We scared her oft in childhood from her prey.”
The Marsh-Harrier is smaller and noticeably slimmer in build than the Buzzard. The tail is long, the legs are long, thin, and bare of feathers, and the claws sharp. The Head has something about it that suggests an Owl, for the facial disk is conspicuous and the eyes glance forwards as well as to the side. The bird’s plumage is brown, very dark in places: but the head is light-coloured, being whitish in males and yellowish in females. Inhabiting reed-beds, the bird builds its nest among reed-stems or bulrushes. The eggs, five or less frequently six in number, are greenish-white in colour.
The Hen-Harrier.
(Circus cyaneus.)
The nest of the Hen-Harrier is built of roots and plant stems, is soft within and is often placed on the ground; if in heather, or dried up marsh, it is often a foot high. From four to six bluish-white eggs, sometimes yellowish-brown or rufous markings, are laid.
This bird of prey has a light, sweeping flight. It leaves Hungary in winter. It hunts alone and takes its food exclusively from the ground. This consists of small mammals, especially mice, the bird is also particularly fond of robbing the nests of such birds as build on the ground; it sucks the eggs and devours the small downy creatures within them. It also takes the little hares—in short, it is one of the most destructive birds in the fields which it frequents and hunts over untiringly. On the other hand, there comes a time when the number of field mice has increased beyond measure. Then the Hen-Harrier joins the other birds of prey and destroys enormous numbers of those enemies of the farmer. For this reason the species should not be altogether exterminated.
Of late years the numbers of the Hen-Harrier have been greatly thinned by game-preservers, and it only nests now on a few of our largest and wildest moorlands and wastes. Even in Scotland it is fast decreasing so far as nesting goes, whereas it was once plentiful there. Still there are a fairly large number of young birds in the autumn, and then, too, the adult birds come down from the higher-lying districts to the lowlands. It used
to breed in the Fen-lands of East Anglia until the reclaiming of marsh lands drove it away. As to this I may be allowed to quote again here from an old ballad written before the fens were drained, it gives the feeling of the fen-dwellers of that day.
To treat upon this matter which makes us quake and tremble;
For we shall rue it, if it be true that fens be undertaken,
And where we feed on fen and reed, they’ll feed both beef and bacon.
. . . . . . . .
The feathered fowl have wings, to fly to other nations,
But we have no such things to help our transportation;
We must give place—oh, grievous case—to hornéd beast and cattle,
Except that we can all agree to drive them out to battle.”
“As a gamekeeper once said to me,” says ‘A Son of the Marshes,’ “The sooner them big ’uns is gone or done for the better; there’s nothin’ but a chow-row from morning to night. Our head ’un says they must be knocked over, and the guv’nor he’s got the same tale. They can’t git at ’em no more than we. It ain’t so much what they ketches, tho’ they tries hard at it, as what they frightens off the fields; it spiles the shootin’. Them ’ere damned great things hovers an’ swishes after the birds till at last the coveys makes for the hedgerows an’ you has to git ’em out as if you was beatin’ for cocks. We ain’t had none o’ them ’ere blue an’ ring-tailed hawks—harriers—’bout here lately. They’re reg’lar wussers; they kills ’em dead at one clip, an’ takes ’em out in the middle o’ them big fields to eat ’em. They ain’t goin’ to let you get near ’em, not they, an’ they wun’t fly over a place where you kin hide. I’ve tried to git at ’em, but it all cum to nothin’. Them ’ere blue hawks an’ ring-tails would circumvent the devil.”
The adult male has the upper parts a slatey-grey tone of colour, the rump white, throat and breast bluish-grey—under parts white. The female is brown above, the neck rufous-brown streaked with white—there is a distinct facial ruff, giving the head an owl-like appearance, suggesting that this species might be the link between Owls and Hawks—tail brown, having five darker bars, hence the old name of Ring-tail given to the female of this bird; under parts buff-brown with darker stripes. Length 21 inches. The young resemble the female.
CHAPTER IX.
Rational Bird Protection.
Only a savage, or an ignorant man, can harm or wish to get rid of a bird before he has convinced himself that it is harmful. I have said already that in the abstract there are no useful and harmful birds, as such. The bird exists as a product of Nature, to fulfil, like everything else, the tasks allotted to it by Nature and in Nature, which no other creature can perform.
It is man who makes the bird useful or hurtful to himself, when he tears up the turf, and sows such seed as brings rich crops which serve the bird for food; or when he plants an orchard or vineyard, where there was none before. Therefore, for the good of the birds—and also of man—we must carefully reflect what it is our duty to do and how we can best do it.
The Tits, Hedge Sparrows, Flycatchers and others whose industry know no rest, do invaluable service to a sensible man; for while the most observant and diligent gardener can only destroy those caterpillars’ nests which meet his eye wholesale, these useful birds, hopping about, darting and leaping, hanging and pecking, devour all the mischievous pests, even when they are quite out of reach of man, and certainly out of his sight.
These services can even be estimated to a certain extent.
The tiny Wren consumes in one year more than three million insects in different forms, either as eggs, chrysalis or perfect insects, which, if they were allowed to propagate would result in countless numbers.
The Blue Tit, not much larger, destroys six and a half million insects in one year. If it bring up a family of 12 to 16 young ones, it means that one family of Tits puts about twenty-four million destructive insects out of the power of doing harm. Whoever, therefore, either from cruelty or ignorance, catches or kills these useful little birds does a great injury to the common weal.
The insect world has great power everywhere, and where birds and other insect-eating creatures are destroyed through ignorance there follows the destruction resulting from the ascendancy of these pests which appear, not in tens of thousands, but in millions. Twenty-one years ago any person who had ventured on such an assertion would have been laughed at, but it is now a well-known fact that some of the most renowned vineyards have been entirely ruined by the Phylloxera, an insect which can scarcely be seen by the naked eye.
In former times, when a great deal of uncultivated land covered the plain, in its natural state, the air rang with the song of birds. Woods, meadows, thickets and pools were thronged with the feathered songsters. In the course of time, however, things have greatly changed; in many districts the woods are thinned or grubbed up, the plough has torn up the meadows; every little scrap of thicket has been hewn down; whole forests are being cut down by degrees to supply the paper mills; and so the birds are losing their nesting places, and death and destruction lurk in waiting for them on their migrations. Devastating storms which overtake the immigrant flocks often destroy the feathered wanderers in great numbers. This, however, is the course of Nature, against which we are impotent.
After all the birds’ worst enemy is man, with his ignorance, or, still worse, his cupidity. He has plundered the nest and destroyed the brood; he grudges every grain of corn which the bird has richly deserved by its work throughout the year.
Steamers and railroads make it possible for birds, which are caught by millions, to be sent alive into the great cities as delicacies of the table. So, from year to year, they are becoming rarer.
So much the more are we bound,—for the good of heart and soul, as well as for the blessing of the land and its workers—to protect the useful birds as much as we conscientiously can so that they may increase in numbers.
Once, while on a journey to the Northern Ocean, I travelled the whole length of Denmark. Moor, bog and sandhills cover great stretches of land. Coarse heath grows over the sandhills. Poverty-stricken huts are scattered here and there in these districts, the tenants of which live by turf cutting. There is neither wood nor coal, so that the dried bog furnishes the sole fuel. A small spotted cow is usually seen tethered with a long rope near the cottage. This animal provides milk for the household. In front of the dwelling, at a distance of about fifteen paces, a pole, from 13 to 20 feet in height, is set up, at the top of which is fastened a nest-box for birds, and this is usually inhabited by Starlings.
It was a pleasant sight, towards evening, that of the weary turf-cutter, sitting on the little bench before his cottage, smoking his pipe, bending down to talk to his child, and then, with heartfelt pleasure, setting himself to watch the pair of Starlings chattering on the nest-box, and enjoying life generally. In many districts nest-boxes are fixed on fruit trees in gardens and in every other suitable place, and in these dwell all the best and most industrious workers—Tits, Flycatchers, Redstarts and others.
There is a proverb which may be translated as follows: “Take nest and eggs from brooding bird—no fruit is found, no song is heard.” Also in the Bible we read: “If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way, in any tree or on the ground, whether they be young ones or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young.”
We must guard the nests from evilly disposed men and from roving predatory animals as much as lies in our power. But the real problem is this: The landowner uproots bushes, fells old trees, prevents the nest building of our most useful birds and cannot give back to them what they have lost. He prevents the possibility of their collecting again and increasing, and consequently from performing their useful duties, which are continually increasing. Where, however, bushes and trees have been rooted up, new ones may be planted, and the birds encouraged to return, although we cannot replace them at once—for hundreds of years may pass before the trees grow tall enough, and we cannot wait so long. Then we try to do by artificial means what we cannot do by nature; and we must be careful to study nature in our operations or we shall not succeed.
The Woodpecker, which lives in hollow trees, shows us how to build an artificial nest.
Table V., Fig. 1, gives a section of the nesting-hole of a Woodpecker built by himself.
Fig. 2 is a perfectly designed nest for Titmice.
Fig. 3 shows the same nesting-box complete, provided with entrance hole and cover.
Fig. 4 shows an open nest-box for Flycatchers and a black Redstart.
The most important is that shown in 2 and 3 as it is specially arranged to suit Titmice.
Nest-boxes, and especially their holes, should, of course, be of different sizes, according to the birds that are to inhabit them. The opening is always round, and is of varying size according to the species. Many directions as to these are given in a paper by Baron von Berlepsch, “On the Protection of Birds Generally,” published by the German Association for the Protection of the Bird World, and also by publications of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Hanover Square, London.
The following are some approximate measurements for nest-boxes:—
For Titmice:
| height, 11½ inches; depth from back to front, 4½ inches; diameter of round opening, 1¼ inches. |
For birds of the size of a Starling:
| height, 18½ inches; depth back to front, 9 inches; diameter of opening, 1¾ inches. |
For Green Woodpeckers:
|
height, 19¾ inches; depth back to front, 9 inches; diameter of opening, 2⅜ inches. |
The measurements for the Wild Pigeon are the same as these last, except for the opening, which should be about 4½ inches wide.
Flycatchers and Wagtails require a box as shown in Fig. 4. This is 9 inches high, and has an opening about 4 inches square.
The edge of the entrance to a nesting-box should be rounded off, as in the hole of a tree, to make it more natural to the bird’s feet.
The nesting-boxes should be fixed in orchards, gardens, and houses on the edge of a forest, on the trunks of trees and branches, also on poles, and fastened by means of strong flexible wire, or, still better, by screw-nails. They should be placed perpendicularly, slightly inclined or crooked, but never inclined backwards as the rain gets in and the Titmouse has sense enough to avoid such a nesting-box. They should be fixed a little lower than the average height of a man, and so arranged that the morning sun strikes the entrance hole if possible. The box is an exact copy of the nest-hole of the small spotted Woodpecker, and experience teaches us that the unoccupied nest-holes are frequently used by the Titmouse. In spring the Titmice not only fight among themselves for the possession of these nest-holes, but also with the hosts of House Sparrows which strive to rob them of the holes. These Sparrows come in crowds and make a great noise in the place. Being of a powerful build, and provided with sharp beaks, the birds finally oust the Titmice. To contravene the House Sparrow we must hang the nest-box somewhat low, about one yard from the ground. The careful and suspicious bird dares not trust himself in it. The Tree Sparrow, which does not come too near the haunts of man, but hovers on the fringe of the villages or street gardens, bushes and heaths, is a trusting bird, and not very heavy. It likes nest-holes immensely, and attacks those which are placed low, driving the Titmouse out. The Hedge Sparrow, again, lives on insects, but he is not clean, and is no friend of the garden; therefore, when we find him fighting with the Titmouse for possession of the nest-holes, we help to oust the Hedge Sparrow in the interests of the garden and the wood.
The following birds must be protected at nesting-time: The Great Titmouse, the Blue Titmouse, the Coal
Titmouse, the Marsh Titmouse, and Crested Titmouse, because all these birds are likely nesting-box dwellers. The method organised by Baron von Berlepsch, and used in Hungary by Minister Darányi, with slight alterations, is intended to bring the vanishing singing birds back again. By the use of different sized nest-boxes it is possible to collect different kinds of birds. I know by experience that by arranging the bushes in close, twisted branches we can get the useful and singing Whitethroats to build their nests.
The importance of a rational study of this question of the protection of birds, with particular regard to their economic significance in given districts, has been demonstrated in Southern Victoria in a remarkable manner, where great mistakes have been made by settlers who seem to have been desirous of encouraging our own British birds about their homesteads. To take steps which resulted in the nesting of a colony of Fieldfares in a district where they had so far been unknown to breed, as Baron von Berlepsch did, was most advantageous, since the Fieldfares drove the murderous Shrike from the field. Again, by fixing up artificial nesting-boxes, made according to this great naturalist’s pattern—on stakes placed in certain districts of North Germany, ninety per cent. of these became inhabited by Titmice, until that time strangers to the region, where, however, their services were most desirable.
On the other hand, Greenfinches, which were introduced into Southern Victoria by Australian settlers twenty-five years ago, took possession of the pine trees, which were the only trees that afforded enough shade and cover, and were the nearest approach there to their usual
A FEEDING-PLACE FOR WET WEATHER.
As a rule only feed the birds when weather reasons prevent them procuring their own food.
nesting-places; and they drove away from the district the useful little native Tits, which feed among these trees and have their own appointed work on them. A correspondent of a Geelong paper writes again of the charming sight of a number of English Blackbirds hopping about on a lawn beneath the spraying water-hose, and busily feeding on the worms. Yet this same bird is becoming a great nuisance to the fruit growers there. This is also the case in New Zealand, where large prices are now being offered for dead Blackbirds and their eggs. The Starling, again, which is so useful in our own pasture lands, has been known to clear out a vineyard in Southern Victoria in a single night. Thrushes are looked upon there as suspects, but opinions are divided as to this bird.
We have already written about the Quails, imported into the canefields of Hawaii, to be in their turn exterminated by the mongoose, who had been brought there to eat up the devastating rats.
To sum up the whole matter, interference with the balance of Nature must only be undertaken with knowledge and discretion; and those who undertake it must study, and profit by the recorded experiences of our accredited guides in this direction.
IN CONCLUSION.
The scope and limits of the present work does not allow of the inclusion of some of the chapters contained in the latest Hungarian edition, such as those treating of the skeleton, the viscera, etc., nor can this be taken as adequately representing the work of the Royal Hungarian Central Bureau of Ornithology of which Mr. Herman is the Director. That work is arranged on a regular scientific basis, and it includes that important investigation with regard to the food of birds, which is carried on by a fully qualified entomologist. The Bureau has its collection, which contains dried ingluvies, i.e., contents of the stomachs of nearly 9,000 different species of birds; skeletons, skins, eggs, nests and insects.
The Bureau has its meteorologist, its biologist, 267 corresponding professional ornithologists, and as many as 326 foresters contributing the results of their observations and experiences, besides a large number of foreign correspondents. There is a huge collection of data for the members of the regular staff to work from. These are written on separate slips, on each of which is the name of the collector, his point of observation, the character of the district in which this is carried on, the scientific name of the species, and the date of observation. The migration of birds is also made the subject of systematic observation.
An important publication, “Aquila,” serve well in keeping together these different workers in connection with the Central Bureau, and the whole expenditure of this office, including the publication of the journal is now included in the Budget of the State.
In order to prevent the abuses which might arise from a general invitation to send in specimens of the different species of birds for examination, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture has issued various decrees which are enforced by law, the non-observance of which is punishable by fines. The taking alive or killing of protected species is allowed only for scientific purposes, and with permission obtained from the authorities, and any person found employed in this work must be able, on demand, to produce an order in writing from some Hungarian scientific institute, some expert, or known person who can prove that he is engaged in Natural History research. This license is drawn up according to a form legally provided. Another safeguard, provided by M. Darányi against the abuse of such permission, is that the authorities may only allow a license to the same individual for the capture of not more than 10 animals, or the taking of not more than 10 birds, nests, or eggs; and this maximum is only to be permitted in cases where there is no danger of the extinction of the species.
It may be added that, by a decree of the Minister of Agriculture, protection is afforded to Bats of all kinds, and at all times; to Moles, except in flower and kitchen gardens and nurseries, where it is permitted to destroy them; to all kinds of Shrew-mice, except the Water Shrew, which is injurious to fishing interests; and to Hedgehogs.
Further, in view of the great amount of deforestation which is taking place in Hungary, as in other countries, and the consequent destruction of the natural nesting places of birds, the Government provides artificial nesting-holes, and ensures the clipping of shrubs in a suitable manner for the encouragement of desirable bird-residents. These nesting-boxes are placed at a certain distance round the foresters’ houses and become the starting points for further extension. In these places the birds are regularly fed when the winter is a severe one.
Index.
B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, W, Y, Z
Bearded Reedling, 203-204
Bills of Birds, 15-19
Bittern, 302-305
Blackbird, 245-249
Blackcap, 162-164
Blue-Tit, 209
Bullfinch, 270-273
Bunting:
“ Cirl, 278
“ Yellow, 277
“ Reed, 185
Buzzard, Common, 343-346
Chaffinch, 267-269
Coal-Tit, 216
Crossbill, 135-138
Crow, Carrion, 64-67
Crow, Hooded, 17, 57
Cuckoo, 142-145
Curlew, Common, 17, 287-290
Dabchick, 329
Dipper, 238-241
Doves:
“ Ring, 281-282
“ Turtle, 279-282
Ducks:
“ Wild or Mallard, 316-319
“ Pintailed, 320-322
“ Shoveler, 323-326
Duck-Hawk. See Harrier, Marsh
Eagle, Golden, 332-335
Falcon, Peregrine, 351
“ Red-footed, 340-342
Feathers, 22-23
Feeding of Birds, 378-380
Feet of Birds, 19
Fieldfares, 248
Flycatcher, Spotted, 189-192
“ Pied, 193-194
Goatsucker. See Nightjar
Goose, Bean, 313-315
Goldfinch, 273, 351
Goshawk, 351, 352
Grebe, Great-crested, 327-330
Greenfinch, 274
Gull, Blackheaded, 87-89
Harriers:
“ Hen, 365-368
“ Marsh, 362-364
Hawfinch, 17, 262-266
Herons:
“ Common, 17, 300-301
“ Night, 298-301
Hobby, 355, 358
Hoopoe, 146-148
Jackdaw, 72-77
Jay, 83-86
Kestrel, 358-361
Kingfisher, 235-237
Kite, 336-339
Lapwing, 283-286
Lark, 232
Magpie, 78-82
Mallard. See Duck, Wild
Martin:
“ House, 109-102
“ Sand, 113-116
Mavis. See Thrush
Mauvis. See Redwing
Merganser, 17
Merlin, 361
Moorhen, 307-309
Nesting-boxes, 373-379
Nettle-creeper. See Whitethroat
Nightingale, 165-167
Nightjar, 120-123
Nuthatch, 133-134
Oriole, 250-252
Owls:
“ Barn, 24-28
“ Brown or Tawny, 29-33
“ Little, 42-44
“ Long-eared, 34-37
“ Short-eared, 38-41
Oxeye. See Titmouse, Great
Partridge, 17
Peewit. See Lapwing
Pigeon, Wood, 281-282
Pipit, Tree, 173-175
Plover, Green. See Lapwing
Protection of Birds. 369-379
Quail, 90-93
Raven, 68-71
Redbreast, 253
Redshank, 291-294
Redstarts:
“ Common, 168-170
“ Black, 171-172
Redwing, 248
Reed Warbler, Great, 181-185
Ringdove. See Pigeon, Wood
Robin, 253-256
Rook, 45-56
Sandpiper, Green, 295-297
Screecher. See Swift
Shoveler, 323-326
Shrikes:
“ Great Grey, 149-151
“ Lesser Grey, 152-154
“ Red-backed, 155-158
Shuffle-wings. See Sparrow, Hedge
Siskin, 171, 351
Skylark, 232-234
Snake-bird. See Wryneck
Sparrow-Hawk, 347-350
Sparrows:
“ Hedge, 230-231
“ House, 224-227
“ Tree, 228-229
Starling, 94-98
“ Rose, 99-100
Stonechat, 200-202
Stormcock. See Thrush, Mistle
Swallow, 104-108
Swift, 116-119
Tern, 310-312
Thrush, 242-244
“ Mistle, 248
Titmouse:
“ Bearded, 203-204
“ Blue, 209-212
“ Coal, 216-218
“ Crested, 215-216
“ Great, 205-208
“ Long-tailed, 17, 219-223
“ Marsh, 217
Tree-Creeper, 131-133
Wagtails, 17
“ Blue-headed, 178
“ Pied, 180
“ White, 176-178
“ Yellow, 179
Water-hen, 307-309
Waxwing, 101-103
Wheatear, 194-199
Whitethroat, Lesser, 159-161
Willow Wren, 186-188
Wings of Birds, 19-21
Wind-hover. See Kestrel
Woodcock, 17
Woodpeckers, Green, 124-127
“ Greater Spotted, 128-130
“ Lesser Spotted, 127
Wren, 257-261
“ Gold-crested, 213-214
Writing Lark. See Bunting, Yellow
Wryneck, 139-141
Yaffil. See Woodpecker, Green
Yellow-Hammer, 275-278
Zizi. See Bunting, Cirl
JUST PUBLISHED.
Demy 8vo. 510 pp. 6s. net.
The Country
Month by Month
BY
J. A. OWEN
(Collaborator in all the work signed “A Son of the
Marshes”) and
Prof. G. S. BOULGER, F.L.S., F.G.S.
A New Edition. Complete in One Volume. With
Notes by the late
LORD LILFORD.
London
Duckworth & Co.,
3, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, W.C.
A FEW NOTICES OF THE BOOK.
“Well adapted to the purpose.”—Times.
“Interesting and brightly written.”—Nature.
“These are excellent.”—Nature’s Notes.
“Never to our knowledge were facts from Natural History and that terrible subject Modern Botany more skilfully deployed before the reader’s mind.”—Daily Chronicle.
“Contains more of the information we are likely to want under such circumstances than any other periodical or book.”—Land and Water.
“Full of observant sympathy and special knowledge.”—Scotsman.
“It is altogether delightful reading.”—School Board Chronicle.
“Charming gossips—reminding us of Gilbert White and Richard Jefferies.”—Christian World.
“Should delight the heart of the naturalist.”—Glasgow Herald.
“Literary in style, accurate in statement ... we know none which so well deserves credit for being ‘up-to-date.’ ”—Selborne Society’s “Nature Notes.”