Birds and Nature, Vol. VIII, No. 4, November 1900

Оглавление

Various. Birds and Nature, Vol. VIII, No. 4, November 1900

SONNET – NOVEMBER

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE WESTERN WILLET

CRUEL TREATMENT OF BIRDS DEMANDED BY DAME FASHION

THE FALL MIGRATIONS

THE WAYS OF SOME BANTAMS

THE BUFFLE-HEAD

AN HOUR WITH AN ANT

SONG

THE AMERICAN EARED GREBE

THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF FISHES

THE LOUISIANA TANAGER

CHATTER OF A CHAT

THE LUNA AND POLYPHEMUS MOTHS

CASTLES IN THE AIR

THE PRONG-HORNED ANTELOPE

PLANT PROTECTION

THE BIRTH OF A TREE

THE ALMOND

Отрывок из книги

The Western Willet is one of the largest of the Limicolae or Shore Birds. The body is about the size of a common pigeon, the long neck, legs and extent of wings making it appear much larger. The feet are only about one-half webbed and only when great danger makes it necessary will it go into the water beyond its depth. The bill is straight and in summer the color of the bird is gray above, with many small but rather distinct black marks. On the sides and breast these marks are arrow-shaped. In the plumage of winter and of the young these markings are absent.

I am inclined to believe that this species has a more extended range than any other of the order. It has become quite abundant of late years in the Calumet Region in Northern Indiana, near Chicago. Mr. E. W. Nelson, in the Natural History Survey of Illinois, says, that in the seventies this species was a rare summer resident on the wet prairies of Northwestern Illinois, although I can find no authentic record of the taking of the nest and eggs. Captain Charles Bendire found it abundant and resident in Southeastern Oregon when he procured several sets of its eggs. It is said to breed from the coast of Texas to Manitoba. Straggling flocks of from five to fifty may be found along the shores of our larger fresh water lakes, particularly Lake Michigan, during the fall migration, which takes place from about the fifteenth of August to the last of September.

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It is to be hoped that all the States, frequented by the Willets, will enact proper legislation which will amply protect these interesting waders.

I think bantams perhaps are more interesting than other fowls. When I was a little girl father brought three of them home. Dandy and his two little wives were all pure white and very small.

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