Part 52

I once saw a funny sight. A party of eighteen or twenty great buzzards had come to the ground to get their dinner. They were all very busily engaged just the other side of a fence, so that I could not see them at their feast.

Suddenly a mockingbird that I was watching flew over and alighted on the fence. He stood there a minute, looking sharply down at them, and flirting his tail in a saucy way. All at once, to my great surprise, he gave a loud cry and flung himself down right among the great birds.

I was frightened. I thought one peck from one of their strong beaks would kill the little fellow. But instead of that, the whole party of buzzards flew up in a panic, as if they were afraid of him. Then the mockingbird, who looked like a midget beside them, hopped back upon the fence, and burst into a loud song of victory. He knew the turkey buzzard better than I did. No one likes to get very near this bird, so very little is known about his ways.

FOOTNOTE:

See Appendix, 28.

APPENDIX

CHARACTERS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FAMILIES MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK

NOTE.--These characters, though correct, are untechnically given, and are such as may be observed on the "bird in the bush" while the added hints on habits, etc., will be found helpful in identification.

1. Turdidæ: THRUSHES.

Medium size; bill shorter than head, straight or nearly so; bristles (hair-like feathers) at corner of mouth; wings rather pointed, and longer than tail; tail-feathers wider towards the end, the whole somewhat fan-shaped. Young in first feathers speckled and streaked, very different from the adults. Sexes nearly alike (except robin, varied thrush, and bluebird). (Ridgway.)

Food: insects, earthworms, and sometimes fruit.

These birds are all singers and build rude nests. Found usually on the lower part of trees in the woods (except robin and bluebird) or on the ground, where they get most of their food.

2. Sylviidæ: KINGLETS and GNATCATCHERS.

This family is divided into two subfamilies.

KINGLETS: Very small; bill slender, much shorter than head, straight to near tip, then slightly curved; bristles at corner of mouth; wings longer than tail; tail slightly forked, feathers pointed; legs long; claws much curved. Young without markings on head. (Ridgway.)

Food: insects.

Very small, active, musical birds, usually found flitting about in trees.

GNATCATCHERS: Very small and slim; bill slender and short, nearly as long as head, notched at tip; bristles at corner of mouth; wings shorter than tail and rounded; tail long and moderately graduated, feathers rounded; legs rather long; toes small. (Ridgway.)

Active, beautiful nest builders, found in the tops of trees. Insectivorous.

3. Paridæ: NUTHATCHES, TITMICE, etc.

This family is divided into three subfamilies.

NUTHATCHES: Smaller than English sparrow; bill sharp, pointed, higher than wide, about as long as head; bristles over nostrils; wings pointed; tail very short, nearly even, feathers soft; legs stout. (Ridgway.)

Parents nearly alike; food, insects.

Found on the trunks and large limbs of trees.

TITMICE: Usually smaller than English sparrow; bill stout, conical, shorter than head; nasal feathers turned forward; tail longer than wing. (Ridgway.)

Food: insects. Parents alike, and young the same. No noticeable change of plumage with season.

WREN-TITS and BUSH-TITS: Very small; bill short and conical; tail rounded. Sexes alike.

4. Certhiidæ: CREEPERS.