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J. Cassidy—Perching Birds of Canada



stalk seems strung with big black beads. At the onslaught of the

incoming contingent birds are dislodged right and left, there is a babel

of protesting voices and a fluttering of many wings that whirr loudly

in the still air as the surface of the green marsh boils with black forms

seeking new resting-places. The confusion gradually subsides until

the next arriving flock starts the hubbub over again. Thus it goes on

as the sun sinks, until all are in and then the evening wind chases waves

over the soft green surface of the reed-beds without revealing a hint

of the hordes of black bodies beneath, that are resting through the

stillness of the night.”


The Yellow-headed and the Eed-headed Blackbirds are both

ground-feeders. The greater portion of their food consists of insects

harmful to vegetation and weed-seeds. The rest is waste grain. Farmers

have much for which to thank these birds.


By no stretch of imagination can their song be said to be melodious.

It has been described in such harsh utterances as 44 Kluck-Kluck-

Klee-Klee-Klo-Klee-Klu-Klel-Kriz Krizz zzzzzzzzzzz eeee ”

on the part of the Yellow-headed bird, and 4 4 O-Ke-Leee O-Ke-reeee ”

on that of the Red-headed bird. These notes are characteristic as a

song of the marshes.


We now spend a few minutes with the family Paridse—Titmice—

the bright happy little Chickadees. Three subspecies are recognized in

Canada. The Eastern Chickadee, the Long-tailed Chickadee, and the

Oregon Chickadee. No matter what the weather, be it blustery or

wet or raw, this cheerful little bird keeps up a 44 Chickadeeing ”.

It is chronicled that ornithologists know nothing of a 44 discouraged

Chickadee When winter renders birds scarce, and human hopes

seem sogging and fears in the ascendant, still one may hear the cheery

call 44 Chica-Chica-dee-de ” as one little feathered hope constitutes

himself the leader of a party of other congenial spirits and, like 44 Pippa ”

of the famous poem, brings a better spirit and outlook as he passes

with his cheerful notes. Warblers of other species gather to the rallying

notes, contributing their parts to the fascinating, spontaneous, choral

service. As winter withdraws the approach of spring is heralded by the

Chickadees with a new song, two whistled notes, high and clear, the



