RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



Agelaius phceniceus Swainson. 



Plate XXIX. Fig. 4. 



Why chidest thou the tardy spring? 

 The hardy Bnnting does not chide ; 

 The Blackbirds make the maples ring 

 With social cheer and jnbilee ; 

 The Redwing flutes his o-ka-tee. 



R. W. EUERSON. 



f 



^^^^ VERY locality has its characteristic vegetation and bird-life. In some favored 

 ^^^ places where the conditions are particularly propitious, we may find a large 

 number of species, while in other spots less opportune only few birds occur. The birds 

 of the mountains and woodlands are different from those of the plains and prairies, the 

 field and meadow harbors others as the garden and orchard. Many birds have a 

 restricted range of distribution, while others are found over an immense territory. In 

 the foregoing pages * I have frequently alluded to the surroundings and associations of 

 my youth, and particularly the "small lake" of my native State has often been men- 

 tioned. In that locality the conditions were exceptionally favorable to vegetation and 

 bird-life, and almost all the species occurring in the region were found on the lake or in 

 close proximity to it. Marshes and low meadows, thickets and openings. Cultivated 

 lands and large tracts of primeval forest, hills and valleys, small swamps filled with 

 cat-tail flags', bulrushes^, common meadow-sweet', and the large blue flag or iris*, and 

 extensive thickets covered with climbers were found everywhere in the vicinity of the 

 lake. The marshy outlet was bordered partly by dense masses of thickets and partly 

 by rank growing rushes and sedges. In early spring large tracts of meadow land were 

 transformed into a yellow and green carpet by the marsh marigold, and in June the 

 edge of the outlet appeared in some places at a distance like a beautiful blue ribbon by the 

 masses of flowering blue flags. In the water the exquisite fragrant w^ater-lily^ and the 

 yellow pond-lily grew abundantly. How often have I observed the Virginia Rail and 

 the Sora leading their active and timid young over the wat^r-lily leaves! The con- 

 spicuous nests of the muskrats were numerous on the edge of the lake, and they 

 formed quite a feature of the landscape especially in winter, when all the shrubs 

 around them were leafless. The Pied-billed Grebe, the Hooded Merganser, the Wood 

 Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Pintail, and other Ducks were breeding nnmolested at 

 that time, and the lonesome, patient angler had always a good success, as fishes were 

 very plentiful The American Woodcock nested numerously in the moist woods. In the 

 sloping beautiful woodland toward the edge of the lake the songs of the Veery, the 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and the Scarlet Tanager were familiar to the rambler, and in 

 the evening the notes of the Whippoorwill lulled the hard working settlers into a sound 

 slumber. Passenger Pigeons were seen in incalculable numbers, and some trees, especially 



' See page 202. 

 I Typba latifolia. ^ Sclrpus.' » Spireea salidfoUa. * Iris versicolor, e Nympheea tuberosa. 



