AN AUNT JANE STORY 



NAMES OF BIRDS 



"How did birds get their names, has no idea of the sanitary care of its 



Auntie" ? Alice enquired, as the group of nest. The female scarcely leaves it dur- 



children at Woodland gathered around a ing incubation as she is fed by the cock, 



table covered with pictures of brilliantly The Jews classed the Hoopoe with un- 



colored birds. clean birds, but the Arabs reverenced 



"The ornithologist is responsible for it and used it as a charm, 



the long, difficult-to-remember nomen- "There is a bird with an odd name 



clature, but the popular names of birds which frequents the Yellowstone park" 



describe their distinguishing characteris- Aunt Jane went on. "It is called the 



tics. Think a moment, and you will find 'tallow hawk' because it is so fond of 



that the popular name is usually simply grease. It will swoop down to the table 



descriptive of a special color, a peculiar of campers or picnic parties and carry 



song or call, or some striking peculiarity off all the butter or any kind of fat it 



in form or habit of life." can find. It is a lead colored bird only 



"The Shrike gets his name from his a little larger than a jay." 



shriek, doesn't he? for his harsh, rasp- "I wonder" said John, "if travelers 



ing voice has suggestions in it of a bird put up with its pranks or if they shoot 



of prey," asked Howard. it." 



"Yes, and it is a bird of prey, too. No, birds are not allowed to be killed 



though classed among the singers." in the park, so it becomes very tame. 



"I know where the Storm-petrel gets Most persons are merely amused by its 



its name, for it is a namesake of Peter, pilferings, though, of course, others are 



so called because like him it seems to annoyed." 



walk upon the water," exclaimed Edith. "I think the Umbrella Bird has a cur- 



"You are right," Aunt Jane respond- ious name, why is it so called?" Edith 



ed, "sailors also call it 'Mother Carey's enquired. 



Chicken' — Mother Carey was perhaps a "It is a native of Brazil," was the re- 

 witch — because it foretells storms. It is ply, "and has two descriptive names. It 

 a small, dusky bird of graceful flight re- is about the size of a raven, with dark 

 sembling the Swift in its motions. It blue, glossy plumage. Its crest is formed 

 is said that it feeds its young at night of plumage two or three inches long, 

 on an oily substance from its own thickly set and with hairy plumes curling 

 stomach." over the ends. These, when erected, re- 



"I've often wondered," said Edith, semble an umbrella covering the head 



"about the queer name of the Lapwing." and long beak. Its loud cry gives it also 



"That name refers to the birds' pecu- the name of 'Trumpet Bird.' " 



liar flight which is thought to be due to "I can think of a number of birds 



its wide rounded wings, the steady and named for their color" said Alice, "such 



ordinarily slow flapping of which impels as Black, and Blue Birds, Red Bird, and 



the body with a manifest though easy Yellow-throat, White-head and others." 



jerk. This bird is found in most coun- "Many of the birds are named for 



tries except America. Its absence here their note, cry, or call," said Howard, 



is to be regretted as it is not only excel- "such as Dickcissel and Bob-white." 



lent game and furnishes the plover's "A few of them, too, for the shape of 



eggs of commerce, but it is also a good the bill," added Edith, "as Crossbill, 



friend to the agriculturist sustaining it- Spoonbill, and Grosbeak." 



self entirely on insect pests." "Quite right," Aunt Jane responded. 



"Isn't the Lapwing a Bible bird?" "We may add, also, that the manner of 



Alice enquired. taking food has suggested various pop- 



"The Lapwing of Scriptures is an en- ular names such as Sapsucker, Wood- 



tirely different bird" was the reply. '*It pecker. Nuthatch. The Snake bird has 



is the Hoopoe of conspicuous crest. It its name from the shape of its long neck, 



