CHAPTER XXXII
CHORUS BY THE BIRDS
Swallows were perching on the same telegraph wires where they had met in May. Now it was September. There were Swallows of all kinds, both old and young, with whom a great many other birds stopped for a little chat.
"In a few weeks we must be off—how have you enjoyed the summer?" asked the Bank Swallow of his sharp-tailed brother from the barn.
"Excellently well! Times have changed for the better; not a single cat or rat has been seen in my hayloft all the season, and the window has been always open."
"So you have changed your mind about House People?" said the Bank Swallow slyly.
"Yes—that is, about some House People."
"I wish so many of the Bird Brotherhood did not leave in the winter; it makes me quite sad," murmured the Bluebird.
"Yes. Stay-at-homes, like yourself and Robins and Finches, must feel very lonely without us," said Barney kindly; "but I think likely these House People will scatter food about, so that at least you will not be hungry—that is, unless they migrate too, as the Catbird says they sometimes do." "Dear, dear! Think of it, think of it!" warbled the Bluebird.
"Zeay! zeay!" screamed the Catbird, flying up. "N-e-w-s! N-e-w-s! The House People are to stay at our farm all winter! The man who owns this farm, the big girl, and the little girl and boy—and the mother and father bird they belong to—they are all down in the orchard, talking about it now—how they are going to something they call 'school,' over in the village, and how that boy who hops along on one leg with a stick under his wing is going with them."
"Did they say anything about the Bird Brotherhood?"
"No, but I heard them say that when the snow falls they are going up to those horrid dark Owl woods to see the foxes and little fur beasts—'Four-footed Americans' our House Man calls them."
"He gave me a better name than that," said the Barn Swallow, "one day when he was telling the children about the Brotherhood, over in the old barn. He looked straight at me and said a whole tree full of nice things."
"What did he call you? What did he say about the Brotherhood?" asked all the others, crowding around Barney.
"He said that I swept the sky free of evil insects, that I was patriotic in coming back to my birthplace to nest, and that I worked to pay my rent and taxes, and—"
"And what?" cried the others in excitement.
"He called me 'Citizen Bird'! He said all well-behaved birds, who have their own nests, and belong to the guilds of the Brotherhood, are American Citizens and should be protected!"
"How badly the Cowbirds must feel!" said the chorus.
"Hip, hip, hurrah! for Citizen Bird and friendly House People!" drummed the Downy Woodpecker, beating away for dear life on a telegraph pole.
Then all the Swallows and Flycatchers began to dash about the air, whispering "Citizen Bird! Citizen Bird!" And the Bluebird flew down to the garden bushes to tell his winter companion, the Song Sparrow, all about it.
CHAPTER XXXIII
THE PROCESSION OF BIRD FAMILIES
In which all the birds the children have learned in this little book are made to pass in orderly review, each bearing its scientific name, which the Wise Men write in Latin.
Which have their feet best fitted for perching, with three toes in front
and one behind, all on the same level.
Which have music-boxes in their throats, though not all of them can
sing.
1. FAMILY OF THRUSHES FAMILY TUR'DIDAE
1. Bluebird Sia'lia sia'lis.
2. American Robin Mer'ula migrato'ria.
3. Wood Thrush Tur'dus musteli'nus.
4. Wilson's Thrush Tur'dus fusces'cens.
5. Hermit Thrush Tur'dus aonalasch'kae
pal'lasi.
6. Olive-backed Thrush Tur'dus ustula'tus
swain'soni.
2. FAMILY OF OLD-WORLD WARBLERS FAMILY SYLVI'IDAE
7. Golden-crowned Kinglet Reg'ulus sat'rapa.
3. FAMILY OF NUTHATCHES FAMILY SIT'TIDAE
8. White-breasted Nuthatch Sit'ta carolinen'sis.
4. FAMILY of TITMICE FAMILY PAR'IDAE
9. Chickadee Par'us atricapil'lus.
5. FAMILY OF CREEPERS FAMILY CERTHI'IDAE
10. Brown Creeper Cer'thia familia'ris america'na.
6. FAMILY OF THRASHERS AND WRENS FAMILY TROGLODY'TIDAE
11. Sage Thrasher Oreoscop'tes monta'nus.
12. Mockingbird Mi'mus polyglot'tus.
13. Catbird Galeoscop'tes carolinen'sis.
14. Brown Thrasher Harporhyn'chus ru'fus.
15. Rock Wren Salpinc'tes obsole'tus.
16. House Wren Troglod'ytes ae'don.
17. Long-billed Marsh Wren Cistotho'rus palus'tris.
7. FAMILY OF AMERICAN WARBLERS FAMILY MNIOTIL'TIDAE
18. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotil'ta va'ria.
19. Yellow Warbler Dendroe'ca oesti'va.
20. Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroe'ca corona'ta.
21. Ovenbird Siu'rus auricapil'lus.
22. Maryland Yellow-throat Geoth'lypis tri'chas.
23. Yellow-breasted Chat Icter'ia vi'rens.
24. American Redstart Setoph'aga ruticil'la.
8. FAMILY OF GREENLETS FAMILY VIREON'DAE
25. Red-eyed Vireo Vi'reo oliva'ceus.
9. FAMILY OF SHRIKES FAMILY LANI'IDAE
26. Great Northern Shrike La'nius borea'lis.
10. FAMILY OF WAXWINGS FAMILY AMPE'LIDAE
27. Cedar Waxwing Am'pelis cedro'rum.
11. FAMILY OF SWALLOWS FAMILY HIRUNDIN'IDAE
28. Purple Martin Prog'ne su'bis.
29. Barn Swallow Cheli'don erythrogas'ter.
30. Tree Swallow Tachycine'ta bi'color.
31. Bank Swallow Clivi'cola ripa'ria.
12. FAMILY OF TANAGERS FAMILY TANAG'RIDAE
32. Scarlet Tanager Piran'ga erytho'melas.
33. Louisiana Tanager Piran'ga ludovicia'na.
13. FAMILY OF FINCHES, FAMILY FRINGIL'LIDAE
BUNTINGS AND SPARROWS
34. Pine Grosbeak Pinic'ola enu'cleator.
35. American Crossbill Lox'ia curviros'tra mi'nor
36. American Goldfinch Spi'nus tris'tis.
37. Snowflake Plectrophe'nax niva'lis.
38. Vesper Sparrow Pooe'cetes gramin'eus.
39. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrich'ia albicol'lis.
40. Chipping Sparrow Spizel'la socia'lis.
41. Slate-colored Junco Jun'co hiema'lis.
42. Song Sparrow Melospi'za fascia'ta.
43. Towhee Bunting Pip'ilo erythrophthal'mus.
44. Cardinal Cardina'lis cardina'lis.
45. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Zamelo'dia ludovicia'na.
46. Indigo Bird Passeri'na cyan'ea.
14. FAMILY OF BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES FAMILY ICTER'IDAE
47. Bobolink Dolicho'nyx oryziv'orus.
48. Cowbird Mol'othrus a'ter.
49. Orchard Oriole Ic'terus spu'rius.
50. Baltimore Oriole Ic'terus gal'bula.
51. Meadowlark Sturnel'la mag'na.
52. Red-winged Blackbird Ageloe'us phoeni'ceus.
53. Purple Grackle Quis'calus quis'cula.
15. FAMILY OF CROWS AND JAYS FAMILY COR'VIDAE
54. American Crow Cor'vus america'nus
55. Blue Jay Cyanocit'ta crista'ta.
Which have no music-boxes in their throats, and therefore cannot sing,
though some of them can twitter.
16. FAMILY OF FLYCATCHERS FAMILY TYRAN'NIDAE
56. Kingbird Tyran'nus tyran'nus.
57. Phoebe Sayor'nis phoe'be.
58. Wood Pewee Con'topus vi'rens.
Which have their feet fixed in various ways, but never quite like those
of Perching Birds; though all of them can perch, none of them can sing.
Which make a humming sound with their wings when, they fly.
17. FAMILY OF HUMMINGBIRDS FAMILY TROCHIL'IDAE
59. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Troch'ilus col'ubris.
SUBORDER OF LONG-HANDED BIRDS SUBORDER CYP'SELI
Which can fly with great rapidity.
18. FAMILY OF SWIFTS FAMILY MICROPO'DIDAE
60. Chimney Swift Choetu'ra pelag'ica.
Which are peculiar in many respects that cannot be understood by
children.
19. FAMILY OF GOATSUCKERS FAMILY CAPRIMUL'GIDAE
61. Nighthawk Chordei'les virginia'nus.
62. Whip-poor-will Antros'lomus vociferus.
Which have two toes in front and two behind, and most of which can
climb.
20. FAMILY OF WOODPECKERS FAMILY PIC'IDAE
63. Downy Woodpecker Dryob'ates pubes'cens.
64. Red-headed Woodpecker Melaner'pes
erythroceph'alus.
65. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrap'icus va'rius.
66. Flicker Colap'tes aura'tus.
Which have their front toes grown together so that they cannot walk on
them.
67. Belted Kingfisher Ceryle al'cyon.
Which have two toes in front and two behind, but
which cannot climb like Woodpeckers.
22. FAMILY OF CUCKOOS FAMILY CUCU'LIDAE
68. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccy'zus america'nus.
Which have two toes in front and two behind, and beaks hooked like those
of birds of prey. But this place is vacant in the procession, because
cruel men have almost exterminated the only kind of Parrot that lives in
North America—so he was afraid to fall in line with the rest.
Which have strong hooked beaks and claws, to catch and kill their living
prey, and some of which are cannibal birds.
SUBORDER OF DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY SUBORDER ACCIP'ITRES
Which can see well to take their prey by day.
23. FAMILY OF HAWKS AND EAGLES FAMILY FALCON'IDAE
69. Osprey Pandi'on haliak'tus
carolinen'sis.
70. Bald Eagle Haliak'tus leucoceph'alus.
71. Golden Eagle Aq'uila chrysak'tus.
72. Red-shouldered Hawk Bu'teo linea'tus.
73. Marsh Hawk Cir'cus hudson'ius.
74. Sharp-shinned Hawk Accip'iter ve'lox.
75. Sparrow Hawk Fal'co sparve'rius.
Which cannot see well in daylight, and mostly take their prey by night.
24. FAMILY OF OWLS FAMILY STRIG'IDAE
76. Screech Owl Meg'ascops a'sio.
77. Long-eared Owl A'sio wilsonia'nus.
78. Great Horned Owl Bubo Virginia'nus.
79. Snowy Owl Nyc'tea nyc'tea.
Which drink without raising the head at every sip, and feed the young in
the nest on the contents of the crop.
25. FAMILY OF COLUMBINE BIRDS FAMILY COLUM'BIDAE
80. Passenger Pigeon Ectopis'tes migrato'rius.
81. Mourning Dove Zenaidu'ra macru'ra.
Which when they drink raise the head at every sip, and whose young can
run about and feed themselves almost as soon as they are hatched.
26. FAMILY or PARTRIDGES FAMILY PERDIC'IDAE
82. Bob White Coli'nus virginia'nus.
27. FAMILY OF GROUSE FAMILY TETRAON'IDAE
83. Ruffed Grouse Bona'sa umbel'lus.
Which live in open places by the water's edge, for the most part, and
whose young can run about and feed themselves almost as soon as they are
hatched, like little Chickens.
28. FAMILY OF PLOVERS FAMILY CHARADRI'IDAE
84. Golden Plover Charad'rius dominicus.
29. FAMILY OF TURNSTONES FAMILY ARENARI'IDAE
85. Turnstone Arena'ria inter'pres.
30. FAMILY OF SNIPES FAMILY SCOLOPAC'IDAE
86. Woodcock Philo'hela mi'nor.
87. Wilson's Snipe Gallina'go delica'ta.
88. Spotted Sandpiper Acti'tis macula'ria.
89. Least Sandpiper Actodro'mas minutil'la.
Which live for the most part in the thickest marshes, and whose young
run about and food themselves almost as soon as they are hatched, like
young shore birds. Cranes belong to this order, but are left out of the
procession because there are no Cranes where the children lived.
Which are much smaller than Cranes, lay more eggs, and hide away better
in the marshes.
31. FAMILY OF RAILS FAMILY RAL'LIDAE
90. Virginia Rail Ral'lus virginia'nus.
Which live for the most part in swamps, and whose young have to be fed
in the nest. All have very long legs and necks. Storks and Ibises belong
to this order.
32. FAMILY OF HERONS FAMILY ARDE'IDAE
91. American Bittern Botau'rus lentigino'sus.
92. Snowy Egret Garzet'ta candidis'sima.
93. Great Blue Heron Ar'dea hero'dias.
94. Black-crowned Night Heron Nyctico'rax nyctico'rax noe'vius.
Which are web-footed birds that can strain out their food from the water
they take in their mouths.
33. FAMILY OF DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS FAMILY ANAT'IDAE
95. Canada Goose Bran'ta canaden'sis.
96. Wood Duck Aex spon'sa.
97. Black Duck A'nas obscu'ra.
98. Mallard A'nas bos'cas.
99. Pintail Daf'ila acu'ta.
100. Green-winged Teal Net'tion carolinen'sis.
101. Blue-winged Teal Querqued'ula dis'cors.
102. Red-head AEthy'ia america'na.
103. Old Squaw Harel'da hiema'lis.
104. Hooded Merganser Lophod'ytes cucul'a'tus.
bill.
34. FAMILY OF GULLS AND TERNS FAMILY LAR'IDAE
105. American Herring Gull Larus argenta'tus
smithsonia'nus.
106. Common Tern Ster'na hirun'do.
Which can dive like a flash and swim very far under water.
35. FAMILY OF WEB-FOOTED DIVERS FAMILY URINATOR'IDAE
107. Loon Urina'tor im'ber.
36. FAMILY or LOBE-FOOTED DIVERS FAMILY COLYM'BIDAE
108. Pied-billed Grebe Podilym'bus pod'iceps.
INDEX OF ENGLISH NAMES
Latin names will be found in Procession of Bird Families, page 420.