFording, in their fruit, food for the 

 birds. Of this, however, there is little need, the place being already sup- 

 plied with really more than can be used, in the pokeberries, wild grapes, poison- 

 ivy berries, and seeds of numerous compositae (especially the horseweed, 

 Ambrosia trifida, the favorite winter food of purple finches). 



With all these manifest attractions, abundance of bird-life would, naturally, 

 be expected; but, for reasons at present beyond my control, such unfortunately, 

 is not the case. Birds are fairly well represented, it is true, but they have 

 too many enemies to contend with, to increase as they should. Chief among 



THE COTTAGE ON BIRD HAVEN 

 (From West side) 



these are house cats which have run wild, and the pilot black snake {Coluber 

 obsoletus), here called 'chicken-snake.' I am not sure which of these pests 

 should take first rank as a bird-destroyer, but am inclined to give the latter 

 that distinction, for it is without question an inveterate enemy of bird-life, 

 swallowing old, young, and eggs alike, and in its search for feathered victims 

 displaying a craftiness and persistence certainly not excelled by the cat itself. 

 Many times have I watched this snake, unfortunately our most abundant 

 reptile, crawling about in large trees, making a systematic search for birds' 

 nests, taking one branch at a time and exploring every hole and likely place. 

 The most expert climber among all our serpents, it is essentially an aboreal 

 species, and ascends to the very tops of the largest trees with the greatest ease. 

 An illustration of the craftiness of this serpent is afforded in the following case: 



