Red-breasted Merganser, Mallard, Snowy Owl, Pine Siskin.
[Footnote G: Generally noted at Englewood, N. J., between August 20 and 31.--F. M. C.]
People: Tell me where you scare up Names for me like 'Flicker,' 'Yarup,' 'High-hole,' 'Yucker,' 'Yellow-hammer'-- None of these are in my grammar-- 'Piquebois jaune,' (Woodpick yellow), So the Creoles name a fellow. Others call me 'Golden-wings,' 'Clape,' and twenty other things That I never half remember, Any summer till September.
Many names and frequent mention Show that I receive attention, And the honor that is due me; But if you would interview me Call me any name you please, I'm 'at home' among the trees. Yet I never cease my labors To receive my nearest neighbors, And 'twill be your best enjoyment Just to view me at employment.
I'm the friend of every sower, Useful to the orchard grower, Helping many a plant and tree From its enemies to free,-- They are always food for me. And I like dessert in reason, Just a bit of fruit in season, But my _delicacy_ is _ants_, Stump or hill inhabitants; Thrusting in my sticky tongue, So I take them, old and young.
Surely we have found the best Place wherein to make our nest-- Tunnel bored within a tree, Smooth and clean as it can be, Smallest at the open door, Curving wider toward the floor. Every year we make a new one, Freshly bore another true one; Other birds, you understand, Use our old ones, second-hand,-- Occupying free of rent, They are very well content.
To my wife I quite defer, I am most polite to her, Bowing while I say, 'kee-cher.' Eggs we number five to nine, Pearly white with finish fine. On our nest we sit by turns, So each one a living earns; Though I think I sit the better, When she wishes to, I let 'er!
Early each spring I watch for the return of a Phoebe bird, which usually gladdens my heart by his appearance about sundown of some bright day. He is alone, because, according to most authorities, he travels in advance of his mate; and when I ask with wonder, "Well Peter, where is Phoebe?" with a quick dip of his tail and an expressive twitter, he seems to say, "She will arrive on the next train."
For several years they have returned to the same nest beneath the roof of my veranda, each spring re-lining the inside and brightening the outside with green moss. They always raise two broods. They are very tame, and from year to year do not seem to forget their confidence of the previous summer, and will perch on the cedar tree close to the porch, or light on the rope of the hammock only a few feet away from me.